Other Infant Care Skills
Learning Targets
• I can describe and demonstrate how to
bathe, dress and diaper a baby.
• I can explain how to encourage good
sleep habits
Bathing a Baby
• Bath – keeps baby clean & healthy
• Any time except right after feeding
– Baby needs to sleep & digest the meal
• Newborn – sponge baths
– Navel must heal
• After tub baths may be given
• Both require parent’s careful attention
Sponge Bath
• Supplies:
– Two soft bath towels
– A soft washcloth
– A diaper
– Mild soap
– Baby shampoo
• Temp of the room – 70 – 80 degrees
• Good work surface – soft bath towel –
baby’s safety and comfort
Sponge Baths
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Convenient to put water in a basin
Test water with elbow, water = lukewarm
Remove baby’s clothes – place on towel
Lay another towel on baby’s body
Begin washing the baby’s face w/clear,
clean water, while supporting baby with
the other hand
• Pat baby’s face dry
• Skin = tender – no rub
Sponge Baths
• Wash the rest of the body with soap &
water, one area at a time
• Rinse thoroughly
• Pay attention to skin creases
• Separate, wash & rinsed, dried thoroughly
• Not necessary to clean inside the baby’s
mouth, ears, eyes or nose
– Nature takes care of it
• Never use a cotton swab
Sponge Baths
• Wash baby’s scalp once to twice a week with
a tear-free baby soap or baby shampoo
• Other day wipe with clear water – pat dry
• Cradle cap – a skin condition in which the
scalp develops patches of yellowish, crusty
scales
– Treatment – apply baby oil at night, in the morning
gently loosen the scales, wash
• Lotion & powder afterwards
• Powder – shake into your hands, not on baby
Tub Baths
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Navel has healed = baby can be bathed in a tub
“tub” – large dishpan or special baby tub
6 – 7 months regular tub
Gather all supplies & equipment first
Place rubber mat or towel in bottom of tub
Add 2 – 3” of lukewarm water
Most older babies enjoys baths
Splash water, play with floating toys
Safety is still key
Read Safety in the Tub
• Page 281
• Complete questions 1 & 2
Dressing a Newborn
• Clothing needs – minimal
• Sleeper – one-piece stretchy garment with
feet
• Cotton undershirt & gown
• Hot weather – diaper & short sleeve shirt
• When taking babies outdoor in cooler
weather – add warm outer garments &
blankets
• Socks & booties – not necessary
Dressing an Older Baby
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More durable clothing – allowing for movement
Legs that snap open – easy diaper change
Soft, cotton shirts
Sleepers that keep baby covered – blankets are
kicked off
• Shoes – not necessary until they walk outdoors
• Physicians – best way to learn to walk –
barefoot
• Socks – nonskid
Dressing Tips
• Time for extra kissed and hugs
• Good time for songs, simple rhymes or
naming the parts of the body or articles of
clothing
• Older children can help, babies not so
much
• Usually distracting the baby with a toy or
song will make dressing easier
Choosing Clothes
• Simple & comfortable
• Knit fabrics
• Provide ease of movement for the baby &
ease of care for parents
• Flame retardant
• Size = weight & age (weight more reliable)
• Babies grow out of clothes fast
Read Dressing a Baby page
284 - 285
• Practice dressing a baby using the doll at
your table
• For tomorrow’s class, try to find a picture
of an infant.
Cloth vs Disposable diapers
• Which one would you choose or have
chosen to diaper your baby with?
• Why?
Diapering a Baby
• Diaper = most essential part of a baby’s
wardrobe
• Cloth - least expensive if laundry facilities
are available, traditional
• Disposable – throwaway convenience,
expensive, environmental problems
• Commercial diaper service – about same
price as disposable, clean cloth diapers
Diapering a Baby
• very young = 12-15 diapers a day
• Older babies – fewer diaper changes &
more likely to let you know when
• Keep diapering supplies near changing
area
How to diaper
• Never safe to leave baby alone on raised
surface
• Always keep one hand firmly on baby
• Need to leave take baby with you
How to diaper
• Remove diaper and clean baby
– Baby wipes
– powder
• Put on fresh diaper
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Hold baby’s ankles and lift body enough to slide diaper under
Make sure adhesive tabs are under the baby
Bring diaper up between the baby’s legs
Use tabs to fasten diaper
• Dispose of used supplies
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Cleanliness = IMPORTANT
Dispose of all supplies
Roll a diaper up and place it in a covered trashcan
Be sure to wash hands with soap & water
Diaper Rash
• Diaper rash – patches of rough, irritated skin
in the diaper area
– May include painful raw sores
– Sensitivity to diapers
– Caused by bacteria in diapers
• Treatment for mild case:
– Change diapers for frequently & clean baby thoroughly
after bowel movement
– Use a product with zinc oxide & cod liver oil – protects
& helps heal faster
– Expose diaper area to air as much as possible
– If it gets worse, ask a pediatrician for help
Sleep
• Needed in order to grow & develop
• Amount of time decreases considerably
during the 1st year
– Newborn = 12-20 hours/day
– 1 yr old – only 2-3 sleep periods a day including
naps
• Amount – depends on individual baby
• Active baby more sleep than inactive baby,
plus more food
• Need more sleep on some days than others
Preparation for
Sleep
• Putting baby to bed = relaxed & pleasant
experience for both you & baby
• Begin by washing baby’s face, hands and
by changing diaper & clothes
• Certain clothing remind the baby time to
sleep
• Rocking or singing a soothing lullaby
– Comforting & relaxing
• Keep manner calm & unhurried – baby will
pick up on feeling & may not go to sleep
Recall…
• Recall lullabies that were sung to you or
have heard caregivers sing to babies
Preparation for
Sleep
• Baby = safe bed
• Avoid pillows, fluffy blankets & bumper pads &
stuffed toys
– Risk of suffocation
• Infant too young to roll over – place on back to help
prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
• Try to follow same routine
– Comfort in ritual
• Sleep should never be brought on by the used of
drugs or sleep mediation
Crying to Sleep
• Should you attend to a crying baby??
• Some experts argue you should let them
“cry it out” so that they can learn to settle
themselves
• Others say that it hurts the child emotionally
– Offer any kind of comfort
• Middle ground – let the baby cry for 2-3
minutes while you are outside the room to
see if the baby settles down
• If not, then go in and comfort the child
Bedtime Problems
• Babies – especially active ones – often become
restless while they sleep
– Wake partially & suck fingers, cry out or rock the
crib
• If you respond, your presence may become a
necessary part of the baby’s pattern for getting
back to sleep
• Infants need to learn to return to sleep on their own
• Provide care for a baby who needs feeding or a
diaper change
• Restlessness into crying – needs your attention
Complete Questions 1-7
page 289
• Restate the question.
Complete Questions
• Page 292 #1-9