How to properly bathe a newborn for the first time at home and why regular infant hygiene is important. How to bathe a newborn: basic requirements for proper organization of bathing a baby

I have long wanted to write about how to properly bathe a newborn. And here is a wonderful reason to talk about it. My friend's granddaughter was born! She is very small, she hasn’t even been given a name yet. Yesterday the mother and baby were discharged from the maternity hospital, and today we went to bathe the newborn.

The first bath of a baby in many families becomes a whole event. Remember: “Swimming! Bathing! House full of people! There’s a whole group of people in the kitchen heating water!” I was lucky: my friend and I went with her youngest daughter, a new aunt, who took a camera with her. She took a lot of pictures, thanks to which I can now tell you more clearly about what.

It should be noted that I did not come to this method of bathing babies right away, although this is how Russian women traditionally bathed their children. When my daughter was born, for the first month I did not participate at all in the process of bathing the child - my mother and husband bathed her. From the age of one month, we started swimming with her in a large bathtub. After giving birth to my second daughter, I didn’t use a small bathtub at all, but immediately swam with the baby in an adult bathtub. That was the time of my passion, personal and professional, for early swimming. And I only bathed my third baby the way I now think everyone should have been bathed. Once again I affirm that our great-grandmothers, even in their youth, were much wiser than us! After all, the method of bathing a child that they used was, in essence, not only an excellent method of hygiene, but also, in modern terms, a wonderful adaptation procedure for a newborn.

Preparing to bathe a newborn

The first thing we did when we arrived at the house of a young family was to heat water in a large four-liter saucepan. Then we thoroughly washed the baby’s bath with laundry soap. After that, we placed the bath on the kitchen table, placing several thick magazines under the head edge (Oh, young people! They don’t read thick books these days! And dictionaries and encyclopedias are now all on the Internet!). At the bottom of the bath, where we planned to place the girl’s head, we placed a diaper folded several times and poured two liters of water at a temperature of 37.5 degrees. To my right, on a stool, I placed a pan of boiling water.

It's time to wake up the baby; she ate 40 minutes ago, so she didn't have time to get very hungry. I undress her.

I'm bringing the swaddling clothes

You can do it in this position; this type of support is the most reliable and safe.

I'm swaddling. There is no changing table in this house yet, so I do it right on the couch:

Let's start swimming

I carry it to the kitchen and carefully put the girl in the bathtub

Now pay attention: my friend is holding the baby’s head, and I start pouring water on the girl from an ordinary mug. At the same time, my left hand is located on the baby’s tummy, so I always feel the temperature of the water. As soon as I realize that the water is cooling, I take a mug of boiling water from a saucepan that is on the stool to my right, and carefully, along the far wall of the bath, add it and dilute the water to the desired temperature. By the way, each baby may prefer its own bathing water temperature, so it’s worth experimenting. Try 37.5 to 39.0 degrees.

How does our newborn girl behave during bathing? At first she frowns.

Then he makes faces.

And finally he falls asleep!

This is exactly what most children do when they are bathed this way. Now your task is to water and water the baby with water, monitoring its temperature.

And what does the rest of the company that “heated water in the kitchen” do? He's touched!

Bathing a newborn baby. How to wash your baby?

When you realize that you are already tired or you have little hot water left in the pan, start washing.
How do I do this? First, I carefully take one leg out of the diaper.

I wash it with my hand or the edge of the diaper

I free the other leg in the same way and wash it too. When, while washing your legs, you get to the baby’s butt and pussy, carefully wash them too.

Now I take one hand out of the diaper

My pen

I put it back so that the girl freezes less.

I free the other handle and wash it as well. Now I’m removing the top of the diaper from the girl’s body

I raise my head

And I wash my face and scalp

Finishing bathing the newborn

Now I take off the entire diaper (I try not to do this abruptly, but quickly, because at this moment any child becomes cold and begins to be indignant)

I take the girl out of the bath

I turn it over to a safe position.

Grandma puts on a diaper

And on top with a terry towel

Well, the client is ready! Enjoy Your Bath!

