How to bathe a baby with a circle on his neck: step-by-step instructions for parents

Pregnancy, children > Caring for a newborn > Pros and cons of bathing a baby with a circle around the neck

Do you want to see your baby happy, so that the bathing process is not a torture and test for you, but a torment for the baby? Find out about a wonderful swimming accessory that will strengthen your baby's nervous system and make bathing easier for parents.

Many parents will be perplexed, some will be interested in this and will ask questions: how to use such a device, is it safe for the baby, and at what month of life should you start using a neck ring for bathing?

How to choose the appropriate circle size

Swimming accessory

First, let's take a look at the external representation of this lotion. The neck ring is similar to a regular swimming ring for swimming at sea or in the pool, only, naturally, smaller in size. It consists of two chambers that are alternately inflated and connected with Velcro into a shape reminiscent of a horseshoe.

What if they come undone while swimming? Calm down and don’t worry, when buying from a good and reliable seller, such thoughts will not arise at all, so the main rule when purchasing is do not save on the health of your own child!

The circle is fixed around the neck, there is a special recess for the chin, for a more comfortable and convenient position in it. Externally, it is very beautiful, its bright and attractive design will not leave anyone indifferent, and inside there are often various rattles and bells. It makes bathing much easier for parents, as they don't have to constantly hold the baby's head. It can be used even for those who do not yet know how to hold it on their own.

This device will help you save significantly on the purchase of a special bathtub for bathing, because thanks to the circle you can safely allow your baby to move around right in the bathtub.

There is no need to rush headlong into the store now and buy the first circle you come across. It is not so safe for every baby on the planet; there are also proper contraindications. These are exactly the same as pills for adults; you shouldn’t even buy them without consulting a specialist. First of all, you need to visit the appropriate doctors: pediatrician, neurologist and orthopedist. Only after acceptance is a purchase possible, and then only with a very careful inspection of all the details of the product.

It is necessary to become thoroughly familiar with the material from which the circle is made. Check the presence of valves for air injection, their serviceability, and also whether there is any damage, punctures or a strong chemical smell! If one thing from this list already confuses and misleads you, you should refuse such a purchase and choose a better quality product.

Choosing the right circle

It is recommended to buy a circle only in specialized stores. It is better to give preference to trusted companies. Reviews of doctors and users about them can be read on the Internet. When choosing a collar, you must pay attention to the material from which it is made. These must be environmentally friendly and hypoallergenic materials. At the time of purchase, do not hesitate to ask the seller to check the device for damage.

Never buy a circle that has an internal seam or a strong smell. A high-quality product should not have any odor or internal seams that could rub the baby’s neck.

From what age can it be used?

There are no exceptions in this matter; you can bathe even from birth. But, you should follow the pediatrician’s advice about not recommending bathing a baby with a circle whose umbilical wound has not yet healed.

Read: Room for a newborn in the photo for further arrangement of the nursery

The average age for such initial bathing is considered to be 1-1.5 months from birth. The end will be when the baby reaches two years of age.

Contraindications

When addressing contraindications, the following factors should be taken into account:

viral and colds;
irritation in the neck and other skin diseases;
muscle tone in an increased or decreased state;
increased intracranial pressure;
diseases of the musculoskeletal system (fractures, dislocations);
recovery period after birth injuries;
rehabilitation after injuries to the cervical spine and collarbones.

Again, if your child does not have any contraindications from this list, you should still consult a pediatrician. As soon as he gives you the full right to bathe with a circle on your neck.

How is a circle useful for bathing newborns?

A new product on the market for children's products, a circle for bathing babies quickly became popular and received a lot of positive feedback from parents. How is this device useful? First of all, because water procedures, which are important and necessary for a baby from birth, become more comfortable and safer with a circle. This is the first sports equipment for a newborn; it turns bathing not into just another hygienic necessity, but into a fun and enjoyable health-improving and developmental activity. The newborn receives a whole range of procedures in the form of massage, entertainment, gymnastics and games with a children's bathing circle.

