Bathing a newborn is a responsible exercise, which is important not only in terms of hygiene, but also for the development of the baby. For a long time, doctors could not come to a single opinion when it is possible to begin a baby bath. Some argued that, the earlier, the better, others - recommended refraining from water procedures in the first week of the baby's life.
On the recommendation of the World Health Organization, children can start bathing from the first days of their lives. The skin of a newborn baby is very tender and during the first and second week after childbirth, its adaptation to our environment takes place. Therefore, these days, children often have irritations and redness of the skin. Daily baby bathing allows you to survive this period of adaptation as painlessly as possible. In the water, the newborn feels calmer, because during nine months of intrauterine life, water was his natural habitat.
The first days of a baby's life for most parents are the time of anxiety and anxiety. Especially if the child is the first child. Newly mum and dad do not really know how to behave with such a crumb. Therefore, before the first bathing of a newborn child, they have a lot of questions. About what is necessary for the first bathing of the child, what should be the water and how to keep the child at bathing, you will learn in this article.
What will it take to bathe the child?
Bathing baby follows special means for children's bathing - baby soap and shampoo. Having bought a newborn, he should be wiped dry with a towel. At the same time, the skin needs to be gently blotted out, and not to rub at all. After bathing, the tender baby's skin can be lubricated with special baby oil.
Baby bathing time
Pediatricians claim that a newborn baby can be bathed at any time of the day. Over time, all parents choose the most optimal time for bathing their child.
Another advantage of evening children's bathing - at this time, as a rule, the whole family gathers at home and the father of the child has a great opportunity to talk with the baby during water procedures.
It is not recommended to keep a newborn baby in water for a long time. The bathing time of such a child should be approximately 5-7 minutes. But the bathing of a month-old baby can be longer - up to 20 minutes.
If evening bathing acts on the baby is exciting, and he can not fall asleep after the water procedures, then the bath should be transferred to day or morning.
Where to bathe a child?
Traditionally it is recommended to use special baby baths for bathing babies. In no event can you use baby baths for any other purpose than bathing your baby. During bathing, the bath should be placed on a high horizontal surface, so that it is convenient for the mother to hold and bathe the baby.
The optimal age for bathing a child in an adult bathroom is 6 months. If the parents decide to spend bathing a child in a large bath from the very birth, then before each water treatment the bath should be thoroughly treated with soda.
Water for bathing a newborn baby
The optimum temperature of water for bathing a newborn baby is 36-37 degrees. At the same time, water procedures should be carried out in a warm room with a temperature of at least 22 degrees, and in the absence of drafts. To disinfect water for bathing a child, you can add half a cup of a weak solution of potassium permanganate to it.
Adding to the water a decoction of medicinal herbs - chamomile or oak, allows you to speed up the healing of the umbilical wound in the baby. In case of skin problems in a newborn, it is recommended to add a decoction of herbs that have a soothing effect - celandine, sage. A soothing action of the motherwort also has a soothing effect.
Safety during bathing
In order to ensure the safety of the baby it is necessary to know how to keep the baby at bathing. If the newborn is lying on his back in a baby bath, the hand of the mother or father should support the baby from the buttocks to the neck. With the position on the abdomen, the baby must be supported on the stomach so that his head is above the water. The second hand at this time you can wash the child. In modern stores you can buy a children's collar for swimming, which will not allow the baby's head to dive into the water. Use this
For children older than 6 months, various child safety devices can be used. The most popular children's products for bathing are various toys, chairs and circles. Children's circle for bathing a child in the bathroom is recommended to use for children who are already confidently creeping. Approximately at the same time, you can start using a child's highchair or a bathing seat.
During bathing, the child can not be left in the water unattended for a minute!