The first bath: how and with what to wash a newborn and infant?
Newborn's first bath at home can be quite a stressful event for young parents. Probably in your head there is a fear that if you do not have practice, you will hurt your child. That is why we suggest when time for newborn's first bathhow to prepare for it and how to do it step by step to save stress for both your toddler and yourself. We also have an answer for you, about bathing a newborn baby the most suitable.
We have issued an opinion on many products useful for bathing at the Institute - in our database you will find bathtubs and mats, towels and safe cosmetics. Use them not only for the first bath of a newborn, but also for subsequent ones, being sure that the products you choose are XNUMX% safe.
When is the first bath for a newborn baby?
Before we move on to the issue of how and with what to bathe a baby, let's explain when a newborn's first bath at home can take place. Certainly, there is no need to do it right after you arrive from the hospital, or even on the same day. Giving ourselves and the child time to get used to the new situation, we can wait 2-3 days with the first bath. In the following weeks or even months, we do not have to bathe the baby every day - as long as it spends its time mainly on eating and sleeping, a few times a week is enough.
When to bathe a newborn: in the morning or in the evening?
The question of when to bathe a newborn baby is often asked in relation to the time of day. Is bathing in the evening a better idea than in the morning? When planning it, it is worth taking into account other activities - so that, for example, you do not go out for a walk with your toddler after taking a bath. For this reason, the evening is a better time for a bath - as a pleasant ritual to help your baby fall asleep.
Expert advises
Doubts about when to bathe a newborn appear especially when the first "bathing" experiences turned out to be unpleasant for the toddler and stressful for parents who are afraid that they did something wrong. Remember, however, that at the beginning a bath can be a strong experience for a newborn and before it gets used to the contact with water and the accompanying treatments, it may feel anxious and react by crying.
What is needed for the first bath of a newborn?
Below you will find a list of products that should be prepared before starting a newborn's first bath at home.
- A large towel to wrap your baby around after bathing (be sure to wash it and iron it before using it for the first time). Instead of an ordinary towel, you can buy a special towel for children - with a sewn-on hood. A good choice is a bamboo fiber towel, which absorbs moisture well and stays soft after washing, unlike cotton, which tends to be rough after a few washes;
- A diaper made of cloth to line the bathtub with it or a special bath mat. It can be made of a sponge, but you should disinfect it - wash and dry it regularly. Also, do not use one mat for more than three weeks as bacteria can build up in it;
- Eye pads;
- Baby bath cosmetic - liquid, emulsion, or a washing bar. Regardless of the formula of the preparation, it must be intended for children from the first day of life;
- A baby oil;
- Anti-chafing cream or ointment to smear your baby's bottom;
- A clean nappy and clothes;
- A soft hairbrush for children (if necessary, because not all newborns have thick hair);
- Ear cleaning sticks - they must be sticks specifically for children, with a stop, for the spot cleaning of the outer surfaces of the ears;
- Wet wipes - if, when undressing the baby, it turned out that it has a dirty nappy;
- If the child has very dry skin, you can pour it into the bathtub a little oiling emulsion. When it comes to bathing a baby in dissolved potassium permanganate crystals or bathing a newborn baby in starch made of potato flour, it is best to ask the pediatrician or midwife for opinion.
The necessary things for bathing seem to be a lot, but once you get into practice, their preparation is no longer complicated. Anyway, some accessories are only needed at the beginning - for example, sterile gauze.
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Senior specialist in the Department of Assessment and Cooperation Development, Institute of Mother and Child
Where to put the bathtub?
A newborn's first bath at home does not have to take place in the bathroom. Not every bathroom has enough space, and a second person to help can be useful, especially at the beginning. So it can be a table in the room or a special frame for a bathtub. It is important that it is stable and that the parent has the possibility of close contact with the child. Regardless of where the baby's first bath takes place, it should be a warm and draft-free room.