In addition to guaranteed comfort and safety, the bathing circle stimulates the natural swimming reflex. And even babies who cannot hold their heads up on their own are happy to go free swimming without the help of adults, of course, under the constant supervision of loving parents. Experts note that in newborns with severe hypertonicity, bathing with a circle helps reduce increased tension in the muscles.

Proper preparation for swimming and how to put on a ring

Having purchased a product, carefully checking it in the store, you need to remove and carefully straighten the product, opening all the valves. Then everything is simple, as with regular inflation of swimming circles, first of all the small chamber is filled with air, then the large one.

You should blow air in measured small portions in order to completely straighten the circle from kinks and cracks, without pumping it to an overly hard state. After the process is completed, you need to close the valves and bend them inside the circle. As a result, if you can see separately the boundaries of the upper and lower bases of the circle and the contour inside it to secure the baby’s chin and neck, it means that you have done the job and can safely put it on the child.

The main and basic rule is to wear the ring only indoors and not on the water!

to prevent the presence of dust and other microbes on the surface of the circle, it is necessary to wash it with soap and warm water;
position the child facing you, this will allow you to correctly place the circle around the neck and at the same time allow you to see and control his emotional state;
if the baby does not yet know how to hold his head up on his own, then the help of a second parent will be required, who will support and eliminate difficulties when putting it on;
unfasten the Velcro and move both parts of the circle in different directions;
insert the child’s neck into the resulting widened hole so that the chin falls into its intended recess, put on the circle and carefully fasten the Velcro;
When finished, make sure that the circle does not compress the airways! The optimal distance between the circle and the neck should be 3 mm;
Now that the circle is on, you can begin the bathing process, gradually immerse it in the water so as not to frighten the baby, who is already overwhelmed with emotions.

To get your baby more familiar with the circle, take it in the bath with him, then let him play in the room, and then feel free to bathe together.

Pros and cons of using

Before purchasing the device in question, parents should evaluate its positive and negative qualities. They can be found in the table.

pros

Minuses

Possibility of use from an early age.
Safety.

Muscle training.

Convenience for parents.

With a collar, the baby quickly learns to swim.

Using this device, you don’t have to buy a baby bath.

The bathing process becomes easier and more fun.

Swimming with a collar increases the load on the spine.
If the baby is large, the circle may put pressure on his neck.

The accessory should not be used if muscle tone is high or low, for example in premature babies.

As soon as the baby grows up and reaches the bottom of the bathtub with its feet, the circle can no longer be used.

The table shows that there are quite a lot of advantages and disadvantages. The decision about whether the baby needs such a device is made by the parents after consultation with the pediatrician.

How to bathe correctly: general rules and recommendations

Don't let your child bathe for too long

Measure seven times, cut once - the same should happen with the baby in the circle. Before swimming, make sure that the Velcro straps are properly and firmly fastened.

Read: How to correctly create a complementary feeding plan with vegetables?

Before bathing a child, almost every mother reads a lot of information, comes up with something new to make her baby happy, to turn bathing into something fabulous, unforgettable, and this is not surprising. That is why they came up with special circles for swimming, thanks to which you can bathe your child without worrying about anything, however, you should not let the child swim for too long, since he is in a circle, more effort is put into moving, as a result, spend the first swim for not more than 10 minutes.

Even such a small person must take safety precautions on the water, so do not use the swimming device to a depth of more than one meter, do not pump or lean heavily on the circle when bathing your baby.

This circle is not a life-saving device! Be vigilant and do not leave your child without your attention! Any mistake or distraction even for half a minute will cost your child his life. Observe and, if necessary, support the baby with your hand under the stomach or back.

pros

The vast majority of pediatricians advocate the use of this device. It maintains back muscle tone, strengthens the immune system and nervous system, and normalizes the digestive process and metabolism. In addition to the beneficial qualities that affect the body, thanks to such swimming, the baby learns to float on the water almost independently, and then, with confidence, he will be able to learn to swim without any effort and without any effort.

