Having a baby is an important event in any family. There are new chores, duties and worries. Huge experiences of young parents are associated with bathing the baby. After all, baby hygiene is a mandatory procedure on which the baby’s health, condition of his skin and immunity depend. Many parents ask what the temperature of the bathing water for the newborn should be. The article will discuss the basic rules of bathing and its features.
When to swim
Bathing the newborn for the first time after the hospital should take place on the same day. The only exception is the vaccine given to the baby in the hospital. In this case, bathing must be postponed for one day.
Parents determine the exact time of the water procedures individually. In many respects it depends on the newborn. Most often, babies are bathed in the evening. If after this the child is awake and active, it is better to carry out water procedures in the morning. You can also use special herbs.
There are no exact rules that govern how to combine bathing and feeding. Initially, parents conduct water procedures. And then comes the feeding time. If the baby is too hungry, then the mother can change the order of the procedures. In this case, swimming will be more relaxed and give the baby joy.
What is necessary for swimming
Before bathing a newborn for the first time, you need to prepare everything in advance. To do this, you need a bath. It is washed with soda and rinsed with boiling water.
In the future, you need to wash the bath constantly so that plaque does not form on the walls. It usually appears when using herbs.
The bath is set on an elevation. For this, a chair or a special stand is suitable. This is to ensure that parents are comfortable bathing the baby.
Moms ask what the temperature of the bathing water for the newborn should be. This is of great importance. While the umbilical wound in the baby has not healed, water must be boiled. If parents do not, then it can be disinfected with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
The water is boiled in advance so that it cools down to 37.5 degrees. To accurately determine the temperature, parents can touch her elbow or measure with a special thermometer.
Rinsing water is also separately prepared. A decoction of chamomile, St. John's wort, calendula or a string for bathing a newborn is brewed in advance. It is added to the water just before swimming.
The following items must be placed near the bath:
- baby soap or shampoo;
- a diaper or foam;
- baby sponge or cotton pads.
Before bathing, parents should prepare a towel and clothes. It is necessary to lay an oilcloth and a diaper, on which you can put the child after bathing. Nearby it is necessary to place means for the care of his skin. It is also one of the important points of water procedures.
Bathing rules
An important question that worries parents is how to conduct the procedure for bathing a newborn for the first time after the hospital.
After preparing the most necessary child, you need to undress and leave it on the changing table for taking air baths. Give him a massage.
At this time, one of the parents places a foam base in the bath and pours water. What is the temperature of water for bathing a newborn? It is best if it is in the range of 36-37.5 degrees. Then a decoction of herbs is poured into the water.
The main stages of swimming:
- Immerse the baby in the water gradually. With your left hand you need to hold his head.
- First, the child just needs to be doused with water. Then you should wash his face.
Next, the rules for bathing a newborn for the first time will be considered:
- Mom lathers her hand and runs it through her hair, behind her ears and under her chin.
- Only then proceed to the processing of the body. Thoroughly soap the folds, especially in the armpits, groin and under the knees. You should also unclench the cams of the baby and wash your hands.
- Then rinse the baby's body.
- If bathing is carried out in herbs, then soap is not recommended.
- It is necessary to periodically add hot water. It is guided by a thin stream along the far side of the bath. After adding, mix water.
- In conclusion, you need to rinse the baby. To do this, raise it above the bath. It is most convenient to put the baby on his left hand with his tummy. Rinse with pre-prepared water.
- Holding the child, they throw a towel on him and wrap it well.
Having finished the first bath, it is necessary to wipe dry and lay the baby on a diaper. Next, the skin of the newborn should be treated. The bathing process is completed.
How to care for baby skin
Even the right temperature for bathing a newborn baby dries his skin. To get rid of the negative effects, you must apply the following:
- baby oil;
- talcum powder or powder;
- body milk.
The folds on the baby’s body are treated after the parents dry the skin. Then mom will grease them with baby oil or powder.
Until the umbilical wound has healed, it must also be treated after bathing.
Bath Products
In the first months after the birth of a child, you can periodically bathe in a solution of potassium permanganate. This will disinfect the umbilical wound and prevent the development of inflammation.
Manganese is bred in a special bowl. And in the water for bathing it must be added by filtering through gauze. The liquid will turn a light pink color.
