Baby's first bath in a large bathtub. Bathing a newborn in a large bath - risky or fun?

Bathing for a newborn child and his parents is a whole event (especially if it is the first time after the maternity hospital). Like any very responsible business, this process raises many questions: how and when to bathe, boil water or not, whether it is possible to add herbal decoctions and how often to do this, is it dangerous to get water into the ears, and so on. The famous pediatrician Evgeny Komarovsky, in his books and articles, has repeatedly talked about the basic rules and principles of organizing water procedures for a baby.

It is worth considering the most important points that you should know so that bathing brings pleasure and benefit to both the child and his parents.

Peculiarities

Water procedures are beneficial for absolutely all babies from the very first days of life. In the womb, babies are in an aquatic environment, and therefore it is familiar and native to them. The little one feels at home in the water. Bathing is not only a hygienic procedure aimed at keeping the child’s skin and hair clean. Taking baths promotes physical development, contains an element of play, and therefore has a positive effect on the mental and emotional development of the baby.

A few decades ago, pediatricians categorically forbade bathing a child with an unhealed umbilical wound, opposed raw, unboiled water, and set many more fairly strict requirements and restrictions for parents.

Modern doctors look at bathing more democratically.

Parents with experience, as a rule, have significantly fewer difficulties during the first bath of a newborn at home than new mothers and fathers who received their first child just a few hours ago. Komarovsky advises maintaining Spartan calm. It is this that guarantees success in the difficult task of bathing the baby.

Preparation

Should I bathe with an unhealed umbilical wound?

This question comes up quite often. Some pediatricians allow bathing even with a clothespin on the navel, while others recommend refraining from taking water procedures until the umbilical cord dries. Evgeny Komarovsky says that the choice is, of course, up to the parents. However, if the child is kept in acceptable living conditions, does not sweat, does not overheat, and does not get dirty, then nothing bad will happen to him if the baby does not bathe for a week or two. It doesn't bother him at all. If anyone is worried, it’s only mom and dad, but in this case there are wet baby sanitary wipes that can be used to wipe problem areas and folds at any time.

However, if you still decide to bathe, then until the umbilical wound heals, the doctor advises doing this exclusively with boiled water.

For a long time, doctors advised bathing in water with a solution of potassium permanganate. However, you need to be extremely careful here; undissolved grains of potassium permanganate can cause serious burns on the delicate skin and mucous membranes of the baby. The solution should be pale pink and should be added to the water immediately before bathing. Komarovsky does not recommend potassium permanganate at all, since in small doses it is useless, and in large doses it is dangerous. It is better to replace it with infusion of succession.

Massage

A massage before an evening swim is a very useful and important procedure, says Evgeniy Komarovsky. During stroking and patting, the blood supply to the muscles and skin improves, and the benefits will be even more noticeable if you bathe the baby immediately after the manipulations. All parents, without exception, can master a simple massage. To do this, you do not need to enroll in special courses.

Komarovsky recommends doing a light and soothing massage before a bath. First, with baby cream, the mother can easily massage the hands (stroking and circular movements, this should be done with the thumbs). Then the legs are massaged in the same way. The tummy is stroked clockwise with the palm or fingertips. Then the baby is laid on the tummy and the back is gently massaged - first in circular and arched movements, and then with light pats.

The mother's movements should not cause pain to the baby, he should not go to the bath too excited and screaming from the heart.

Water temperature

Doctors recommend keeping the temperature at 37 degrees. It should be followed for at least the first 10-14 days. Then you can experiment - slightly increasing or decreasing the temperature (maximum - 1 degree).

Some parents try to warm up the bathroom in advance by bringing heaters into it (especially in cases where the first bath at home occurs in winter). Komarovsky does not recommend doing this. The temperature in the bathroom should be approximately the same as in the rest of the apartment (optimal values ​​are 18-20 degrees), and overheating the air in the bathing room is harmful.

For a good night's sleep, Komarovsky advises to practice swimming in cool water, the temperature of which is no higher than 32 degrees.

Such procedures will not cause any harm, but the general strengthening effect will be obvious, and in a cool bath it is more difficult for a child to fall asleep while bathing. However, you should not immediately rush to implement this recommendation. This should start gradually. The initial water temperature for a newborn is 34 degrees. A child can reduce it by 2 degrees per month - up to 32 degrees, and bathing time can be increased from 15 minutes to half an hour. At two months, the temperature of cool water can be lowered to 28-30 degrees, bathing time is half an hour.

