Bathing a baby with a circle on the neck

Hello, dear parents. You know that for 9 months the baby floats in amniotic fluid. It is not surprising that after birth, water procedures are a great pleasure for children. In addition, it is believed that teaching a child to swim from an early age contributes to better development of the spine and the entire musculoskeletal system. Recently, more and more different bathing devices have appeared. And today we will talk about a special circle that is attached to the child’s neck and allows you to keep your head above the water.

Bathing device

The circle around the neck visually resembles a large horseshoe. Consists of two separate swimming rings, which are inflatable chambers. They are connected to each other with special Velcro. On sale you can find mostly bright specimens; there are also simple circles, and those with attached rattles, bells, and some even with musical accompaniment (it seems to me that this is already excessive).

Children love this device, because the baby can easily immerse himself in an adult bathtub and literally float along it, moving his arms and moving his legs.

When purchasing such a circle, a friend of mine decided to save money and bought the cheapest one she could find. However, she did not think that her copy, firstly, turned out to be of poor quality material, and secondly, when it was inflated and lowered into the water, the connection between the two chambers was broken, the Velcro turned out to be unreliable.

What is a baby bath collar?

A circle-collar for bathing newborns is a convenient and well-thought-out device. The product is a detachable inflatable ring consisting of two independent chambers, upper and lower.

As a rule, the lower part of the circle is equipped with small handles, which are convenient for the baby to hold on to while bathing. The inner part has a thinner insert with a special recess for fixing the child's chin.

This design of the collar ensures the anatomically correct position of the baby’s cervical spine and does not allow him to swallow water.

The product has a detachable design that can be securely fixed on a child’s neck using two pairs of Velcro or latches. Most models of swimming collars are designed for children from 0 to 6 months , but there are also more massive circles designed for ages from six months to a year, and sometimes up to 3 years.

A neck circle for bathing newborns will allow the child to exercise maximum physical activity during water procedures. With regular swimming of the baby in a collar, parents will very soon notice the first positive results from such activities:

As a result of regular complex loads on muscle tissue, the child will learn to roll over, and then crawl and walk much earlier than non-swimming peers.
Water procedures in combination with physical exercise will increase the immune defense of the baby’s body.
A child will develop his lungs, just like any older swimmer.
Active swimming will improve peristalsis, which means it will help fight colic and constipation that is common in infants.
The sleep and mood of the little family member will improve.

When using the circle, the parents' backs will rest, because the baby will no longer need constant head support with the help of the parents' hands.

We invite you to watch a video about what a baby bathing collar is:

Doctor Komarovsky's opinion on infants swimming in the bathtub with an accessory

Evgeniy Olegovich welcomes the use of inflatable collars for bathing newborns. The pediatrician is confident that additional freedom of movement is beneficial for the baby , and parents freed from standing in an awkward position are the best partners for play and development.

According to Komarovsky, the main purpose of water procedures for infants is not hygiene at all, but maintaining the child’s healthy physical activity and hardening him.

We invite you to watch a video about Dr. Komarovsky’s opinion on a children’s swimming circle:

Who came up with it?

Most mothers who have tasted all the benefits of a swimming collar dream of erecting a monument to its creator. But it’s almost impossible to honor the savior of parents’ backs: after all, back in the mid-80s, some mothers bought inflatable orthopedic ring pillows at pharmacies and deftly fitted them onto their children’s necks while bathing.

Soon, the brilliant idea of enterprising parents was picked up by manufacturers of children's goods, and in the early 90s, American mothers, and later the whole world, were already enjoying factory-made swim collars.

Fitting

In order to purchase a successful copy that is ideal for your baby, you need to go shopping with your child and insist on a preliminary selection.

When purchasing, you need to carefully examine the product, make sure that the seams are safe, but strong enough, there is no specific pungent odor, it is also advisable to check for visible holes and try to inflate if you are allowed. Although there are such small holes that for a short time you will not even notice that the circle is venting air, but you will only be convinced of this when taking water procedures.

Inflate the tubes and try them on for your baby. If the circle is uncomfortable, the child will immediately inform you about it, everything will be noticeable by his reaction.

It is important that the distance between the baby’s neck and the inner edge of the circle is 3 mm. Make sure that the child's chin is positioned in the notch specifically designed for this purpose.

Of course, it is recommended to make your purchase in a good store and not at the market. This way there will be a greater chance that the product will be of high quality.

