Other Infant Care Skills
Dec 14, 2015
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
• 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
• 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
• 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– 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 – 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 forSleep
• 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 forSleep
• 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 – See a pediatrician if needed
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