Bathing an Infant - Tub Bath

Material needed:

• Baby bathtub or Bathinette with comfortable warm water to elbow
• Washcloth
• Towel
• Hooded blanket or receiving blanket
• Mild soap
• Clean clothing
• Toilet tissue
• Disposable gloves
• Waste basket

Procedure:

1. Wash your hands
2. Obtain material listed above
3. Place all material in easy reach. Spread hooded blanket or receiving blanket on flat surface near where you will bathe the baby
4. Place baby on receiving blanket or hooded blanket next to basin of warm water. Always keep one hand on the baby. Never leave the baby unattended. If you forgot something, take the baby with you!!
5. Begin with the head:
   1. Wet a cotton ball with plain water and gently clean eye from inner corner to outer corner. Discard cotton ball. Repeat the same procedure on the other eye with a new cotton ball
   2. Wet washcloth and sponge face, ears, and folds in neck. Do not use cotton swabs to clean nostrils or ears. You may damage delicate tissue
   3. Pick up baby, holding in the football hold, facing upright. Hold head over basin. With free hand, wet washcloth and wring out over baby's scalp. Put small amount of soap in the palm of your hand. Rub gently onto the infant's scalp. Rinse by wringing wet washcloth over head. Dry gently. Cover head with hooded towel or receiving blanket.

6. Lay baby back on flat surface
7. Remove shirt
8. Put on gloves
9. Remove diaper. Wipe feces away with tissue and clean perineal area. Discard diaper or set aside for laundry
10. Hold infant:
    1. Place left hand under baby's shoulders. Your thumb should be over the baby's left shoulder. Your hand is holding the upper arm
    2. Use your right hand to support the baby's buttocks. Slide your hand under the thigh. Hold left thigh with your right hand

11. Lower baby into water, feet first. (Water level no more than a thumb high) NEVER LEAVE THE BABY UNATTENDED
12. Wash front of infant's baby, using your right hand
13. Change your hold:
    1. Use right hand to support baby in a sitting forward position
    2. Support and hold fingers around baby's upper arm and your hand under the infant's neck, as in lap position for burping

14. Wash baby's back
15. Return to previous position
16. Wash genital area
17. Lift baby out of water and onto towel
18. Wrap in towel, coving head
19. Pat baby dry
20. Put on dry diaper
21. Finish dressing baby. Wrap in receiving blanket
22. Place baby in safe and comfortable position
23. Clean material and return to proper location
24. Record what you have done. Report any abnormal conditions to the mother or nurse