There is much controversy surrounding when to bathe a newborn baby for the first time. Some professionals recommend waiting until the umbilical cord has fallen off; others continue to advise bathing him when he gets home or even during the first 48 hours. It has been shown that the ideal would be, except for specific situations, not bathing the baby the first days of life.
This is due to the baby at birth is covered with a substance called vernix caseoso, which acts as a natural barrier against possible skin diseases that may occur in the first moments of life. In addition, it keeps the baby's skin hydrated and prevents the baby's body from losing heat. It stays on the skin for about 3 days until it finally disappears. Once this time has passed, we can bathe our little baby by following these tips.
The water and its temperature
If you choose to bathe your baby before the umbilical cord has fallen off, you should ideally not submerge her tummy in water. What we are looking for with that cord is for it to dry and fall off. Keeping the umbilical cord moist would increase the chances of an infection and delay its fall. In the case of baby later, you can completely submerge it in the water. The ideal bath temperature is 36.5 degrees Celsius. But this will vary depending on the baby's taste; there are babies who need a couple of tenths more in the water. The important thing is never to exceed 38 and a half degrees of temperature.
Products
Forget about soaps for the first months of your newborn's life. They don't stain, they don't smell bad, they don't need full, chemical-laden soaps. Nowadays it is very difficult to find really natural soaps on the market. And no matter how natural they are, the baby's skin is very delicate and does not need any stimulant that can dry it out or increase the chances of suffering from atopic skin.
If you think it's necessary to use soap in any of your baby's baths, don't always trust the most commercial brands; the fewer ingredients a shower soap has, the better. Once you have a suitable soap, it will not be necessary to use it daily. Don't rub your baby's skin with the sponge; dab with it to moisten it and when drying do the same with your towel.
Bath frequency and schedule
How often you have to bathe your baby will depend on you. Logically, a baby in summer should be bathed more frequently than in winter, not only because of the sweat that can sting their skin; it will help them cool off. In winter you don't need to bathe your baby every day But if it is a routine that helps you relax, remember not to use the shampoo or soap every day.
It has happened to many parents that the night bath rather than relaxing the baby woke him up, so the time to go to sleep was delayed more than we liked. Some babies tolerate bathing at noon better, while others tolerate bathing at night. it leaves them ready to sleep for a few hours (in a row or not, it will depend on the luck of each one). Little by little you will get to know your baby and you will know what best suits him.
Some tricks
If your bathroom is very small, a bathtub-changing table may not be the best option. As a general rule, changing tables with a bathtub do not usually last more than two months, babies grow so fast ... It is best to buy a large plastic bathtub to adapt it to the large bathtub or shower tray (or wherever you go to bathe the baby). Something that seemed essential to me since I bought it was the bathroom hammock. It consists of a cloth on a kind of metallic "Z" that will hold the baby and allow you to have more mobility. Always with supervision no matter how still the baby seems to be.
Y Before venturing into the bathroom, make sure you have all the baby's clothes ready so that when you get out of the shower you don't have to be too wet with the wet towel. Prepare an extra towel aside; Baths relax some babies so much that when they get out of them they may have a little accident. Enjoy these unique moments!