After the mother and baby have been discharged from the maternity hospital, young parents are faced with the difficult task of proper upbringing and necessary care for the baby. At first glance, it seems to mommy and daddy that this is quite difficult and almost impossible. But we would like to reassure you right away that you will cope perfectly with a task that is unfamiliar to you! The main thing is to familiarize yourself with the basic rules and recommendations that are presented in specialized literature, on our website and forums with the opinions of knowledgeable, experienced parents.

One of the important tasks in caring for a newborn is bathing him. This is exactly what we want to talk about in our article.

Before answering the main question for young parents: “How to bathe a newborn baby?”, Let’s dwell on what is needed for this.

First you need to prepare all the necessary items, means and things.

What will you need to bathe your newborn baby?

I will present to your attention a list of everything needed to complete this simple procedure:

1. A bathtub is a small, convenient container for a child to take water procedures.

The store will offer you two types of baths:

• ordinary, made of plastic, metal, cast iron, etc.
• anatomical, with a built-in slide to support the child. The only drawback of such a slide is the recess - a support for the butt, which is only suitable for babies over five months. Therefore, such baths are not recommended for children under six months of age!

I would like to dwell on the fact that some young parents do not want to spend money on a baby bath and prefer to bathe their baby in a shared bath. This is absolutely the wrong decision! Despite the fact that the bathtub is very well cleaned and washed with water, micrograins of a cleaning chemical or bacteria may remain on it after bathing an adult, which will negatively affect the baby’s delicate skin, as well as his overall health.

Important! Before bathing, be sure to wash the bath with baby soap and rinse several times with clean water.

2. Accessories that hold the newborn in the bath.

There are several types of accessories:

• The bath slide makes the process of bathing your baby much easier. As a rule, it is made of plastic, so we recommend covering it with a diaper or any other clean cloth. The only drawback of the slide is that pediatricians do not recommend using it for bathing a baby less than six months old, since the baby will sit on it in a semi-sitting position.
• A bath hammock is a durable mesh fabric with elements for attaching to the sides of a baby bath. This device perfectly holds the baby in the bath, making it easier for mommy to bathe him.
• The Plantex mattress is a supportive bathing device that is ideal for bathing a baby from the first days of his life. The advantage of this mattress is that it has an orthopedic correct shape and the newborn will be able to lie flat, with his head positioned above the water and his body immersed in the water.
• A special pillow for bathing newborns is a pillow that is attached with rivets to the baby’s waist and helps him maintain balance in the water. Over time - by six months the baby will learn to sit and will no longer need a pillow.
• A slide covered with fabric is a cheaper option for devices that helps hold a child while bathing. The only drawback is that the baby constantly slides off on it, as it is not fixed in anything.
• A device called "Mommy's Tummy" is the ideal support device for babies up to one year of age. Many sources indicate that in such a bath the baby will feel comfortable, like on his mother’s tummy.

2. A jug necessary for rinsing the baby after bathing in the bath. Such a jug can be bought at any hardware or children's store. Here you can be offered a large assortment of jugs of various shapes and colors.

3. A terry towel in which you will wrap your baby after bathing. Experienced parents recommend buying a towel with a hood so that after bathing the little one’s head is covered from possible drafts, temperature changes or cooling.

4. A water thermometer is a thermometer needed to determine the temperature of the water in your baby's bathtub. The baby's skin is thin and delicate, so it is very important to maintain the correct temperature regime that complies with health standards: the water temperature should not exceed 37°...37.5°C.

5. Soap solution for bathing the baby, appropriate for his age. Children's pediatricians recommend buying them only in pharmacies or specialized brand stores. When purchasing, be sure to tell the toddler’s age. If your child has just been discharged from the maternity hospital, then there is a special baby bathing product for the newborn.

Some parents believe that the best detergent for their baby is baby soap. This is a wrong opinion! According to experts, baby soap, even the highest quality, dries out the delicate baby skin of a newborn.

6. Medicinal herbs such as chamomile, celandine, string, lovage. Pediatricians strongly recommend brewing an infusion of herbs according to the instructions on the package and mixing it into bathing water. Medicinal herbs have a positive effect on the condition of the baby’s skin, healing diaper rash, umbilical wound, etc.

