Baby’s Bottoms – Cleaning them to bond

Cleaning your baby’s little bottoms the first few days after he shows up can be a nerve cringing moment. You want it squeaky clean because you know hygiene is extremely important, but again you do not want to harm his bottom.

Well, cleaning baby’s bottom does not have to be a grueling and messy exercise that takes a lot of time and has the baby wailing through the process. It can be easily converted into a special time for bonding.

Here is how to manage:
Prepare everything you need before you start cleaning the baby. These include the diaper, an ointment, a change of clothes in case the pooh becomes messy, baby wipes or a piece of warm damp cotton wool and a container to dispose the dirty clothing.

This helps you save time as well as prevents your baby from exposure to the irritating cold. It also helps you to stay within your baby’s reach throughout the cleaning process because if left unattended to, the baby could roll over and fall or do the unthinkable-even eat the pooh.

Do the cleaning on a flat surface. It would be safest to do it on the floor but make sure you place a towel underneath so that he is comfortable. Lay the baby face upwards and give him a toy for distraction if he is fussy.

Place a clean cloth underneath the baby’s soiled diaper. Remove the soiled diaper by opening the front flap of the diaper and unfolding it towards you. As you do this, ensure the baby’s bottom is still on the back flap of the diaper.

Take hold of the baby’s ankles and raise him off the soiled diaper with one hand. Then take it off with the other hand as you wipe off any mess. Dispose it far from baby’s reach.

Lift the baby’s bottom again from the ankles and wipe the baby clean from the front to the back of his bottoms with the baby wipes or moist cotton wool.

Pay attention to the skin folds as they hide a lot of dirt. Ensure that the baby-wipes do not contain alcohol as they wipe may irritate your baby’s skin. Dry the baby and if desired, apply some gentle ointment on his bottom.

Then layout the fresh diaper and lower your baby gently. If you are using a disposable diaper, bring the front flap to stick it to the back part. If you are using the clothes diaper, place it in a triangular form with a liner inside it. Then fasten the diaper safely with pins or the attached tape and dress the baby if necessary.

All along, make sure you are talking with your little one so that the he does not feel harassed and alone, during the cleaning process.

END: PG 23 /54