How to properly bathe a baby in the bathroom. Diaper handling. Herb extract or manganese

03.07.2019

The main fears when bathing a toddler in a tub alone are numerous.:

a young mother is afraid that the bath will fall;
worries that he will not hold the newborn and it will slip out of her hands and hit;
that the water will cool down too quickly and the baby will catch a cold;
that in the process of washing you will need something that will not be at hand, but there is no one to bring.

All these fears are removed by clear planning and good preparation.

Fundamental rules

How to bathe a newborn baby alone:

Place the baby bathtub, cleaned in advance with baking soda, on special stands - so you do not have to bend low and take on an extra load.
The baby bath should be cleaned only with soda and rinsed with boiling water - any mildest products can cause allergies and even burns! Check that she herself is firmly on the stands and does not stagger!
Put all the things necessary for bathing the baby on the bathtub nearby:
- shampoo or gel, if you plan to use it;
- soft washcloth;
- a pre-prepared decoction of herbs;
- a large jug of clean water with which you will rinse your baby if you plan to use shampoo or broth.
Spread a large, soft towel over the washing machine or changing table.
Check the water temperature - it should be 37 degrees, you can gradually lower it. The air in the room should not be too hot - there is no need to heat the bathroom additionally if the temperature in it is more than 21 degrees.

In this situation, it is recommended to wash the baby in the bath for 10-15 minutes, when the baby grows up - you can increase the bathing time to half an hour.

Instructions on how to bathe a child in a bath

To bathe the baby in the bath, you must do the following:

But this is all ideally.

We suggest watching a video on how to buy a newborn on your own:

If this happened for the first time, rinse the baby, remove from the bath, wipe and dress. Crying a baby while bathing will not benefit him or his mother..

It is impossible to bathe forcibly, under screams and resistance - a persistent fear of water procedures may arise, it will be difficult to overcome it.

Next time, think about what could have caused the discomfort? Tips for mom if the baby is naughty when bathing:

Perhaps the baby is too thermophilic and the water seemed cool to him. Or vice versa - too warm. Experiment with water temperatures within two degrees.
You need to check for diaper rash or rash on the body.
Even slight redness on the skin of newborns in contact with water can cause discomfort and crying.
You should not bathe the baby hungry or too full - you should feed him a little before the water procedures and after them to your heart's content. So the baby will be as calm as possible and sleep after the bath will be long and sweet.
In no case should you bathe a sick child - the baby does not need additional stress.

If all these rules are followed, bathing a newborn in a bath alone will not cause any problems.

It happens that a young parent is terrified of washing a tiny child alone, but realizes that there is no way out and it still needs to be done. In this case during the first two or three baths, you can invite a familiar person to visit: an experienced friend, mother, grandmother, a neighbor in the end. Let her in no way help, just sit in the next room or in the kitchen. This will give you the confidence to have support in case of an emergency and make you feel calmer.

Having redeemed the child in the bath for the first time successfully and with pleasure, in the future you can perform this procedure with joy and without fear.

Bathing for a newborn child and his parents is a whole event (especially if it is the first after the hospital). Like any very responsible business, this process raises many questions: how and when to bathe, boil water or not, whether it is possible to add decoctions of herbs and how often to do it, is it dangerous for water to enter the ears, and so on. The well-known pediatrician Yevgeny Komarovsky, in his books and articles, has repeatedly talked about the basic rules and principles of organizing water procedures for an infant.

It is worth considering the most important points that you need to know so that bathing brings pleasure and benefits to both the child and his parents.

Peculiarities

Water procedures are useful for absolutely all babies from the very first days of life. In the womb, the crumbs are in the aquatic environment, and therefore it is familiar and dear to them. The toddler feels at home in the water. Bathing is not only a hygienic procedure aimed at keeping the skin and hair of the child clean. Bathing promotes physical development, carries an element of play, and therefore has a positive effect on the mental and emotional development of the baby.

A few decades ago, pediatricians categorically forbade bathing a child with an unhealed umbilical wound, opposed raw, unboiled water, and established quite a few rather stringent requirements and restrictions for parents.

Modern doctors look at bathing in a more democratic way.