7. A thermometer to determine the air temperature in the room where you will bathe your baby. The optimal air temperature favorable for taking water procedures is considered to be 26-28 degrees.

8. Clean clothes that you will change your baby into after bathing. This is a hat, a vest, a diaper, rompers or a diaper.

9. Hygiene products for the care of a baby’s sensitive skin: baby cream or baby powder, purchased at a pharmacy or a store with goods for children. If your baby’s umbilical wound has not yet healed, be sure to purchase a product to treat it. This could be brilliant green, hydrogen peroxide, etc.

How to bathe a newborn baby

So! You have purchased all the necessary items and things! Now prepare for the bathing process:

1. Place the baby bath in a warm room without drafts or an open window. As a rule, this is a bathroom or kitchen.

2. Wash the bath well with baby soap and rinse several times with clean water. Place it in a shared bathroom, on a table or other stable surface.

3. Place all the necessary things listed above close to the bathing area, as they say, “at hand.”

4. Fill the bath with clean, settled water, free of sand and various impurities (found in water from natural sources). Experts recommend bathing a newborn baby only in boiled water, protecting the child from unwanted bacteria and microorganisms. By the way, pour cold water first and then add hot water, monitoring the water temperature using a water thermometer.

5. Add a decoction of herbs to the water: string, chamomile or celandine. They will not only soften the water, but will also have a healing effect on the skin of the little one. For example, a series relieves diaper rash and skin inflammatory processes. Many pediatricians recommend adding a weak solution of potassium permanganate to the water to disinfect the water and also stimulate the healing of the newborn’s umbilical wound. By the way, potassium permanganate is diluted with a small amount of water in a separate container, and then, filtering the solution through gauze, pour it into a bath of water. Make sure that undissolved potassium permanganate crystals do not get into the bath, because they can burn the baby’s delicate skin.

Now let’s answer the question: “How to bathe a newborn correctly?”

Undress the little one and let him take air baths for a while, i.e. lie naked. Don't ignore this procedure! After all, this is the first step towards hardening a child. And children get a lot of pleasure from this activity, feeling free!

Make sure once again that the water is within normal limits and you can start water procedures!

Lower the baby into the water carefully, slowly, without sudden movements or screaming. If you do not have equipment for a bath, then hold the baby on your arm and palm, lowered into the water. The toddler's head should be above the water at all times. Lightly water the baby with water, creating the effect of gently splashing waves. Also water the hair on your head with water, gently stroking it with gentle movements of your fingers. During the bathing process, open the diaper in which the little one was wrapped and continue the bathing process, talking to the baby in a gentle, soothing voice.

The first bath of a newborn should be no more than 5 minutes. Then the subsequent time of water procedures can be increased to 10 minutes. Pediatricians do not recommend bathing a child for longer than the specified time, as the natural lubrication of the baby’s skin is washed off.

When bathing, be sure to wash your child with a special bath product. To do this, apply a little product to your palm, rub it with your other palm, and then with light movements of your palms, wash your neck, tummy, arms, legs, etc., and lastly the head. Don't be scared! Usually, children don’t like to wash their hair, they scream, cry, and get upset! Please note that a newborn baby is not washed with a washcloth! A washcloth or washcloth - a glove is used when the baby is over two months old!

After taking water procedures, pour clean water from a jug over the baby. The temperature of the water in the jug should be slightly lower (about one to two degrees) than the temperature of the water during the main bath. This is another stage of hardening the baby.

After taking water procedures, wrap the baby in a bath towel, making sure to cover his head or put on a hood.

We carefully wipe the baby, treat the umbilical wound with brilliant green and put on the previously prepared clothes. Make sure that no water remains in the umbilical socket. It is better to wipe it with an ear stick.

Be sure to clean the baby’s nose with a cotton wool strip. Do not use cotton swabs under any circumstances, so as not to damage the mucous membrane of the baby’s delicate nose.

