Generally, the first bath is an appointment that, like all the first few times, can create a bit of anxiety. How to deal with it from the beginning in the best way?
The right time, place and temperature
During the summer, even in the morning. But the bath certainly helps to end the day in relaxation.
Towards evening, therefore, before the last meal: the child, thanks to the warmth of the water and the maternal attention during all cleaning operations, will be calmer and can fall asleep peacefully.
The ideal place is the bathroom, where you can put the baby tub in the tub.
This solution, however, involves the mother kneeling or sitting on the edge.
But the bath can turn into an opportunity for a surplus of pampering: at the end of the day, it will also be a pleasure for the mother to bathe with the child, together in the tub at home.
It is a good idea to put a non-slip rubber mat on the bottom.
The ambient temperature should be around 20°/22° degrees, about 35°/37° for water.
It can be measured with the right thermometer, but it is worth learning to test it directly: just dip your arm to understand if the water is too cold or too hot.
Attention: the skin of the newborn is so delicate that a bearable temperature for us can burn it.
And if he doesn’t like the bath? Better not to insist and try again after a few days, having the foresight to speak softly, sing a nursery rhyme, tell a story, accompanying every gesture with a smile.
Nice and clean
The safest method to wash the baby is to lay him in the water by supporting his head with one hand held behind the nape of the neck and soaping him with the other, leaving out the face.
It is therefore obvious that everything you need must always be at hand.
The baby will not be able to sit until about 6 months, and even then the attention must always be maximum: never, never leave him alone in the water, the risks are too many.
It is therefore good to prepare for this daily operation, paying particular attention to practicality and safety.
Things to keep on hand
- Soft terry towels and, if you change the baby in the same room, to avoid sudden changes in temperature, protective cream for the bottom, diaper and pajamas.
- The cleanser: it must be delicate, suitable for children’s skin, possibly not too foaming and free of fragrance. The ideal is a specific product for early childhood, containing moisturizing and protective substances of the epidermis, for example based on Panthenol, which has the advantage of preventing skin irritations. It is a provitamin, B5, which acts by creating a protective barrier between the baby’s skin and external irritants and, in addition, promotes natural skin regeneration. It is better not to use talc, its very light powder can be inhaled by the child.
How to wash those little heads?
Smooth, curly or zero? From birth to the year of life, children’s hair can be modified several times. There are babies who are born with long hair, others who are hairless: everyone will still have other hair within a few months. Here’s how to behave:
- In the early days it is preferable to avoid completely wetting the baby’s head, it is sufficient to wash it with a soft moistened sponge.
- When you decide to use shampoo, it must be a product formulated specifically for early childhood.
- If cradle cap appears, a specific oil can be used, to be gently massaged on the head.
Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.
The blog covers a wide range of topics related to health and wellness, with articles organized into several categories.