Bathing a newborn is considered one of the most enjoyable duties of new parents. But in order for the baby's bathing to go smoothly, it is necessary to prepare for it in advance. If you still do not know how to properly wash newborns, remember a few tips that will help you cope with this still new task for you.
- It is necessary to wash newborns in special baths, preferably not very large ones, since babies are frightened by large spaces. Today, you can find special baths for bathing babies on sale, and many of them are made in such a way that the baby is comfortable inside. These anatomically shaped baths do not allow the baby to slide to the bottom thanks to a special support under the back, which means that the newborn's head will always be above the water, and the bathing process will become safer.
- You can bathe a newborn on the very first day after returning home from the hospital (if the vaccination against tuberculosis was given on the day of discharge, then the day after it). After bathing, it is necessary to remove the remaining water from the navel - it is most convenient to do this with cotton swabs.
- To keep the child from being capricious, try to bathe him every day at the same time. Children quickly get used to the fact that at a certain time they have to swim, and do not react so sharply to the procedure.
- Remember to measure the temperature of the water in the tub before bathing. All bath procedures for newborns must be carried out in a warm room, the air temperature in which does not fall below 24-26 degrees. The recommended water temperature for bathing babies ranges from 36-39 degrees.
- For bathing, you will need a soft towel and a baby terry cloth washcloth. To prevent the shampoo flowing from the head from getting into the ears and eyes of the child, you can use a special visor.
- If your child is afraid to swim or is naughty, try offering different toys for bathing. Then the child will not get bored while sitting in the bath, and will perceive bathing as a kind of game.
- To prevent your child from developing allergies, use only special baby soap when bathing. Children under three months old should not be bathed with shampoos, bath foams or perfumes. After the child has been bathed, it must be wiped off. The wiping process must be gentle, as the baby's skin is very vulnerable. At the same time, it is necessary to dry the skin thoroughly, since high humidity often causes the development of skin diseases. The umbilical wound after bathing must be treated with hydrogen peroxide.
