Bathing a baby

Bathing is not only a hygiene procedure, but also a way to establish closer contact with the baby. The sensitivity of the skin is especially pronounced at the beginning of a child’s life. In the first months, due to the incomplete development of the organs of vision and hearing, the newborn “recognizes” the mother with the help of tactile perception. So use baby bathing as a way to build a stronger psychological and emotional bond between you and your baby. In addition, while bathing, the child calms down, the body hardens, and the appetite improves. If you follow the rules for bathing children, the procedures will be pleasant for both the baby and you.

Since the newborn is not yet crawling, the degree of contamination is minimal. Therefore, bathing a newborn baby is acceptable both 2-3 times a week and daily. Most children love to swim, it gives them positive emotions and soothes. It is best to bathe your baby in the evening, before the last feeding and bedtime. After the bath, the child calms down and falls asleep more easily. However, if your baby, on the contrary, “walks” after water procedures, then transfer the bath to the morning. Contraindications for bathing are the high temperature of the child or the presence of purulent-inflammatory processes on the skin.

You can bathe the child two days after the temperature. The first bath should not be long: no more than three to five minutes. When the baby gets used – you can gradually increase the time of bathing. It is necessary to prepare for the procedure in advance and purchase everything you need to bathe a newborn baby: a bath, a thermometer to measure the water temperature, a towel, a washcloth, baby soap or shampoos and gels.

It is convenient to bathe a newborn baby in a special baby bath, it can be plastic or inflatable. The bath is convenient just for babies: there is less space for active movements and parents will feel calmer. And if the house does not have a full bathroom, then this is the only way out. Also, during summer water cuts, filling the baby bath is much easier. The bath can be installed on the bottom of an adult bath, or on a stand. Now it is possible to purchase special folding bath stands that are easy to remove until the next bath. You can also bathe in an adult bath by installing a special limiter. A large bathtub gives you plenty of room to move around, but be sure to thoroughly wash the tub before each bath. In the future, it will be possible to purchase an inflatable ring under the neck, so that it is convenient to stay afloat.

You need to buy separate bath towels for the baby. They should be of such a size that you can completely wrap the child. There are towels with a corner in the form of a cap-hood, such a towel is very comfortable, protects well from drafts, and there is no need to immediately put a cap on the child’s head. It is also important to have separate towels for washing and washing the baby.

The skin of a newborn is very fragile and delicate, easily injured, so there is no need to use washcloths (they are also not necessary, since the child does not get dirty). It is enough to gently wash the child with your hand. It is allowed to use natural sea sponges for washing, as they are very gentle and do not injure the skin. Choose a natural non-dyed sponge to reduce the risk of possible allergies. Also on sale are foam rubber sponges or terry washcloth mittens, which gently and gently cleanse the skin. However, in the early days it is better to do without the use of washcloths.

Before bathing a child, you need to prepare yourself. The baby has very delicate skin, so mom or dad must have their nails trimmed so as not to injure the baby. Also, parents should not have wounds and inflammations on their hands, since there is a risk of infection joining the baby.

The temperature in the room where bathing is planned should be comfortable for a naked baby, preferably not lower than 24 degrees. You also need to monitor the temperature of the water. The optimal temperature for bathing a baby is 36-37 degrees. In slightly cooler water, the baby is likely to move more actively, get tired faster and, as a result, fall asleep sooner. The comfort of the water can be checked by putting your elbow in the water, but it is better to purchase a special children’s water thermometer. It will help to monitor the temperature of the water during bathing, so that it does not cool too much. If the water in the water supply is hard, then it is better to pass it through the filter beforehand. You can use herbs: a decoction of chamomile or calendula softens the water and prevents skin irritation of the baby.

The process of bathing a newborn baby begins with preparation: make sure that everything you need is at hand. In addition, a place should be prepared for an already clean baby. Spread a towel on the changing table, prepare the necessary cream, diaper, clean clothes.