Parents with experience, as a rule, have much less difficulties when bathing a newborn at home for the first time than for newly-made mothers and fathers, who received their first-born in their arms just a few hours ago. Komarovsky advises keeping Spartan calm. It is this that is the guarantee of success in the difficult matter of bathing crumbs.

Preparation

Should I bathe with an unhealed umbilical wound?

This question comes up quite often. Some pediatricians allow bathing even with a clothespin on the navel, others recommend refraining from taking water procedures until the umbilical cord dries up. Evgeny Komarovsky says that the choice is definitely up to the parents. However, if the child is kept in acceptable living conditions, does not sweat, does not overheat, does not get dirty, then nothing bad will happen to him if the baby does not bathe for a week or two. It doesn't bother him in any way. If anyone is worried, then only mom and dad, but for this case there are wet baby sanitary napkins with which you can wipe problem areas and folds at any time.

However, if you nevertheless decide to bathe, then the doctor advises to do this only with boiled water until the umbilical wound heals.

For a long time, doctors advised bathing in water with a solution of potassium permanganate. However, you need to be extremely careful here, undissolved grains of potassium permanganate can cause serious burns on the delicate skin and mucous membranes of the baby. The solution should be pale pink and should be added to the water just before bathing. Komarovsky does not recommend potassium permanganate at all, since in small doses it is useless, and in large doses it is dangerous. It is better to replace it with the infusion of the series.

Massage

A massage before an evening swim is a very useful and important procedure, says Evgeny Komarovsky. During stroking and patting, the blood supply to the muscles and skin improves, and the benefits will be even more noticeable if the baby is bathed immediately after the manipulations. All parents, without exception, can master a simple massage. You do not need to sign up for special courses for this.

Komarovsky recommends doing a massage before the bath light and soothing. At first, with baby cream, mom can easily massage her hands (with strokes and circular motions, this should be done with thumbs). Then the legs are massaged in the same way. Stroke the tummy with the palm or fingertips clockwise. Then the crumbs are laid out on the tummy and the back is gently massaged - first with circular and arcuate movements, and then with light pats.

The movements of the mother should not hurt the baby, he should not go to the bath too overexcited and screaming from the heart.

Water temperature

Doctors recommend keeping the temperature at 37 degrees. It should be adhered to for at least the first 10-14 days. Then you can experiment - slightly raising or lowering the temperature (maximum - by 1 degree).

Some parents try to warm up the bathroom in advance, bring heaters into it (especially in cases when the first bathing at home occurs in winter). Komarovsky advises against doing this. The temperature in the bathroom should be about the same as in the rest of the apartment (optimal values are 18-20 degrees), and it is harmful to overheat the air in the bathing room.

Komarovsky for a sound sleep at night advises to practice bathing in cool water, the temperature of which is not higher than 32 degrees.

Such procedures will not cause any harm, but the general strengthening effect will be evident, besides, it is more difficult for a child to fall asleep while bathing in a cool bath. However, you should not immediately rush to implement this recommendation. This should be started gradually. The initial water temperature for a newborn is 34 degrees. In a month, the child can lower it by 2 degrees - up to 32 degrees, and the bathing time can be increased from 15 minutes to half an hour. In two months, the temperature of cool water can be lowered to 28-30 degrees, bathing time - half an hour.

Komarovsky advises to take these figures rather conditionally. If a baby at 1 month old calmly perceives bathing in water, the temperature of which is 24 degrees, there is nothing wrong with that. He sleeps soundly, rests well, worries less himself and allows his parents to sleep well.

Time

The first bath should not be done very long. It is better to start with 3 minutes, the next day extend the procedure to 5 minutes, then add a little more time. Komarovsky considers the best bathing time to be 15-20 minutes. If a quarter of an hour has passed, and the baby is calm and determined to continue the procedure, nothing bad will happen if the bathing is prolonged.

The newborn does not have time to get dirty enough to need to be bathed every day.

Although Komarovsky strongly advises to wash the baby every day. When the baby starts to crawl, get dirty, actively explore the world, water procedures before bedtime should become regular and obligatory - the baby will have to be bathed daily.

