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Big babes bathe in the bath. The best time for bathing a child, the duration of bathing a child is up to a year

The baby of the first days of life is fragile and helpless. How to pick up such a crumb? How to change clothes? How to understand how to calm him down if he cried? How to bathe a newborn? Young parents have to master all the subtleties of life with a small child. This will require a lot of love, patience and a little practical knowledge.

Bathing a baby from the first days at home will become a nightly ritual. The first time a baby takes a bath is an exciting procedure for parents. How to wash a newborn baby for the first time? How to prepare for this event so that it becomes comfortable for the child and easy for mom and dad.

When to start bathing?

The very first bath is a crucial moment for the whole family. The further mood for bathing a small person, and his parents, who will have to bathe the baby every day, depends on how the bath for the newborn goes for the first time.

Benefits of bathing

Water procedures are important not only for hygiene, but also for the immunity and emotional pleasure of the crumbs. Water of suitable temperature is:

cleansing and skin care of the newborn;
soothing, calming effect;
hardening and training of thermoregulatory functions of the body;
one of the ways a baby learns about the world around him;
pleasant emotions for the baby and for the parents.

Important! The first months of life, when the baby's skin is especially sensitive, bathing is carried out with a frequency of once a day. After six months, you can bathe your baby once every two days.

Bath time

Bathing will help to relax the newborn and will be an excellent preparatory procedure for a sweet night's sleep.

It happens that bathing does not calm the child, but rather invigorates. In such a special case, it is recommended to bathe the newborn in the morning. The most important thing is to choose the optimal moment so that the bathing procedure brings maximum benefit and pleasure to the baby, and is also easy and enjoyable for parents.

Follow an individual daily routine that is convenient for you and for your baby. The daily routine will help you get used to the new living conditions with a small child in the house and establish a healthy development of a growing child's body.

Attention! If bathing a child in the evening, try to create conditions for the bathing procedure to take place in the most relaxed atmosphere. Maintaining emotional balance will help to calmly put the baby to sleep at night.

Bath preparation

In order for bathing to become a pleasant procedure for the baby and for the parents, the following nuances must be taken into account:

It is most convenient to bathe a newborn baby in a baby bath. The bath must be thoroughly washed and rinsed with boiling water for disinfection;
For the first baths, until the umbilical wound has completely healed, it is recommended to use boiled water cooled to the required temperature. Read more about preparing water for bathing a newborn baby >>>
Measure the temperature of the water in the bath with a water thermometer. You can also use the "elbow method" to measure whether the water is safe for baby bathing. The optimal temperature for bathing is the closest to the temperature of the mother's amniotic fluid - 37-38 degrees;
If necessary, prepare decoctions of herbs, they will help in caring for the delicate skin of a newborn. Pick up herbs with a calming effect, or antiseptic decoctions, to combat allergies or tonic;
Children's hygiene products. It is not recommended to wash a newborn with soap more than once a week. Shampoo for washing the head can not be used, it is enough to wash the hairs with clean water;
Baby washcloths. In order to wash a newborn baby, you can use special baby washcloths. They are usually made from natural soft fabrics that will not harm the baby's skin;

In addition, these products are decorated in the style of children's toys. They attract the attention of the crumbs, are pleasant to the touch, cause positive emotions. Later, bright washcloths and other bathing toys will become a bright positive moment in the process of bathing and playing with water. In the meantime, the baby is only a few days old, it can be washed with any soft cloth, a small cotton swab, or just with your hand.

To rinse a bathed baby, it is necessary to prepare a ladle with clean water;
Prepare a clean, dry diaper and soft baby towel to dry and wrap your baby after the bath. Ordinary adult towels are very convenient for this purpose, without corners with a hood. They are warm, absorb moisture well, comfortably protect the baby's wet head;
Prepare in advance all the items for baby's skin care after bathing. Cotton swabs and swabs, a clean diaper, diaper skin care products and umbilical wound treatments;
It is necessary to have a set of clean clothes ready in order to dress a washed baby.

Bathing and feeding

In order for the bathing procedure to take place in a comfortable positive environment, the baby must be full.

