- General rules:
- Bathing water
- Do I need to boil water for bathing a newborn?
- Bathing herbs
- The first bathing of a child
Bathing a newborn baby is one of the most important hygienic procedures for a baby. It is necessary not only to maintain the purity and prevention of diaper rash, but also as a stimulation of breathing and circulation of blood in the body. To bathe a child should be very cautious, because the body of a small person is not yet ready for full-fledged water procedures. In particular, parents have a lot of questions: whether it is necessary to boil water for bathing a newborn, what water should be, and what means to use. Consider the basic tips about washing babies.
to the contents ↑General rules:
- Despite the fact that bathing is an integral part of hygienic care, you can bathe your baby only if it does not have contraindications from a doctor, and is also completely healthy. It is recommended to take water procedures at about the same time to develop the habit of the child, to maintain the regime of the day.
Important! It is believed that the best time for swimming is before evening feeding.
- You can not swim newborns for more than 10 minutes, because the water cools quickly, and low temperatures can be harmful. It is important to remember that the first few swimming should be very short - up to 5 minutes, so that the baby is used to this procedure.
- It is very important to control the temperature regime. So, the recommended temperature of water for newborns is 36.5-37 degrees, and the air temperature should not fall below 22 degrees. And of course, we must not allow drafts.
- On account of whether you need to boil water for bathing a newborn - it is necessary to do this if the umbilical wound has not yet healed.
- With redness and intertrigo, it is advisable to use decoctions of herbs. Chamomile is the best.
Important! If the kid is naughty and cries, it must be distracted, because the unpleasant emotion associated with bathing will be fixed for a long time and each time you have to first calm him down.
Bathing for babies should be turned into a kind of ritual, so that from an early age to instill a love for water and not cause negative feelings.
to the contents ↑Bathing water
In addition to the cleanliness of the bathtub, it is very important to take care of water. Even for the first baths, flowing tap water is perfectly suitable, if it is clean and without a large amount of bleach.
In the event that the water is dirty and rusty, water procedures must be postponed or it is necessary first to boil water for bathing a newborn. However, in this case it is necessary to maintain the necessary temperature.
to the contents ↑Do I need to boil water for bathing a newborn?
More recently, it was misconception that you can bathe an infant only in boiled water and in a special little bath. Today, pediatricians agree that it is not entirely correct:
- Firstly - from the boiling point of water to the time of taking water procedures, the time passes, the water cools down, and eventually the child can freeze.
- Secondly - a large bath gives more space for maneuvers, bathing can be turned into an interesting game. In addition, active movements in water are extremely useful for muscle tone.
Important! It is necessary to boil water for bathing a newborn, as noted above, only in one case - if the umbilical wound has not yet healed. If this process has already been completed, you can use ordinary running water, having previously added a few drops of the permanganate solution to the bath for disinfection.
to the table of contents ↑Bathing herbs
The baby's skin is especially in need of care, because it does not yet have a reliable protective layer and is prone to inflammation and intertrigo. With these problems decoctions of some useful plants, for example, a camomile, a sage or a turn quite well consult. They are able not only to remove irritation of the skin, but also to help the body relax before going to bed.
Prepare a tray based on herbs as follows:
- In one liter of boiling water, pour 4-5 tablespoons of dry grass - this water for bathing the newborn should be boiled, otherwise you will not be able to cook the broth.
- Let the broth soak until the plants settle on the bottom, and the water does not acquire a characteristic golden hue.
- Strain water through a strainer, gauze or ordinary cotton cloth.
- Add the decoction to the bath, while it should slightly change its color.
Important! The use of herbs for bathing is not a requirement. In addition, it is very important to monitor allergic manifestations on the skin. If you notice a characteristic rash after the procedure, you must refuse and consult a pediatrician.
to content ↑The first bathing of a child
For young parents, the first bathing of a toddler is a complicated procedure, because there is a great risk that the child will cry, swallow water or freeze. At the same time, this procedure is the elementary skill of hygiene, therefore sooner or later it will be necessary to master it.
Important! The first bath should not be before the umbilical cord begins to heal. Until then, you can only carry out wet wipes. As a rule, healing takes place, on average, a week after discharge.
So, we bathe the child for the first time:
- The first thing you need to start with is to wait for the child to have a good mood, because the attitude of the parent and the baby is an important part of the procedure.
- Before bathing, wash the bath thoroughly. For this, it is not desirable to use strong chemicals. It is enough only to wash the walls with a solution of soda and wash it off with running water.
- Whether boiling water for bathing a newborn is a matter for every parent. In principle, you can do with ordinary water, if it is clear and clean. So, put in the bath so much water to completely hide the body to the level of the neck.
- Carefully lower the baby into the water, beginning with the legs, and ending with the shoulders. It is very important to fully support his whole body.
Important! It is very convenient to use a special rigid stand with a fabric insert. You can buy or make this yourself. So you will not be very worried that you miss your child and it swallows water, and even the child will be more pleasant and interesting.
- The kid should gradually get used to the water. Carefully follow his facial expressions - as soon as he begins to show negative emotions, he must be distracted.
- During bathing, do not be afraid of water entering the ears. However, it is very important to dry them well after bathing to avoid otitis.
- Use only children's detergents. Newborn enough to wash with soap only 1-2 times a week, during other procedures, it is enough to have a normal bath.
- After water procedures, wrap the baby in a large and warm towel, thoroughly dry and do not rush to swaddle. The skin should dry completely, otherwise - it is possible to provoke diaper rash.
It is believed that water is the most natural environment for our body, because the first 9 months of life we spend completely immersed in liquid. Bathing should become a habitual activity, which passes without tears and hysterics. Therefore, during water procedures it is extremely important to monitor not only the state of water, but also the emotions of the baby.