Komarovsky thinks that evening swimming is not a dogma. Parents themselves have the right to choose the most convenient bathing time for the family. Some evening hygiene procedures are postponed to lunchtime. However, Komarovsky warns that evening bathing has its benefits - for example, it promotes relaxation for a sound and healthy night's sleep.

Herbs and decoctions

No matter what traditional healers say, any use of phytotherapeutic agents when bathing is better to coordinate with the attending pediatrician. Grandmothers, of course, will advise the granddaughter to bathe more often in a row, or be sure to brew him nine-strength, but the common sense of the parents should be above all. If a child suffers from atopic dermatitis, diaper rash, a tendency (genetic) to allergies, be sure to consult a doctor.

For healthy children, bathing with the addition of decoctions of medicinal herbs is a rather useful procedure, says Yevgeny Komarovsky. However, in everything, a good measure, you should not prepare herbal baths daily, and you should be more careful with the dosage of decoctions and infusions.

Naturally, treating something with herbal decoctions added to water will not work, since this is impossible, says Dr. Komarovsky. But even a lot of harm with moderate dosage will not happen.

What if the child does not like to wash and screams?

Such situations occur, says Komarovsky. But the point here is not at all in the child, and not even that he is afraid of something. Most likely, according to the famous pediatrician, the bathing conditions should be corrected. Maybe the water temperature does not suit the baby - it is too high or too low for him. After experimenting for several days, parents will be able to figure out which water is most comfortable for their child. Bathing should begin with it - and only then adjust the temperature in favor of cooling (adding a thin stream of cold water) or heating (adding hot water in the same way).

Another reason for the child's cry in the bathroom, according to Komarovsky, lies in the rejection of the bathing process by the baby, since it goes against his internal biological clock.

For example, a mother tries to bathe the baby only at night, and it is at this time that the child wants to sleep, and not swim. Therefore, Komarovsky gives several tips to help parents whose children are scandalous in the water:

Change the time of day.

Change the order of eating and bathing. If the baby screams when bathing half an hour after eating, then try bathing him half an hour before eating (or vice versa).

Practice bathing with your baby.

Large bathtub

This can be done as early as 2-3 months, says Evgeny Komarovsky... At first, the child can settle in a large body of water with a circle around his neck. This is a special inflatable device with a notch for the chin and Velcro on the back of the neck. The kid is fixed in such a circle, his head is always above the water, and he can practice swimming on his back, stomach, turning over in the water on his own. Usually this picture leads the parents of the crumbs into indescribable delight.

You can swim without a circle. For this, Evgeny Komarovsky advises three poses:

The baby is immersed in water entirely, only the face remains on the surface. At the same time, it is supported by the index fingers under the neck. There is nothing dangerous in getting water into the ears and eyes, the doctor says. The main thing is that water does not get into the nose and mouth. Even if the baby sips it a little, nothing terrible will happen either.

Dear readers, you cannot argue with how exciting the first day after a mother and baby returns from the hospital is. The replenished family begins to live in a completely different regime, which in one way or another is subordinated to the needs of the baby. And one of the main components of baby care is bathing.

Inexperienced parents are often afraid of this procedure. They are not sure that they will be able to carry out the first bathing of a newborn according to all the rules without harming him. To allay the fears of our readers, we decided to talk with the doctor Tatiana Antonyuk about how to bathe a newborn baby.

Good afternoon, readers of Irina's blog! Indeed, not all young mothers and fathers feel confident and know how to properly bathe a newborn. However, the baby is not as helpless and fragile as it might seem at first glance. In addition, bathing should not be viewed solely as a water activity. It is useful for the successful growth and development of your baby. And when you learn to do it with confidence, you will see that water procedures bring real pleasure to the child and his parents.

Why bathing is beneficial

As already noted, bathing is carried out not only for the purpose of hygiene. Water procedures are of great benefit to a growing body, namely:

strengthen the nervous system, have a positive effect on the psychoemotional state of the child;
help to improve appetite and restful sleep;
activate motor reflexes;
relieve pain that occurs during the first colic in the stomach;
give a hardening effect;
maintain close emotional communication between the child and the parents.

Of course, during the first bath, the parents will first of all take care of the baby's skin. At the same time, you need to know at what temperature to bathe the newborn, how to prepare for this procedure, whether you need to use herbs and other means to calm the baby.