Know! If the baby is breastfed, then the breaks between feeding and bathing do not need to be observed. A newborn can be fed before bathing and immediately after. Mother's milk, unlike mixtures, is absorbed very quickly.

A bottle-fed baby can be bathed an hour after feeding.

bathing in herbs

Herbs are often used to bathe a young child with delicate, vulnerable skin:

and calendula will help with redness and rashes on the skin;
Chamomile will help to cope with colic;
Motherwort decoction will relax and calm the baby.

To prepare a decoction of herbs for bathing:

Pour 3-4 tablespoons of dried herbs with cold water;
Bring to a boil and leave to brew for 20 minutes under the lid;
Before adding a decoction to the bathing water, strain through cheesecloth or a fine sieve.

Bathing. Procedure sequence

So, everything you need is prepared, it's time to bathe the newborn baby:

The baby tub should be set high enough to keep your back straight. This will help you to keep cheerfulness, not to get tired of the responsible and exciting procedure of bathing your baby;
Lift one end of the bath by placing a thick book under its edge. A slight slope of the bath is necessary so that the head of the newborn is not immersed in water;

On a note! You can also purchase the so-called anatomical bath for bathing a newborn. It already has an inclined plane, for convenient placement of a small child.

Fill the bath with boiling water and dilute the water to 37 degrees. For temperature uniformity, stir the water, then measure the temperature with a baby water thermometer and/or elbow;
If necessary, prepare a decoction of herbs, strain it and add to the water in which you will bathe the newborn;
Place a container of hot water at a convenient location away from you. When the water cools, you will add a little hot water from the far end of the bath so as not to harm the baby;
Roll a thick diaper into a pillow and put it in the bath in the place where the baby's head will be placed;
After short air baths, wrap a naked newborn in a thin diaper;
Carefully submerge the baby in the water so that the body and shoulders are in the water, and the head is on the pillow. Keep your warm hand on the newborn's tummy;
With a small bucket, start pouring water on the child. Let the water flow onto the baby along your arm, so you will control its temperature;
If the water is getting cold, run a small jet of hot water around the edge of the tub and stir the water. At the same time, the bath should be long enough so that hot water does not create discomfort for the baby.

Attention! The length of the bath for bathing a newborn should be at least 65 centimeters.

Wash the baby's arms and legs, one by one, releasing them from the thin diaper in which the newborn is wrapped. Then again cover the baby with a diaper so that he does not get cold;
Whether or not to use baby soap for the first bath is up to mommy. Some mothers do not use soap during their first baths. If the baby was washed with baby soap, then it must be rinsed with clean water, which must be prepared in advance;
Wrap the washed baby in a warm diaper that absorbs moisture well. Wrap your baby in a warm bath towel over the diaper.

How to wash a newborn. Rules

You immersed the baby in water, doused him with warm water. He is warm, comfortable and you are also calm that the baby enjoys water procedures. How to properly wash the head and other parts of the body of a newborn:

The baby's head is on a pillow made of a towel or diaper. I wash my head with movements from the forehead to the back of the head. By rinsing the head, you can protect the baby's face by placing your palm with the edge against the baby's forehead;
Wash the body of the newborn with your hand, baby washcloth or cotton swab with or without soap. We wash the neck folds, armpits, the spaces between the fingers of the arms and legs;

By the way! With practice, you will eventually find out if your baby prefers warmer or cooler water.

We wash the folds on the arms, legs, inguinal folds with a cotton swab, if soap was used, rinse thoroughly. If there is redness, then it is useful to rinse the folds with a decoction of herbs and treat with appropriate means (from diaper rash, prickly heat or irritation);
We gently wash the genitals from the outside. In the process of bathing, while the baby is in the water, the genitals are cleaned from contact with water. After bathing, rinse with clean water;
We wipe the eyes with a clean cotton swab with movements from the outer edge of the eye to the nose;
Gently wipe the auricles with a cotton swab dipped in clean water. We pay special attention to the cleansing of behind-the-ear folds.

Attention! If the baby is cold in the bath, you will notice that his nose and lips turn blue. If the baby is too hot, then the face turns red. In addition, the baby will declare any discomfort with a loud cry.

