How to hold a newborn while bathing - tips for young parents

Is it possible to bathe a newborn before the umbilical cord falls off?

In the first weeks of the baby's life, until the umbilical cord falls off, the baby can be wiped with a damp sponge or cloth. Wrap your baby in a towel and place him on a comfortable surface, such as a changing table. Then wipe it, exposing parts of the body one by one. The cord remnant usually falls off after a few weeks. If this does not happen, consult your doctor. The residue should dry out and fall off, so you shouldn’t get it wet and it’s better to wait a while before giving your newborn a full bath.

Preparing a newborn for bathing

Pediatricians do not recommend boiling water for bathing a baby whose umbilical wound has healed. Place a diaper at the bottom of the baby bath to make washing more convenient. Diapers are convenient because they do not leave marks on the baby's skin. You need to prepare:

• towel with hood;
• soft sponge or towel for washing;
• cotton balls;
• baby soap or any other hypoallergenic product;
• baby comb or brush.

How to teach a child to drink water at different ages

Then warm water is poured into the container until it just covers the shoulders (the baby should be in a half-sitting position).

Note! It is necessary to measure the water temperature with a thermometer. It should be at 36-37 degrees. Some mothers determine the temperature with their elbow. The sensations during measurement should be neutral.

How to hold your baby while bathing

To make it convenient to swaddle your baby, you should lay out all the necessary items in a row in advance. To treat the wound, you should prepare a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Absolutely not necessary:

• turn on the electric fireplace in the bathroom;
• close the door tightly;
• Constantly add hot water during bathing.

How to bathe a newborn

First, prepare everything you need:

• Shampoo, soap, a ladle, a towel and a change of clothes - everything you need for bathing should be at hand so that you do not need to be distracted from your baby. Never leave your baby unattended in the bathroom!
• Before undressing your baby, make sure the room is warm enough - about 24–26 °C.

How to properly bathe a newborn:

1. Place a towel in the bottom of a sink or baby bathtub and fill with warm water. The depth should be about 5 cm, and the temperature should be 37–38 °C. You can check if the water is too hot by dipping your elbow in the water or wet the inside of your wrist.
2. Holding your baby's head with your non-dominant hand, lower him into the water so that his legs are in the water and most of his body is above the water.
3. Wash your baby starting from the head, going down to the legs. Newborns can be washed with just water, but if you prefer, you can use mild baby soap. To keep your baby from freezing, pour warm water over him from a ladle. You can use a soft cloth for your face.
4. If your baby already has hair, it is enough to wash it with shampoo once or twice a week. Apply a couple of drops of baby shampoo to your hair and very lightly massage your scalp, including the fontanel area. When you rinse off the shampoo, do it carefully so that soap suds do not get into your child’s eyes - hold your palm against his forehead. If soap or shampoo does get into your eyes, wipe them with a cloth soaked in water.

To prevent your baby's skin from drying out, after bathing, apply moisturizing, hypoallergenic, fragrance-free milk. Regular moisturizing can also help prevent irritation on your baby's skin. If the baby has crusts on the head, while bathing the newborn, you can massage the scalp with a soft hair brush, after applying shampoo to the head. And don’t forget: under no circumstances should you leave your child alone in the water.

If for some reason you need to interrupt the bath (for example, you forgot something in another room), remove your baby from the water and take it with you.

Hot or cold?

The skin of a newborn baby is still very thin and delicate, and thermoregulation is just developing, which is why children freeze and overheat so easily. Even an adult can feel ill after overheating in a too hot bath, and even more so for a baby. But if we can get out of the bath or adjust the temperature of the water, the child cannot say anything about it or correct the situation himself. In addition, hot water helps open the pores on the child’s skin and allow infection to enter there: children’s skin is an ideal “gateway” for diseases to enter the body, because the child’s immunity, like thermoregulation, has not yet been developed. (read on the topic: newborn skin and proper care for it)

Water that is too cold is not much better. If the child is cold, there will be no pleasure from bathing. This is also a risk for the urinary system: if it hardens, urination will be painful.

Ideal water temperature

What should be the optimal temperature for bathing the little ones? Both pediatricians and mothers agree on one opinion: no higher than 37 degrees, but not lower than 34. Adults may find this water a little cold, but the fact is that the child is accustomed to such water even before birth: amniotic fluid has a temperature of 37 degrees, and It was under these conditions that the child developed before his birth. Water temperatures above 38 can lead to rapid heartbeat and overheating of the child. Out of habit, too cold water can frighten the baby and discourage him from any desire to swim for a long time and the child may begin to be afraid of the bathroom. Important: What to do if a child is afraid to swim in the bath.

Water at this temperature will prevent the penetration of infections and is beneficial for children's skin. In addition, a child’s umbilical wound heals faster in water at 37 degrees.