Komarovsky advises to take these figures rather conditionally. If a 1-month-old child calmly accepts swimming in water whose temperature is 24 degrees, there is nothing wrong with that. He sleeps soundly, rests well, worries less himself and allows his parents to sleep.

Time

The first bath should not be very long. It is better to start with 3 minutes, the next day extend the procedure to 5 minutes, then add a little more time. Komarovsky considers the best duration of bathing to be 15-20 minutes. If a quarter of an hour has passed, and the baby is calm and determined to continue the procedure, nothing bad will happen if the bathing is extended.

A newborn does not have time to get so dirty that he needs to be bathed every day.

Although Komarovsky strongly advises washing the baby every day. When the baby begins to crawl, get dirty, and actively explore the world, water procedures before bed should become regular and mandatory - you will have to bathe the baby every day.

It seems to Komarovsky that evening swimming is not a dogma. Parents themselves have the right to choose the most convenient bathing time for the family. Some evening hygiene procedures are postponed until lunchtime. However, Komarovsky warns that evening swimming has its benefits - for example, it promotes relaxation for a strong and healthy night's sleep.

Herbs and decoctions

No matter what traditional healers say, it is best to coordinate any use of phytotherapeutic agents during bathing with the treating pediatrician. Grandmothers, of course, will advise bathing their granddaughter in a series more often or be sure to brew him nine strength, but the common sense of parents should be above all. If a child suffers from atopic dermatitis, has diaper rash, or has a (genetic) tendency to allergies, be sure to consult a doctor.

For healthy children, bathing with the addition of decoctions of medicinal herbs is a rather useful procedure, says Evgeniy Komarovsky. However, moderation is good in everything; you shouldn’t prepare herbal baths every day, and you should be more careful with the dosage of decoctions and infusions.

Naturally, it will not work to treat something with herbal infusions added to water, since this is impossible, says Dr. Komarovsky. But there won’t be much harm with moderate dosing.

What to do if a child does not like to wash and screams?

Such situations do occur, says Komarovsky. But the point here is not at all about the child and not even about the fact that he is afraid of something. Most likely, according to a famous pediatrician, bathing conditions should be adjusted. Maybe the water temperature does not suit the baby - it is too high or too low for him. After experimenting for several days, parents will be able to understand which water is most comfortable for their child. Bathing should begin with it - and only then adjust the temperature in favor of cooling (adding cold water in a thin stream) or heating (adding hot water in the same way).

Another reason for a child’s screaming in the bathroom, according to Komarovsky, lies in the baby’s rejection of the bathing process, since it goes against his internal biological clock.

For example, a mother tries to bathe her baby only at night, and it is at this time that the child wants to sleep and not bathe. Therefore, Komarovsky gives some advice that will help parents whose children have trouble in the water:

Change the time of day.

Change your eating and bathing routine. If your baby screams when bathing half an hour after eating, then try bathing him half an hour before eating (or vice versa).

Practice sharing baths with your baby.

Large bath

This can be done as early as 2-3 months, says Evgeniy Komarovsky. At first, a child can get comfortable in a large expanse of water with a circle around his neck. This is a special inflatable device with a recess for the chin and Velcro on the back of the neck. The baby is fixed in such a circle, his head is always above the water, and he can practice swimming on his back, stomach, and turning over on his own in the water. Usually this picture brings the baby’s parents into indescribable delight.

You can swim without a circle. For this, Evgeny Komarovsky recommends three poses:

The baby is completely immersed in water, leaving only his face on the surface. At the same time, it is supported by the index fingers under the neck. There is nothing dangerous about getting water into your ears and eyes, says the doctor. The main thing is that water does not get into your nose and mouth. Even if the baby takes a sip of it, nothing bad will happen.

The idea of ​​bathing a baby in a large bathtub is not the most popular among parents.

The child seems so fragile, and a small bath looks safer, more hygienic, and the bathing process is faster.

In a large bathtub you can conduct classes, play, and teach your baby from the very first moments of life. This is real training for a young swimmer!

In order for the baby’s bathing process to take place in a comfortable environment for the whole family, it is necessary to ensure that certain rules are followed.