Watch a helpful video tutorial on bathing a newborn:

Age features of bathing

If frequent bathing of the baby brings a lot of trouble and excitement, then over time this procedure becomes easier. How the process of taking a bath changes as the baby grows and develops:

From birth to 1.5 months. Bathing is carried out daily. To protect the baby's fragile body from the temperature difference between water and air, we bathe him wrapped in a thin diaper. Interesting information about what temperature should be in a room for a newborn >>>
From 1.5 to 3 months. The baby bathes in a lying position in a baby bath in a small amount of water;
From 3 months to six months. The kid becomes mobile, shows interest in the world around him. He can still be bathed in a baby bath, or he can bathe in a large bath with his mother;
From half a year. At this age, the baby is already sitting. Now it will be interesting for him to splash around, play with some water. You can bathe in a basin, or in the same baby bath using a special bathing chair. Velcro stool is attached to the bottom of the tub. The child sits on a chair, plays with water and at the same time washes.

How long does the bath take?

If the bathing of the crumbs is carried out daily at a certain time, then how long should the newborn be bathed? As a rule, the baby is not kept in the water for a long time during the first baths. The procedure usually takes 5-7 minutes;
If the growing baby likes it in the bath, then bathing can be extended as long as it is possible to maintain the optimum temperature of the water. After 1.5 - 2 months of life, bathing can last up to a quarter of an hour;
After six months, when the baby bathes in a sitting position and plays with water, the bathing procedure can last 30-40 minutes.

After swimming

The bathed baby is comfortably wrapped in a warm bath towel. In order for him to remain satisfied and soon fall asleep sweetly:

Rock the baby and feed him;
Lay the baby on the back, dry the skin folds with a diaper;
Treat the folds with appropriate hygiene products;
Put on a diaper;
Put on a bonnet so that the head of the newborn's ears are well protected after the bath;
Dress your baby in clean clothes;
Now you can go to sleep.

A detailed video about bathing a baby and caring for a newborn, see

Bathing is part of the child care process. Since hygiene is the basis of such care, bathing must be accompanied by the implementation of a number of rules. So, how is it right to bathe a small child in a large bath? How do you use a circle?

The first bath of a newborn baby in a large tub

Bathing a baby in a shared bathroom after a baby bath has its own distinctive features. First you need to gradually lower the child into the water, wetting the legs, arms and torso. You need to hold the child by the head in this way: your little finger should be under the neck, the rest of the fingers under the back of his head. Nothing bad will happen if water gets into the eyes, as long as it does not get into the mouth and nose. You will immediately notice that the baby's torso will not sink to the bottom of the bath. On the contrary, it floats up and stays on the surface in such a way that the chest with the tummy sticks out of the water. Therefore, with the other hand (and perhaps another adult will do this), it is necessary to regulate the immersion in the water of the body so that the chest and tummy are under water.

Once your baby is in the big bath, you will immediately understand the difference between this bathing option and bathing in a baby bath. You will make sure that the baby can move easily without the risk of hitting the walls of the tub.

In a large bath, you need to observe the behavior of the baby. If the child is not active, lies quietly and yawns, then he does not like the process of bathing. Then you can lead the baby in the water, moving to the edges of the bath back and forth. This is how you activate the child. Of course, it may not be worth doing this for the first time. After all, the first bath is adaptation, adaptation. And for sure, the process of such adaptation is more difficult for adults than for a child.

In general, for bathing a baby in a large bath, three positions will be enough:

lying on the back with support behind the head;
swimming on the tummy (the chin of the child is in the hand of an adult, between the thumb and forefinger of the hand);
sitting posture.

Yes, a baby can sit in a large bath even in the neonatal period. All further actions of adults do not need any scheme of actions. You need to be guided by common sense and the behavior of the child. If he begins to cry, then you do not need to forcibly keep him in the bath. And in order to prevent this from happening, adults should set the child in a positive mood before bathing: talk to him, smile, stroke, make him smile.