The majority of parents are happy with such a purchase, and only a small proportion of those who are disappointed or have received negative effects, and that is due to non-compliance with simple safety rules and failure to familiarize themselves with contraindications.

Minuses

There are no significant disadvantages that affect the health and overall condition of the baby. But again, failure to comply with the simplest rules and regulations can lead to irreparable consequences.

Swimming with a circle for too long significantly increases the load on the spine, which is why you need to properly approach the duration of swimming.
If one of the contraindications is present, the circle can no longer be used.
It is not recommended for use if the child has weak muscle tone.
Not suitable for chubby and fat children.

Read: Baby swings for newborns to make mom’s life easier

Precautions during water procedures

The first use of the device among infants should be as careful as possible. You can't scare a baby. This is especially true for children under one year old. Their psyche is not yet stable, so it can be easily traumatized. How long should bathing last? The total procedure time should be no more than 10-15 minutes. You can gradually increase the length of time the baby stays in the water. If the baby is active and moves well, you can continue the session. If activity decreases, it is better to stop the procedure.

Under no circumstances should a month-old toddler or older child be left alone. In addition, it is important to remember to comply with the following safety rules:

The baby must be supervised at all times.
The circle should not be inflated too much, because the device may burst, which will greatly frighten the baby.
The water level in the bath should be such that the newborn’s feet do not touch the bottom.
The device must be inflated without using a pump.
Velcro should be fastened well so that it does not come undone during water procedures.
It cannot be used at a depth of more than one meter.

The device should be stored in a dry place and away from sharp objects and heating devices. Do not fill the device with water. If damaged, the device cannot be repaired and must be replaced with a new one.

Examples of exercises with a circle

Long lap swim

To make bathing unforgettable and impressionable, it is worth collecting enough water so that the baby cannot touch the bottom with his feet, and also cheer him up with toys or dilute bubble bath. First of all, while the baby is small, you can hold a toy in your hands and thereby attract him with you, so he will learn to turn around in the water and work with both his arms and legs at the same time. Make the task more difficult over time.

The most popular type of game is to take special bath toys, ducks or fish are ideal, place them on the surface of the water and give the child the task of collecting them.

Another version of the game will be a kind of “swim”. Bringing the child to the side of the bath, place him parallel to the surface of the water, stretch out his legs and ask him to push off from the surface with force. Perform the exercise for the entire length of the bath.

As already mentioned, for many parents this is a relief when bathing their baby. There are many more pros than negative points, so there is no doubt whether to buy or not. The main thing is to know that this is not only convenience, but also the ability for your baby to move independently on the water.

In the following video you will learn about injuries from using a ring on a child’s neck when swimming:

04 Feb 2021 Valeria 394

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Discussion: 5 comments

Irina:
02/05/2018 at 13:15
Using a circle when bathing a baby has been a godsend for me personally. Such a circle had not yet been used with the first child, so, basically, the child only sat on a special slide while bathing. But the second child swam constantly. I put on the circle with the help of my dad. This is indeed not an easy task. But the child really enjoyed swimming with the circle. Yes, and good for health. I didn't notice any cons.
Answer
Read also: Why does a child choke on saliva or snot and what to do in this case
Avdeeva Olga Sergeevna:
02/08/2018 at 11:56
Bathing a baby with a circle is a very, very correct decision and I did not notice any inconvenience, so be sure to try to accustom your child to not only bathing in general, but also bathing in particular.
Answer
Valentina:
02/19/2018 at 12:57
We also bought a circle for swimming, but the child was not comfortable in it, he constantly screamed in it. We ended up using the Baby Delight Snuggle Nest Cushi. It has a comfortable anatomical shape, with a soft case on top. It is comfortable for the baby to lie in it and take water procedures. Plus, it can be used in both the bathroom and shower.
Answer
Elena:
07/02/2019 at 07:42
My daughter just loved swimming in a circle! In this case, you shouldn’t save money, and you need to buy a good, high-quality wheel, then it won’t rub. We had one with rattles inside and really liked it. The main condition is - UNDER NO CONDITIONS LEAVE A SMALL CHILD ALONE IN THE BATHROOM, EVEN FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS!!!
Answer
Alexandra:
12/17/2019 at 08:45
I always use this circle when bathing. But rather, not as a toy, but as a means of safety net. The baby is very active and loves to swim. But even with a circle, I don’t weaken my attention.
Answer