First bath: the right temperature
Caring for the thermal comfort of a toddler during the first baths, however, do not overdo it. We advise you not to overheat the room too much: the optimal air temperature is 22-25 degrees. The water temperature should be 35-37 degrees - you can check it with a thermometer or by submerging your elbow, but definitely not with your hand. It is worth observing your toddler's behavior while bathing to make sure that the water is not too warm or too cold for him. There should not be much water in the bathtub - just pour enough water so that it reaches 10 cm above the bottom.
What does the first bath of a newborn look like?
The first bath shouldn't be too long. The optimal time for a baby's bath is 5 minutes. Prolonged exposure to water may dry out your baby's delicate skin. The water gets cold quickly too, and there is little of it.
- Start the bath outside the tub from wash your face with a cotton ball and rub your eyes with a gauze pad moistened with saline. Ear stick designed especially for children (with limiter) gently wash only the outer recesses of the auricle and the surface behind the ears. However, do not put the stick into your ear under any circumstances, it is enough to clean it of visible discharge (earwax). You can also use a soft, rolled gauze swab, a cotton ball or a cotton pad to moisten it with a little water.
- Place your right hand under the toddler's buttocks, and support the head and neck with your left hand. When you put your baby in the bathtub, remove your hand from under the buttocks and gently wash it, supporting the head and taking care not to let water run into the eyes and ears.
- You must hold the baby gently but firmly at the same time. Wet, soapy skin is slippery and easy to injure. To be sure, ask a loved one to assist you at the beginning.
- During the first baths be careful not to get the healing navel wet. However, if it does, you can gently dry it with a sterile gauze pad.
- At the end wash your toddler's head. Put a little shampoo on a wet washcloth (at the beginning, in the first month, only soapy water) and gently rub the baby's head in a circular motion. When rinsing - be careful not to splash your eyes and ears. The child has an immature thermoregulation center and cools down very quickly. Damp head causes heat loss.
- Any use bath cosmetics sparinglyto reduce the risk of irritation and possible allergies. Only the best and safest of them have a positive opinion of the Institute. In the first month of life, your baby's skin is particularly sensitive, so pay attention to what you use.
- Over time, the bath will be easier and more absorbing, because the baby will be more mobile and more independent.
- After taking the baby out of the water gently dry the skin with a towel, without rubbing. If your skin requires it, i.e. it is dry or flaky, especially in the folds on the thighs and neck, as well as in the bends of the knees and elbows, you can brush it lightly with olive oil or baby cream. Be sure to pay attention to which day of life you can use such a cosmetic.
- The clothes you prepare for your baby after bathing, especially at the beginning, should be comfortable and easy to put on. At the beginning, we offer a body fastened at the front, without having to put it over the head, and a romper or romper as the top layer.
What to wash a newborn and infant in?
When preparing for the first home baths of a newborn baby, we must choose the right cosmetics. The case is so complicated that there is no one measure that can guarantee the perfect operation for all skin types. However, it is worth knowing what criteria to take into account when buying products for washing and caring for a baby's skin. In order to answer the question of what is best for bathing a newborn baby, we need to start by discussing the features and needs of the baby's skin.
The delicate skin of a newborn and baby
Human skin is designed to protect the body and, inter alia, keep microbes away from it - viruses and bacteria. Unfortunately, in newborns and infants, the lipid barrier is not yet properly formed (fatty layer), which prevents unwanted substances from entering the bloodstream. The properties of a toddler's skin are different than that of an adult: the pH of a newborn baby is close to neutral and amounts to about 6,4 - only with time it drops to slightly acidic (about 4,9). The acidic environment acts as an invisible cloak, which prevents various microorganisms from developing, but there is no such protection in the first stage of life. Additionally the skin in the first period of life is very delicate and thin, it is easy to damage, from where the path to infection is already open.
The choice of cosmetic is very important, because thanks to it we can provide our little ward with sleeping comfort, health and safety.
What to bath a newborn baby?