The thrilling moment of the first swim

Most pediatricians agree that the first bathing should take place the day after discharge from the hospital. By then, babies usually have an umbilical wound healed. But even if the navel has not completely healed, bathing is permissible if you use boiled water and decoctions of herbs.

Contraindications to bathing are an increase in body temperature caused by infectious diseases, the presence of weeping wounds or pustules on the skin.

When can I bathe a newborn after the hospital, if he is premature or underweight? With water procedures, it is advised to postpone a few days, limiting yourself to gentle rubbing of the newborn. When the baby begins to gain weight intensively, you can bathe him, like all other newborns.

Tray or regular bath

Your acquaintances or relatives who already have children may advise you to bathe your child in a regular bath. In this case, you do not need to fiddle with water and buy a special bath. But there are still more disadvantages. When using a large bath, it is more difficult to control the temperature of the water, it will take a long time to clean it, you will feel uncomfortable bending too low towards the baby.

It is best to bathe the child in a bath specially purchased for this purpose. It has several advantages:

the presence of a special form for a comfortable positioning of the baby;
the ability to put it in the warmest place protected from drafts;
it is easy to fill and clean with water;
the child feels comfortable in a small space.

For the greater convenience of parents and the baby, a slide, a foam mattress or a hammock for a newborn are additionally used for the bath.

Taking care of her is also much easier. To clean the walls of the tub, you do not need to use aggressive chemicals - ordinary soda is enough.

When the child grows up, gets used to water procedures and he already feels cramped in the bath, he is transferred to a regular adult bath.

The first bathing of the newborn after the hospital

To prepare for your first bath, you need to familiarize yourself with the list of care items you need during and after the procedure. Prepare a thermometer to measure the temperature of the water, a soft sponge or shirt gloves, a diaper or soft towel for wiping, shampoo or soap, diapers, clothes or diapers for dressing.

Boiled or plain water?

There are still disputes over which water a newborn should be bathed in, boiled or ordinary. Many parents and pediatricians claim that bathing in boiled water is an unnecessary precaution. We still recommend using boiled water for at least the first two to three weeks. Baby's skin is still very delicate and the quality of our tap water is poor.

Herbs and potassium permanganate

How justified is the use of herbs for bathing a newborn? They are usually recommended if a child has prickly heat or other skin problems. If the child is healthy, plain water is enough.

Many parents use a solution of potassium permanganate when bathing to prevent suppuration of the umbilical wound. If you decide to add potassium permanganate to the water, make sure that its crystals are completely dissolved in the water.

Bathing temperature

The water temperature for bathing a newborn child should be 36.5-37˚С (for a healthy child) and 38˚С (for weakened or premature babies).

Don't trust your own feelings, you should definitely get a special thermometer. The so-called elbow method used by our grandmothers is not always accurate enough.

We swim properly and with pleasure

The bathing procedure will be calm and will bring pleasure to both the newborn and his parents, if you follow the following rules:

Prepare everything you need before swimming.
It is better not to feed the child before the procedure.
Make sure that the air temperature in the room is at least 22-23˚С. Make sure the water in the tub is at the correct temperature.
After filling the bath with water, gently but confidently lower the child, holding him by the head and back. So that the baby is not afraid of the water, for the first time he is immersed in a diaper or undershirt, which is then removed.
Holding the baby with the left hand, rinse the baby's body with the right hand. This procedure is more convenient to carry out together.
When bathing, you need to ensure that all folds on the skin are thoroughly cleansed, the baby's face is washed separately.
Sometimes the baby's head is covered with small crusts. Before bathing, they are lubricated with ordinary vegetable oil, after which they wash their hair with soap. At the end of the procedure, the crusts are combed out with a special soft comb.
The duration of the first bath should be 2-3 minutes. In the future, this procedure can be gradually increased to 5-10 minutes.
If the first bath went well, you can gently douse the child with water from a jug. Its temperature should be several degrees lower than the water in the bath. This temperature difference is useful for hardening the newborn. If the child is crying or naughty, pouring should be postponed until a more favorable moment.
When bathing, you need to smile at the baby and talk to him affectionately. This will help establish psycho-emotional contact with the child from the first days of life.