It is important to know. Until the umbilical wound has healed, the child should be bathed in boiled water. You can swim in a running water starting from 10-14 days of life. By this time, the umbilical wound will disappear.

Don’t be afraid that the water will cool down quickly and the baby will freeze, because the first baths last no more than 10-15 minutes. Even if the water cools by one or two degrees during this time, it will not be critical.

It is also important to monitor the air temperature while swimming. The child will definitely not like a large difference between the temperature of the water and the air, so the bathing room should not be overheated and it is better not to close the door to it.

So, we start swimming at a temperature of 34-37 and every 3-4 days we lower the water temperature by 1-2 degrees. In general, the lower the water temperature, the better. But no violence against a child, you need to see in moderation.

Some children prefer warmer water, others prefer colder water. How can you tell if your baby is cold or hot in the bath? – If the baby is cold, he shrinks into a ball, his nasolabial triangle turns blue, and after a while the child begins to tremble. If it is hot, the skin will turn red and the child will become lethargic. In both cases, the child will notify you by crying.

Interesting on the topic:

• What kind of water should I bathe a newborn baby in, should I boil the water, should I add potassium permanganate?
• how to properly bathe newborn babies in this article;
• Optimal air temperature in a room for a newborn baby: how to maintain temperature conditions.

How to check the temperature? Thermometer or “elbow”

The easiest way is to buy a special bath with a built-in thermometer (see about types of baby baths). If you don’t have one, you can use a special water thermometer, which is sold in pharmacies. And finally, you can use the “grandmother’s method” - measure the temperature using your own elbow. The skin on this area of ​​the hand is especially delicate and sensitive to temperature changes. So, if you put your hand in water at the temperature in which we are used to swimming, it will seem normal. If you put your elbow in it, the water will seem very hot. This is how it will seem to a child. If the water feels normal when you lower your elbow, this temperature will be ideal for the baby.

We organize the optimal temperature

Making bathing water perfect is not a difficult task. It is enough to arm yourself with a water thermometer, and then everything is simple.

1. Pour cold water into the bath. If the baby is not two weeks old, it is first boiled and cooled for several hours.
2. We place a thermometer in it.
3. Add hot water little by little until the thermometer shows 36-37. It is in the cold that you need to add hot!
4. In order for the thermometer to tell the truth, the water must be stirred all the time.

Best time to bathe a newborn

The best time for bathing is the one that is comfortable for you and your baby. Try to arrange a bath when the child is calm and happy with everything, and you are unlikely to be distracted by anyone or anything from the process. Some parents prefer to bathe their babies during the day, when the child is more active. And others are taught to bathe in the evening, as one of the stages of the bedtime ritual. Do not bathe your baby immediately after feeding.

What items are needed for bathing after the maternity hospital?

Before you start bathing your baby, prepare all the necessary things in advance. Here's a rough list of what you might need:

• Rubber mat on the floor to prevent mommy from slipping
• Clock to guide the duration of swimming;
• Zelenka, hydrogen peroxide, a few cotton swabs or a little cotton wool for treating the umbilical wound;
• Talc or special cream for treating baby's skin;
• A ladle with clean water for rinsing after bathing in the bath;
• Water thermometer;
• A diaper or soft towel for drying the baby;
• Change of clothes for the newborn and diaper.

Bath toys

For very young children, the water itself, splashes, foam is already a fairly stimulating experience, and they do not need bath toys. Older kids can be entertained by toys and waterproof bath books. It's natural to feel hesitant before giving your newborn his first bath. Follow our step-by-step instructions, observe safety precautions, and everything will work out! Gradually, the baby will fall in love with bathing and will treat it as another exciting activity. When your baby gets older, let him splash and play in the water. It is enough to bathe newborns only two or three times a week - not to mention changing diapers. Always keep a full pack of the current size at home and, just in case, one pack for growth. Buy a supply of diapers simply online at a special price.

How this article was written The information presented in this article is based on expert advice published by trusted (medical and government) sources such as the American Pediatric Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. A complete list of links to sources used to write this article can be found at the end of the article. The information on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

What to do after swimming

After water procedures, put a cap on the child’s head and very gently blot all wet parts of the body with a towel. Particular attention is paid to folds on the skin. Do not rub the cloth over the skin. Next, comb your hair carefully.

Combing baby

For newborns, there is no need to use moisturizing cosmetics, because the epidermis should exfoliate naturally. It is not recommended to disrupt this process by exposure to artificial cosmetics. After the baby's skin is completely dry, he needs to be wrapped in a diaper, before putting on a clean diaper, rompers and a shirt.

Often young parents do not know how to properly hold their baby while bathing. Once you are familiar with simple washing techniques, you can safely carry out this procedure at home. The little one will always be clean, which means healthy. Any mother or father can quickly and happily learn simple techniques for bathing a baby.