Rules regarding the preparation of a swimming area:

1. It is necessary to divide the responsibilities of family members: who takes care of the bath, who massages the baby and bathes him.
2. Clean the bathtub thoroughly. There is no need to use aggressive cleaning powders or pastes, which can cause allergies in the baby. It is safer for a child to wash the bathtub with ordinary means: laundry soap, baking soda. Or use specialized means for bathing children, and at the end pour boiling water over them. This type of bathroom care, if it is kept clean, can be done 3-4 times a month.
3. You should pay attention to the floor in the bathroom: if it becomes slippery when water gets in, then you need to take care of the rug.
4. Prepare and put everything you need nearby: a towel or a large diaper for wrapping, special bathing toys, a circle.
5. Fill a clean bath with water. This can be regular tap water, or partially mixed with boiling water. You can add a weak solution of potassium permanganate to it. It is prepared separately so that the crystal does not get into the general water.
6. If desired, and also if the baby has skin problems, you can add herbal infusions of chamomile, string, or a weak solution of unflavored sea salt to the water. But herbs can dry out the skin.

There is no need to close the door to the bathroom: a sharp change in humidity in the room can lead to ear problems.

The baby needs to be prepared for bathing. To do this, perform a light massage for 20-30 minutes on a small hard surface (the place where the baby is swaddled is suitable) and do as follows:

• Lay the naked baby on his back and, without making any effort, stroke his legs and arms.
• Repeat stroking while lying on your stomach.
• Return the baby to his back and, without pressing, make circular movements on the tummy. Clockwise using four fingers.
• Lightly massage the chest, neck and head.
• Repeat everything again, but now feel and stretch each muscle.
• After the massage - exercise. Every joint should participate in it. First, do gymnastics with your legs: bend and make circular movements. Then with the handles.

Time and temperature references

Daily bathing trains the child’s body well, strengthens it, and water also relaxes the baby’s nervous system.

This is the key to good health!

How often should you bathe your baby? The answer to this question will be determined by the child’s well-being.

Preferably daily, if there are no contraindications.

The water temperature must be carefully monitored using special thermometers. But, if it seems that it is unreliable, then there is a simple folk method: dip your own elbow in the water.

The little one knows how to regulate body temperature well. Over time, you can set a comfortable individual water heating mode for it.

But first you need to proceed from the average optimal norms and recommendations:

1. You should act on the principle of gradually reducing the temperature from 36°-37°C during the first bathing to 27°-28°C during subsequent bathing.
2. Cool the water gradually, reducing it by no more than two degrees, and observing the child’s well-being and behavior. Parents can teach their baby to swim in water at 22°-24°C.
3. When swimming, the water cools down and you need to periodically add hotter water from the tap.
4. It is recommended to keep the child for no more than 15 minutes during the first bathing in hot water (35°-37°C). But, when the baby has grown up and the water is already colder (24°-28°C), you can spend half an hour or more in the bath. This water tones all the baby’s muscles, and he moves more actively, improving blood circulation, which means he becomes healthier. With hot water, babies “soften” and feel blissful. They may like this kind of bathing, but there will be no healing effect from it.

Newborn baby bathing

As for bathing time, you should follow these tips:

• It is advisable to bathe at the same time. Optimally: before feeding at night. Usually this is in the evening, around 9 o'clock. There should be no more than 1.5 hours left before bedtime. After the water procedure, the baby gets tired and sleeps peacefully.
• But for some children, bathing has a stimulating effect, and they may not fall asleep for a very long time. An attempt to forcefully put the baby down will end in a waste of energy and nerves. In this case, it is recommended to start water procedures even earlier: at 7 or 8 pm.
• It happens that a baby falls asleep while swimming. Or, without having time to eat, immediately after it. Then it’s also worth reconsidering the time and starting the water procedure earlier.

To harden your baby, you can pour water on him at the very end of all procedures, a degree or two cooler than the one he bathed in.

How to bathe a baby correctly

Basic baby poses in water:

• Pose “on your back”: The most relaxed. Just lead the baby through the water, take your time, so that he has fun, swims, seeing everything around him. At the same time, the adult’s hand supports the baby’s neck. The baby's ears are covered with water, he stretches out and lies flat. You can place the little swimmer's head on the adult's forearm, and wrap your fingers around the child's shoulder. Lying on his back, the baby can, reflexively bending and unbending his legs, push off from the walls of the bathtub. This develops the hip joints.
• Stomach pose: To turn your baby from his back to his stomach, you need to place your free hand on his chest. Using both hands, turn the baby over in the water. You should hold him on his tummy and continue to lead the young swimmer along the entire bath. He is interested, he feels the support of an adult. Continue to hold his head with one hand all the time. The other one holds the chest, the thumb is on the chin, the rest fix the shoulder. Teach to turn, using the reflex sucking movement of the newborn when he looks for the breast. Or you can make “figure eights” around the entire perimeter.
• Side pose: Turn the baby onto its side from the tummy position. Fix for a while. Learn to slap the water with a pen.
• Pose "sitting on the water": The baby can be swung on the water like a float, slightly dipping and lifting the body. In this position, he watches the adults and watches his arms and legs. Calms down.

