With the advent of crumbs, young parents will have to face many difficulties. They have to learn how to feed a newborn, change clothes, soothe and, of course, bathe. Many mothers and fathers are cautiously awaiting the first water procedures. The baby’s body is still so fragile, and holding the baby in her arms will be very difficult. We will talk about how to bathe a newborn for the first time and in the future in our article. Below we present a number of useful rules and recommendations that will help make water procedures pleasant for both the baby and his parents.
The benefits of bathing for a newborn
Water procedures are of great importance in the life of every baby. And this is not only about compliance with hygiene requirements, but also about the emotional development of crumbs. This is one of the ways of knowing the world, and the parents can make bathing interesting and relaxing for the child, preparing him for bedtime.
The benefits of water procedures for the newborn:
- cleansing and skin care;
- relaxation, preparation for bed;
- knowledge of the world;
- body hardening;
- getting pleasant emotions.
Swimming is recommended daily, at the same time of day. This will not only maintain the hygienic cleanliness of the body at the right level, but also help to develop a certain regimen of day and night. The baby will be easier to go to bed and sleep better all night.
In order for water procedures to be beneficial, you need to know how to bathe a newborn baby and what to do immediately after taking a bath. But for starters, you should be well prepared for this event exciting all young parents.
When to bathe a baby for the first time?
Some parents immediately after discharging the baby from the hospital want to bathe him at home. Can this be done? When is the best time to start your first bath?
It should be noted that doctors do not recommend rushing with water procedures. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, discharge is already a stress for the baby. A newborn leaves the place where he was born. He will see the street and his house for the first time. On this day, he can be moody, and to acquaint him with the bath is definitely not worth it.
Secondly, the day after discharge from the hospital, the newborn usually visits the pediatrician from the clinic at the place of residence. If the doctor does not see any contraindications, you can start swimming in the evening. But only on condition that the child has already dropped the rest of the umbilical cord with a clothespin. Until this moment, it is not recommended to bathe him. At the same time, it is important not to forget to monitor the cleanliness of skin folds with wet wipes. Now it remains only to find out how to bathe a newborn at home.
Preparation for water procedures
To make the first bathing fun for both the child and parents, you need to consider the following nuances:
- It is most convenient to bathe a newborn in a special plastic bath, which must first be washed with baking soda and doused with boiling water.
- It is recommended to boil water in advance and cool to the desired temperature.
- If necessary, water can be disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate or add to it a decoction of herbs with antiallergic, antiseptic or soothing effects.
- Prepare baby hygiene products. But you will need them only if you are not going to bathe your baby for the first time. Use soap and shampoo should be no more than 1 time per week.
Bathing a newborn baby for the first time, as well as for the second and subsequent ones, should be in a room specially designed for this - a bathtub.
Water and air temperature
From the first bath, it depends on how much the child will enjoy the daily water treatments. Very often, parents, lowering the baby in too hot water, wonder why he begins to scream and continues to do this every subsequent time. And the main reason for this behavior is that the temperature in the bath is not suitable for the delicate skin of the baby.
Bathing a newborn, as well as a baby two and three months old, is recommended in warm water. Its temperature must be measured in advance. The optimal value for a small bath is +36 ... + 37 ° C. In a large bath, the temperature may be slightly lower: +35 ° C, because the water in it cools more slowly.
It is equally important to take care of the optimal temperature in the room. It should be at the level of +22 ... + 24 ° . While bathing, it is recommended that you leave the door to the bathroom open, but take care of the absence of drafts. This will prevent a sharp drop in air temperature when leaving the room where the child was swimming.
Adding herbs and water disinfectants
The pediatrician can recommend using additional products when bathing the baby that positively affect the condition of his skin. It can be decoctions of herbs or potassium permanganate. Even 20 years ago, manganese was considered the number one means for disinfecting water, but today more and more pediatricians and parents refuse it. It has been proven that undissolved crystals of this substance can cause burns to the cornea of the eye.
As for the decoctions of herbs, the bathing sequence and calendula (for rashes on the skin), chamomile (for pains in the stomach), motherwort decoction (for relaxation) are most suitable for bathing. They should be cooked in a water bath according to the instructions indicated on the package. You need to add decoctions of herbs to the water, having previously filtered them through gauze, in a small amount.
All the remedies described above are recommended to be used when the baby has already healed the umbilical wound. If you are interested in how to bathe a newborn baby for the first time, then we dare to assure you that only boiled water of the right temperature will be enough. Decoctions and infusions will be applied a little later.
