Pulmo Sleep Center Eliksir

For first-time parents, the most important life role they have taken on is also the most responsible and thus very stressful. There are countless new things they have never encountered before, which undoubtedly cause a certain amount of fear, given that it involves the care and nurturing of a small, fragile being. It is essential that these tasks are performed correctly.

Even parents who already have older children may forget some things, and when they become parents again, they need to reacquaint themselves with all the details important for baby care. Some of the most critical aspects of caring for a newborn include baby bathing and umbilical cord care.

Below are some useful tips that can help with proper baby care, and if you don't have help at home from grandparents or someone who has already experienced parenting issues, it's best to seek assistance from professionals specializing in home baby care.

This care involves newborn care, hygiene and umbilical cord treatment, bathing and skin care, swaddling and dressing, baby massage, and care for children up to 3 years old.

How to Bathe a Baby – Proper Baby Bathing

If you have seen how hospital staff bathes and swaddles a baby, it might have seemed very simple and easy. To them, it is a routine task, but when it comes to bathing a baby at home for the first time, it can indeed be challenging.

Bathing newborns involves a series of steps that must be followed to perform the task adequately and avoid any discomfort for the baby.

The first home bath is certainly a special event that parents approach with trepidation, unsure of how they will manage the whole process. While baby care is a responsible activity and attention must be paid to every detail to ensure everything goes smoothly, there's no need to panic. It will quickly become routine. Moreover, these are special moments of closeness between parents and the baby, so enjoy these moments that pass by quickly.

Baby Bathing Supplies – What You Need to Prepare

Before it's time for the first home bath, all necessary elements need to be prepared. Since it's impractical to bathe the baby in a bathtub or shower, it's essential to have a baby bath with a stand. Baby baths are very convenient to handle and designed precisely for what you need – safe, easy, and practical baby bathing.

Additionally, you will need a thermometer for measuring water temperature, a small towel to hold the baby, cotton, baby shampoo, and as an alternative to commercial products, you can use chamomile or almond and olive oil.

After bathing, you should also have a large towel to wrap the baby in, diaper cream, a clean diaper, a brush for the head, and a clean pajama to dress the baby.

Bathing Newborns – Step by Step

If you're wondering how to bathe a baby, start by placing the baby bath on a safe and stable surface, then fill it with warm water. The bath does not need to be full; about 10 centimeters of water is sufficient since the baby will not stay in it for long.

The room temperature for bathing should be around 24-25 degrees Celsius, while the water temperature should match the baby's body temperature – about 37 degrees. You can add a few drops of olive or almond oil or chamomile to the water, or use a mild baby shampoo.

It's easiest to bathe the baby with the help of both parents. If one parent is doing it alone, it becomes a bit more challenging since one hand must hold the baby while the other washes. A recommended practice by pediatricians and midwives is to wash the baby from clean parts to dirty ones. Therefore, start by cleaning the head – the eyes, nose, and ears, then gently rinse and remove impurities.

After the head, proceed to wash the body, starting with the neck, arms, armpits, chest, stomach, back, and finally the legs. For the last part, clean the most sensitive intimate areas, which get the dirtiest. After drying, apply cream, put on a diaper, and brush the baby.

How Often Should You Bathe the Baby?

Newborns do not sweat or get very dirty, so the only reason to bathe the baby is if the diaper leaks or if the baby spits up after feeding. Therefore, you don't need to bathe the baby every day; it's sufficient to wipe critical areas gently with a damp towel or a baby wipe that does not contain alcohol.

If the baby does not get excessively dirty, bathing every other day is perfectly fine, especially if all steps for proper bathing are followed. There is no need to repeat the process too frequently, except in the aforementioned situations.

Proper Umbilical Cord Care

An important detail in baby care is umbilical cord care. It is crucial to keep the area around the umbilical cord clean and dry, and the care should be performed at least once daily. Drying the area around the umbilical cord promotes its drying and detachment, leading to faster healing of the umbilical wound.

The baby's umbilical cord typically falls off between the fourth and fifth day of life, and the wound heals by the tenth day. In the following days, the umbilical cord might bleed a little, so care for the area is particularly important. It's essential to avoid bathing the baby until the umbilical cord falls off and the wound heals.

The umbilical cord area is very sensitive, so pay attention to the healing process. If it gets dirty with food residue, stool, or urine, it can lead to infections. Therefore, it's important to keep the area around the baby's umbilical cord always dry and sterile.

Proper baby care is extremely important, especially in the first weeks of the baby's life, as this is when babies are most sensitive and vulnerable. However, there is no need to panic; just follow the advice of pediatricians, home nurses, or those who have experienced parenting, and you are sure to avoid any problems. Enjoy parenthood!