Baby screams while bathing: what to do

It happens that the baby begins to be capricious, and sometimes cry loudly when bathing.

This is how he communicates discomfort. Crying worries parents, and they try to determine the cause of the mood change.

After all, a child’s bathing should be associated with positive emotions, otherwise the effect of water procedures may disappear. What should parents do in this situation?

Here are the possible reasons for your baby's anxiety:

• Morning bathing, the child has not yet fully woken up.
• The baby is hungry or thirsty. You can offer him a drink first. But, if the baby bathes later than his usual hour, then he is probably hungry and already wants to sleep. Then you can give him some breast milk and try bathing him again.
• Perhaps the child is not hungry, but has been awake for a long time and is tired, he wants to sleep, not bathe.
• He's scared. Perhaps he got scared during his last bath: water got into his ears, or he got it into his mouth, or the soap stung his eyes. And now he's afraid. The child should be reassured. Distract.
• The bathing water is hotter or much colder than what the baby is used to. It is recommended to reduce the temperature gradually.
• If bath time is delayed, the child may become tired and report this by crying.
• He may be capricious because he is showing character: he does not like to swim, for example, on his tummy, he wants to swim on his back, or he is held too tightly.

Bathing a baby in a large bath

There is a difference between bathing your baby in a large bath or a small one.

A large bath is an opportunity to move, play, and develop. The baby's natural reflexes will help him easily learn to hold his breath when splashes fly into his face, or to push his legs off the side of the bathtub.

And after such active activities, he eats and sleeps well.

Of course, in a large bath, the water cools faster, sometimes unevenly. Therefore, it is difficult to maintain the desired temperature regime.

An adult should also monitor the baby if he is passive, yawns and does not want to move. In this case, you can move the baby along the entire length of the bath, gently turn it over, and lightly massage it. Thus, he strengthens his muscles, his heart works more actively. These are real swimming lessons!

Swimming with a circle

Systematic exercises for a child with a circle in a large bathtub is one of the ways to improve your child’s health by conducting a course of special physical education with him.

Such swimming will improve sleep and increase the child’s appetite. Strengthens the respiratory, nervous and cardiovascular systems.

It is also beneficial for the musculoskeletal system. The baby's movements become more coordinated.

From as early as two or three weeks of life, you can teach your baby in a large bathtub. It must be selected taking into account the weight and size of the child. For this purpose, a special circle is purchased for a newborn, which is designed so that the baby will not slip out of it and will not choke on water. A circle is an inflatable bladder consisting of two separate elements connected by Velcro. It is shaped like a horseshoe.

You need to let the child play with a new object, touch it, look at the pictures on its bright surface. Then put the circle around the baby’s neck so that the baby’s chin fits into the special notch.

When using a swimming circle, you should not lose sight of your baby:

• constantly ensure that the circle does not compress the blood vessels;
• do not leave the bath, leaving the baby alone;
• do not pull on the circle;
• prevent the baby's feet from touching the bottom.

Several exercises with a circle for playing with your baby in a large bathtub:

1. Go behind and call the child. He will turn around. Come in from the back again and call again. He will learn to turn in the water.
2. Hold out the toy. Then extend another, but moving further away. The baby will flail his legs to get it, trying to reach it.
3. Throw several rubber toys into the water and show how to assemble them into a box.
4. Create small waves. Launch the boat, while saying “one or two waves.” The child must learn to move his legs and arms. To also make waves.
5. Place the baby's legs against the wall of the bathtub and show how to push off.

There is no need to forcefully bathe your baby. You should take the child out of the bath and talk to him gently. The voice of a loved one will calm him down.

Diving while swimming

It is not advisable for a child to dive while swimming. But you can pour some water on the baby’s face and lightly spray it when he is lying on his tummy. The result is a kind of “diving” so that the newborn learns to hold his breath.

You can also play the “wind” game with your baby. The mother says “wind” and sprays the baby: he holds his breath so that water does not get into his nose and mouth. After all, children are born with this reflex, so that it does not go away, it can be strengthened with similar exercises.

The child may begin to cough or sneeze, thus clearing the airways of water. You need to lift the baby so that he can breathe freely and calmly, and then continue to bathe further. The baby will calm down.

Don't be afraid of water getting into your ears - this rarely happens to babies.