You need to monitor the temperature of the water, because after 15 minutes it will drop by several degrees. It is recommended to start bathing a child in a large bath from 34 °, and after 2 days to reduce the starting water temperature by one degree. Over time, you need to ensure that the baby in the water is active. Talk to him. Water and turn a little to the sides.

Each child has its own properties of body temperature regulation. Therefore, it is impossible to predict the optimally comfortable water temperature for each child. One baby may smile at 23° and another won't even at 30°. However, parents should take into account the average optimal norms for bathing children in a large bath:

At a temperature of 34 ° at the beginning, the process lasts 15 minutes.
At the age of one month, this temperature can be 30-32°, and bathing lasts 20-25 minutes.
At two months, the bathing temperature can be 28-30 ° and this bathing lasts 30 minutes.

Bathing a baby in a large tub with a circle

Bathing a baby with a circle is a special physical education in the water. An ordinary inflatable ring is not suitable for this, because it is focused on bathing older children. And the bathing circle for newborns is designed so that the child cannot slip out of it, drink water or dive. Bathing a baby in a bath with a circle is a prevention and at the same time treatment of muscle hypertonicity. It develops coordination of movements, the child ceases to be afraid of water. So, you bought a circle. Now we are ready to bathe.

First, unpack it and smooth out the contours. Gradually inflate its small chamber so that all the curves of the contour straighten out. To inflate, squeeze the valve nipple - and so the air will freely enter the chamber. When finished pumping, release the nipple, close it. Next, you need to inflate the large chamber of the circle. Closed valves must be “drowned” inside the circle. On both sides there is a notch for a child's chin.

Before you try swimming with a circle for the first time, you must first introduce the child to this swimming attribute. Let him get used to the circle, touch, play or just look. The child will be interested in the rattles on the circle.

Starting to bathe, open the fasteners, slowly spread one part of the circle up and the other down so that the formed opening passes the baby's neck. Release the outlines to return them to their original position.

The chin should be clearly in a special recess for the child's chin. Use the fasteners to adjust the fit of the inner contour to the neck of the crumbs, fix them. It is recommended to put on a circle together, but do it not in the water. You also need to remove it outside the bath.

Parents should remember that in no case should a child be left alone in a bath with a circle. It is necessary to control the process constantly, even when the baby is fully adapted to this swimming attribute. Systematic swimming with a circle causes positive emotions in the baby, helps to strengthen his respiratory and cardiovascular systems. They have a beneficial effect on the musculoskeletal system and strengthen the nervous system, improve sleep and appetite.

You can start teaching your baby to swim at 2-3 weeks old, after the umbilical wound has completely healed. You can start swimming with a circle in a regular bath. When the child grows up, the bath becomes cramped for him, then this process can be moved to the pool.

The advantages of the circle are that the baby can swim both on the tummy and on the back. While swimming with a circle, your baby's body is completely submerged in water. So he won't freeze. The circle does not hinder the movement of the arms and legs of the baby. It perfectly protects the child's ears from water ingress.

You can put on a circle on the body of a baby only at the age of 3 months and on condition that he holds his head very confidently. Before you start swimming a child with a circle in the bath, it will not be superfluous to consult with your pediatrician.

How to bathe a baby in a large bath: rules

Bathing a child in a large bath, you need to follow a number of rules:

Temperature control. You can use a thermometer for this, or you can use the old folk way: dip your elbow into the water, and if the temperature is comfortable for you, not hot, then you can bathe the child.
If the child has diaper rash and redness on the body, it is useful to add a decoction of chamomile, succession, celandine, calendula to the bathing water.
Never bathe a baby immediately after feeding.
Bathe your baby with washing from top to bottom.
When bathing, it is better to use liquid soap. Make sure baby bath products are labeled “no tears.”
Do not forget about the treatment of the umbilical wound of the crumbs.
It is not necessary to bathe the baby often and keep him in the bath for a long time.
It is not recommended to bathe a child if he is naughty, crying, whimpering. Reassure the child, tune in a positive way.
In no case do not trust the bathing of a child to a drunken relative.

Where to bathe a baby?