After the procedure, you need to wipe the baby's skin with gentle blotting movements. Wrinkles on the body can be treated with vegetable oil or baby cream. After that, the baby is swaddled and handed over to the mother for feeding.

To visually familiarize yourself with all the intricacies of the procedure, we also bring to your attention a video of bathing a newborn baby.

Komarovsky about bathing a newborn

The renowned pediatrician also shared tips on how to bathe a newborn baby for the first time at home. He believes that great attention should be paid to hardening from the very first days of life. There is no need to turn on additional heaters in the bathroom or bathing room. Instead of potassium permanganate, which can lead to burns, it is better to use a bathing sequence for newborns.

To prepare the infusion, a glass of crushed dry herb is poured over 0.5 liters of boiling water, infused for several hours, filtered and added to the bath.

You can read in more detail about the benefits of the sequence and the intricacies of brewing and bathing your baby in the article.

Doctor Komarovsikiy attaches great importance to the massage, which is carried out before the bathing procedure. It does not require special knowledge or skills to carry it out. With light affectionate movements, the mother strokes the back, arms and legs of the child. Circular movements can be replaced with light pats. The duration of the massage should not exceed 2-3 minutes, so as not to overexcite the child.

Komarovsky advises to bathe a newborn every day. Water procedures are needed not so much to maintain cleanliness as to stabilize the nervous system and a good mood of the child.

How to bathe a newborn baby in a bathtub if at the same time he screams and cries? It's usually not that the baby is scared of the water. Parents should change the bathing environment. Perhaps the baby is uncomfortable with too hot or, on the contrary, cold water. Occasionally, a newborn may be overexcited before bedtime, or simply hungry. In this case, bathing must be rescheduled for another time of the day.

Komarovsky advises transferring the child to a bath in a regular bath when he is 2-3 months old.

After bathing procedures

Do I need to lubricate the baby's skin after water procedures? Many moms have an arsenal of different cosmetic oils, powders, and creams. Quite often, many of them remain unused. If the child has healthy skin without diaper rash or irritation, it does not need additional treatment.

If you have prickly heat or rashes, you can gently lubricate the skin with vegetable oil or baby cream. Most creams are well absorbed into the skin and will not leave marks on clothes. If your child shows signs of allergies, you should consult a pediatrician before choosing skin care products.

If the baby's umbilical wound has not yet healed completely, after bathing it is additionally treated with hydrogen peroxide.

Some newborns have increased flaking of the skin. As a rule, this problem does not bother the baby, does not require treatment, and goes away within a few weeks after birth.

Bathing a newborn may seem overwhelming and demanding for parents who do not yet have childcare experience. But over time, they become convinced that bathing is the happiest moments in their communication with the child, which bring joy and good mood.

Tatiana Antonyuk

I remember the very first bathing of my twin daughters. I remember that one was infected in the hospital, staphylococcus aureus, the entire forehead was strewn with small pimples. I was advised to immediately use laundry soap. So we ransomed the children in turn. I boiled water for a long time, I was a very responsible mother. And then I also used the infusion of bay leaves, bought it fresh from the market, and brewed it. We cured skin problems quickly. The daughters loved to swim very much. And I always noticed that after bathing they were cheerful and cheerful. We were definitely not up to sleep right away.

And after bathing, I suggest putting on some pleasant music for your baby. Let it be filled with all the beauty from the cradle. I think you will find the blog articles and music very useful:

In the selection, you can select both individual compositions, and simply turn on the music in the background, it will play automatically, moving from one composition to another.

I wish you all pleasant joys with our children and grandchildren.

My soulful gift for today Andrei Gavrilov plays Rachmaninov Elegie op3 No1 ... I think that the music of S. V. Rachmaninoff will not leave anyone indifferent.

The first bath of a newborn

The first bathing of the child takes place on the 4th - 5th day of his life, before this, the baby is only washed and wiped with cotton swabs. Until recently, children were washed at birth, but now it has become known that the original mucus, which covers the baby's body, perfectly protects its skin from a million bacteria living in the walls of maternity hospitals and having a strong immunity to any antibacterial agents.