How to wash a baby

At the end of the swim, the child can be bathed with baby soap or gel. You should lather the baby completely, including the head. But you should not use detergents frequently, no more than twice a week. Then rinse with clean water

Even the highest quality soap, if used frequently, will not benefit your baby's skin.

When washing, you can use a special hypoallergenic natural washcloth, which is well suited for the delicate skin of a child.

After the newborn has been bathed, he should be wrapped with his head in a spacious soft diaper and taken out of the bathroom. Don't be afraid that your baby will catch a cold because the room is cooler. It’s better not to rub it, but just get it wet and wait until the skin dries, this will be an additional element of hardening.

A large bathroom for a newborn means first training, dangers, and learning about the world! It not only helps improve the baby’s health, but also teaches him to swim, and these skills will be useful to him in the future on a pond or sea. And this is also a joyful activity for adults and children together!

Bathing a baby is an important hygiene procedure. Properly organized, it brings a lot of positive emotions to the child. It is not difficult to turn bathing a newborn in a large bathtub into a pleasant experience that does not bring any special worries to parents.

In most cases, the child is bathed in a baby bath, placed on a table or stools. A stuffy atmosphere is created in the room, the baby is carefully lowered into the water and quickly washed. This procedure does not give the desired effect. The best results can be obtained by practicing bathing your baby in a large bathtub.

When can you bathe your baby in a family bath?

A shared family bath for a baby is only permissible after the navel has completely healed. Therefore, bathing a newborn in a large bath can be done when the child is 10–14 days old.

It is customary to bathe the baby once a day. In hot weather, it is better to do this procedure more often. Rinsing with water is a good way to prevent overheating and dehydration. If this is not possible, the child’s body should be wiped with a towel dipped in warm water.

Bathroom preparation

Before swimming you need to prepare everything you need.

1. Before bathing your newborn in the bathtub, it should be thoroughly cleaned with regular baking soda. This is the safest remedy. It is better not to use other chemicals. Then the bath is thoroughly rinsed and poured with boiling water. After this, you can safely bathe your child.

2. If the indoor floor is slippery, place a rubber mat under your feet.

3. When one person bathes a child, without assistants, it is necessary to provide special devices - a slide chair, a hammock or a bathing circle in the bathtub.

4. For a child from 4 months old, it is good to purchase bathing toys. The procedure will be more interesting, and they will contribute to the development of the baby.

It is important that bathing a newborn in a large bathtub is done with the door open. In this case, there will not be a big difference in temperature when you take the child out of the bathroom into the common room.

You need to lower the baby into the water carefully, placing one hand under the shoulders and holding the back of his head.

Having once tried bathing a baby in a large bathtub, parents will appreciate the benefits of this option. After all, the child can move freely, without any risk of hitting himself. But you can’t leave him alone, unattended.

In this article:

Imagine a cute baby energetically splashing around in an already half-empty bathtub, a calm river before his arrival, or a pool “populated” with toys. This mesmerizing scene is sure to leave you in awe. For a child, such a joyful experience is equal to receiving a lot of positive emotions. In this context, it is important to remember that children’s love for water is formed at a very young age, determining the desire of young parents to pay special attention to the process of bathing a newborn.

When to start?

Most pediatricians advise giving a newborn a first bath after the umbilical wound has healed. It would be a mistake to bathe a baby immediately after being discharged from the hospital, because in this case you will expose the child’s fragile immune system to fight infections from tap water, including boiled water.

At first, the baby’s hygiene should be ensured with the help of wet wipes, sponges moistened with water or cotton swabs, paying special attention to washing and rinsing. Full bathing of a baby is possible at the age of 2-4 weeks.

Where and what to swim in?

Alternatives to bathing a newborn baby include a regular adult bath and a special baby bath. The second option would be the preferred choice, because this convenient device has a number of significant advantages. First of all, if there is a seasonal lack of hot tap water, you will not have to boil it in buckets. A kettle of water will be enough to fill the bath. In addition, babies often suffer from various skin diseases, including allergies, erythema, and diathesis. In these conditions, it is recommended to bathe a newborn in a decoction of medicinal herbs, which can be used much more sparingly using a small baby bath.

Various devices are available on the modern market to make it as easy as possible to maintain hygiene for infant sons and daughters. You can purchase a bathtub with a wide side that hooks onto the sides of a regular bathtub and frees you from having to bend over too much. Another helper can be a bathing slide, which supports the baby on the surface of the water.

