The baby's bath in the bucket is a great option for bathing the baby, as well as allowing to wash it, the baby is much calmer and relaxed because of the rounded shape of the bucket, which is very similar to the feeling of being inside of the mother's belly.
The bucket, shantala tub or Tummy tub, as it can also be called, should be transparent, preferably so that the mother can see the baby, as the pictures show. The bucket can be bought at baby stores and the price of the shantala tub or Tummy tub ranges from 60 to 150 reais.
Bathing the baby in the bucket can be done right after the baby leaves the maternity ward and until the parents wish or even stop being comfortable for the baby. However, the first bath should be done by a physiotherapist and only then by the parents.
The bath should not last longer than 10 to 15 minutes so the baby does not feel uncomfortable and should never leave him alone in the bucket because he can get up and fall or fall asleep and drown.
How to bathe the baby in the bucket
In order to bathe the baby in the bucket, the bucket must first be filled up to half the height or to the height indicated by the bucket with water at a temperature of 36-37ºC, as shown in Figure 1. Then the baby should be seated in the bucket, with legs and arms curled and bent, with water at the level of the shoulders, as shown in figure 2.
In the case of a newborn baby, a little skirt can be placed around the baby to make it safer and should be held around the neck because the baby still does not support the head, as shown in figure 3.
If the baby has poop or pee, it should first be cleaned and then placed in the bucket.
Benefits of Baby Bathing in the Bucket
The benefits of baby bath in the bucket include:
- Calms the baby;
- It reduces the baby's agitation, and may even fall asleep;
- Activates baby's blood circulation;
- Decreases crises of baby cramps;
- Helps eliminate toxins from the baby's body;
- Stimulates the development of baby's nervous system.
For all these benefits, bathing the baby in the bucket is a great option to replace the common bath. When the baby is very small and still can not sit inside the Shantala, the mother can ask for her father's help at the time of the bath and, while the father holds the baby, the mother can shower.
Useful links:
- Bathing in the baby
- Newborn baby bath
