I'm terrified of bathing my newborn. What do I need to watch out for while bathing my baby?

Always keep the following tips in mind while bathing your newborn:

• Never leave your baby unsupervised, even for a minute. If the doorbell or phone rings and you feel you must answer it, scoop him up in a towel and take him with you. A child can drown in less than an inch of water -- and in less than 60 seconds.

• Avoid using a standard bath, which requires you to kneel or lean awkwardly over your baby and gives you less control over his movements. Instead use a small plastic baby bath or a bath bed. A bath bed has a hammock like net fitted over the bath tub. Many mums find this convenient as they can soap and bathe their babies using both hands and not worry about getting a firm grip with one hand and pouring water with the other.

If you are using a plastic baby bath, you may place a soft towel inside the tub for added safety.

• Choose a time when you baby is awake. Schedule a bath for mid morning before a feed. Never bathe a baby after a meal as he may be uncomfortable and may throw up. You could also choose a late evening bath but remember to keep your baby warm and tuck him to bed as soon as you can to avoid exposure to cold.

• Make sure the room is comfortable and warm especially in winter. In summer, ensure that you turn off the fan/cooler/AC and shut the door and windows to prevent any wind drafts.

• Give your baby a gentle massage. Avoid using any massage oils especially in the first few weeks, as they may irritate your baby's delicate skin.

• Avoid massaging with raw milk or besan. Many moms believe that massaging a baby with raw milk or besan (gram flour) and haldi (turmeric paste) will ensure a fair complexion. This is a misconception -- raw milk can carry a host of bacteria and cause infections such as diarrhoea, E. coli and salmonella. The gram flour paste is abrasive in nature and may cause skin allergies, rashes or even bruises.

• Avoid using liquid antiseptic in bath water. In some Indian homes, it is a common practice to use a teaspoon of liquid antiseptic/ disinfectant in the bath water. This practice is best avoided as it may lead to allergic reactions and newborn babies rarely get so dirty. Instead use a soap or cleanser designed especially for babies which will protect their skin.

• Wash your baby's face and hair right at the end. Many babies get visibly upset when their face and hair are cleaned. If you clean his face and hair right at the end it will be easier to dry, dress and feed him immediately without having to worry about cleaning the rest of the body and it will also reduce the time he has to spend with wet hair.

• Pay attention to the neck area as sweat and excess milk tend to collect here. Clean between the fingers and toes where dirt tends to settle. Talcum powder and sweat may collect between the folds of the skin on thighs, inner elbow, neck and knees, so clean these areas carefully as well.

• Limit use of talcum powder. If you decide to use talcum powder choose a brand made specially for babies and use a powder puff or a piece of cloth to apply powder taking care to avoid his nasal area, mouth, eyes and genitals. Never dab powder directly from the container onto your baby.

• Avoid creams and lotions on rashes. Some baby's may have sensitive skin and have rashes, infantile eczema or baby acne. White heads and baby acne are caused by the maternal hormones that have been passed to your baby through the placenta before birth. Spots may subside gradually in a week or so. They may also recur and persist till the baby is about a few months old. Avoid using creams and lotions on the irritated skin. In some cases, rashes also appear due to over-wrapping the baby in the hot and humid weather.

• Avoid using kajal. Elders in the family may insist you put kajal, surma or a black tika after a bath to avoid the evil eye. It is safer to avoid using kajal and surma as they may have chemicals or ingredients that are harmful to the baby’s sensitive skin. However, if you do plan to put a tika, you may put it on the sole of his feet.

• Talk to your doctor before giving gripewater . Another common practice in Indian homes is to give a teaspoonful of gripewater or janam ghutti just after bath to ensure the baby’s well being. It is best to discuss with your doctor if you may give such preparations to a newborn baby.

• Avoid squeezing the newborn's breasts. Exposure to maternal hormones during pregnancy causes a slight enlargement of breasts in some baby boys and baby girls as well. This white milky discharge is known as "witch's milk". Avoid squeezing the breast tissue as this could lead to infection. The breast enlargement will automatically disappear over a couple of months.