Brush your toddler's hair, if any, with a soft brush. If there are crusts on the newborn's head, then before bathing you need to lubricate them with boiled and cooled olive or sunflower oil, and after bathing, carefully comb them out.

When is the best time to bathe a newborn?

Parents usually give a newborn a first bath in the evening, as bathing relaxes and calms the baby! After bathing, the little one falls asleep faster and sleeps soundly! If you decide to buy your child in the morning or afternoon, then hold off on going outside! Otherwise, the little one may catch a cold!

This is how a newborn's first bath happens!

The appearance of a baby at home is always joy, anxious expectations and... stress for young parents. When the first emotions subside, parents begin to think that the baby should be washed, dressed and fed. However, without experience, even simple tasks can raise many questions.

One of the situations that causes confusion among young mothers is the baby’s first bath after the maternity hospital. If there is a caring grandmother nearby or you are lucky with a supervising nurse and doctor, then bathing will not be a big problem. But if not, mommies need instructions. Therefore, now we will give detailed recommendations for bathing a newborn baby.

Preparing the bathroom and water for the first bath of a newborn

First of all, it is worth refuting the myth that you cannot bathe a child until the umbilical wound has completely healed. You can bathe your baby from the first day of life, but you need to approach this issue extremely responsibly so as not to introduce infections.

Bath . The main thing to remember is safety. Therefore, take care of purchasing a baby bath in advance. There are many reasons not to bathe a child in an adult bath - dangerous location, rough surface for the baby's skin, residues of aggressive detergents, risk of injury and even accidental drowning.

The baby bath is safe for the baby in all respects. There is no need to save money when purchasing it. There are anatomical bathtubs, “mother’s belly” type bathtubs, regular ones, built-in bathtubs for adults, and inflatable models. The safest for newborns are “mummy tummy” baths. They have a cup-shaped shape, eliminating the possibility of slipping, are stable, comfortable for mothers and maintain temperature. In addition, they help with intestinal colic and support newborns who cannot hold their heads in the correct physiological position.

Water . Babies can only be bathed in boiled water and weak herbal decoctions. The water temperature for the baby’s first bath at home should be 36.6 °C, if the mother does not want to cause fear of water in the newborn for the next few months. The baby should not feel the temperature difference. In order to control this aspect, you need to buy a bath thermometer in advance. Or a bath with a thermostat that will maintain the desired temperature.

To avoid infection in the umbilical wound, you can add a solution of potassium permanganate to the water for the first bath. To do this, you need to make a strong, bright purple solution, take clean gauze, folded in two or three layers, and pour the solution into the bath, filtering through the gauze. Pour until the water turns slightly pink. You can also add strong herbal solutions to the water - chamomile, linden, dill.

Bathing products. If possible, you should make do with water and herbal infusions with potassium permanganate, but if you must use detergents, you should avoid antibacterial products and soaps. You can only use special foams for babies. The packaging must indicate that use is acceptable from birth (0+). The foam must be dissolved in a small amount in water in the bath.

The temperature in the bathroom is also very important. If the water temperature sharply contrasts with the air temperature, the least you can expect is tears and screams; more – pneumonia. The bathroom should be warm, as well as the room the baby will enter after bathing.

The child's first bath should be as traumatic as possible. Try to follow all the recommendations so that it does not become a cause of long-term fear.

How to bathe a child?

So, all the preparations are done, and it's time for your daily bath. First of all, you need to stock up on bathing accessories - a watering can with a sprayer, a soft towel, cotton balls and flagella (never sticks), a solution of brilliant green, clean gauze, diapers and talcum powder.

Let's move on to swimming. You need to undress the baby, wash it if necessary, and carefully place it in the bathtub. To do this, you need to support the head (back of the head), neck, back with your left hand (if the mother is right-handed), and the legs and buttocks with your right hand. So the baby is lowered into a lying bath. In “mummy tummy” type baths, the baby is placed under the armpits and head, carefully leaning against the walls and making sure that the baby is comfortable. It must be lowered slowly and gradually, giving him the opportunity to get used to the water. If everything was done correctly, the baby will relax.

