
YOUR BABY’S FIRST BATH
Written by Olivya Sara
Initially, bathing your baby might seem quite intimidating.
How could have so many questions about bath time. How frequently should you bath your baby? When should you give your baby their first bath? What products are most ideal?
Don’t worry, here’s an extensive guide to bathing your baby for the first time and beyond.
When Should You Give Your Baby Their First Bath?
It used to be a standard practice in hospitals to bath newborns as soon as they were delivered. But that trend is slowly on a decline, experts recommend delaying your baby’s first bath up to 12 hours after delivery.
Your baby doesn’t need daily baths until they start crawling and get dirty. Increasing the wait time for a newborn’s bath time has significant emotional and physical benefits. Babies are born with a waxy coating called the vernix, which helps retain heat and serve as a protective barrier against infections. It also leads to an increased breastfeeding success rate as new moms can nurse faster and have more skin-to-skin time.
Until your baby starts crawling, you don’t need to give them a daily bath. Your newborn only needs a bath three times a week. Stick with a sponge bath until his/her umbilical cord heals. When the infant can sit up, use a tub bath.
Benefits Of Bath Time
There’s nothing cuter than a baby covered with soapy bubbles splashing in the bath. We can’t deny the adorable photo ops that come our way during bath times. But bathing your baby has a lot of benefits beyond getting cleaned up.
- Calms Your Baby.
After a tyring day, soaking up in a tub with your favourite book or a glass of wine could be the most relaxing part of your day. This is exactly how your baby feels during bath time.
Massaging your infant afterwards further soothes your baby. If your baby fusses or turns their head, don’t worry, take it slowly. It will take some time to figure out what’s most comfortable for your child. The warm water could also induce sleep. Adding bath time to your baby’s bedtime routine could help in getting your baby to sleep faster.
- Serves As A Bonding Experience
Singing silly songs, kissing your baby, gently touching your baby helps in establishing a stronger bond with your baby. Hearing your voice instantly helps your baby to feel secured. Bath time lets you to spend quality time with your baby and helps you to understand them better.
How To Give Your Baby Their First Bath?
However, daunting it may get, with the right supplies and preparation, your baby’s first bath can be transformed into a smooth and joyful experience. Here are all the steps you need to know about bathing your infant.
Sponge Bath
Initially, your baby only needs a quick and effective sponge bath.
Step One:
You will need a clean diaper, a plush towel, some washcloths and a baby soap or shampoo at a minimum. Make a checklist to ensure you have all your supplies ready before you start bathing your baby. Keep all these items at your fingertips so that you don’t have to leave your baby alone, even for a minute. You might also need somebody holding a camera to help treasure this precious milestone digitally. Choose a comfortable setting that’s moderately warm with adequate lighting.
Step Two:
Remove your baby’s clothes and place them in a sink that supports their head. Dip the washcloth in warm water and wipe your baby. Wet your baby slowly on small areas pat it dry as soon as you wet the area. Diaper areas are extremely sensitive, so be extremely careful with that area.
Full Baths
Once your baby’s umbilical cord has healed, your baby can shift from sponge baths to full baths. You might feel scared to bath your newborn because of how tiny your baby is. Try to take help from a relative, your partner or your friend. You could also ask your midwife or trained doulas for professional help.
Step One:
Your baby can lose heat very quickly because they’re naked. Make sure the temperature of the room you bath your infant in is between 75 to 80 degrees. Test the water temperature before putting your baby into the tub. Do not fully immerse your baby into running water. Gently slide your infant slowly, never let go of your baby’s head. Letting your baby sit for too long can irritate their skin or expose him to a cooler temperature.
Step Two:
A bath might not seem complete without using soapy products. Even if using mild soaps don’t cause any harm, warm water and a dry cloth is more than enough to clean them. Focus on creases, areas behind the ears, the neck area and the private area.
Once you finish bathing your baby, wrap the infant up in a warm and plush towel. Your newborn’s skin might seem dry, but using baby lotions and after-bath products isn’t a must. Use oil of petroleum jelly to treat dry patches. Putting baby powder on your baby might seem tempting, but it could get into your infant’s lungs and cause breathing problems, so it’s a huge risk.
There’s a lot to prepare before you bathe your baby for the first time. Soon, bath time will turn out to be a regular slot in your daily timetable. You just need to give yourself space and time to master the art of bathing your child!