TOPPING AND TAILING YOUR BABY

Care of the cord
Until the cord stump falls off, wash it each day to prevent infection. Incorporate this into your topping and tailing routing. To clean the cord, dip some cotton wool into the cooled, boiled water, then wipe the stump and the area around it gently. Dry thoroughly with a fresh piece.
When putting on your baby,s nappy, fold it back below the stump to keep it dry from urine.

Clean your baby's face
Dip a piece of cotton wool in the water and wipe one of the baby's eyes, moving from the inner to the outer corner. Using the fresh piece, repeat on the other eye. Using more moistened cotton wool, wipe he rest of her face, including her nose and ears- but avoid wiping inside these sensitive areas. Clean in her neck creases, then gently pat her skin dry.

Clean your baby,s hands and arms
Gently up-clench each of your baby,s hands and wipe clean, particularly between her fingers. Lift her arms and using fresh cotton wool, wipe the armpit areas. Gently pat these areas dry with a towel.

Clean your baby's feet
Use more moistened cotton wool to wipe the top and bottom of your baby's feet and between her toes. Dry each foot carefully.

Remove your baby's nappy
If your baby has had a bowel movement, take her nappy off slowly, using front to remove as much of the mess as possible. Fold the nappy over, place in a plastic bag and put it aside for later disposal.

Clean her tummy and legs
Holding your baby firmly but gently. moisten some cotton wool and wipe her tummy area. Using fresh cotton wool, clean along the folds of your baby's legs. Wipe downwards away from her body to avoid transmitting any infections to her genital area.

Clean her genitals and bottom
When cleaning girl, hold her ankles gently with one hand, put your finger between hr ankles, and lift her bottom slightly. Using fresh cotton wool, clean the outer lips of her vulva- but don't clean inside. Always wipe downward when cleaning her genitals so that you don't transfer bacteria from her anus to her vagina. Then, keeping her bottom raised, clean her buttocks using fresh cotton wool. Clean the backs of her thighs and up her back if necessary. Dry the whole area thoroughly.