21
May
Watch what the nurses are doing and ask them to give you some advice on bathing your baby if you are new to it. Only give your newborn sponge baths until the stump of the umbilical cord falls off which usually happens by about one or two weeks of age.
Here are the important things that you will need to bear in mind when bathing your newborn.
When to bathe a newborn. Theres no need to give your newborn a bath every day. Three times a week might be enough until your baby becomes more mobile. Bathing your baby too much can dry out his or her skin.
If youre quick and thorough with diaper changes and burp cloths youre already cleaning the parts that need attention the face neck and diaper area. Your newborn should be bathed with a sponge bath for the first few weeks of life. This is the simplest way to clean your baby before the umbilical cord falls.
When to give your newborn a bath You can bath your baby at any time of the day. Its a good idea to pick a time when youre relaxed and you wont be interrupted. And its best to avoid bathing your baby when baby is hungry or straight after a feed.
You dont need to bathe your baby every day but if they really enjoy it theres no reason why you shouldnt. Its best not to bathe your baby straight after a feed or when theyre hungry or tired. Make sure the room youre bathing them in is warm.
Here are the important things that you will need to bear in mind when bathing your newborn. Most often it is the nurses who will be the ones to give your baby a bath for the first time. This is done around 24 hours after birth.
Watch what the nurses are doing and ask them to give you some advice on bathing your baby if you are new to it. Only give your newborn sponge baths until the stump of the umbilical cord falls off which usually happens by about one or two weeks of age. If it remains beyond that time there may be other issues at play.
See the babys doctor if the cord has not dried up and fallen off by. Sponge bathe a newborn For the first week or so its best to give your infant sponge baths with a warm damp washcloth. Wash his face and hands frequently and thoroughly clean his genital areaafter each diaper change.
Bathing a baby in a bath tub. Once you get home youll want to bathe your newborn one to two times per week until their umbilical stump falls off. Until this happens dont submerge their body in water.
With all the diaper changes and wiping of the mouth and nose after feedings most babies may only need to be bathed 2 or 3 times a week or every other day. Baths can be given any time of day. Bathing before a feeding often works well.
Many parents prefer to bathe their baby in. Choose a bath time when your little one is content and awake. Its better not to bathe your baby straight after a feed or when theyre hungry or tired.
Some babies love bath time to begin with others dont. You may need to try different ways of bathing your baby and at different times of day to find out what suits you both. To sum up its safe to begin bathing your newborn 24 hours after birth.
Or if you prefer you can wait 48 hours. Whatever you choose just be sure to start with sponge baths. The American Association of Pediatrics recommends waiting for your newborns umbilical cord.
You can spot clean any areas of concern in between baths. For these reasons most doctors recommend only bathing your newborn baby a few days per week. AAP recommends bathing your baby no more than three days per week.
2 Of course even that is not a hard and fast rule. Learning how to bathe a newborn properly takes some practice. Below we have included recommended sponge bath and immersion bath or tub bathing techniques for babies of all ages with additional details for parents of newborns.
The bath temperature for a newborn should be between 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit never hotter than 120 degrees. While most parents are worried about making the bath too hot be sure you dont err in the other direction since babies get cold easily. If you wash it off right away that can increase a babys risk of infection and cracked skin.
Therefore doctors recommend parents wait to bathe their newborn until about 24 hours after birth. Bathe your baby 1 to 3 times a week After that pediatricians recommend no more than three times a week for 10 to 15 minutes at a time.