But if you think that holding your baby for the first time is scary, try bathing him or her for the first time. Then your little delicate little darling might turn into a slippery squealer and squirmer, making it a frustrating, if not traumatic, experience for both the bather and the bathee.

Bathing for beginners

Bathing should be a happy event for both mother and baby, say experts at the Johnson’s Baby Ready School. In fact, it can be a good time to bond, they add.

"Hindi ka dapat nagmamadali," advises Pat Gomez of the Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines. Here, she shares a step-by-step guide on giving baby his bath.

She starts off by saying that the type of bath depends on whether the baby still has the umbilical cord remnant (pusod) or not. Babies with their pusod should not be put into the tub, but babies whose bellybuttons have fallen off may get to splash around a bit.

1. Start by having all your equipment at hand. "Of course, you should never leave the baby on the table or in the tub because you forgot the towel!" she says.

2. Prepare lukewarm water with a little baby bath product added.

3. Moisten cotton balls with water, and clean the eyes. Then work on the outer ear, not forgetting the area behind the ears. This is not the time to reuse, and recycle, mommies. "If you used the cotton ball on the eyes, do not reuse it on other parts of the face. Use the cotton ball once. (Wipe) in one direction, then throw it away," she says.

4. For babies with their navels still attached, it is important to expose only the part that you are going to clean first.

5. Roll and tuck a soft face towel around your hand and gently wipe baby.

6. To clean the navel area, use a cotton bud with 70% alcohol.

7. To clean the genital area, Gomez again advises using cotton balls. "For girls, wipe up to down, then throw the cotton and use another one. Again, walang balik-balik. For boys, don’t forget the area behind the scrotum."

8. Dry baby every time you are done with one area, and cover with clothing.

Mommies with babies who are ready for tub baths can gently put baby in a tub of lukewarm water with baby bath product, and remember to clean all those cute little crevices, such as between fingers and toes. When bath time is done, wrap baby in a hooded towel and she is ready to go.

Barangay Baby Caravan

There are a lot of things that you don’t learn in school: turning down a persistent admirer, handling criticism from your boss, dealing with nosy neighbors, and caring for your newborn.

Johnson’s Baby takes care of the last predicament by bringing newborn care to the barangay level. The Johnson’s Baby Ready School and Newborn Care Protocol will hop through 15 barangays in an endeavor to reach new moms with concepts such as proper bathing techniques, touch therapy, breastfeeding, and kangaroo mother care. Participants will bring home their own Newborn Kit, which contains Johnson’s Baby products, and the 16-page Newborn Care Guide.

Moms can also SMS and surf their way to basic baby knowledge by texting BABY to 2366 or visiting the Top-to-Toe Wash Baby Ready website on www.babycenter.com.

Tips and tricks

Here are some reminders from seasoned experts on baby care:

• Thin skin

As if baby wasn’t fragile enough, Gomez adds that baby’s skin is 40% thinner than adult skin, so moms have to be extra careful with the products that they apply on their babies’ skin.

• Your baby is not a chicken

She says that baby powder is okay, and it is actually how you apply the powder that makes the difference. "Some moms apply it like they are seasoning chicken for deep-frying. Do not shake the powder container on your baby. Do not use a powder puff. Apply it on your hand, and then wipe it on baby’s skin," she advises.

• Scaly scalp

Cradle cap or langib will go away on its own with frequent bathing. She adds, "you can also wet the area with baby oil, and give baby a little scalp massage while you are at it, about 20 minutes before bathing." If his skin gets dry and cracked, baby lotion after bathing can help smoothen things out, she adds.

• Layers are out

When dressing baby, Dr. Socorro Mendoza of the Philippine Society of Newborn Medicine advises keeping it light, not tight. "Moms should keep in mind that babies do not have developed sweat glands. So if the environment is hot, they will also feel hot to the touch. Hindi na uso yung three layers ang suot ni baby. If the weather is a little chilly, then you can simply put baby in pajamas and sleeved shirts."

• Nix nappy rash

Diaper rash is caused by the acidic and alkaline substances in the feces, and not by urine. The best way to prevent this is by changing baby immediately after s/he defecates. Baby powder that has zinc is also helpful in preventing rashes.

• The gloves come off

Regardless of what your mom-in-law says, the bigkis (baby gloves) should never be used, and those cute little mittens have to go too. Gomez explains, "They only prevent you from properly cleaning the area between the fingers. (Gloves) are said to protect baby from scratching him or herself. But if you see that his or her nails are already long, you can cut them with baby clippers."

• Anytime is bath time

It is a fallacy to think that you can only give baby a bath in the morning. You can even give baby a bath at night, before bedtime, says Mendoza. "You simply have to make sure to use warm water and keep the room comfortably warm. Bathing can actually be done at the convenience of the mother, which is good news for moms who work at call centers."