Bathing a baby is a very troublesome task. When the baby is older, it is easier to just pull it under the shower head. But how should you bathe a baby who has just been born? If you encounter some special circumstances, such as Prickly heat, eczema , etc. are even more confusing.
In today’s article, let’s talk about things you should pay attention to when bathing your newborn baby in summer.
Newborns within 28 days
Newly born babies have relatively thin skin, relatively strong sebum secretion, and poor self-metabolism function. Therefore, parents need to bathe their babies relatively frequently to avoid skin diseases such as seborrheic dermatitis and diaper rash .
In summer, if it is a hot southern city, you can take a bath and take care every day; if it is a relatively dry northern city, you can take a bath and take care every other day.
When bathing a newborn, the indoor temperature is recommended to be 26~28℃. In summer, the indoor temperature is most suitable at 24~26℃, and the water temperature is recommended to be maintained at 36~38℃. Before giving your baby a bath, it is best for parents to use a thermometer to measure the water temperature to avoid scalding the baby if the water temperature is too high.
If the weather is sultry and the temperature in the bathroom is high, it is recommended to ventilate properly, or turn on the air conditioner to maintain a constant temperature in the room, and bathe the baby in a tub to prevent the baby from heatstroke during the bath.
When bathing your baby, pay attention to the correct bathing method and order.
When bathing a newborn, first use a tub bath with water that does not cover the baby's shoulders. Keep the head and face above the water to avoid choking accidents. At the same time, be sure to have one hand holding the baby while bathing the baby.
The order of bathing your baby should be from top to bottom, starting from the baby's face. Use a damp towel to gently wipe around the baby's eyes, nose, mouth, cheeks and chin. The wiping force must be gentle to avoid water directly entering the baby's eyes and nose.
Then wash your hair, then your body and arms. Then clean the baby's chest and belly. When washing the belly, avoid the area around the umbilical cord to avoid water entering the navel hole. Then wash the baby's back.
Finally, clean the baby's legs, thighs, perineum, and buttocks. Remember not to miss the gaps between the baby's toes.
During the entire process of bathing the baby, be sure to hold the baby firmly and provide support for the neck and spine. At the same time, the bathing action should be gentle and quick, and the total time should not exceed 10 minutes.
It is not recommended to scrub, press hard or scratch the baby, and it is not recommended to forcefully clean the vernix on the scalp and body.
Infants and young children who are older than 28 days
Because the skin of infants and young children is still very thin, the barrier function is not yet perfect. Therefore, you should still pay attention to the frequency of bathing when taking a bath.
Parents need to decide how often to bathe their baby according to the geographical environment and season where the baby is located. In most seasons, it is recommended to bathe the baby 2 to 3 times a week. In summer, if you are in a southern city and the environment is relatively hot and humid, you can choose to bathe with clean water every day and wash with baby shower gel 3 to 4 times a week.
If your home is in the north and the environment is relatively dry, but if your baby is active and prone to sweating, parents can also choose to bathe with clean water every day. However, if the baby's skin is relatively dry, it is recommended to take a bath every other day and use baby shower gel.
In addition, whether in the south or the north, it is recommended that parents apply a layer of moisturizing milk to their baby after bathing to keep the skin moist.
For babies in infancy, it is recommended that the water temperature be kept at 34~36℃ when taking a bath in summer, and not exceed 37℃. The indoor temperature can be controlled at 24~26℃. It is also recommended that parents use a thermometer to measure the water temperature before taking a bath to avoid scalding the baby.
If the baby cannot crawl, it is recommended to use a bathtub for 5 to 10 minutes. When the baby can stand independently, it is recommended to take a shower, preferably within 5 minutes. Because showering is generally more hygienic and safer than bathing.
Parents need to avoid using seats in the bathroom because babies can easily fall and get injured if they cannot sit firmly. When choosing a shower, make sure your baby stands close enough to you to ensure that parents can respond quickly to protect their baby if an accident occurs.
The steps and sequence of bathing are similar to those for newborns. Start cleaning from the face and head from top to bottom. At the same time, the baby's skin folds must also be cleaned, such as behind the ears, armpits, between fingers, etc.
How to bathe your baby under special circumstances
- If you have prickly heat
If you have prickly heat, make sure to take a bath once a day, and wash the rash area as well. You can also use a towel to gently scrub heat rash to speed up the metabolism and subsidence of the heat rash.
- long eczema
If the baby's eczema is mainly characterized by dry erythema, you can wash it with water once a day, and apply moisturizing cream as soon as possible after taking a bath.
If the eczema area has yellow water and scabs, take a bath with clean water once a day and use bath products to clean it every other day. This can wash off the dirt on the skin surface in time, reduce the growth of bacteria, and help the recovery of eczema.
- Baby with a red butt
When a baby with a red butt urinates, wash it with water immediately, apply moisturizing cream immediately after washing, and use zinc oxide ointment 1 to 2 times a day, or one containing zinc oxide Nipple cream to enhance local care.
Precautions when taking a bath
▶Do not take a bath when the baby has just finished feeding. It is likely to cause the baby to feel uncomfortable in the stomach and prone to vomiting. It is recommended to take a bath 30 minutes before feeding.
If the newborn has no obvious milk moss or fetal fat residue, it is recommended to use baby shower gel 1-2 times a week. At the same time, it is not recommended to remove excessive cradle cap if there is cradle cap on the head. If the cradle cap is very thick and has affected hair growth, you can apply baby oil to the scalp for 3-5 minutes before bathing, and then clean it gently with a soft brush during bathing.
▶When bathing your baby, it is recommended to choose a baby-specific bath liquid, which has mild ingredients and is safer.
▶The baby's skin barrier function is weak, so after the baby takes a bath, gently dry the baby's body with a bath towel, and do not miss the skin folds such as buttocks, thighs and elbows.
▶The most important point is, never leave your baby alone in the bathroom at any time, otherwise accidents may easily occur.
Bathing a baby may seem like a small thing, but there are many details that need to be paid attention to, which tests the patience and attentiveness of parents. Only by giving your child comprehensive care can your baby grow up healthily.