How to soften the water for bathing a newborn? This is very important for his skin. Hard water can cause irritation on it. To prevent this from happening, it can be:
- Boil it.
- Add a decoction of flax seeds (4-5 teaspoons) to a liter of water in bathing water.
- To part in a bath sea or table salt. At the rate of 10 g per 1 liter of water.
- Add chamomile, calendula or a string for bathing the newborn into the water.
- Potato starch (200-300 g) or baking soda (1 tablespoon per liter of water) can be diluted in a bath.
What should be the water for bathing a newborn? It is important that it is not rigid. The above funds can reduce this indicator of water. And also they can neutralize metals and harmful impurities.
What herbs to brew
Decoctions of herbs cope perfectly with inflammation on the skin, dry diaper rash and prevent the occurrence of prickly heat. They can be used instead of potassium permanganate solution, which negatively affects the skin of the newborn.
The most useful herbs include a string, calendula, lavender, motherwort, nettle, valerian, chamomile.
Immediately introduce the collection of herbs, children's doctors do not recommend. First you need to check the effect of a decoction of one plant. If no negative reactions have occurred, then you can use the following grass. It is recommended to add no more than 4 types of plants to the broth.
Prepare it for 1.5-2.5 hours before swimming. During this time, the broth will be able to infuse to the desired concentration. You need to brew no more than 25 g.
What to add to the bathing water of a newborn? It is best to carry out water procedures with a string, chamomile, calendula and chamomile. This is considered the best option for water procedures.
Bathing with decoctions of chamomile, string and other herbs can be done no more than 1-2 times a week, and with other means - 1 time in 7 days.
Duration of the procedure
So that the baby is not frightened, it is lowered into the water gradually, wrapped in a thin diaper. It is unwound already in the bath. This method allows the baby to feel as safe as her mom’s stomach.
What is the temperature for bathing a newborn? It is important that it is in the range of 36-37 degrees. Colder water can scare the baby.
For simple hygiene procedures 3-5 minutes are enough. If the baby likes to swim, then they are gradually increased to 15-20 minutes. Do not forget about the temperature of the water so that the child does not freeze.
Bathing newborns is best daily at the same time. This will help organize a regular daily routine. If the child is sick, then water procedures should be postponed until his recovery. At this time, you can use wet wipes.
Bathing in a large bath
It is believed that a child should not be bathed in a large bath, because in the first days and weeks his skin is very susceptible to various microorganisms. This is partly correct, so this should not be done until 10-14 days, until the navel heals. The main thing is to thoroughly clean the bathroom. Then water procedures will only benefit:
- Free space will allow the baby to move his legs and arms more. This is especially important for muscle strengthening, healthy sleep and good appetite.
- Bathing can take place for a long time. Water in a large bath cools more slowly.
Boiling it for bathing is not necessary if the child has already healed the umbilical wound. It is enough to wash the bath thoroughly with hot water. This is how disinfection and its heating occur.
Why is the baby crying when swimming
Parents sometimes notice that during water procedures the child behaves uneasily. He is crying and acting up. There are reasons for this, which must be considered when bathing:
- Fright. Perhaps the child was afraid of something when swimming. The negative from this situation was deposited in his subconscious, and now the baby begins to cry when he sees the bath.
- Pain. Perhaps the parents, not calculating their strength, hurt the baby. After swimming, he does not have a protective layer covering the skin. The epithelium contracts, causing the child unpleasant sensations, especially in the presence of diaper rash. Also, parents should not rub the baby with a bath towel.
- Uncomfortable conditions. Too cold water temperature for bathing a newborn baby can scare him. Therefore, it is important to observe the correct conditions for conducting water procedures.
If the baby cries after bathing, then perhaps he is naughty, not wanting to get out of the water. Often such problems occur in children 3-6 months old during hygiene procedures.
Conclusion
Bathing the baby is an important hygienic procedure. In order for her to bring him only positive emotions, a number of rules must be observed.
Many parents ask how many degrees the bathing water for the newborn should be. Usually it should not be too hot. The water temperature should be 36-37 degrees. Only in such conditions will the child feel comfortable and receive only the joy of swimming.