Then you need to take a watering can with water (temperature 36.6 °C) and carefully pour it over the baby’s body, but not the head. Getting water in the eyes will frighten the child and may cause fear of bathing. After watering the baby with water (or a decoction of herbs), you need to give him time to adapt by stroking and talking to him.

What to do after swimming?

After the washing procedure, you need to carefully remove the baby and immediately wrap him in a towel from head to toe. The towel should be soft, dry and warm. Until 6 months, pediatricians do not recommend using anything that is applied to the skin (creams, lotions, oils). The exception is coconut oil, it is hypoallergenic and in a small amount (literally a couple of drops) will help retain moisture. It should be applied before you dry your baby's skin.

You need to prepare in advance the room where the baby will go after bathing. Cover the changing table with a warm, clean and soft diaper, put diapers and talcum powder nearby. Don't forget to close the windows and check for drafts. In the first 10 minutes, you should not put diapers or onesies on your baby. It is enough to cover the child with a terry blanket and let the skin breathe.

Bathing a newborn is a very important process, which is not only necessary for maintaining hygiene. It develops the skeleton and muscles, strengthens nerve cells and immunity, calms and relaxes, improves the baby's sleep and appetite. In addition, the first baths help to quickly straighten the baby’s arms and fingers. They stabilize blood supply and pressure, improve coordination and orientation of the baby in space.

To ensure that bathing and swimming in the bathroom are safe and beneficial, it is important to follow a number of rules and recommendations. Parents are concerned about how to properly organize this procedure and how often to bathe their newborn baby. Let's take a closer look at these questions.

Features of baby bathing

It is not necessary to bathe your child every day if it is not necessary. It is enough to do this once every two to three days. The rest of the time, wipe the baby with wet wipes or a damp towel. Too frequent bathing can negatively affect immunity, body temperature and the protective layer of skin, which only form in the first month of life.

It is not recommended to wash the baby with regular soap. In the first weeks of life, it is enough to simply wash it with warm boiled water. After a month, you can use liquid baby soap without fragrances, fragrances and other chemicals. Baby shampoo “without tears” is used after 2-3 months. You need to wash your baby up to six months using cosmetics no more than once every 7-10 days, then you can carry out bathing procedures with soap and shampoo every 5-7 days.

It is important that cosmetics are natural and hypoallergenic, including wet wipes. For the little ones, choose cosmetics for newborns. Carefully study the composition and expiration date of each product, check the product’s age compliance. When washing, use a soft sponge or cloth that will not scratch or damage the baby's delicate skin.

The first bathing is carried out at a temperature of 36.6-37 degrees, starting from five to seven minutes. Then the time spent in water is gradually increased and the temperature is reduced. In this case, the air temperature should be about 25 degrees. Then the baby will not get too cold and freeze after bathing or, conversely, will not overheat.

Before each bath, the bath must be washed with safe detergents. To do this, use laundry soap, baking soda, neutral liquid soap, baby gel or vinegar. Read more about how to clean the bathtub before bathing your newborn. And then we will look at the basic rules of bathing. Let's find out how to bathe a baby correctly and how often, depending on age.

Rules for bathing newborns

• The first bathing is carried out for five minutes in the evening in boiled water with a temperature of 36.6-37 degrees;
• Then the water temperature is gradually reduced by one degree every 5-7 days, and the bathing time, on the contrary, is increased. By the age of six months, a baby can bathe for half an hour;
• The air temperature in the bathroom should be about 25 degrees;
• You need to wipe the newborn with wet wipes or a wet towel several times a day, bathe him in a baby bath with boiled water if necessary;
• It is recommended to bathe your child more often in hot weather, with severe sweating, diaper rash, and skin irritations;
• When the umbilical wound heals, at 3-4 weeks the child can begin to bathe in a regular adult bath with running water;
• It is not recommended to wash your child with soap and shampoo more than once a week. Moreover, shampoo is used only after two to three months. Before this, the baby’s head is washed with baby soap;
• Use only hypoallergenic cosmetics and detergents with natural ingredients that are suitable for the baby’s age;
• After two to three months, swimming exercises are included;
• Herbal supplements in the form of string, chamomile or calendula can be used after 3-4 months, pine-salt baths are made for children older than six months. But be careful, the components can cause allergies in the child!;
• Before bathing, be sure to wash the bathtub with soda, laundry soap or other safe products.

