How to Clean a Baby Girl?

Baths are fine for girls, just not bubble baths every time. Keep the soap mild, don't forget to wash the area (you don't have to scrub), and ALWAYS wipe front to back (this is true for women of any age). Good luck! Girls are a lot of fun!

Go to Better Health or Whole Foods and buy baby wipes that don't have chlorine. Baby girls aren't all that different from boys. You still clean them off. If it's okay for boys, why shouldn't it be okay for girls?

But if you don't want to use baby wipes, just plain water works too. You aren't required to use soap. But again, if you want soap, find an organic brand that isn't going to be compromising to her 'parts'.

it really is easier than you are letting yourself believe. i am a mom of 2 girls and 2 boys. when you give her a bath, just a quick swipe with a soapy washcloth, and then another quick swipe with clean water, and her parts are all done. when she poops, make sure you get all the "yuckies" out of her folds with a wipe. wipes are designed to be "ok" in those places. the wipes themselves wont hurt her any. its so funny that you are worried about cleaning a girl. i had my girls first, and when i found out i was havign a boy i had the same thoughts, just reversed (how am i supposed to know how to clean a boy??) lol it worked itself out.

good luck, and congrats on your little girl!

I've found that with all my kids (one girl, two boys), the easiest way to bathe them when they are infants, is in the kitchen sink. If you have a double basin kitchen sink, get a tub that will fit over the sink. The tub has an opening in it, so put the baby in it and let the water drain out of the opening. That way, your baby is not sitting in dirty water while clean water runs onto them out of the faucet, minimizing the chance for infections. Some kitchen faucets come with a shower that if it's gentle enough, can easily get their hair clean and give them a shower:)

Just my two cents,

M.

I had two girls before I had my two boys and I found cleaning girls easier! Just always remember to wipe front to back, then grab a new wipe. It is easy for any female to get a UTI because of E.coli climbing up the urethra. As long as you always go front to back with a clean cloth or wipe, it will be fine, and you will see it is actually very easy! Good luck and baby girls are so fun!!!

I remember using those round cotton pads (cosmetic type) for the sensitive parts. Seemed gentler and more sanitary than a wash cloth.

Mild soap - babies don't really need something perfumed or abrasive. Ivory, Johnson's, etc.

Lots of warm rinse water, and make sure you dry well with a soft towel (not rinsed with downey or any fabric softner - I actually use cheap white vingar to rinse my bath towels when laundering).

You'll be fine. Take a depe breath and enjoy your new baby!

I try to wipe and "deep clean" all the cracks at least once or twice a week, depending on the condition of her diaper. Too much wiping can lead to chapping, but not enough can as well...so its a toss up. Also watch for growth of yeast in there.

As far as baths go, if you're using a mild soap, like baby soap, you should be fine. Its more bubble baths and such that cause problems.

Main thing, don't worry. Use your instincts, you don't want the skin to dry out too much or be too moist as that grows yeast. I'm sure you're do just fine.

My friends who have had boys first usually have problems remembering to put the NEW diaper UNDER the OLD one when changing, as instead of a fountain like with a boy, the pee goes down and you don't even see it most of the time. ;) Best wishes!

I never used bubble bath for my daughter, because I always heard that it is not good for their "girl parts." Johnson & Johnson just started making a bubble bath for babies, and it says safe for girls and boys. I have started using it and she has no problems. I wouldn't use it though until your daughter is 18 months or so. at that point, they are maybe less sensitive, and before that, they won't notice anyway! wipe front to back like everyone said, and don't be afraid to really wipe into the girl areas to get all the poop out!

Hi Angela,
I have a daughter who is 5 yrs old, and a new son who is 5 weeks. I personally think that diaper changes for girls are much easier. This boy thing is new to me...w/ girls you don't have to cover anything to avoid being squirted, and there is no scrotum in the way that you have to clean poop from around! Just gently wipe up any poop from your little one and she should be fine...somehow they don't get infections like we would if we had poop there. As far as baths, I just used a baby soap on a washcloth...same thing, just wipe gently and make sure you rinse her.
Good Luck and have fun w/ your little one. Girls are so fun! Congratulations! :)
A.

No worries! Since you ARE a girl you know where all those folds are and you can actually see them when you change a diaper. I have 3 girls...never a problem. Just use gentle soap in the bath. By the time she is old enough to sit and play in the tub, you will already know if the soap bothers her. Congrats and enjoy your little sweetie!

I agree with Erin, however I think I even have a spiralbound book that shows how to clean and care for your newborn that I got from my SIL before my son was born. I am sure you can even find this at the library as well.

I would not stress too much as the nurses are pretty good about helping you or answering questions while you are in your room with the baby. At RO Beaumont, we were in the SCU for a week's time and I got LOADS of information as my son was a preemie - and I was a first-time mom. They were great to me.

Don't be afraid to ask the staff after she's here... why stress so much now? For me, it stuck in my head when I went through the steps with them.
For baths at this age - I never used baby bath as it is so drying to the skin.
You can also find an array of safer products now that what there used to be to avoid drying the skin or harming the genital areas.

You'll be fine~ :)

I used and actually still use for my girls even though they are 7 and 10 Huggies natural care unsented. I alway with the diapers make sure I wiped good all over and them put a tiny bit of baby powder for the moisture care. Good luck a follow your instincts they probably won't stear you wrong, mine didn't with my girls. I had no clue what to do but a little common sense and love you will be fine....enjoy your little girl and don't sweat the small details...good luck!

All great advice! Definitely wipe front to back and in all of her cute little folds. Don't forget that practice makes perfect. The more you do it, the better you'll get. Even now my daughter, who is 21 mos., seems to get poo in the oddest places (in her diaper of course). The power of poo is truly amazing. : )

Also, if you are worried about soap in the bath tub don't put the soap directly into the water. We use a little Method Baby Soap, squirt it onto a soft wash cloth and wash her with the wash cloth. This way there is less soap in the water and a smaller chance of irritating her skin and other lady bits.

You'll figure it out - don't worry. Everything is visible or can be made visible by gently opening up the vaginal area with your fingers when there's poop. When you bathe her, you can pour water over those areas gently. No big deal. Relax, Mom.

Angela,

You clean her front to back to prevent yeast infections. Other than that, it's the same.

I have a boy and a girl and I think girls are easier to clean.. of course I am a girl so I have a lot more experience iwth girl parts..

Of course I give my girl a bath. every other day. I use baby wash by johnson and johnson.

wipe her front to back and yes you have to clean the poo poo out of the grooves..

Hi Angela,
When I cleaned my daughter, I cleaned her the same way I cleaned myself. I took a bath daily and she did too (I washed her up the first few weeks as a newborn). Secondly, whenever I changed her diapers both poop and non poop I wiped "all" grooves and when wiping – I wiped from the front to the back (just like we as women are suppose to do when using the bathroom). In my opinion, I think using the same soap is great! I do it basically to avoid my daughter being irritated not necessary infection. My daughter has sensitive skin. I started using baby soap and after experiencing itchy skin, her Pediatrician recommended Dove sensitive skin and I have been using it since. For example, have you ever used a new soap that irritated your skin (same with your little one)? Once you find a soap that works for you, stick with it. Hope this helps! Congrats! :-)

F. J