Hygiene is the key to your new born baby’s health. In fact one of the best ways to keep your baby happy and healthy is to practice good hygiene. Beyond the obvious need for cleanliness, babies have certain areas that need special attention. These areas if not properly cleaned could give way to different diseases. Also, proper hygiene for these areas, such as the umbilical cord or circumcision, is very important to avoid infection.

Below are basic guidelines for you baby’s hygiene:

How to give your baby a bath

• Don’t over bathe baby-bathing too frequently can dry the skin.
• Give baby sponge baths until the navel area is fully healed.
• Never leave baby unsupervised in any depth of water
• When baby’s navel area has healed, you can put him or her directly into a sink, plastic tub
• Use a soft cloth to wash baby’s face and hair, taking care to shield his or her eyes. Shampoo baby’s hair once or twice a week
• Wash baby’s face without soap. Use mildly soapy water for the rest of the body

Other hygiene tips

• Keep your baby’s nails trimmed to prevent baby from scratching himself or herself
• A baby’s nails are soft and easy to cut; the best time to trim them is when baby is sleeping
• Many parents find baby-sized nail clippers easier to use than scissors
• Wash only the outer ear and the entrance to the ear canal, not inside.
• Don’t use a cotton swab in your baby’s ears; it could damage an eardrum.
• Irritability, fever, and a tendency for baby to tug at his or her ear may signal an ear infection. Call your pediatrician immediately
  if you suspect baby has this problem.
• Clean the cord at each diaper change to help it dry out and to prevent infection.
• Wipe around the cord with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol.
• Care for the cord until it falls off, usually in a few weeks.