Some young parents believe that you need to bathe the child immediately in a large bath and not bother with the purchase of special baby baths. Well, it's possible. A large bathtub is an easy and safe option for bathing a child. Swimming has a number of benefits:

Plenty of space for swimming. The child can move actively and freely without the risk of hitting the edge of the tub.
Such a bath simply cannot roll over or fall.
A large bath is usually already in the house, and you do not need to buy it, think about where to put it.
It is easy to draw water into such a bath and just as easy to drain water from it.

But a large shared bath also has a number of disadvantages for bathing crumbs:

All members of the family bathe in the shared bath. Before each bathing the baby, it should be thoroughly washed with soda or baby detergent, gel for cleaning baby supplies.
During such bathing, adults need to bend over or kneel to safely support the child. This is not very convenient.
The large volume of the bath usually frightens parents, and it takes them a long time to adapt to the optimal water level in the bath for bathing a child.

So, where to start bathing the baby is the choice of each parent. Their task at the same time is to ensure safety and instill in the baby a love of water.

Especially for - Diana Rudenko

Bathing for a newborn child and his parents is a whole event (especially if it is the first after the 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 decoctions of herbs and how often to do this, is it dangerous to get water in the ears, and so on. The well-known pediatrician Yevgeny Komarovsky in his books and articles has repeatedly talked about the basic rules and principles for 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 absolutely useful for all babies from the very first days of life. In the womb, the crumbs are in the aquatic environment, and therefore it is familiar and familiar to them. In the water, the little one feels at home. Bathing is not only a hygienic procedure aimed at keeping the skin and hair of the child clean. Taking baths promotes physical development, carries an element of the game, 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 quite a few rather stringent requirements and restrictions for parents.

Modern doctors look at bathing more democratically.

Experienced parents, as a rule, have much less difficulties when bathing a newborn at home for the first time than new moms and dads who just a few hours ago received their first child in their arms. Komarovsky advises to keep the Spartan calm. It is this that guarantees success in the difficult task of bathing the baby.

Training

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, others recommend refraining from taking water procedures until the umbilical cord dries. Yevgeny Komarovsky says that the choice is, of course, for the parents. However, if the child is kept in acceptable living conditions, does not sweat, does not overheat, 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, then only mom and dad, but in this case there are wet baby sanitary napkins that you can wipe problem areas and folds at any time.

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

For a long time, doctors advised bathing in water with a solution of potassium permanganate. However, here you need to be extremely careful, 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 just 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 an infusion of a string.

Massage

Massage before evening bathing is a very useful and important procedure, Yevgeny Komarovsky believes. During stroking and patting, the blood supply to the muscles and skin improves, and the benefits will be even more noticeable if the baby is bathed immediately after the manipulations. To master a simple massage is within the power of all parents without exception. You do not need to enroll in special courses for this.

Massage before the bath Komarovsky recommends making it light and soothing. At first, with baby cream, mom can easily massage the hands (with strokes and circular motions, this should be done with the thumbs). Then the legs are massaged in the same way. The tummy is stroked with the palm of your hand or fingertips clockwise. Then the crumbs are laid out on the tummy and the back is gently massaged - first with circular and arcuate movements, and then with light pats.

Mom's movements should not hurt the baby, he should not go to the bath too overexcited 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 raising or lowering the temperature (maximum - by 1 degree).

Some parents try to warm up the bathroom in advance, bring heaters into it (especially in cases where the first bathing at home takes place in winter). Komarovsky does not advise doing this. The temperature in the bathroom should be about the same as in the rest of the apartment (optimum values are 18-20 degrees), and it is harmful to overheat the air in the bathing room.

Komarovsky for sound sleep at night advises to practice bathing in cool water, the temperature of which is not higher than 32 degrees.

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

These figures Komarovsky advises to take rather conditionally. If a child at 1 month calmly perceives bathing in water, the temperature of which is 24 degrees, there is nothing wrong with that. He sleeps soundly, has a great rest, worries himself less and lets his parents sleep.

Time

The first bath should not be made 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. The best duration of bathing Komarovsky considers 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 dirty enough to need to be bathed every day.

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

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 transferred to lunchtime. However, Komarovsky warns that evening swimming has its benefits - for example, it promotes relaxation for a sound and healthy night's sleep.