Fill the bath with water, lower the thermometer and bring the water to the desired temperature of 36-37 ° C. Undress the baby and gently lower it slowly into the water. Your hand should hold the child by the shoulders from below, and his head should be located in the area of ​​uXNUMXbuXNUMXbyour wrist. Use your free hand to gently pour water over your baby. Talk while bathing, soothe him with your voice so that there is no fright. Before you start washing the child, let him get comfortable and get used to it, soothe him with massage movements of the hand. After that, you can start swimming. If the baby cried when he got into the water, then a possible cause may be an uncomfortable temperature for him. Try making the water a little warmer or cooler, and watch your child’s reaction. Also try not to create a lot of splashes, if they get on the face, he can get scared.

On your free hand, apply the cleanser, lightly lather and proceed to the bathing process. If there are no assistants in bathing, then it is better if the chosen product is with a pump-dispenser – it is easier to use it this way, since with one hand you control the degree of immersion of the child in water. It is necessary to wash the skin of the child sequentially: we start from the neck, then the chest and stomach, arms and legs, back and, at the very end, wash the head. Particular attention should be paid to the folds on the child’s body (axillary, inguinal, in the area of ​​​​the knee and elbow folds). Carefully clean the behind-the-ear areas, milk can flow there when spitting up. Do not forget to wash the skin between the fingers, clenched fists should be gently unclenched and washed.

Proper bathing and washing the child involves the use of special mild detergents designed for child care. To maintain moisture and protect the hydro-lipid layer of the skin, detergents are not used daily. Only when the child begins to crawl and explore the world, do they begin to use detergents more often. For a baby, it is enough to use special products 1-2 times a week. Look for gentle products designed for children, also look for the label “for sensitive skin.” The detergents used should have a delicate composition, it will be a plus if the products are tested by pediatricians and dermatologists. This remedy is a Lipid-Replenishing Cleansing Cream-Gel for Face and Body. Lipikar Syndet AP + , it gently cleanses and softens the skin of the child, reduces the pronounced dryness of the skin after washing. Suitable for cleansing the skin of the face and body, and does not irritate the eyes. It can also be used as a hair wash for babies.

Only after you wash the baby’s skin do we start washing the head. Quite often on the scalp of newborns there are shiny crusts of a yellowish-brown color, they sit tightly and are difficult to separate. These are the so-called seborrheic crusts or gneiss. This is a common situation that is inherent in many babies in the first months of life. If such crusts are found, 30-60 minutes before bathing, apply oil (baby, vaseline) to the scalp of the baby’s head and put on a cap. In the process of bathing with detergent, lather the child’s head and rinse gently, the crusts will separate. Can be used to wash hair and skin Lipikar AP+ Oil , it gently cleanses the skin and gives a feeling of comfort. At one time, all the crusts may not go away, so the procedure with oil will need to be repeated. After bathing, the hair can be combed gently with a soft brush, which will help to comb out some of the crusts. When washing, tilt the baby’s head back, gently pour water on the hair from the forehead to the back of the head, apply and lather a small amount of shampoo, massage the scalp with light movements, then gently pour water, rinse off the foam. Rinse the bathed baby with clean water from the ladle.

After bathing, wrap the baby in the prepared towel. In no case do not rub the skin with a towel, excess moisture must be removed with blotting movements. Thoroughly blot the skin of natural folds, the scalp is also dried with blotting movements, or you can first put on the hood-pocket of special towels for newborns. Do not be lazy to iron baby towels so that they are soft and pleasant when in contact with delicate skin. After drying your head, carefully comb your hair with a special soft brush for children’s hair. It is undesirable to use ordinary plastic combs and combs, so as not to damage the baby’s delicate scalp.

Once skin is dry, apply a light moisturizer (milk or fluid). It is advisable to use a moisturizer within the first 3-5 minutes after bathing to maintain natural moisture. Use milk for dry to very dry skin of babies, children and adults Lipikar Lait . It has a rich formula based on cold cream, a classic combination of protective lipids, enriched with shea butter (10%) to restore the lipid barrier.