So, the baby is already at home and the whole seed is preparing for the first bath in his life. What do you need to know to turn this ceremony into a pleasant process for everyone, and not a daily torture with screaming and crying?

Bathing a newborn baby should take place in a separate bath, at least until the umbilical wound heals.
For the same reasons, so that an infection does not get through the umbilical wound, the bathing water is boiled in the first 2 - 3 weeks.
The temperature of the baby's bathing water is measured with a special water thermometer and should be 36 - 38 degrees. It should also be borne in mind that if a bathtub for bathing a child is made of thin plastic, then the water in it cools down much faster than in a cast-iron bath, and the bathing time is reduced.
The bathing time should be chosen taking into account the fact that the child is likely to want to sleep after water procedures. Therefore, many experienced parents recommend bathing babies at the same time before bedtime. Such a procedure helps to relax the tone, eliminate colic, which is important if the baby is less than 3 months old, and also tunes in for a long sleep.
Children up to six months are bathed every day in approximately the same schedule - one day with soap, two days in plain water or with the addition of herbal decoctions. Bathing a baby at 2 months old can be done in a large bathtub in warm, unboiled water. After the baby is six months old, you can bathe him every other day, not counting the daily hygiene procedures with washing and washing after each chair.
To disinfect water during the healing of the umbilical wound, some add potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate) to the water in the old fashioned way, which dries the baby's skin very much, and if used ineptly can cause serious burns in the baby. It is better not to be lazy and boil the water, and also if the child does not have allergies, use decoctions from special herbal preparations every three days, which help to normalize the nervous system and soften the water when bathing.
If the baby has an allergy, accompanied by a skin rash, you can bathe the child in trays with bay leaves, as well as wipe the skin with this broth. How to brew a bay leaf for bathing a child - pour 6 - 7 bay leaves with a liter of water and boil for at least 15 minutes. Strain and add to the main bath water. In such a simple way, you can dry the rash on the body and reduce allergic manifestations.

So, everything is ready for the procedure of the first ablution, now it remains for little to learn how to hold the child while bathing or how to soften the water for bathing the child, the sequence of all actions. For young and inexperienced parents, it will be useful to read the process of bathing children step by step:

Bring to a boil two containers of water at least 6 liters each. One container must be boiled long before the time appointed for bathing, since we will dilute hot water with it to the desired temperature of 36 - 37 degrees.
We install the bath in the room where it is planned to bathe the baby, it does not have to be a bathroom, it is better to choose a room that is more spacious. The temperature in the room should be 22 - 24 degrees without drafts.
Pour the cooled, boiled water into a previously rinsed boiling water bath, and then dilute it hot to the desired temperature. The height of the water in the bath should be at least 10 - 15 cm, this is enough for the water to cover its body when the crumbs are immersed.
At the bottom of the bath, you can put a diaper folded in four or install a special slide for bathing, which has anatomical curves that allow you to compactly place the baby, while there is no need to keep him on the bend of the elbow.
We measure the temperature again with a water thermometer.
We bare the baby completely and, supporting his head at the bend of the elbow of the left hand, and the lower back and butt with the palm of our right, we make the first immersion in the water.
It is necessary to lower the baby into some water gradually, starting from the legs, while calmly, without unnecessary jokes and emotions, talk to the baby.
Then lower the ass and lower back into the water, the hand supporting them can be removed.
When the baby is in water to the waist, we continue to support his head above the water with our left hand, positioning it at an angle so that the palm is in the water under the waist, and the baby's head lies on the elbow.
With the other free hand we water the baby with water or my soap. If baby soap is used for bathing, the baby should then be rinsed with clean boiled water of a suitable temperature. Take care of this in advance.
After bathing the baby, we do not wipe it, but wrapping it in a terry cloth, let the moisture be absorbed
Before putting on a diaper for a child, you can soften his skin with a special lotion or body milk. There is a rule to prevent diaper rash and irritation from diapers, either powder or cosmetics in the form of cream, baby oil or milk are used, they cannot be combined.
If the baby has irritation on the buttocks from frequent loose stools, it is necessary to make a cotton compress. To do this, use boiled sunflower oil and a layer of cotton wool, in which a small hole is made. I moisten cotton wool with oil, and put it in the form of a layer between the diaper and the skin of the buttocks. This will create a barrier to keep the liquid from coming into contact with the skin.