Bathing a newborn in a large bathtub or small tub should be done in the cleanest possible water. If the quality of tap water in your city leaves much to be desired and creates a risk of infection, it is better to take boiled water. It can be softened with herbs or sea salt. Some parents prefer to use bottled water.

The temperature of the water used should be 35-37°C, depending on your desire to combine hygiene sessions with hardening and healing. From time to time you can bathe the baby in herbal infusions (no more than once a week). Potassium permanganate for bathing newborns in the form of a pale pink solution is usually used until the umbilical wound heals. It is important to remember that it dries out the baby’s skin very much.

The thermometer in the procedure room should be kept at 26° C. If you wash in the bathroom, do not close the doors. This will create a sharp temperature difference when entering the room from the place of water procedures and can cause a cold. In addition, sometimes tap water contains a huge amount of chlorine, inhaling which will definitely not bring any benefit to the baby. Bathroom doors should only be closed if there are drafts.

How often should you bathe your baby?

A newborn baby should be bathed with detergents no more than twice a week. This will be enough to keep your baby clean. Most soaps and gels have a negative effect on the skin of infants, stripping away protective lubricants and causing dryness. Too frequent washing with detergents creates excessive sterility, which will result in baby allergies.

The frequency of water procedures should be increased to daily splashing when the baby begins to crawl. During this period, it is permissible to wash it once every two days.

In the hot season, swimming should be done more often than in cool weather.

Time and duration of water procedures

Usually, young heirs are washed in the evening, before the last feeding, however, this tradition is not considered the norm and parents can independently choose a time suitable for the child and convenient for themselves for water activities. To do this, you need to monitor the baby's activity level before and after taking a bath.

If washing overstimulates your baby and makes him playful, he will not be able to sleep. In this case, it is recommended to carry out the procedure in the morning. Some guys tolerate a bath better after eating, others prefer washing on an empty stomach. Some people like to splash before bed, others after waking up. This has nothing to do with the whims of your baby and is determined by the physiological characteristics that dictate the rhythm of his life.
The optimal time in water is 10-15 minutes.

Detergents

Bathing a newborn in a large or baby bath requires the use of high-quality detergents that will not affect the baby's health. Today, on the shelves of specialized stores you can find all kinds of cosmetics to ensure the comfort of the little ones.

When choosing shampoo, gel, soap or foam for your baby, pay attention to the following important indicators:

• Compound. Carefully read the labels of the products you purchase to see if they contain prohibited substances. In particular, this applies to preservatives, bright colors and biological additives. Avoid baby bath products that have a strong color or scent. Do not buy products with antibacterial components, because these substances disrupt the natural microflora of the child’s skin.
• Supplements For members of the younger generation who are prone to allergies, there is no need to buy products with herbal extracts. For children who are not prone to allergic reactions, products with lavender, chamomile or string extracts would be a good choice.
• pH level. There is a misconception that the pH level should be equal to 5.5. In fact, this figure is true for adults with a neutral pH level, but not for infants, whose pH is moderately acidic and is 6.8. Therefore, in the first few weeks of life, it is not advisable to bathe children with products with a neutral pH level.

What else will you need?

As a responsible parent, you need to stock up in advance with all the things that may be needed in the process of washing your baby. In addition to a baby bath and baby detergents, this definitely includes a bath thermometer, which will help you navigate the temperature regimes of the procedure, and also eliminate children's screams and tears when immersing the baby in too hot or cold water.

You will also need a terry towel. If you have the opportunity, purchase a towel with a hood that fits over the head and allows you to completely cover your newborn after bathing.

It is better to wash using a piece of terry towel or terry mitten. Your hand can also act as a washcloth. Use a small ladle to rinse the crumbs.

Bathing a newborn in a large bathtub can be done with an inflatable ring. This swimming aid helps keep his head above the water level and does not limit the freedom of movement of his arms and legs, which ensures the baby’s safety from choking and does not affect his activity.

In any bathtub you can use the bathing slide already mentioned in the article.

To ensure hygiene of the baby's eyes and ears, you need to buy cotton pads. Prepare a new diaper, powder and clean clothes in advance.

Sequence of basic procedures

The algorithm for bathing a newborn baby comes down to the following principles:

1. Remove rings, bracelets, watches. Wash your palms and backs of your hands thoroughly with soap.
2. Undress your child in the water treatment room a couple of minutes before swimming to give him the opportunity to get used to the ambient temperature.
3. Do a gymnastic warm-up and massage, which should take no more than 10 minutes in total.
4. Fill the bathtub or tub with water and gently place your baby in it, remembering to talk to him or sing a song. Before diving into the water, it is recommended to wrap the baby in a swaddle so that the unfamiliar sensations of contact with a new environment do not frighten him. The diaper will get wet gradually and will ensure a smooth process of adaptation to water.
5. Lather your baby with soft circular movements from the neck to the legs and rinse off the foam. A newborn's hair should be washed last, protecting his eyes from foam.
6. Rinse your baby with slightly cooler water.
7. Remove the baby from the bath and wrap it in a towel.