The benefits of circles for health and development

The benefits of neck circles are primarily due to the benefits of swimming in general. Regular water procedures strengthen the child’s immunity, promote muscle development and serve as real gymnastics, trigger metabolic processes in the body, and allow normalization of sleep and wakefulness. Babies who swim from the first days of life get sick less often and begin to crawl and walk earlier.

Watch the reactions: the baby in the circle should smile, not cry

In some situations, doctors strongly recommend regular swimming, such as muscle hypertonicity. Bathing helps normalize tone and reduce overall nervous tension. Due to the fact that the baby moves his arms and legs in the water, they gradually relax.

Why do parents choose neck circles? It's simple. Firstly, not everyone has an idea about the basics of infant swimming; this needs to be learned with a competent instructor so as not to harm the child. Bathing your baby in a circle does not require any special skills. It is enough to follow all the rules described in the instructions and not leave the child unattended.

Secondly, even if you have learned the basics of baby swimming, long periods of bathing in a regular home bathtub when you have to constantly support your baby will simply put stress on your back. This is what Dr. Komarovsky said about this in one of his broadcasts: “ The main problem of long-term bathing is that mom or dad needs to stand in this [bent] position for half an hour, which has a very bad effect on the lower back of dad or mom, so parents try in every possible way improve this technique

».

A circle around the neck is the ideal solution. You put it on in a matter of seconds, and then send your baby “free swimming”, only looking after him and guiding him. The child likes this feeling of freedom, because he is not limited by his parents’ hands and can swim wherever he wants. The baby does not freeze because his body is completely immersed in water. Thanks to the circle, the child feels confident and calm in the water, getting used to swimming from the first days of life and enjoying bathing. In addition, regular water treatments strengthen the child’s emotional connection with his parents and build trust between them.

You can come across another interesting opinion: swimming from the first days of life contributes to the early development of speech. And that's why:

while bathing, the baby breathes deeper, which actively saturates the brain with oxygen;
The child's head is above the water, and the chest is under water. Water puts pressure on the chest and provides a kind of training for the diaphragm and respiratory organs;
correct posture is formed;
muscle relaxation occurs, and at the same time the functioning of the vocal apparatus is simplified.

One way or another, regular bathing becomes the key to the health and all-round development of the baby.

Actually swimming.

Just a reminder: the door to the bathroom is open.

It’s probably not worth sitting on a chair at first. When you get the hang of it, please.

So, we lower the baby into the water, the whole thing, so that only his face peeks out of the water. You can hold the child only by the head - the little finger under the neck, and the remaining fingers under the back of the head. The more your head is immersed, the better, and it's okay if water gets into your eyes, as long as your nose and mouth are on the surface. You can immediately notice the following: the body, which you are not holding at all, does not sink to the bottom, but, on the contrary, floats up. In this case, the chest and stomach, as a rule, stick out of the water. Therefore, with the second hand it is necessary to regulate the immersion of the torso so that both the chest and abdomen are completely under water. Please note that there is no danger of water getting into your ears [1] !

Once your baby is in a large bathtub, you will immediately understand the fundamental difference between this bathing option and soaking in a baby bath. You will see how easy it is for your child to move without any risk of hitting the walls of the bathtub.

