Safe bathing guidelines for children

Bathing is not just an opportunity to wash away dirt and grime. Parents of young children often view bath time as an opportunity to bond with their babies. The smallest member of the family may enjoy the sensation of warm water, which also makes bath time an opportunity to soothe and quiet a restless child.

Adults may not give bathing and showering much thought, but this common grooming ritual often comes with questions and anxiety for new parents. Any time young children are around water, adults must be vigilant regarding safety. Parents can heed these tips and timelines related to bathing young children.

First bath

The World Health Organization recommends delaying the baby's first bath until 24 hours after birth, or at the very least, waiting six hours if a full day isn't possible for cultural reasons. Babies who get baths right away may be more likely to become cold and develop hypothermia, according to HealthyChildren.org. This minor stress also can make some infants more likely to experience a drop in blood sugar. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that delaying a bath also helps keep the vernix, the waxy white substance that coats a baby's skin before birth, in place a little longer. Vernix acts as a natural moisturizer and may have antibacterial properties.

Sponge baths for a bit

When infants are brought home, experts suggest that sponge baths once or twice a week is all that is necessary to keep the child clean. Henry Ford Health says that parents should not submerge a child in a full bath until the umbilical cord stump falls off. Instead, use a warm washcloth and a small amount of baby-safe cleanser to wipe away dirty areas, paying attention to skin folds.

Keep bathing items in reach

The cardinal rule of bath time is that a child should never be left unattended in a tub. Before drawing the bath, parents should make sure everything they need is within arm's reach. Also, it's essential parents always keep at least one hand on the baby at all times, as water and cleansers can make things slippery.

In addition to constant touch while bathing, the water level should be limited to less than two inches for children two years old and younger, says the drowning prevention organization Colin's Hope.

Toddler bath time

As a child gets older, it's time to switch from a bath seat to the bathtub alone. Seats can tip over when kids get bigger. Make the move when the child can sit up on their own. Having plenty of bath toys on hand means that bathing can be fun and something toddlers look forward to each week.

Bathing alone

The point at which a child is old enough to bathe themselves depends on the maturity of that child and desire for privacy. Some kids can bathe independently as early as age five or six. But many experts recommend delaying solo bathing until a child is eight. Until then, parents may want to be in the room with the child, but let the youngster independently wash up. Kids may need reminders about what to do so they don't focus on splashing around only.

Switching to showers

At some point, a child may want to ditch baths for showers. There is no magic number regarding when the shower stage should begin, but by age seven some kids are more inclined to want to shower, even when their parents are still supervising washing. High water temperatures and slippery surfaces can be safety concerns for independent showering, so kids may need a little extra instruction in order to avoid injury.

Shift to puberty

Once a child hits puberty, they likely need to shower more frequently. Changing hormones can trigger odor and oily skin and hair. Participation in sports or even recreation with friends may cause them to work up a sweat. This may be the time to talk with a preteen about increasing bathing or showering frequency.

Safety at bath time is an especially important point of emphasis for parents taking care of young children.