Bathing a newborn in the first month

In the first weeks of life, the baby requires special care and attention, because the child’s body is just adapting to new conditions. The baby should not be bathed in regular running water or in an adult bath until the umbilical wound heals. As a rule, this happens in the second or third week. During this period, the baby is bathed in a special baby bath or simply wiped with wet wipes.

In the first days of life, it is enough to wipe the baby with damp hypoallergenic wipes or a soft towel soaked in boiled water. Then you can start bathing your baby in the baby bath. In this case, too, only boiled water is used with a temperature of about 37 degrees above zero. The first baths should not exceed five minutes.

For bathing, rinse and prepare the bath. Pour in boiled water and wait until it cools to the desired temperature. Then undress the baby, hold him in your arms and press him to you. It is important that he calms down and knows that you are there. Immerse your baby in the water gradually and carefully.

Prepare a table in advance where you will dry your baby after bathing. Lay down a diaper or sheet, wrap the bathed baby in a warm terry towel. When drying your child, do not rub the skin, but lightly blot the moisture. Don't forget to treat the umbilical wound. To do this, blot your stomach with a towel or dry cloth. If there is still a clothespin on your belly button, carefully remove it. Dip a cotton swab in 3% hydrogen peroxide, carefully remove the crust and then thoroughly treat each area of ​​the skin with peroxide.

The clothespin is also treated with peroxide and wiped dry with a cotton pad. Afterwards, it can also be treated with 70% alcohol to enhance protection against infections and bacteria. After the procedures have been completed, the clothespin is put back on. You can then lubricate your baby's skin with lotion or baby oil to moisturize and soften it. After this, they put on a diaper and clothes or wrap the baby in a diaper. Remember, it is not recommended to wear a diaper under a diaper!

Bathing a baby after a month

When the baby is 3-4 weeks old, you can start bathing the baby in a regular adult bathtub. However, it needs to be processed more carefully! But many parents prefer to use a baby bath even after a month. This is not surprising, because it is very comfortable. Plus it's more hygienic.

If you bathe your baby in an adult bath, you can use a children's slide or hammock. This will simplify the procedure, because the mother or father who is washing the baby will not have to bend too low towards the child. In addition, the baby, while in a hammock or on a slide, will not slide around the bathtub.

After a month, it is no longer necessary to boil water. The water temperature is reduced by one degree every week, and the bathing time is gradually increased to 15-20 minutes. The appropriate water temperature for a baby at one month is 36 degrees, at three months – up to 32 degrees.

For children older than two to three months, you can already practice special swimming exercises. This will further strengthen your muscles and immunity. The baby will not be afraid of water and will learn to swim faster. Thanks to a long evening bath, the baby will eat well before bed, fall asleep quickly and sleep peacefully the whole night.

You can bathe your child every day, and wash your child with soap and other products about once a week. It is important to wash every fold of the baby. It is better to water the child from a ladle. If the baby is afraid of water and is capricious, use various toys. They will help you relax and unwind, because bathing for a newborn can be stressful.

Bathing a baby after six months

Bathing is very important for newborns. This is not just a hygienic procedure, but also hardening the baby and introducing him to the world around him. Almost all children like to swim; they go into the water with pleasure. However, if at the first acquaintance with water the baby experiences unpleasant sensations and gets scared, then in the future it will not be so easy to force him to bathe. That is why it is important to carry out the first water procedures in your life after first familiarizing yourself with how to bathe a newborn baby correctly.

Content:

When to take your first bath

There is a lot of controversy about when to bathe a child for the first time. Some insist that it is necessary to wait until the umbilical wound is completely healed, others say that you can take a bath immediately after discharge from the hospital. As a rule, this happens on the third to fifth day of the baby’s life. In this matter, it is better to rely on the opinion of a pediatrician, who, based on the general condition of the newborn, will give recommendations on care and daily hygiene procedures.