After swimming

A newborn should not be dried in the usual sense of the word after bathing. His skin is very delicate, and such manipulation can be fraught with unpleasant consequences. It is recommended to remove excess moisture from the child’s body using light, delicate movements. First you need to wet your head and then your body.

Pay special attention to folds where moisture may remain. After the folds are completely dry, use cosmetics as needed. Apply powder to areas where diaper rash occurs. The cream will save your baby's vulnerable skin from dryness. Refrain from applying powder to the cream - lumps will form and rub the newborn's skin.

Never use a hair dryer to dry your child's hair. The baby's hair should be carefully combed with a brush and the scales should be combed out. They can be easily removed by applying baby oil to the skin of the baby's head before bathing.

To blot a newborn's ears, you can use cotton pads or swabs. You need to clean your ears in such a way as not to affect the ear canals. The baby's eyes should be wiped with sterile cotton, moving from the outer edge to the inner to prevent infection. The newborn's nose is cleaned using cotton wool.

Now the baby can be dressed or swaddled. The question of the need for a cap after water procedures remains debatable. You can put it on your baby when the temperature in the room is low, or do without it in warm temperatures.

What's the benefit?

Bathing a newborn has many benefits and is not just about ensuring hygiene. Thus, the procedure hardens the baby’s body and forces it to spend a lot of energy, which has a positive effect on the dynamics of its growth, improves sleep, increases appetite, strengthens the vestibular apparatus and becomes the basis for early physical development. Bathing promotes cleanliness and relieves the child from a number of possible diseases, primarily infectious and allergic in nature.

Water has a beneficial effect on the nervous system. Experience shows that it can help relax and calm even the most excited children. The moist environment ensures your baby's airways are cleared.
Bathing a newborn boy or girl means establishing close physical contact with them. This helps build an emotional bond between parent and child and is especially valuable when a parent spends a significant portion of their day at work. When bathing your child, be sure to do it confidently and without fear, because he very subtly feels all the facets of your emotions.

If you want to know what the optimal bathing process should be, you can always find dozens of videos on how to bathe a newborn baby on the Internet. Be informed about the correct approach to washing your baby and allow your child to receive maximum benefit and pleasure from any water treatment. Good luck!

Useful video about baby's first bath

Bathing a baby is a procedure that should bring joy and pleasure. When in contact with water, tactile stimulation occurs and physical performance improves.

But a prerequisite, of course, is hygienic manipulations and temperature conditions: both water and ambient air.

During intrauterine life, the baby was surrounded by amniotic fluid for all 9 months. After birth, he leaves this environment and goes through the processes of adaptation to new conditions. Therefore, swimming in water is a reminder for him of his “past” life in his mother’s tummy.

If we talk about the temperature, it is about 37 degrees. If this temperature level increases, the child may overheat or get burned. And, conversely, swimming in cold water can even cause fright in an infant and discourage the desire to swim for a long time.

The baby's first bath lasts about 10 minutes, so you don't have to worry that the water will have time to cool down.

Methods for measuring water temperature:

• thermometer;
• "elbow method"

Pharmacies sell many water thermometers in the form of fish that are immersed in a bath. You can also use your own hands. Place your elbow in the water and judge roughly whether the water is hot or cool.

It should be remembered that the umbilical wound in very small babies has not yet healed and to bathe newborns in the first days of life it is necessary to boil water. This must be done within the first two weeks. To do this, first fill the bath with cold water, then add boiling water to the desired temperature - 36-37 degrees. Be sure to stir the water.

If your baby overheats, you will notice redness of the skin and lethargy. And, conversely, if the baby is cold, he will clench his fists, cry, and his lips and limbs will turn blue.

If the child cries during bathing, the procedure should be stopped. Look again at what you are doing wrong.

The air temperature in the bathroom should be about 23 degrees.

What do you need to prepare for swimming?

For water procedures you will need the following items:

• bath;
• swimming slide;
• thermometer;
• diaper;
• soft terry towel;
• children's bathing products.

Baby bath products

In modern stores you can find many different kinds of children's shampoos, gels and bath foams. The most widespread is the Johnsons Baby line.

