The birth of a new member of the family brings mom and dad a lot of positive emotions, a sense of limitless happiness and, of course, a million new worries. How to store breast milk, what diapers to use, whether it is possible to walk in bad weather, whether to give a baby a dummy and, of course, how to bathe a newborn properly - these are the issues that concern all parents without exception. The last of them is worth dwelling in more detail.
When can I start?
So, immediately after birth, the baby goes through its first hygienic cleansing procedure. In the following days, the child can only be washed or wiped gently using wet sanitary napkins. When can I bathe a newborn in the bath? Only after the umbilical wound heals, i.e. already on the 7-10th day of life. At the same time, one should remember about cleanliness, hygiene and safety: the container in which the baby bathes should be washed, without sharp corners and chips.
If cleanliness and hygiene are maintained in the house where the baby grows, then you can use a regular bath. At the same time, before bathing a child, you just need to thoroughly wash it with baking soda (you should never use special products with chlorine).
Secret "bathing technology"
You can find out how to properly bathe a newborn from your local pediatrician, grandmothers or more experienced friends, but their advice is not always useful. Nevertheless, there are rules that all parents must adhere to without exception:
- you need to bathe the baby daily. For a day, the child “spoils” at least 40 diapers and spits up after each feeding, so frequent water procedures will only benefit him;
- do not abuse foams, shampoos and bathing gels - you can use them no more than once a week. It is also not necessary to use herbal decoctions and infusions without the appointment of a pediatrician. For children of one month old, several crystals of potassium permanganate can be dissolved in water;
- bathing water does not have to be boiled. The main thing is to monitor its cleanliness and the absence of extraneous visible impurities (rust, dirt, etc.) in it;
- It is important to maintain the correct temperature in the bath. It should be between 36-38 degrees. Bathing time should be from 10 minutes;
- leave the baby alone in the water for a second.
And what after swimming?
Knowing how to bathe a newborn is not enough. After water procedures, you must also follow certain rules:
- after taking the baby out of the water, you need to put it on a soft cloth and gently wet the whole body. In no case should you rub your skin with a towel - this can damage it;
- a light massage will benefit your child. Gentle strokes improve blood circulation, relieve muscle hypertonicity and provide complete relaxation of the body;
- you can put on crumbs only after the skin is completely dry;
- use a large number of creams, oils and powders is not worth it - this can disrupt the water balance of the delicate skin of the baby. Nappy cream will be enough.
All of the above recommendations are binding. The remaining points regarding how to properly bathe a newborn should be determined by parents individually.