It is better to bathe a newborn at the same time, preferably every day before the last feeding. If the child is capricious and shows that he is tired, then it is advisable to cancel bathing and limit himself to wiping with wet wipes or a soft towel soaked in warm water.

Important! It is necessary to wash or wipe the baby's folds, treat them with baby cream, oil or talcum powder daily. It is in these places that the skin is most susceptible to diaper rash.

Video: Treatment of baby's folds to prevent diaper rash

Preparing for a swim

Before water procedures, you should prepare all the necessary accessories in advance and put them so that they are at hand. This is especially important if the mother bathes the baby alone, without helpers. To take a bath you will need:

• special baby bath and slide;
• antiseptic solutions;
• a ladle for pouring water and rinsing the baby;
• baby detergents – soap, shampoo;
• soft towel.

Baby cream for creases or powder, clean clothes in which the child will sleep should also be prepared in advance.

Baby bath

It is better to bathe a newborn in a special bath. It is convenient because it is compact and does not require a large volume of water. The first time you have to boil water for a newborn, this is a big plus. It is advisable to install the bath so that the mother does not have to bend over too much.

The bathtub is washed before each bath. There is no need to use chlorine-containing products for these purposes every time; thorough disinfection is enough once every 1-2 weeks. Before each bath, wash it with baking soda or laundry soap and rinse thoroughly with water. You can pour boiling water over it, but this is not necessary.

Antiseptics

Until the umbilical wound has healed, the child should be bathed in pre-boiled water. In this case, there is no need to add additional disinfectants. The procedure consists of washing the baby and rinsing the folds. After bathing, the umbilical wound should be treated as recommended by the pediatrician (usually brilliant green is used for these purposes).

When the umbilical wound heals well, you don’t have to boil the water, but it is advisable to pass it through a filter, at least a homemade one. It is recommended to add agents that have disinfectant properties to unboiled water.

Potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate)

Until recently, pediatricians strongly recommended adding a weak solution of potassium permanganate to water. Today this method is increasingly being abandoned. And for good reason. The fact is that a solution acceptable for bathing, when the water becomes only slightly pink, is not able to fully disinfect. A stronger solution will burn the baby’s delicate skin. Potassium permanganate is very drying, which negatively affects the condition of the newborn’s skin, leading to the appearance of rashes, peeling, dermatitis and other problems.

If you still decide to bathe your newborn in a solution of potassium permanganate, you should dilute it in a separate small container. To do this, first pour potassium permanganate (at the tip of a knife) into a prepared clean bowl, then pour in warm boiled water. Close the container and shake the resulting solution thoroughly until all particles dissolve.

The product should be poured into the water prepared for bathing very carefully, controlling the amount. Then mix the water and make sure that there are no undissolved particles left, which, if they come into contact with the skin, can cause a burn, and if they get into the eyes, even lead to blindness. The color of the water should be slightly pink.

Herbal infusions

It is preferable to use decoctions and infusions of herbs: chamomile, sage, calendula, string and others. These herbs have an antiseptic, soothing effect on the skin, relieve irritation, inflammation and peeling.

To prepare the infusion 2 tbsp. l. Pour 1 liter of boiling water over the selected herb, cover and wrap. Let it brew for 1-2 hours, strain. Pour the warm infusion into the prepared bath (30-50 liters) and stir. Do not make an infusion that is too strong. The herbs listed have a drying effect and, if their concentration is too strong, can cause peeling. In addition, some newborns experience an allergic reaction.

Bathing water temperature

It is convenient to use a children's water thermometer to measure the water temperature. A temperature of 37°C is considered comfortable for the first bath. As it cools, you should pour hot water from the ladle carefully along the wall of the bath from the side of the baby’s feet, then stir it thoroughly.

When the baby gets used to the water and loves to swim, the temperature can be lowered at the parents' request. Some parents, for the purpose of hardening, bathe their child in water whose temperature does not exceed 32°C. This is a good hardening measure, but it’s still not worth starting with cool water.