As a rule, after bathing, the baby will get hungry and love to kiss the breast. The parents set the further sequence of the evening ritual in accordance with the habits of the baby.

Useful innovations and accessories for bathing babies

Today, there are many different gadgets that make bathing easier for parents, as well as making it safer and more fun for babies. So one of the most popular ones is a slide for bathing a baby, it can be plastic or inflatable. A visor for bathing a child is also no less popular, using which you can wash your hair without fear that water will flow into the eyes and ears of the baby.

Bathing a baby at 1 month old can be transferred to a large adult bath, making this process safe with a special inflatable ring that supports the baby's head above the water surface.

Bathing a baby at 4 months old is accompanied by active games and splashing, therefore, in order to secure this process, it is necessary to purchase a special non-slip mat for bathing the baby.

Reasons why babies cry when bathing

Why does the baby cry after bathing or during bathing? There are reasons for this, which parents often do not take into account:

Fright. Perhaps the child was very frightened while bathing, this could happen when a sharp sound sounded nearby, soap lying on the side of the bathroom fell into the water, or the child drank water while bathing. The negative from this situation has become entrenched in the subconscious and now, without even remembering why the baby can feel fear at the sight of a bath or water in general.
Pain. Perhaps, when bathing a baby, parents do not take into account the constitution of his body, and rub the skin with a washcloth a little harder than they should. After bathing, the baby lacks a protective layer covering the skin and the epithelium contracts, causing painful sensations, especially if the baby has diaper rash. For the same reasons, do not rub the baby's skin with a terry towel, just lightly get it wet.

Reluctance to part with water. If the child cries after bathing, but is quite cheerful and cheerful during the procedure, it is possible that he is just naughty, not wanting to part with his favorite pastime. Often such problems arise during the bathing process of a baby at 3 - 6 months old.

Bathing for a newborn is a very important process, which is not only needed to maintain hygiene. It develops the skeleton and muscles, strengthens nerve cells and immunity, soothes and relaxes, improves the baby's sleep and appetite. In addition, the first baths help to straighten the arms and fingers of the crumbs more quickly. They stabilize blood supply and pressure, improve the coordination and orientation of the baby in space.

To ensure that bathing and swimming in the bathroom is safe and healthy, it is important to follow a number of rules and recommendations. Parents are worried about how to properly organize this procedure and how often to bathe a newborn baby. Let's take a closer look at these issues.

Features of bathing babies

The baby does not need to be bathed every day if it is not necessary. It is enough to do this every two to three days. The rest of the time, wipe the crumbs with wet wipes or a damp towel. Bathing too often can negatively affect immunity, body temperature and the protective layer of the skin, which are just forming in the first month of life.

It is not recommended to wash the baby with ordinary soap. In the first weeks of life, it is enough to simply wash it with warm boiled water. After a month, you can use liquid baby soap without fragrances, fragrances and other chemicals. Tearless baby shampoo is used after 2-3 months. It is necessary to wash the baby up to six months using cosmetics no more than once every 7-10 days, then you can carry out bath procedures with soap and shampoo every 5-7 days.

It is important that cosmetics are natural and hypoallergenic, including wet wipes. For the little ones, choose cosmetics for newborns. Carefully study the composition and shelf life of each product, check the age of the product. When washing, use a soft sponge or tissue that will not scratch or damage the delicate skin of your baby.

The first bathing is carried out at a temperature of 36.6-37 degrees, starting from five to seven minutes. Then the residence time in the water is gradually increased and the temperature is decreased. In this case, the air temperature should be about 25 degrees. Then the baby will not be overcooled and will not freeze after bathing, or, conversely, will not overheat.

Before each bathing, the bath must be washed with safe detergents. To do this, use laundry soap, baking soda, neutral liquid soap, children's gel or vinegar. Read more on how to clean the tub before bathing your newborn. And then we will look at the basic rules of bathing. We will find out how and how often you need to bathe your baby, depending on age.