Herbs and decoctions

Whatever traditional healers say, it is better to coordinate any use of phytotherapeutic agents when bathing with the attending pediatrician. Grandmothers, of course, will advise you to bathe your granddaughter in a row more often or be sure to brew nine forces for him, but the common sense of parents should be above all. If a child suffers from atopic dermatitis, diaper rash, a tendency (genetic) 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, Yevgeny Komarovsky believes. However, measure is good in everything, you should not prepare herbal baths daily, and you should be more careful with the dosage of decoctions and infusions.

Naturally, it will not work to treat something with the help of herbal decoctions added to water, since this is impossible, says Dr. Komarovsky. But big harm with moderate dosing will not happen.

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

Such situations do occur, says Komarovsky. But the point here is not at all in the child, and not even in the fact that he is afraid of something. Most likely, according to a well-known pediatrician, bathing conditions should be adjusted. Maybe the temperature of the water 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 the 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 cry in the bathroom, according to Komarovsky, lies in the rejection of the baby's 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, not bathe. Therefore, Komarovsky gives some advice that will help parents whose children are rowdy in the water:

Change the time of day.

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

Practice bathing with your child.

Large bath

This can be done already in 2-3 months, says Evgeny Komarovsky. At first, a child can get used to a large body of water with a circle around his neck. This is a special inflatable device with a notch for the chin and Velcro at the back of the neck. The kid is fixed in such a circle, his head is always above the water, and he can practice swimming on his back, stomach, turning over in the water on his own. Usually this picture leads the parents of the crumbs into indescribable delight.

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

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

Among the rituals that are repeated every day, bathing is important. In addition to eliminating sweat and dirt, it helps the baby relax the muscles and calm the nervous system. He sleeps soundly and eats well. Adults need to try to properly organize a place for bathing a child and think through all the details.

It is important to know a few rules that will turn bathing into an enjoyable process.

Causes of inconvenience

Bathing often brings pleasure to the baby. If after that he cries, then something is done wrong. It is important to understand why whims appear.

Perhaps the room is cold, and after a warm bath, the baby feels uncomfortable.
Fright (the child took a sip of water, heard a sharp sound).
Hunger or thirst (a lot of time has passed since feeding).
If the baby is tired, wants to sleep, cries, do not wash it. Washing will be enough.
If the child cries not only after, but also during washing, he may have colic. While bathing, you can stroke his tummy.

It is necessary to take into account the rule: the baby can be bathed only 30-40 minutes after feeding. You can not start the procedure after eating, the child can burp everything eaten during physical activity in the water. That is why it is better to keep the time interval after eating.

Parents are often frightened by the situation when the baby took a sip of water. You don't have to do anything. Water can also get into the ears. Then just blot it with cotton swabs.

In order to get the maximum benefit, babies are bathed in herbs: in chamomile or string. Useful and sea salt. The whole first month, until the wound on the navel heals, the water for taking a bath is boiled.

These conditions are difficult to comply with if the bath is large. In addition, all family members bathe in a large bath, and this is unacceptable for a newborn child. After 1 month, you can bathe the baby in a large bath.

modern fixture

The limitation of space often causes the baby to cry. With a circle you can swim in a large bath. Parents do not have to keep the baby in one place. With the circle he feels safe.

In the inflatable circle there are special fasteners with which it is attached to the child's neck. The front of the circle has a recess for the chin. The baby will not be able to bend his head down and take a sip of water. With a circle, the child’s muscles completely relax, spasms are relieved.

There are contraindications for which it is impossible to swim in a circle on the neck: increased intracranial pressure, viral infections, birth trauma.

The main thing is to correctly position the child in a circle. Before bathing, you need to put the baby on his stomach. Move the halves of the circle apart and stick the child's head between them. You need to make sure that the chin falls into the recess, and the clasp is not pulled tight.

Bathing time in the circle is not limited, it is allowed to use it every day. You need to start with 5-10 minutes, so that the child gets used to being free in the water.

Do not leave children alone in the bathroom for a second!

