How to bathe a newborn: temperature, rules and recommendations

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

With the advent of the crumbs into the world, young parents will have to face many difficulties. They will have to learn how to feed the newborn, change his clothes, soothe him and, of course, bathe him. Many mothers and fathers are anxiously waiting for the first water procedures. The baby's body is still so fragile, and it will not be easy to hold the baby in your arms. 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 enjoyable for both the baby and his parents.

Benefits of bathing for a newborn

Water procedures are of great importance in the life of every baby. And we are talking not only about compliance with hygiene requirements, but also about the emotional development of the crumbs. This is one of the ways of knowing the world, and it is in the power of parents to make bathing interesting and at the same time relaxing for the child, preparing him for sleep.

The benefits of waternewborn procedures:

• cleansing and skin care;
• relaxation, preparation for sleep;
• knowledge of the world;
• hardening of the body;
• getting pleasant emotions.

Bathing is recommended every day, at the same time of day. This will not only maintain the hygienic cleanliness of the body at the right level, but will also help develop a certain regime of day and night. Your baby will fall asleep easier and sleep better through the 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 first, you should prepare well for this exciting event for all young parents.

When should I bathe my baby for the first time?

Some parents immediately after the discharge of the baby from the hospital want to bathe him at home. Can it be done? When is the best time to take your first bath?

It should be noted that doctors do not recommend rushing with water procedures. And there are several reasons for this. Firstly, discharge is already stressful for the baby. The 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 capricious, and it’s definitely not worth introducing him to the bath.

Secondly, the next day after discharge from the maternity hospital, a newborn is usually visited by a pediatrician from the clinic at the place of residence. If the doctor does not see any contraindications, you can start bathing in the evening. But only whenprovided that the child has already lost the remainder of the umbilical cord with a clothespin. Up to this point, it is not recommended to bathe him. At the same time, it is important not to forget to monitor the cleanliness of the skin folds with wet wipes. Now it remains only to figure out how to bathe a newborn at home.

Preparation for water procedures

To make the first bath enjoyable for both the child and parents, you need to consider the following nuances:

1. The most convenient way to bathe a newborn is in a special plastic bath, which must first be washed with baking soda and poured over with boiling water.
2. Water is recommended to boil in advance and cool to the desired temperature.
3. If necessary, water can be disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate or a decoction of herbs with anti-allergic, antiseptic or soothing effects can be added to it.
4. Prepare baby hygiene products. But you will only need them if you are going to bathe your baby not for the first time. Soap and shampoo should be used no more than once a week.

To bathe a newborn baby for the first time, as well as for the second and subsequent ones, should be in a specially designed room - a bathroom.

Water and air temperature

The first bath will determine how much the child will enjoy daily water treatments. Very often, parents, putting their baby into too hot water, wonder why he starts screaming andkeeps doing it every 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.

It is recommended to bathe a newborn, like a baby two and three months old, 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 °, since the water in it cools more slowly.

It is equally important to take care of the optimal air temperature in the room. It should be at the level of + 22 … + 24 ° С. While bathing, it is recommended to leave the door to the bathroom open, but make sure there are no drafts. This will prevent a sharp drop in air temperature when leaving the room where the child bathed.

Adding herbs and water disinfectants

A pediatrician may recommend using additional products when bathing a baby that positively affect the condition of his skin. It can be decoctions of medicinal herbs or potassium permanganate. Even 20 years ago, manganese was considered the number one agent for water disinfection, but today more and more pediatricians and parents refuse it. It has been proven that undissolved crystals of this substance can cause corneal burns.

As for decoctions of medicinal herbs, the most suitable for bathing are string and calendula (for skin rashes), chamomile (for pain in the tummy), decoction of motherwort (for relaxation). cook themshould be in a water bath according to the instructions on the package. You need to add decoctions of herbs to the water, after filtering them through gauze, in a small amount.

All the remedies described above are recommended to be used when the baby's umbilical wound has already healed. 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 starting water procedures, you need to install the bath at a comfortable 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 stage. Now we will describe step by step how to bathe a newborn at home for the first time:

1. A naked child, after short air baths, is wrapped in a thin diaper.
2. The baby slowly sinks into the 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 with your left hand. Right at this time, all the necessary water procedures are performed.
3. Gradually wash the hands and feet of the baby. Each time they are released from a thin diaper, and then again covered with it.
4. After bathing a newborn, it is recommended to rinse with water from a jug, after measuringtemperature in it.
5. The washed baby is wrapped in a pre-prepared warm diaper.

How to properly bathe a newborn with soap and shampoo?

Water procedures with the use of special products for washing the skin and hair should be carried out no more than 1-2 times a week. In general, bathing a newborn - with or without soap and shampoo - should be done using the instructions above. But the following nuances must be taken into account:

1. The baby is wrapped in a diaper and immersed in warm water at a temperature of 36-37 degrees.
2. Holding the baby's head with the left hand, they wash his face with the right hand. There should be little water in the palm so that the newborn is not afraid.
3. Having lathered the right hand, they begin to clean the skin folds in the neck, groin, behind the ears, between the fingers, wash the elbows and popliteals, 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.
4. Start shampooing. To do this, a small amount of it is poured into 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 the hair. It is important to ensure that it does not get into the eyes
5. At the end of bathing, the child is rinsed with water from a jug and wrapped in a prepared diaper.

How long should I bathe my baby?

The duration of water procedures depends on the age of the child. When it comes to how to bathe a newborn for the first time,the time the baby is in the water should not exceed three minutes. Gradually, in the second and subsequent months of the baby's life, the duration of 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 daily routine in carrying out water procedures. It is desirable that this be in the evening, before going to bed.

As for the peculiarities of bathing, it is recommended to wrap the baby in a thin diaper before immersion in water for up to a month and a half. 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 with a terry towel on top. After that, he is taken to a room where children's clothes have already been prepared in advance, 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 well wiped, then they are sprinkled with talcum powder or smeared with cream. After that, the baby is put on a hat, sliders and a vest.

After bathing, a newborn is likely to be very hungry. That is why mom will need to immediately feed him and put him to bed. If this procedure is followed daily, the child will very quickly get used to the regimen, it will be easier to fall asleep and sleep better all night.

Precautions and recommendations

When bathing, pediatricians advise to adhere to the followingrules:

1. In order for water procedures to take place in a more relaxed atmosphere, it is recommended to feed the baby before they start. When breastfeeding, it will be possible to bathe the baby immediately, since mother's milk is absorbed very quickly, and with artificial feeding - after 1 hour.
2. It is important to ensure that there are no drafts while bathing. In this case, it is recommended to keep the door to the bathroom open.
3. Bathing is not allowed on the day of vaccination.
4. No need to lather large areas of skin at once so that the baby does not slip out of your hands.
5. Do not use shampoo and soap intended for adults for bathing, 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 hardened, which positively affects the formation of his immunity.

What does Dr. Komarovsky say about how to bathe a newborn? The following points can be highlighted:

1. There is no need to boil water. But it is desirable that it be pre-cleaned with special filters.
2. Up to two or three months, the pediatrician recommends adding herbal decoctions to the water (optional).
3. According to Dr. Komarovsky, the optimal water temperature to start the first bath is +36 °C.