W hen you have just given birth to your first child, giving them a bath can sometimes be intimidating. Fear of hurting them, of not putting enough water or too much... In this article you will discover our advice for giving your baby a good bath!
Babies really enjoy baths , it is a pleasant and relaxing time. They can touch the water, splash and stretch. Babies feel relaxed after a bath, so it is not to be neglected.
Newborns do not need to be bathed every day. However, you can still wash their head, neck, hands and genitals every day with a small baby wipe.
Choose the right time to bathe him. Choose the time according to his state of alertness; favor times when he is calm and awake.
Before bathing your baby, make sure that the temperature in the bathroom is suitable. It should be between 22 and 24 degrees, and make sure that there are no drafts so that your baby is not cold. The water temperature should be between 35 and 37 degrees. Never fill the bathtub while your baby is in it; a sudden increase in the water level could burn him. Check the water temperature carefully with a thermometer so that he does not burn himself. Babies' skin is more sensitive than ours, so it is best not to use your hand to measure their temperature, but rather your elbow. Babies can be washed in a regular bathtub, in a baby bathtub, or in a clean sink.
Make yourself comfortable so that your back does not hurt when bending over. Prepare a chair or stool. Also prepare all the necessary accessories for bathing: bath seat, towel, thermometer and toiletries.
For newborns, only a few centimeters of water are enough. Fill the bathtub starting with cold water, then hot water. Stop the water when it is between 8 and 12cm.
Start by undressing your baby by first removing the diaper, then the bodysuit so that he spends as little time naked as possible to avoid him getting cold. If your baby is still covered in vernix (a whitish coating present on the skin at birth), do not rub him. There are several possible ways to soap him. Either you soap him on the changing table and then put him in water to rinse him, or you put your baby in the water directly and soap him in the water. Note that soap is not necessary for the whole body. However, it is necessary for the buttocks, genitals and hands.
Always have your hand under his armpit and supporting his neck to hold him well. If you are worried that he will slip out of your hands with the soap, you can get bath seats to put the child on. Take the water in the palm of your hand to rinse him. Start with the head, then go down. Gently wash his face with a very soft washcloth and gently wash his eyes. Wash the outside and then the inside of his ears. Do not use cotton buds.
Also wash his scalp once or twice a week with a very mild shampoo. Be careful not to press on his skull. Lift his head well then rinse well, always supporting his head.
Safety is the priority. To make your baby feel comfortable, hold his neck with your hand. Let his body float in the water. He will feel confident and relax when he touches the water.
Never leave baby alone. Make sure that you are not disturbed during bath time, even if the phone rings for example. If you leave him unattended for even a few seconds, he risks drowning, even in a few centimetres of water.
Once the bath is over, wrap him in a warm towel and dry him, avoiding rubbing his skin. Once your baby is dry, put a diaper on him, making sure it doesn't irritate his umbilical cord if it hasn't fallen off yet.