Comfort and tranquility

Finding a baby in herbs will heal his body, relieve skin problems. Herbs such as nettle, chamomile, string will help. A bath with sea salt and decoctions of these herbs will enhance the healing effect.

The sequence manages to relieve inflammation on the skin, reduce the rash. Often you can not bathe in a row. You can add it once a week, as it dries out the skin.

Bathing in chamomile has a beneficial effect on the nervous system, disinfects water. Chamomile has antiviral and antibacterial properties.

Bay leaf helps with allergic rashes, purulent wounds, eczema, diathesis. Bay leaf is a strong natural antibiotic, it helps to get rid of excessive sweating. The essential oils that each leaf contains help calm the nervous system and cope with insomnia.

Bay leaf helps to get rid of inflammation on the skin. Its decoction is used as lotions or evening baths. To prepare a decoction, take a bay leaf (7-10 pieces) and boil in water for 20 minutes. After that, let it brew for an hour. Strained infusion is added to bathing water.

Bay leaf is considered a safe remedy for allergies, but caution should be exercised in the case of children under one year old. Up to 3 months, the sheet is allowed to be used only externally, after - you can drink.

Bay leaf also has its own contraindications for use: stomach diseases, constipation, pancreatitis. Do not repeat the procedure daily. This will help prevent rashes and dry skin.

Soothing herbs that can be added to water: valerian, lavender, mint, oregano. Any herbs should be used with caution.

Security measures:

procedures with decoctions of several herbs are not allowed to be done in the first month of a child's life. This makes it difficult to identify an allergy to a particular plant;
if the herbs are in filter bags, then they are used 5 pieces per 1.5 liters of water;
before dipping a child in a bath with grass, it is necessary to moisten a cotton swab with the decoction and apply it to the skin of the child. If after a few minutes there is no allergic reaction, you can bathe the baby.

Salty water

Sea salt includes important trace elements (potassium, iodine, magnesium). Salt baths will successfully replace swimming in the sea. Coniferous extracts will only enhance the effect of sea salt.

Bathe your baby in a sea salt bath no earlier than six months after birth. Up to three baths per week are allowed. Neurologists prescribe salt baths for birth injuries, hypertonicity. You can not add salt in the presence of open wounds, abrasions on the skin. Salt is also harmful in diseases of the nervous system. After water, where there is salt, be sure to rinse the child in the shower.

Coniferous-salt baths will help relieve excessive excitability and strengthen the immune system. Salt baths are done according to the testimony of a doctor.

Sea salt water should be properly prepared. Salt is diluted in a separate container, after which it is poured through a sieve into a bath of water. The time of taking such a bath is 5-10 minutes - up to 6 months, and 20 minutes - after 6 months. If coniferous-salt baths are made, then a few more drops of pine needles extract are added.

Water with sea salt will start metabolic processes and activate the body's defenses. But salt can have a negative effect on the baby's sensitive skin. Long bathing in water with sea salt leads to peeling and dryness of the skin.

It is good to turn water procedures into an exciting game. You can take your favorite toys with you, massage and stroke the baby, tell him fairy tales. Parents are able to create all the conditions so that bathing for the child is useful and enjoyable.

In this article:

Imagine a cute baby splashing vigorously in an already half-empty bathtub, a river calm before his arrival, or a pool “populated” with toys. This mesmerizing scene will surely make you genuinely tender. For a child, such a joyful experience equals 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 the first bath of a newborn after the umbilical wound has healed. It would be a mistake to bathe the baby immediately after being discharged from the hospital, because in this case you will expose the fragile children's immunity to the fight against infections from tap water, including boiled water.

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

Where and in what to bathe?

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, in the event of a seasonal lack of hot tap water, you do 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 spent 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 the hygiene of nursing sons and daughters. You can purchase a bathtub with a wide rim that clings to the sides of a regular bathtub and frees you from having to bend over hard. Another assistant can be a swimming slide that supports the baby on the surface of the water.

Bathing a newborn in a large bath or a small bath should be carried out in the cleanest possible water. If the quality of tap water in your city leaves much to be desired and creates a risk of acquiring any 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 1 time per 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 the baby's skin very much.

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

How often should a baby be bathed?

