Baby bath-time tips

Don’t worry about giving your baby an official bath right away. Except for sponge baths, bathing doesn’t start until the stump of your baby’s umbilical cord falls off (between one and three weeks after delivery). After that, you can give your baby a bath every day if you like, although two to three times a week is a better idea because daily bathing can dry out your baby’s tender skin. Besides a baby bath tub, you’ll need a soft towel (preferably hooded to cradle your baby’s head), a baby washcloth, and baby body wash that doubles as shampoo.

There are a variety of baby bathtubs on the market. Keep in mind that just about any tub you buy will be awkward to use at first, mainly because bathing a wiggly baby--who may dislike temperature changes and being put in water--is awkward and daunting for even the most experienced parent. At first you’ll just want to get the job done--and fast. Expect your baby to protest the first time or two. After that, your baby will probably grow to enjoy bath time--and so will you.

Fill the tub with as little water as possible--two inches is about right--and test it with your wrist or elbow. Water should feel warm, but not hot. Don’t rely on a tub’s temperature indicator; in our tests, we found them  some of them slow to react to temperature changes.

But keep in mind that when your baby is in the bath, you should always have a hand on her. Never leave your baby unattended during bath time, even for a second—and even when you’re just filling the tub with water. Plan ahead. Make sure you have everything on hand before you start the bath. You don’t want to have to scurry for a washcloth or towel while your baby is in the tub.

See our reports on baby bathtubs and baby bath-seat warning for more information.

Off-beat baby gifts to request

If you’re the lucky person who already has everything--maybe this isn’t your first child or you’ve already had more than one shower--here are several gift ideas to toss out to well-meaning friends and relatives:

• Diaper service for the first month. If you’re going to be a cloth-diaper user, this will be a big help.
• Cloth-diapering system. Again, if you’re going with cloth, these diaper-and-cover combos are convenient.
• A personal chef or a housekeeper for a day, a week, or a month. Having someone else do the cooking or the cleaning can really help parents get a much-needed break. For more information about a personal chef, contact the American Personal and Private Chef Association at www.personalchef.com. National cleaning services can be found online by putting “house cleaning services” in the search function.
• A birth and/or post-partum doula--a person trained to provide emotional, physical, and educational support for women and their families. For more information, and to locate a doula in your area, log onto the Web site for Doulas of North America at www.dona.org.
• A gift certificate to a local day spa. Let someone else care for you for a change!

“One of my most unusual gifts was...”
Did you receive a baby gift when you were expecting that was extra special or helpful? We’d love to hear from you about your bonus baby gift.