While giving a fussy baby a bath seems like a task itself, there is one task that can make the baby less fussy. The warm water and undivided attention a parent gives a baby during a bath often soothe a fussy baby, make him or her relaxed enough to fall asleep.
The trick is to have everything ready in advance so that the baby is not aggravated by waiting or being cold before being placed in the bath.
1. Gather appropriate bathing supplies
The first step to giving the fussy baby a bath is to gather the supplies. By having everything within easy reach, the fussy baby can experience the undivided attention of the parent and is able to relax. Some good supplies for the fussy baby instead of the nonfussy baby are lavender body wash and lavender baby oil. Lavender is well known for having a relaxing and calming effect on babies as well as adults.
2. Get warm water ready
Once the supplies are gathered, running warm water should begin. Be sure the water is warm enough to be comforting for the baby, but not too hot as to burn the baby. There is nothing worse than injuring your baby when you are really just trying to relax your baby. Fill up the bath water and get the baby in.
3. Remain calm is everything
Remaining calm while you remove the baby’s clothing and the diaper is very important. You may notice things that caused the baby to become fussy that you never observed before. The diaper may be dirty. There may be a piece of something in the clothing bothering the baby. The baby may be tired. No matter what though, it is important that you remain calm. Your anger or frustration can be sensed by the baby and this may make him or her more fussy or agitated.
4. Continuously check baby's reactions with water
Check the water one more time before placing the baby in the water. Once the baby is in the water, watch the baby’s skin for signs of redness or irritation. This may be a sign that the water is too hot. If the baby’s water begins to get too cold, carefully add more warm water to the current water, watching to ensure that it does not get too hot. While the baby is in the water, use your hands to soap the baby’s body up and rinse the baby’s body. Be careful not to get soap into his eyes, as this can cause irritation. Soap should also not be allowed to get into the baby’s mouth or nose, as it can cause the baby to choke.
It is important to remember that a baby cannot do anything by himself. It is also important to remember that a baby can drown in inches of water. Under no circumstances should you leave the baby alone in the bath. If the phone rings, let it ring. If the neighbors knock, they can come back or you can take the baby with you. Under no circumstance should the baby be left alone in the bath even for a second.
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