Best Time to Bathe a Newborn
In the past, newborns were bathed immediately after birth, but this is not recommended today, so it’s better to schedule the timeBathing the newbornat a later time. But do you know the best time to bathe your baby?
If you are spending the last monthsof your pregnancyor you are about to welcome your little angel into the world, this section ofSelMagzwill help you know when to bathe your baby.
When Shouldn’t You Bathe a Newborn?
In many hospitals, the baby is washed and bathed within the first hour, but there are many reasons showing that a newborn shouldn’t be bathed in the early hours after birth or even a few days later; newborns do not have the conditions to be bathed because their respiratory system is still not stabilized, so it is better to avoid bathing the baby until two days after birth.
Do not bathe the baby immediately after birth
A newborn is protected in the womb by a special substance called vernix. This substance resemblescreamywhite cheese that sometimes remains on their body after birth and helps prevent infections present in the hospital.
This substance softens the baby’s skin, but bathing removes it. On the first day of birth, newborns should only be cleaned and dried with an appropriate cloth because bathing newborns on their first day or within the first hours after birth causes problems, one of which, as we will mention in this section of SelMagz, is that it causesgreat stressto them.
Bathing a newborn in the early hours can create even greater problems, the most important of which are respiratory issues in newborns because vital body signs likeheart rateand the baby’s breathing are still not stabilized; for these reasons, bathing newborns is not advisable.
Best Practice and Timing for Bathing a Newborn
If you want to bathe your newborn, delay it for 6 hours after the baby is born. Some families also do not bathe their newborn until the umbilical cord falls off; considering that the timing of umbilical cord detachment varies among newborns and may take long, this practice, like early bathing, is also a mistake.
Because in this case, the secretions present on the newborn can lead to many infections. Bathing babies whose mothers have diseases likeAIDSandhepatitisimmediately after birth and only after their breathing is stable is essential because the secretions on the baby’s body may be contaminated.
The most suitable time for bathing a newborn is the second day after birth. During the early months after birth, it’s necessary to bathe the newborn twice a week; be aware that bathing a baby more than twice a week can causedry skinand increase stress, while bathing less than this may result in infections in newborns.
Best Temperature for Bathing a Child
For bathing a child, the best practice is to place a thermometer in the water to ensure the temperature is below 50 degrees Celsius. This water temperature is ideal for bathing a baby, but it’s also necessary to check the water temperature with your hand before placing the newborn in; the thermometer may not be accurate.
The air in the area where you bathe the newborn should also be warm to prevent the baby from experiencing temperature drops after bathing; also, the temperature in the area to which the baby is taken after bathing should be suitable and relatively warm to avoid shivering.
Best Time to Bathe the Child (Morning or Night)
The timing for bathing a newborn depends on the parents; choose a time when you are not in a rush, and the bathing process can be done patiently.
Be mindful that if you are taking the baby for a bath after feeding, wait a bit for the milk to digest before preparing them for washing.