For washing the newborn it is most recommended to use water with a small addition of a very mild cosmetic, tested by a reputable research institution (as long as its packaging clearly states that it can be used from the first day of life). The ideal cosmetic for washing the youngest children should gently lubricate the skin, without any fragrances or dyes. In the case of older babies, we have more options to choose from.
- When buying a cosmetic, first of all, pay attention to whether it is a preparation intended for children. Adult cosmetics are not suitable for baby's delicate skin. Even if they do not cause irritation after one wash, they may still develop in the following days. Adult cleansers have a different composition, they contain substances that adversely affect the skin of children. Moreover, the fragrances and dyes added there can cause allergic reactions and other skin problems.
- The second important criterion is simplicity. The fewer ingredients in a given cosmetic, the better. Young children do not need refreshment, awakening or a fruity fragrance. They need hydration and lubrication of the skin, nothing more. Therefore, before choosing a specific preparation, let's check the composition, compare it with others, read generally available information. Here, minimalism definitely wins.
- It's good if a children's washing cosmetic contains substances oiling. We must provide the toddler with adequate protection until his skin forms its own lipid layer.
Let's not forget about recommendations and recommendations of research centers. If we find out from the label that the product has been tested by an authoritative institution, this is a good signal. It means that it has been tested how such a cosmetic works and proved that it is actually beneficial for the baby's skin.
Expert advises
It is important that the cosmetic for washing babies and toddlers contains mild washing substances, the so-called surfactants (commonly known as detergents), which do not violate the skin's protective barrier, and therefore do not dry it and reduce the risk of irritation and allergies. These include sulfosuccinates, amino acid derivatives, alkylbetaines, alkylpolyglucamides or alkylpolyglucosides, e.g. decyl glucoside from the latter group has a particularly mild effect. And one more thing - which hardly anyone remembers: after bathing your toddler, using a bubble bath, rinse the child's body with water. We should also remember not to apply the shampoo directly from the bottle to the child's hair - we put it on a wet hand, which we then wash the baby's head with.
Liquid, emulsion or washing bar?
Regardless of the formula and consistency, these children's bath cosmetics should meet the above-mentioned criteria. What else is worth paying attention to?
- When preparing a bath in a bathtub, it is worth following the recommendations given on the packaging (amount of water, liquid, appropriate proportions, etc.).
- Baby washing cosmetics should not foam too much - excess foam may have a cooling effect on the baby during bathing, and the foam contains detergents that have a negative effect on the skin.
- Some cosmetics are dispensed with a pump - the same as in popular liquid soaps. It is a convenient solution when we have to wash the baby ourselves and we cannot really count on any help.
- Preparations with olive oil in their composition are not used for washing hair - they can stick it together and make it excessively greasy.
- After using it for washing cosmetics containing oiling substances, there is no need to use olive oil or milk on the baby's skin.
Bathing a newborn baby in starch - yes or no?
On the wave of popularity of natural ingredients and home care methods, the question of bathing a newborn in starch, usually made of potato starch, often returns. It is commonly believed that the starch soothes irritations of the baby's sensitive skin - in case of chafes, heat rash or allergic reactions to ingredients in detergents or cosmetics. But beware - the use of starch may exacerbate skin changes caused, for example, by yeasts. Therefore, if you are not sure about the cause of irritation, consult your doctor before first bathing your baby in starch.
Other traditional bath products
And potassium permanganate? Bathing an infant in its solution is currently not recommended as a routine nursing procedure, unless otherwise indicated by a pediatrician or dermatologist. Due to its bactericidal and fungicidal properties, potassium permanganate has a disinfecting effect on the skin, but in excess it can dry out and irritate it.
When using home methods and means of caring for a newborn and infant, even those approved by the doctor caring for the toddler, we should be careful and react immediately if we notice any negative effects of their action.
Moderation and caution above all
Bath products should always be used sparingly to reduce the risk of irritation and allergies. When choosing a preparation for our baby, remember that we care about its comfort. Therefore, it is worth observing the condition of his skin and behavior - especially after using a new cosmetic.
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