Carefully observe the child’s behavior - if he is not active, lies quietly, yawns, then this water is warm for him, and therefore bad. Supporting the head, guide the baby in the water from one edge of the bath to the other. There is no point in especially experimenting for the first time - all participants in the bathing process still have to get used to and adapt, but it is much more difficult for parents to do this than for a child. In principle, three poses are quite sufficient for a home bath - one is described above, the other consists of swimming on the stomach (the child is turned over, his chin is between the thumb and forefinger spread apart), and the third is sitting. It turns out that a child can sit in a large bathtub already in the newborn period! Further actions of parents do not require any special knowledge - only common sense. After all, it is obvious that after 15 minutes the temperature of the water in the bathroom will drop by one or two degrees, and this temperature will be already familiar to the child the next time he bathes. If you are afraid to quickly reduce the temperature, do this: start with 34 ° C and after two or three days reduce the starting water temperature by 1 ° C. We must ensure that the baby is active in the bath. What you succeed depends not only on you, but also to a large extent on the child. Each baby has unique features of body temperature regulation, and it is simply impossible to predict the minimum water temperature: one smiles at 23 °C, another screams at 30 °C.

The time and temperature guidelines are as follows:

— at the beginning of bathing — 34 °C, 15 minutes;

- by one month of age - 30-32 °C, 20-25 minutes;

- at two months - 28-30 ° C, 30 minutes.

I emphasize that these are guidelines. If a baby swims calmly at 24 °C at two months, it’s very good and not at all scary. But that doesn't mean he's that special. The fact of the matter is that anyone can do it! This child was just lucky with his parents. The latter are devoid of prejudices, and their level of common sense is above average. Everyone is interested in lengthening the bathing time and reducing the water temperature as much as possible. The more tired the child is, the more peaceful the night is guaranteed for his parents.

And some more information and some recommendations. Many books devoted to children's bathing and swimming describe the diving procedure in detail. So detailed that many parents consider it mandatory. And since they cannot overcome their own fear, they prefer not to bathe the child in a large bath at all. If you are very afraid, do not dive. But it is better to bathe without diving than to mock yourself and the baby by rinsing him in a small bath.

In fact, there is nothing terrible in diving - a newborn has a very strong reflex that prevents water from entering the respiratory tract. If you don’t dive for two to three months, this reflex fades and you can choke. But, fortunately, the procedure of bathing in a large bathtub itself is impossible without the child at some point slipping from your hand and submerging completely under the water. Do not be afraid! This is even good - pick him up, sit him down, let him scream, cough, sneeze. At the same time, he coughs up and sneezes out all the dust that has accumulated during the day in the upper respiratory tract. If you calm down, continue swimming. However, a situation where parents deliberately organize diving is more preferable. This should be done with the baby lying on his stomach. Say the word “dive” loudly and hold your child underwater for a few seconds. He will very quickly develop a conditioned reflex, and just the word “dive” will be enough for the baby to hold his breath on his own.

I am quite deliberately not trying to fool you with details regarding bathing techniques: how to hold the child, how to turn, how to sit, etc. You will quickly learn all this yourself if you are guided by the principles described above.

The only thing you will most likely need is a hat to support your baby's head. What is it for? First of all, in order to make the bathing procedure more enjoyable for parents. It’s obvious: sitting or standing half-bent for 30-40 minutes is very difficult. And you can’t make a child healthy by causing radiculitis in his dad. Therefore, at the age of about two months, you need to make a special hat, and we will now tell you how this is done.

You must have:

- an ordinary thin cotton hat (cap);

- a piece of thin fabric the size of half a diaper;

— two blocks of polystyrene foam, the optimal size of which corresponds to the size of a regular pack of cigarettes[2].

What is a swimming circle?

Outwardly, such a ring is very similar to a regular life ring, but it is smaller in size and is worn around the baby’s neck when bathing.

The circle is not closed, it consists of two horseshoe-shaped chambers, each of which is inflated and exists independently.
The cameras are seamless - this design will not rub or irritate the baby’s delicate skin. And the chin will sit comfortably in a special recess in the inner chamber of the device.
To prevent the baby from slipping out of the circle, there are two pairs of fasteners along its edges. These can be plastic elements or very durable elastic Velcro.
Some models have special control knobs.

Manufacturers are trying to diversify the design of their products: circles for babies come in various shapes, bright colors, with toys, balls, funny pictures and even music.

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.

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.