PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR THE BABY’S FIRST BATH 2015/07/02

First day at home, first experiences for mom and dad: one of these is the baby’s bath. Surely in the hospital they have explained it step by step.

Before we start, here are some tips:

• The best moment for the bath is in the afternoon, before dinner: relaxing bath + full stomach = a good night sleep guaranteed.

• Keep the water temperature at around 37ºC, meaning their body temperature.

• Instead the temperature of the bathing room must not be under 20ºC.

• You don’t need sponges or bathing gloves, because your hands are perfect, this way the bath will become, continuous affection!

• Have everything you think you might need at hand: towel, soap, diapers, clothes, brush and blow drier if needed, moisturize the baby if required…

And now we begin…

We must make a difference between the bath before the fall of the umbilical cord and after.

When the stump has fallen, it is better to not submerge the baby completely, but wash them ‘in parts’ since the water doesn’t help the healing. This will be like this the first 10.15 days tops.

To wash them in the front, place the back of the baby on your forearm and hold their thighs with one hand. Wash them with the other wand on the chest, the belly avoiding the stump, legs and feet.

Then turn them over, you can help yourself by grabbing their little leg against your side. This position it is useful to wash the arms, shoulders and back.

You can avoid washing their intimate parts, remember you clean them everyday when changing their diaper!

Whereas when the umbilical cord has fallen, you can proceed with the bath by submerging the baby in the water! Changing tables come equipped with baby bathtubs, it doesn’t matter which bathtub you use, this must be emptied put and dried to avoid water stagnation after the bath.

When the little one is older and can sit on their own, it will be very fun to play with the water and the classic rubber ducks! So… have fun with your children!