By the time your baby is about 4 months old, he has most likely graduated from sponge baths and may enjoy splashing in the tub or kitchen sink. A safe and fun bath requires some preparation, and here are some tips and suggestions.

Collect everything you need-towel, washcloth, mild baby soap, baby shampoo, and a baby bathtub or nonskid mat for the sink. (Skip the bubble bath; it will irritate your baby’s skin and could cause a rash.) Fill the sink or tub with warm water and be sure it is no more than 98 to 100 F. You can also test the water temperature on the sensitive skin on the inside of your arm; it should feel no more than mildly warm.

Always keep one hand on your baby to keep him from slipping and squirming, and take care that he doesn’t knock his head

by covering hard metal with a soft cover made for that purpose. Never leave your baby alone in the bath, even for a second. Some babies adore bath time and feel comforted by the combination of warm water and your voice and hands. Others would prefer to avoid baths altogether. If your baby doesn’t enjoy bathing, you may not need to wash more than

his face, hands, and diaper area very often until he’ s crawling and walking.

While no one is certain why there has been a dramatic increase in the number of children severely allergic to peanuts, one suspected culprit is skin cream that contains peanut oil. A recent study shows that children whose skin was treated with

lotion or cream containing peanut oil in the first 6 months of life were more likely to develop a peanut allergy. Babies with eczema and rashes were more likely to develop the allergy than others. Before applying a lotion to soothe diaper rash or dry skin, check the label to be certain it does not include peanut oil.