Bathing a newborn baby with detergents should be done no more than twice a week. This will be enough to keep your baby clean. Most soaps and gels affect the skin of infants by stripping away protective oils and causing dryness. Too frequent washing with detergents creates excessive sterility, the result of which will be an allergy of the baby.

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

In the hot season, bathing should be carried out more often than in cool weather.

Time and duration of water procedures

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

If washing overexcites the baby and makes him playful, he will not be able to sleep. In this case, the procedure is recommended to be carried out in the morning. Some guys are better at bathing after eating, others prefer washing on an empty stomach. Some people like to splash before going to 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 spent 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 health of the baby. Today, on the shelves of specialized stores, you can find all kinds of cosmetics to ensure the comfort of the smallest.

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

Compound. Carefully study the labels of purchased products for the presence of prohibited substances in their composition. In particular, this applies to preservatives, bright dyes and biological additives. Avoid baby bath products that have a strong color or smell. Do not buy products with antibacterial components, because these substances violate the natural microflora of the child's skin.
Additives. For representatives of the younger generation prone to allergies, there is no need to buy products with plant extracts. For children who are not prone to allergic reactions, products with lavender, chamomile or string extracts are 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, but not for infants, whose pH is moderately acidic at 6.8. Therefore, in the first few weeks of a child's life, it is undesirable to bathe with products with a neutral pH level.

What else is needed?

As a responsible parent, you need to stock up in advance on all the things that you may need in the process of washing your baby. In addition to the baby bath and baby detergents, this includes a bath thermometer that will help you navigate the temperature regimes of the procedure, as well as relieve children's screams and tears when the baby is immersed in too hot or cold water.

You will also need a terry towel. If you have the opportunity, get a towel with a hooded corner, which is worn over the head and allows you to completely wrap the newborn after bathing.

Washing is best done using a piece of terry towel or terry mittens. Your hand can also act as a washcloth. To rinse the crumbs, stock up on a small bucket.

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

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

To ensure the hygiene of the eyes and ears of the baby, 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 boils down to the following principles:

Remove rings, bracelets, watches. Wash your palms and the back of your hands thoroughly with soap.
Undress your child in the water treatment room a couple of minutes before bathing to allow him to get used to the ambient temperature.
Do a gymnastic warm-up and massage, which should take no more than 10 minutes in total.
Fill the tub or bathtub with water and gently place your baby in it, remembering to talk to him or hum a song. Before immersion in water, it is recommended to wrap the child in a diaper so that the unfamiliar sensations of contact with the new environment do not frighten him. The diaper will get wet gradually and will ensure a smooth adaptation to the water.
Lather the baby with gentle circular motions in the direction from the neck to the legs and rinse off the foam. The newborn should wash his head last, protecting his eyes from getting foam.
Rinse your baby with slightly cooler water.
Take the baby out of the bath and wrap it in a towel.

After swimming

A newborn after bathing should not be wiped in the usual sense of the word. 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 with the help of light, delicate movements. First you need to get your head wet, and then the body.

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

Never use a hair dryer to dry a child's hair. The baby's hair should be carefully combed with a brush and comb out the scales. They are perfectly removed if baby oil is applied to the skin of the head of the baby before the bathing procedure.

To wet the ears of a newborn, you can take cotton pads or swabs. Ears should be cleaned 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 flagella.

Now the child can be dressed or swaddled. The issue of the need for a bonnet after water procedures remains debatable. You can wear it on your baby when the temperature in the room is not high, or do without it in warm temperatures.

What's the use?

Bathing a newborn has many benefits and is not just about hygiene. Thus, the procedure hardens the baby's body and makes it 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 saves the child from a number of possible diseases, especially those of an infectious and allergic nature.

Water has a beneficial effect on the nervous system. Experience shows that it can help to relax and calm even the most excited children. The moist environment keeps your baby's airways clear.
Bathing a newborn boy or girl means establishing close bodily contact with them. This helps build an emotional bond between parent and child and is especially valuable when a parent spends a large part of their day at work. When bathing a 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 let your child get the maximum benefit and pleasure from any water procedures. Good luck!