Bathing rules for newborns

The first bathing is carried out for five minutes in the evening in boiled water with a temperature of 36.6-37 degrees;
Then the water temperature is gradually reduced by one degree every 5-7 days, and the bathing time, on the contrary, is increased. A baby can swim for half an hour by six months;
The air temperature in the bathroom should be about 25 degrees;
You need to wipe the newborn with wet wipes or a wet towel several times a day, bathe in a baby bath with boiled water if necessary;
It is recommended to bathe the child more often in the heat, with strong sweating and diaper rash, skin irritation;
When the umbilical wound heals, at 3-4 weeks the child can begin to bathe in a regular adult bath with running water;
Washing your child with soap and shampoo is not recommended more than once a week. Moreover, the shampoo is used only after two to three months. Before that, the baby's head is washed with baby soap;
Use only hypoallergenic cosmetics and detergents with natural formulations that are suitable for the baby's age;
After two to three months, include swimming exercises;
Herbal supplements in the form of a string, chamomile or calendula can be used after 3-4 months, coniferous salt baths are made for children over six months. But be careful, the components can cause allergies in the child !;
Before bathing, be sure to wash your bathtub with baking soda, laundry soap, or other safe products.

Bathing a newborn in the first month

In the first weeks of life, the baby requires special care and attention, because the child's body is only adapting to new conditions. The baby should not be bathed in ordinary running water and an adult bath until the umbilical wound heals. As a rule, this happens in the second or third week. During this period, the baby is bathed in a special baby bath or simply wiped off the body with wet wipes.

In the first days of life, it is enough to wipe the crumbs with wet hypoallergenic wipes or a soft towel dipped in boiled water. Then the baby can be bathed in the baby bath. In this case, only boiled water with a temperature of about 37 degrees above zero is also used. The first baths should not exceed five minutes.

For bathing, rinse and prepare the bath. Pour boiled water and wait until it cools down to the desired temperature. Then undress the crumb, hold it on the handles and press it to you. It is important that he calms down and knows that you are near. Submerge your baby in the water gradually and gently.

Prepare a table in advance where you will dry your baby after bathing. Lay a diaper or sheet, wrap the baby in a warm terry towel. When wiping the baby, do not rub the skin, but lightly blot the moisture. Don't forget to clean the umbilical wound. To do this, blot your belly with a towel or dry napkin. If you still have a clothespin on your belly button, carefully remove it. Dip a cotton swab in 3% hydrogen peroxide, gently peel off the crust, and then carefully apply the hydrogen peroxide to each area of your skin.

The clothespin is also treated with peroxide and wiped dry with a cotton pad. After that, you can still treat it with 70% alcohol to increase protection against infection and bacteria. After the performed procedures, the clothespin is put back on. Then the skin of the baby can be lubricated with lotion or oil for newborns to moisturize and soften it. After that, they put on a diaper and clothes or wrap the baby in a diaper. Remember, it is not recommended to wear a diaper under a diaper!

Bathing a baby after a month

When the baby is 3-4 weeks old, the baby can be bathed in a regular adult bath. However, you need to handle it more carefully! But many parents prefer to use a baby bath even after a month. This is not surprising as it is very comfortable. Moreover, it is more hygienic.

If you bathe your baby in an adult bath, you can use a playground or hammock. This will simplify the procedure, because the mom or dad who wash the baby does not have to bend too low towards the baby. In addition, the baby, being in a hammock or on a slide, will not slide on the bathtub.

After a month, it is no longer necessary to boil the water. The water temperature is reduced by one degree every week, and the bathing time is gradually increased to 15-20 minutes. The suitable water temperature for a child is 36 degrees per month, and up to 32 degrees at three months.

For children older than two to three months, you can already practice special swimming exercises. This will further strengthen your muscles and immunity. The kid will not be afraid of water and will learn to swim faster. Due to the long evening bathing, the baby eats well before bedtime, quickly falls asleep and sleeps peacefully all night.

You can bathe your child every day, and wash it with soap and other means about once a week. In this case, it is important to wash every fold of the baby. It is better to water the child from a bucket. If the baby is afraid of water and is naughty, use various toys. They will help you relax and distract yourself, because bathing for a newborn can be stressful.