My neighbor Yulia bought a neck ring at a large children's supermarket. I received the check, everything was as it should be. When she used it for the first time, it turned out that there was a puncture somewhere in the chamber, because it very slowly, but still, began to let air through, and after a few minutes it began to deflate. It turned out there was a manufacturing defect right next to the inflation hole. Julia went to the store with the circle, not forgetting to take the receipt with her. Showed what the reason was. They politely replaced it with a similar product. With this everything was already in order, and Borka was happily able to swim in the bath. Actually, this is another plus for why it is better to purchase the device in a store rather than in the market. After all, there you won’t receive a check and won’t be able to prove anything later, although I don’t argue that there are conscientious sellers, but still no one wants to work at a loss.

Child swimming exercises

A swimming circle is not just an item that makes life easier for parents , but a full-fledged sports equipment for the little ones. Special exercises will help you spend time with health benefits:

After lowering your baby into the bathtub with a circle around his neck, show him how to spin around himself and swim, pushing off the sides with his legs. To do this, grab the handle located on the lower chamber of the product and gently rotate the child around its axis.
Then slowly roll your baby around the bathtub, towing the collar with one hand and guiding his legs and arms with the other.
When the little one has mastered the basics of moving independently in a circle, offer him a game. Hand the toy to your child so that he needs to reach for it underwater.
When the grasping skill has been mastered, invite your baby to collect several objects, cruising throughout the bathroom to do this.

All children love movement, and the opportunity to move independently in space will be a great joy and invaluable physical activity for a tiny person.

Positive effect on the body

Promotes the timely development of all motor skills.
The muscles are strengthened, and it is also possible to properly develop the musculoskeletal system.
Metabolism accelerates.
The body's protective functions increase.
The lungs open correctly and the pressure inside the chest normalizes.
The digestion process improves, helps relieve pain from colic and flatulence.
Appetite increases.
Longer and more sound sleep appears. Especially if water procedures were carried out immediately before going to bed.

pros

Can be used even if the child is not yet able to hold his head on his own.
The design of the quality circle is safe for use by infants.
Absolute freedom of action with arms and legs.
The internal collar protects the baby from unwanted water entering the oral cavity.
Is hypoallergenic.
The mother will not have to stand bent while bathing the child.
Promotes early development of independent swimming skills.
Using this device, you don’t have to purchase a special bath for babies.

Minuses

However, as in any case, we cannot do without the other side of the coin.

The load on the spine increases with prolonged use.
Not suitable for overweight children.
Suitable only up to a certain age, until the baby begins to reach the bottom of the bathtub with his socks while bathing.

Yes or No to a circle for bathing newborns

Let me start with the fact that all modern pediatricians are supporters of lap swimming, so the popularity of the accessory under discussion is growing noticeably. Positive reviews from doctors and experienced mothers play a role. What's the secret? It's simple! The practical and functional circle makes daily bathing for the baby easier, provides a greater degree of freedom for the child, ensuring his safety. During such swimming, the baby combines business with pleasure, and the advantages of such a pastime are obvious. I think you will see this for yourself by reading the list below:

The spinal muscle corset of the newborn is strengthened.
Metabolism and breathing improve, creating optimal conditions for better lung function.
The body's immune system is strengthened.
The work of the digestive system is stimulated, constipation and colic are prevented.
The sense of coordination in space and motor skills develops.
The child relaxes, calms down and enjoys bathing.
Parents' hands are freed and tension is relieved from the spine.
All muscle groups of a small swimmer work.
The baby ceases to be afraid of water and enjoys getting acquainted with the new environment.

Swimming with a circle is also recommended for certain pathologies, for example, with torticollis, hypertonicity and hypotonicity of muscles, nervous excitability, problems with the musculoskeletal system in an infant and many others.

I recommend reading: Increased muscle tone in a newborn: causes and treatment. How dangerous is hypertension for a baby?

Unfortunately, despite all the advantages of this device, there are a number of contraindications for its use. Be sure to check it out:

If the baby was injured at birth.
Allergic, pustular and other skin lesions.
Unhealed umbilical wound.
Increased intracranial pressure.
Fear and obvious reluctance of the child to swim in a circle.

I recommend reading: How to properly care for a newborn’s belly button?

At what age can you wear a circle around your neck?

This device can be used from the first weeks of a toddler’s life. It was developed taking into account all the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the newborn. However, many parents are afraid to put on a circle for up to a month, and usually the baby gets such a device only a month and a half after birth.

As a rule, such circles are used for up to a year, although cases have been known for up to two years. Some kids don't like the fact that they start touching the bottom of the bathtub while bathing. Now it's not so interesting to flop around.

