How to properly bathe a newborn
The first bath of the baby is a real test for his parents. The baby is so small, fragile that it’s even scary to take him in your arms, let alone bathe him. We will tell you how to turn the bathing process into a joy for the baby and parents

So, you brought a newborn baby home – fed it, put it to bed, and in the evening the first bath is coming. Of course, for many mothers (especially if the child is the first), the process of bathing causes panic and fear. What if water gets into the child’s nose or ears? But what if the water is too hot or cold, and the baby gets burned or catches a cold? Is it necessary to use potassium permanganate or can you get by with a decoction of chamomile? Do I need to use a washcloth, and which bathing product is better to choose. Let’s dwell on each moment in more detail.

Step-by-step instructions on how to bathe a newborn in a bath for the first time

Step 1. Choose a bath for the baby

The first thing you need to purchase is a small bath for bathing the baby. Some parents prefer to immediately bathe the child in a large bath, and this is not prohibited, but causes some trouble. Before each bath, the bath must be thoroughly washed and rinsed, and it is more difficult to monitor the temperature of the water, so it is easier to purchase a small bath. And only when the baby grows up, it will be possible to let him go on a “big swim”, laying a rubber mat in the bath or putting a slide.

Now in children’s stores there is a huge assortment of children’s baths – anatomical, with a special slide-stand, with a built-in changing table and other models designed to facilitate the process of bathing. If possible, you can purchase an improved model, but the simplest bath will be absolutely no worse.

Step 2. Prepare everything you need for swimming

To bathe a newborn, you will need: a water thermometer, special baby soap (lump or liquid), a terry sponge, a rinse bucket and a large terry towel (preferably with a cap corner) to wrap the baby after bathing.

A water thermometer is needed in order to measure the temperature of the water in the bathroom – so as not to overheat and freeze the baby. Of course, you can use the usual method and check the temperature of the water by dropping it on your wrist or on your elbow, but everyone’s perception can be different, so it’s better to play it safe. The water temperature recommended by pediatricians for bathing is 34 – 36 degrees. In the bathroom itself, the air temperature should be about 25 – 26 degrees so that the baby does not freeze. When the child grows up, the temperature of the water and air in the room can be slowly reduced, tempering the child.

When choosing a bathing agent, it doesn’t matter at all whether it will be a bar baby soap or a bathing gel. The main thing is that the composition does not contain any strong fragrances, dyes and aggressive detergents. The bathing agent should be hypoallergenic, soft, wash off well and be suitable for washing the head and the whole body of the child.

Step 3. Choose the right time for swimming

Pediatricians advise bathing the baby when he is in a good mood – full, not crying, not falling asleep. It is best to bathe a newborn baby before evening feeding and bedtime. It’s also best to bathe your baby at the same time every time so that he gradually develops a routine so he doesn’t cry or fall asleep by accident when you fill the tub.

Step 4. Fill the tub with water

The bath itself must be washed with soda before bathing (it is better not to use cleaning products, as they can be poorly washed off). As for the age-old question of whether it is necessary to add potassium permanganate to the water when bathing, now pediatricians do not recommend adding either potassium permanganate or any decoctions of medicinal herbs or special disinfectants. After all, if you overdo it with the amount of potassium permanganate or dissolve it poorly in water, you can easily burn the baby’s delicate skin. Medicinal herbs can cause severe allergic reactions. Boiling water for bathing is also not necessary.

How much water to pour into the bath? Pediatricians advise not to fill the bath completely, it is enough that the water slightly covers the baby’s body when bathing.

Step 5. Getting to the bath itself

Before bathing, make sure that the bath is stable and does not wobble. For convenience, you can install a special slide for swimming there, after putting a diaper on top so that the baby does not slip off it. Gently undress your baby and gently lower him into the water. You can lower the child into the water right in the diaper, and then carefully unfold it. Let the baby get used to the water: let him chat in it with his arms and legs. If the baby cries a lot, do not delay the bathing process, but pull it out of the water.

Be sure to hold the child – for example, place his head on your forearm with your left hand, and gently lather the child’s body with your free right hand, carefully wash all the folds on the arms and legs, on the neck, behind the ears, inguinal folds. Do not forget to open the baby’s fists, rinse the palms and between the fingers. Lastly, start washing your hair – gently distribute a small amount of bathing product through your hair, massage lightly and rinse off the foam with water from the ladle. Be sure to cover your child’s forehead with your hand to prevent water from getting into your eyes. You do not need to wash your baby’s head with baby shampoo every time you bathe, because newborn babies do not have time to get dirty in a day. Also, you do not need to wash your baby with soap every day. There is nothing to worry about if a little water gets into the auricles – after bathing, just gently dab the ear canal with a cotton swab, which will absorb all excess moisture. At the very end, rinse the baby with clean water from a ladle to completely wash off the soap suds.

