Bathing a newborn

Newborn babies should not be bathed while in the maternity hospital. It is enough to wipe their skin with warm water and wash it in the area of the genitals and buttocks. In this way, we "preserve" the protective layer with which the baby is born, which the baby needs in the first days of life.

In the first 14 days, it is recommended to bathe the baby 2-3 times a week for 5 minutes, with only clean warm water without soap and baths. Dry the skin by patting, without rough wiping.

When changing a diaper after urination, it is enough to wipe the skin with cotton pads soaked in warm water. When the baby passes a stool, remove the contents with cotton pads and rinse well with warm water, especially skin folds. It is not advisable to wipe the stool with toilet paper or a dry cloth diaper.

Every night, wipe the folds under the chin, on the neck, behind the ears, under the armpits, between the legs with warm water; finally, wipe the genitals and buttocks, always from front to back, in one stroke; repeat the procedure as many times as necessary until it is well cleansed. Dry the skin well by patting.

Although babies do not bathe in the first days after birth, skin hygiene must be maintained. Babies can be bathed in two ways:

While being held over the arm

In a baby tub