Preparation for water procedures

Open the package only at room temperature.
First you need to straighten absolutely all the seams of the circle.
Inflate the small chamber first, and then the large one, until the folds straighten out, but do not overdo it.
Sink the inflation areas into a circle.
For the first time, you need to thoroughly wash this device with soap.

How to wear a ring around your neck for swimming

Turn your baby to face you. If he is too small, have one adult hold him facing you.
When putting it on, you need to slightly raise the baby's chin.
Make sure that the circle does not tighten the toddler's neck too much. It is important to leave approximately 3mm of space between the neck and the inside of the circle.
We fix the circle with Velcro.
We immerse the child in water. We do this slowly and carefully. The baby must have time to adapt to the water and only then completely immerse himself in it. It must be remembered that the optimal temperature for taking water procedures is 36 degrees, while the room temperature is not lower than 22.

Which to choose

Modern children's stores offer so many circles that it is sometimes impossible to figure it out on your own. Do not assume that this harmless accessory cannot cause harm. Maybe! The main harm is the possibility of injury to the neck.

Modern circles are made of PVC. This material is recognized as environmentally friendly and safe. When purchasing, pay attention to:

inscriptions on the product and its packaging. Accessories labeled “eco-friendly” are considered the safest;
retainers. It is best to choose a model that has two fasteners - Velcro and a fastener. As a rule, one Velcro cannot cope with the daily load and quickly fails, but the fastener will additionally protect the child;
size, shape. It is better to choose a universal circle to avoid additional costs for purchasing an accessory in the future;
guarantee. All models have a warranty period. Preference should be given to a circle with a guarantee of more than 2 weeks.

Preparing the circle

Before use, the accessory must be prepared:

let the circle warm up to room temperature, open the package, take out the circle;
straighten, smooth out contours;
inflate the small and large air chambers;
“recess” all the valves inside the accessory;
Wash the new item thoroughly with soap.

After such preparation, it’s worth showing the circle to the baby and letting him explore the new thing himself.

How to bathe

Parents often have questions about how to properly bathe a child with a circle. Where to start. Simple rules will help parents:

introduce your child to a new thing. Show the circle to the child, give him the opportunity to learn a new thing, because without preliminary “acquaintance” the baby may get scared and begin to be capricious, then bathing will have to be postponed;
Fill a large bathtub with water. The optimal water temperature for each swim is 36-37 degrees, indoor air temperature is 22 degrees;
very carefully open the Velcro of the circle;
“open” the circle. Why should one part of it be slightly raised up and the other lowered;
Carefully place the accessory on the baby's neck. It is necessary to monitor the position of the chin (some models have a special hole or recess for it) All fasteners must be located at the back. It is better for two people to put the circle on a child, since the baby is 1-2 months old and cannot yet hold his head, the baby’s neck should not be squeezed;
fasten all fasteners (fasteners, Velcro);
Place your baby in warm water. You need to bathe your child in a regular bath; in the nursery, the baby will not turn around and will most likely begin to be capricious. You need to pour enough water so that the baby can swim freely in it, move his arms and legs, and roll over.
Show your child all the possibilities of swimming with a circle (move, turn over).

After bathing the child, you need to take him out of the bath, remove the circle according to the same principle as putting it on (lower one edge and lift the other up). Attention! The children's ring cannot be removed in the water. Be sure to take the child out of the bath and only then remove the circle from his neck.

A lot of energy is spent on bathing, so 10 minutes will be enough for the first acquaintance with a new type of bathing. Then the duration of the procedures can be increased.

A children's swimming circle is necessary and useful if it is selected and used correctly. If the baby has no medical contraindications, the circle is worth purchasing. Children happily swim with the circle, happily exploring its capabilities, but you should remember to be careful and never leave your baby swimming alone.

Recommendations

If you decide that your baby can be bathed in an adult bath using a circle, take care of the cleanliness. Be sure to treat the inner surface with a safe product.
The temperature in the bath should be approximately the same as in the room where the baby is usually located.
Don't forget about the optimal water temperature of 36 degrees while swimming. The baby should be comfortable.
Gradually and consistently immerse the little one in the water.
Don't forget to tell your baby how much you love him and how great he is for being able to bathe like that. Tenderness has a positive effect on the development of a child.
You should not swim for more than five minutes with a circle in the neck area for the first time. Gradually increase the time of water procedures.
It is advisable that children in the first months of life should be dressed by two adults and that they be present during bathing.

The appearance of such a circle in your life will make your life easier and will bring a lot of pleasure and freedom of movement to your baby. Parents should understand that the use of such a device will have a positive impact on both the physical and psychological development of the baby. The main thing is that you need to choose the appropriate option that will be ideal for your child.