It represents one of the gestures that mark the day of the baby, essential for proper hygiene. This is how you give your baby the first bath.
The first bath of the newborn, like all gestures that accompany the first moments of life, can arouse some apprehension in novice parents. But everything is resolved in a short time.
How Do You Wash Your Baby Before The Stump Falls Out?
There are no standard start times for the baby’s first bath. In theory, contrary to popular belief, you could start washing your baby right away, when you return from the hospital. Some old beliefs affirm, in fact, that for the first bath to the newborn it would be advisable to wait for the fall of the umbilical stump for fear that infections will develop: in reality, there is no contraindication to immersing the baby in water immediately when the stump is still present.
What you need to do is remember to dry the part very well at the end of the bath: it is essential, in fact, that it does not remain wet or damp, because in this way you can actually favor the proliferation of bacteria.
In any case, if parents prefer not to bathe until the stump falls, they can wash the baby “in pieces”, first the upper part (remembering to keep the diaper otherwise he could pee on the most beautiful) by washing the head, the face, the chest, and the hands, and then move on to the lower part with the private parts and the legs.
How Many Times A Week To Wash A Newborn?
There is no obligation to take a bath every day, although in summer it can be a pleasant time to cool down and relax the little one. What matters, in fact, is to try to “interpret” the reactions of the newborn: if the immersion is unwelcome you should try to understand the reasons for the discomfort, which can range from the moment of the day when you bathe at the temperature of the water.
If you really don’t like it, you can reduce the frequency – as a rule in any case no less than times a week – and the duration of the dive (just a few minutes).
When Is It Best To Bathe Babies?
There is neither the right time to bathe nor, on the contrary, what should be avoided, although many mothers still believe that it is advisable to always wash the baby before feeding. In reality, the hungry infant who waits for milk and is immersed in water is likely to scream even more! The important thing is, therefore, to choose a time of day when you have enough time available: the bath represents a relaxing break for both the child and the parents, a moment during which to pamper each other and it is therefore important not to turn it into an obligatory appointment to get rid of quickly.
How To Wash The Baby In The Tub?
The idea is to bathe the little one in the special plastic tub that has the appropriate measures and therefore offers maximum safety and is more comfortable for both the baby and the parents who can wash and disinfect it easily. In any case, be careful not to place the tray on unstable surfaces from which it could accidentally fall: better a spacious and not too low shelf, to prevent the parent from getting back pain.
You can also wash the baby in the bathtub, but this requires more effort and more attention: you must, in fact, always wash the tub carefully before bathing and proceed to be very careful because there is a risk that the baby slips.
It is also important to carefully prepare the environment where you take a bath, so as to have everything you need close at hand without having to leave, not even for a moment. The baby, in fact, should not be left alone because, in addition to the risk of drowning that can exist even in a little water, he can inhale splashed water or, slipping, get scared or hurt.
How Many Degrees Does The Water Have To Be For A Newborn?
The ideal one is around 37 ° C, a little cooler in the summer, and a little warmer in the winter. In order not to exaggerate in one way or another, it is important at least at the beginning to have a special thermometer.
Only when you become more confident can you measure the temperature of the water by dipping your elbow into it. In any case, if you keep the tub in the bathtub, be careful not to let the water flow from the tap to avoid burns or cold shocks.
The temperature of the room is just as important as that of the water and should never drop below 22 ° C so that the baby does not get cold when naked. If necessary, you can heat the room with a heater before bathing, but avoid leaving it on during the dive because the air could become too dry.
How To Dry The Baby After A Bath?
After the bath, it is important to dry the baby well with a soft towel, dabbing the skin, without rubbing it vigorously because – being delicate – it could become irritated and red. Pay particular attention to the folds of the skin that should not be left wet to avoid maceration, which can cause irritation, redness, and itching, also becoming fertile ground for the proliferation of germs. To dry the ear, you can use a handkerchief to be passed only in the pavilion and never inside the ear canal.
The skin of the newborn does not need particular hydration: the cream should therefore be applied only if the skin is dry and always on the recommendation of the pediatrician. Instead, a specific oil can be used to give the baby the pleasure of a delicate massage, a privileged moment of contact and relationship between mother and baby, before putting the clean diaper back on and dressing it.
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