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The most important rule when bathing a baby is never leave him alone in the water, even if you just need to turn away for a towel or reach for shampoo. Always prepare everything you need for swimming in advance or ask someone from the household to give you the right thing.

How long does it take to bathe a newborn baby? For the first bath, 5-10 minutes is enough, then this time can be gradually increased to 30 minutes, the main thing is that the water does not cool down too much.

Step 6. Finishing the Bath

After you have finished bathing a newborn baby, carefully, not forgetting to hold his head, pull him out of the water and wrap him in a pre-prepared terry towel. If the towel has a corner, use it as a cap for the baby.

Transfer your baby to a changing table or a prepared surface, then gently pat the wet skin dry with a towel. Do not rub delicate skin, so as not to damage it. After carefully treat the umbilical wound, apply a diaper cream or powder on the child’s body, put on a diaper, cap and other clothes. Everything, now you can start feeding the baby.

Step 7. And if the child is sick or after vaccination?

Of course, many mothers are interested in such a question – is it possible to bathe a newborn baby if he is sick or has recently been vaccinated. Most pediatricians advise not to bathe your baby on the day of the vaccination. On other days, you can bathe the baby, but you do not need to rub the vaccination site. As for the disease, it all depends on the condition of the baby – if he is lethargic, very naughty, then it is better to refuse to bathe. If the baby is cheerful and active, you can bathe him, but do not delay the process itself and quickly dress the child in warm clothes.

Popular questions and answers

Is it necessary to use potassium permanganate for bathing newborns and how can it be replaced?

For bathing newborns, ordinary water is used. It does not need to be boiled, it is not necessary to sterilize or add any special means. We also do not add potassium permanganate. Firstly, it is now available only with a prescription, because it is a serious drug, and if you use it thoughtlessly, you can seriously suffer. It is enough just to treat the umbilical wound after bathing with hydrogen peroxide.

How often do you need to bathe a newborn in the cold season, especially if it’s cool at home?

It is desirable to carry out hygiene and water procedures daily – this is rather not a matter of cleanliness, but hardening, physical activity, calming down, contact with water and other points that have a beneficial effect on the child. Therefore, if possible, we bathe the child daily, regardless of the season and the weather outside the window. The optimum air temperature in the room for the normal functioning of the body is 19 – 21 degrees. Rarely in which apartment the temperature drops below these indicators, so we calmly bathe the baby daily.

What to do if the baby’s skin peels off after bathing?

The skin of a newborn baby undergoes peeling during the first month of life. It can be large-lamellar peeling or medium- and small-lamellar peeling, which manifests itself on all skin integuments. It has nothing to do with bathing, water has nothing to do with it. The severity of peeling varies from child to child, and it makes no sense to try to get rid of it with the help of various oils, emollient creams and ointments. This epithelium goes away on its own within 3-5 weeks without any help.

What decoctions of medicinal herbs can be added to the bath if the child has diaper rash or skin irritation?

Here is the same story as with potassium permanganate. It is not required to add anything to the water so as not to harm the child. Herbal decoctions are, first of all, medicines that we try not to use in children unless absolutely necessary, since there is a high risk of developing local allergic reactions. Therefore, we don’t do anything with the skin of a newborn baby – just ordinary water, detergent 1-2 times a week, if necessary, and that’s it.

What should you pay attention to first of all when bathing a newborn baby?

When bathing a newborn baby, first of all, we pay attention to … the condition of the parents. Because very often, especially with the first child, it is difficult to coordinate actions, hence the excessive excitement and fuss. We remember about safety – if we bathe a child in a separate bath, it must stand steadily on some kind of solid surface. You can bathe the baby immediately in a large bath – the main thing is to check the temperature of the water before putting the child there. You can not use the thermometer, but focus on your own feelings – here the choice is already up to the parents. Water can enter both the ears and the navel, but the main thing is not to get into the mouth. In no case do we leave a child alone in the bath – regardless of age, not for one second. There are many different devices to facilitate bathing for parents, but you can neither leave nor turn away, leaving the child in the water unattended.

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