Baby bathing
Bathing a baby is always a delicate and challenging process, especially for young parents. A baby is a very helpless being and can easily be hurt or injured. Extreme caution is necessary.
If your baby is healthy, there will be less difficulty in bathing them. Simply make sure that the umbilical cord is well healed.
The WHO says that you can wash your baby carefully on the first day, waiting is not necessary if you are confident that the baby is healthy. However, fully immersing the baby in the tub is a more complex process and requires more caution. This is because the umbilical cord needs to heal, which happens on the 9th or 10th day after birth.
The frequency of bathing a baby depends on the doctor's recommendations. It is best to postpone a full bath for some time because after birth, a baby's body produces a protective film on the skin that helps it resist infections such as meningitis and others. In general, it is recommended to wash children in soft warm water no less than three times a week. Daily bathing without the use of protective lotions can be harmful to the skin.
For bathing a baby, a flat bathtub with a smooth slope and bottom is needed. It should be at least 70 cm long to provide enough water and space. Then you need to find a shampoo and foam that will suit the baby, so as not to harm their skin. A thermometer is needed to measure the water temperature, and a water scoop is needed to rinse off the foam, as it is not recommended to wash the soap off the baby with a shower.
A soft terry towel that will not irritate the baby's skin is needed for drying. Prepare a lotion or cream that will provide additional protection for the baby's skin.
Immediately after bathing, the baby should be dressed in freshly washed clothes, which should be prepared in advance.
What are the dangers of careless bathing?
First of all, it should be remembered that in the first months, a baby has an innate reflex to hold their breath when immersed in water, and they can be safely poured water on their head. In any case, it is not worth filling the bathtub with too much water, and caution should always be exercised, especially if your baby has congenital illnesses or is simply weak from birth.
Great care should be taken with the baby's neck - as with feeding, it should be supported during bathing, as neck muscles usually develop later.
In the first few months of bathing, forget about floating toys and similar items that can sink under water. The baby's skin can be damaged, as baby skin is very delicate, especially soon after birth.
Herbal solutions should also be avoided in the first few days, as they can dry out the skin in some cases.
