Bathing is an obligatory hygiene procedure for a newborn. To keep it safe and pleasant, parents need to know how to hold their baby while bathing.
How to hold your baby while bathing
When and how often the baby is bathed
Bathing not only keeps the baby's skin clean, but also helps to harden. It is recommended to start swimming immediately after leaving the maternity hospital. This should be done daily.
Attention! If the umbilical wound has not yet healed, boiled water must be used.
Babies under the age of six months in winter and autumn are bathed once a day, in summer - 2 times (morning and evening). Children over 6 months of age are advised to bathe every other day in autumn and winter. In spring and summer, this procedure is carried out for such children daily, in the heat - 2 times a day. Babies need to be washed at about the same time so that they develop a regime.
Preparing the newborn for bathing
Pediatricians do not recommend boiling water for bathing a baby whose umbilical wound has healed. A diaper should be placed at the bottom of the baby bath to make washing more convenient. Diapers are comfortable because they do not leave marks on the baby's skin. You need to prepare:
- a towel with a hood;
- a soft sponge or towel for washing;
- cotton balls;
- baby soap or any other hypoallergenic product;
- a baby comb or brush.
Then warm water is poured into the container to a level so that it only covers the shoulders (while the baby should be in a half-sitting position).
Note! It is imperative to measure the water temperature with a thermometer. It should be at 36-37 degrees. Individual mothers determine the temperature with their elbows. The sensations when measuring should be neutral.
How to hold your baby while bathing
To make it convenient to swaddle the baby, you should put all the necessary items in a row in advance. To treat the wound, a weak solution of potassium permanganate should be prepared.
Absolutely not necessary:
- include an electric fireplace in the bathroom;
- close the door tightly;
- constantly add hot water during bathing.
Basic rules for swimming
Parents should not only know how to properly hold a newborn when bathing in the bath, but also follow important rules. It is necessary:
- gently lower the child into the bath;
- lather the body with a gentle washcloth;
- monitor the baby's reaction;
- use a sunbed for safety;
- to interest him with toys;
- never leave a baby unattended.
To avoid burns, the temperature should be checked before immersing the newborn in water. If you need to answer a phone call or leave the bathroom, you should wrap your child in a towel and take him with you.
How to properly hold a newborn when bathing
After making sure that the water is at a normal temperature, you can start washing. The child is lowered into the water smoothly and slowly.
Attention! In the first days after the maternity hospital, it is best to lower the newborn in a diaper. It is also easier to hold a slippery body.
The baby should be immersed in water, holding the head and back of the head with his left hand, and his butt with his right. The head and neck of a newborn should not be completely submerged in water. The baby should calm down a little.
Immersion baby
Then they start washing. During this procedure, the head should lie on the left forearm, the back on the palm. The right hand is used for soaping. It is especially necessary to wash thoroughly in the thigh folds, auricles, as well as in the armpits, groin. Face should be washed from a separate cup. Tap water should flow under medium pressure.
Another option for holding is to place the head on the hand so that the part with the little finger supports the baby's neck. At the same time, a small folded diaper is placed underneath. It provides stability to the newborn.
Holding the baby by the head
While washing, you can use a washcloth, but it is best to do everything with your hands. When the bath comes to an end, the child is turned over onto his stomach and poured over with clean water. It should be poured onto the shoulders, not the head.
Having immersed the baby in the bath, you can support the head with your left hand. So he will feel a little freedom in the bath. It will be pleasant and interesting for him to move his arms and legs in the water.
Features of bathing in a bath
For bathing, it is recommended to choose a bathtub that would be comfortable for the baby and his parents. It should be light. The ideal solution for baby washing is a compact and lightweight plastic tub. Enamel and ceramic products are not that comfortable.
Bathing the baby in the tub
It is best to place the tub on a table or other stable furniture. This will make it easier to bathe the baby. Since it can be quite difficult for beginners to hold newborns when bathing, it is necessary to choose the appropriate shape of the bath. Modern models have an elevation at the level of the head. So it will be convenient for parents to control the position of the newborn.
Some parents find it difficult to hold a soapy baby. A diaper is used to prevent slipping. It is recommended to put it in the tub as a comfortable and non-slip headrest, which will minimize the risk of injury.
Important! The duration of washing newborn babies should not exceed 5 minutes.
What to do after swimming
After water procedures, put a cap on the child's head and very gently blot all wet parts of the body with a towel. Special attention is paid to the folds in the skin. Do not rub with a cloth over the skin. Next, comb the hair gently.
Combing baby
For newborns, there is no need to use moisturizing cosmetics, because the epidermis must naturally flake off. It is not recommended to disturb this process by the influence of artificial cosmetics. After the baby's skin is completely dry, it must be wrapped in a diaper, before that, put on a clean diaper, romper suit and a shirt.
Often young parents do not know how to properly hold their baby while bathing. After familiarizing yourself with the simple washing techniques, you can safely carry out this procedure at home. The toddler will always be clean, which means healthy. Any mother or father can quickly and with pleasure learn simple techniques for bathing a baby.