How to bathe a newborn for the first time?
Before proceeding with water procedures, it is necessary to install the bath at a convenient level from the floor. After that, boiled water is poured into it and measured with a thermometer. Separately, you need to prepare a jug of warm water. It will be needed in order to wash the baby after bathing. This is the preparatory phase. Now we will describe step by step how to bathe a newborn at home for the first time:
- An undressed child after a short air bath is wrapped in a thin diaper.
- The baby is slowly immersed in water so that his head is slightly raised. At this time, you need to monitor the reaction of the newborn. Keep your head above the surface of the water while swimming should be with your left hand. Right at this time all the necessary water procedures are performed.
- Gradually wash the arms and legs of the baby. Each time they are released from a thin diaper, and then again they hide behind it.
- After bathing the newborn, it is recommended to rinse with water from the jug, having previously measured the temperature in it.
- The washed baby is wrapped in a pre-prepared warm diaper.
How to bathe a newborn with soap and shampoo?
Water procedures using special means for washing the skin and hair should be carried out no more than 1-2 times a week. In general, bathing a newborn - both with soap and shampoo, and without them - should be done using the instructions above. But at the same time, the following nuances must be taken into account:
- The child is wrapped in a diaper and dipped in warm water with a temperature of 36-37 degrees.
- Holding the baby’s head with his left hand, his face is washed with his right. There should be little water in the palm so that the newborn does not get scared.
- Lathering the right hand, they begin to cleanse the skin folds in the neck, groin, behind the ears, between the fingers, wash the elbow and popliteal folds, pay attention to the armpits. You can wash your baby not only with your hand, but also with a special baby washcloth or cotton swab.
- Start washing your hair with shampoo. To do this, a small amount is poured onto the palm of your hand and applied to the baby's head. With the help of a prepared jug of water, the shampoo is washed off from the hair. It is important to ensure that he does not get into the eyes.
- At the end of bathing, the child is rinsed with water from a jug and wrapped in a prepared diaper.
How long to bathe the baby?
The duration of water procedures depends on the age of the child. If we are talking about how to bathe a newborn for the first time, then the time the baby is in water should not exceed three minutes. Gradually, in the second and subsequent months of the baby's life, the duration of the procedures in water is increased to 5-10 minutes. Children older than six months can swim much longer - about 20-30 minutes. At the same time, it is important to adhere to a certain regime of the day in conducting water procedures. It is advisable that this was evening time, before going to bed.
As for the features of swimming, it is recommended to wrap the baby in a thin diaper before immersion in water for up to one and a half months. Then you just need to lay it on the bottom. After 6 months, the baby can be bathed in a sitting position.
What to do after swimming?
Immediately after water procedures, the baby is wrapped in a warm diaper, and wrapped in a terry towel on top. After that, he is taken to a room where children's clothing has already been prepared, put on a changing table or on a bed covered with oilcloth. Bathing a newborn baby, as well as dressing, should be done carefully. First, all the folds are wiped well, then they are sprinkled with talcum powder or smeared with cream. After this, the baby is put on a hat, sliders and a vest.
After bathing, the newborn is most likely very hungry. That is why mom will need to feed him immediately and put him to bed. If you follow this procedure daily, the child will quickly get used to the regimen, it will be easier to fall asleep and sleep better all night.
Precautions and recommendations
When bathing, pediatricians are advised to adhere to the following rules:
- To water procedures took place in a more relaxed atmosphere, it is recommended to feed the baby before they begin. With breastfeeding, it will be possible to bathe the baby immediately, since mother's milk is absorbed very quickly, and with artificial milk after 1 hour.
- It is important to ensure that there are no drafts during bathing. At the same time, it is recommended to keep the bathroom door open.
- Bathing is not carried out on the day of vaccination.
- No need to lather immediately large areas of skin so that the baby does not slip out of his hands.
- Do not use shampoo and soap intended for adults for swimming, so as not to disturb the microflora of the skin.
Dr. Komarovsky’s opinion on bathing
A well-known pediatrician believes that properly organized evening water procedures allow the baby to sleep peacefully all night. At the same time, the child is quenched, which positively affects the formation of his immunity.
What does Dr. Komarovsky say about how to bathe a newborn? The following points can be distinguished:
- There is no need to boil water. But it is desirable that it be pre-cleaned with special filters.
- Up to two to three months, the pediatrician recommends adding decoctions of herbs to the water (optional).
- According to Dr. Komarovsky, the optimum water temperature for the start of the first bathing is +36 ° C.