Bathing foam, especially with lavender oil, has hypoallergenic properties and a calming effect.

1. Hypoallergenic - the absence of harmful dyes and fragrances that can cause an allergic reaction.
2. Safety. After all, any child can try the foam “to the teeth.”

Of course, if it was not a drop of gel, but a whole sip or two, you need to call an ambulance.

Daria, Moscow, 25 years old:“Johnsons Baby bathing foam suited us, or rather my six-month-old happiness, perfectly. You can purchase a large pink bottle of 500 ml. The price is very reasonable and will last a long time - about 4 months. But, depending on how much you pour it into the bath. For excitable children there is also one with lavender.”

Children's soap "Eared Nannies", Hipp is also popular among young mothers. The form of its use is also convenient - liquid.

This soap should not contain fragrances. An essential component is glycerin to soften delicate skin. Always a big plus for soap is the presence of substances of plant origin and a special dispenser for convenient use.

You can also bathe children in herbal mixtures with thyme, chamomile, and lemon balm. They have a good anti-inflammatory and calming effect. They will provide all possible assistance with diaper rash and hyperexcitability of the baby.

Natalya, 28 years old:“I bought the “Eared Nanny” hair wash, I thought it would be suitable as a bubble bath, but it wasn’t. Foams mediocre. Great for babies, softens the skin well. No allergic reactions were detected. There is, however, a grape scent, so I wouldn’t recommend it for newborns.”

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. For my son I use liquid soap “Eared Nannies”. It foams very well, so to speak, “2 in 1” - both foam and soap. The smell is pleasant and washes off quickly. I have never noticed allergies, it softens and soothes the skin very well during diaper rash, if any.

The line of bathing products from the German company Bübchen is also in high demand on the market. But they are a little expensive.

Nowadays you can find a lot of shampoos, bath foams, and bathing gels for children. But even with such diversity, an individual approach and mandatory consideration of possible allergic reactions are required. What to bathe the baby in is up to the parents to decide.

Newborn's first bath

This is the long-awaited moment of discharge from the hospital. You arrived home, and after some time the question arises of how to bathe this small and very fragile bundle of happiness.

Bathing the baby after the maternity hospital should be done the next day to allow the newborn to adapt to his new room and crib.

The child should be bathed in his own bathtub. You should choose a bathtub in children's stores, since the product is certified there, and the plastic and other substances from which the bathtub is made will not harm the baby's health when bathing.

During this procedure, you can use a slide for convenience. There are plastic slides, fabric hammocks, and slides with a metal frame covered with fabric. Special baths with built-in slides are also sold.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. My husband and I enjoyed bathing our baby on a fabric slide with a metal frame. My husband even built it himself. It is more comfortable and softer for a child to lie on fabric than on a plastic backing.

Rules for bathing a baby

1. We are preparing a place in the bathroom where it is most convenient to place the bathtub. You can put it on a stool or in a large bathtub.
2. Let's prepare the water. If the umbilical wound has not healed, then the water should be boiled.
3. Check to see if there is a mug or small ladle to rinse the baby.
4. We fill up about a quarter of the bath with water. Check the temperature with a thermometer or elbow. If desired, add foam or herbal decoction.
5. We put up a slide.
6. We close the bathroom.
7. We are preparing the child.
8. We undress the baby on the changing table. If the room is warm, you can take air baths for a few minutes. Then we swaddle the head, but not tightly.
9. We carefully place the baby on the slide, monitor the child’s well-being, the color of his skin, and the large fontanel.
10. First, carefully wash the baby’s arms, legs, body, then the child’s head, trying to protect the eyes from water. At the end, rinse the baby with clean water. Bathing a newborn should begin with five minutes, gradually increasing the amount of time to 15 minutes.

For more information about the age at which a child should be swaddled, read the article by a pediatrician.

How to wash a newborn?

You can wash your child simply with your hand, or with a special washcloth-mitten, which you can buy at a children's store. When choosing a mitten, evaluate the material from which it is made and the smell, so as not to cause an allergy in your child.

After the child has bathed, he should be wrapped in a dry terry towel and dried with blotting movements. Dress in a vest, romper, or swaddle.

The baby should be bathed daily for the first 4-5 months, but hair should be washed no more than 2 times a week. In the second half of life, you can bathe every other day.

Bathing a baby is quite a challenging task. While still pregnant, it will be useful to study the necessary materials on how to properly bathe a newborn baby. Try to involve your husband in this process.

Helpers will never be superfluous. The baby will feel the care of both parents.