General rules for bathing a newborn

When everything is prepared, you can begin water procedures:

1. A special washcloth is used to bathe a newborn. It can be replaced by a small piece of clean soft cloth. Many parents wash their baby with soapy hands.
2. You cannot use soap every time; you can wash your newborn with soap or special foam no more than once a week. Even if the baby is sweating, washing with plain water (with the addition of herbs) will be enough. You also need to wash your hair with detergents no more than once a week. If a newborn has yellow crusts on his head, they are removed during bathing, when the skin is steamed. To do this, use special shampoos to remove crusts or baby cosmetic oil, as well as soft brushes with natural bristles.
3. It is convenient to have a special slide for babies up to six months, until they learn to sit on their own. If there is no slide, then the newborn should be held with your left hand (provided that the mother is right-handed) so that the head lies on the bent elbow, carefully clasping his left arm under his armpit: this way the child will not slip out and will be securely fixed.
4. It is necessary to bathe a newborn baby from above, from the baby’s neck, down to the legs. Much attention is paid to folds. You need to wash each of them with soft sliding movements: on the neck, armpits, arms, groin folds, folds on the legs.
5. Wash the child's head from the forehead to the back of the head, thoroughly rinse the folds behind the ears. Wash your face, avoiding the eye area. After bathing, it is better to wipe the eyes of a child in the first month of life separately with a gauze swab dipped in chamomile decoction.
6. It is better not to use soap when washing. It will be enough to wash the genitals with a cotton pad generously moistened with water. Rubbing for a long time or trying to remove the film or protective white coating in girls is prohibited, otherwise the risk of infection will increase.
7. After bathing, remove the child from the bath and rinse with clean water from a ladle. It is advisable that the rinsing water be one degree lower than the one in which the child bathed.

For the first water procedures, 5-7 minutes are enough. The child gets acquainted with water and gets used to it. There is no need to use soap and shampoo during the first bath; it is better to introduce them to your baby after a week or two. Subsequent baths are increased by 1-2 minutes each time, if the child likes it, he is happy, and is not capricious. By a month, the duration of the procedure takes 15-20 minutes, and by 6 months – up to half an hour.

Things to remember: The risk of injury in the bath is very high, so the baby should not be left alone for even a minute. The baby can become completely immersed in water and choke.

Swimming with an inflatable ring

Many mothers use an inflatable neck ring almost from the first days of their child’s life. In fact, this is a very useful attribute, but it is advisable to use it no earlier than the baby is 1-2 months old, when he is already stronger, holds his head confidently, is used to water and is not afraid to bathe in a large bath.

A properly selected circle is absolutely safe. It fixes the baby's head and does not allow water to penetrate the baby's mouth and nose, which eliminates the possibility of choking. In addition to having fun swimming, this is also a great exercise for your child.

After swimming

You should take the baby out of the bath very carefully, holding the head. It is advisable for someone to throw a towel over the child and take it from the mother's hands. If there is no one to help, then put the newborn on a bent arm, turning him down with his stomach so that the head rests on the palm, throw a towel on top and then carefully turn him over onto his back.

Some mothers spread a towel on the washing machine or a changing table installed in the bathroom, place the bathed baby on it and wrap it up. This can really be a solution if at first it’s hard to get used to getting the baby out of the bath. However, it is worth remembering that under no circumstances should you leave a child at a height: even newborn children, actively moving their arms and legs, can approach the edge and fall. Unfortunately, there are many such cases.

After bathing, let the baby lie down for 5-10 minutes. At the same time, you should not preheat the air in the room too much, otherwise there will be no point in hardening. Pediatricians believe that 22-25°C is the optimal temperature for such procedures. After the baby is completely dry, treat the folds with baby cream, oil or powder to avoid diaper rash.

Important! Talc should only be applied to completely dry skin, otherwise under the influence of moisture it will roll up and clog into folds, causing even greater irritation.

After all the procedures, dress the baby in dry, clean clothes, feed and put to bed. Most likely, well-fed, satisfied and tired, he will quickly fall asleep on his own.