WHEN AND HOW TO BATHE A NEWBORN
When a baby is born, you can’t bathe them right away because the umbilical cord hasn’t fallen off yet. It usually takes about 10 days for it to detach. Until then, you can gently wipe the baby with a soft, damp cloth.
You can bathe the baby about an hour after feeding. It’s best to establish a routine so that this procedure happens at the same time every day: before meals and before bedtime.
The room where you bathe the baby should be warm. Use one hand to support the baby while the other hand is used for washing.
It’s also beneficial to measure the baby after bathing. You can do this by touching the baby’s right knee to their left elbow and vice versa. Before this, apply some baby oil to the baby’s skin.
WATER FOR BATHING THE BABY
The water for the bath should be warm. The best thermometer is your elbow. Use a mild soap for washing. If the baby’s skin becomes red, it’s best to avoid soap altogether and add a little baking soda or wheat or oat bran to the water. To do this, place a small bag of bran in the water where the baby is bathing. After about 5 minutes, squeeze the bag and use that water to bathe the baby. If that doesn’t help, you can bathe the baby in herbal infusions made from chamomile, thyme, succession, or mint.
If the baby doesn’t tolerate these baths well, then bathe them in clean water every other day.
WHAT TO DO WHEN THE BABY TURNS
If the baby turns while nursing, it’s a sign that they may be overeating. Therefore, they should nurse for a shorter time. If that doesn’t help, it may mean that the milk is too thick. In that case, give the baby a spoon or two of boiled water a few minutes before nursing. The mother should also consume less rich foods, especially limiting meat intake.
If that still doesn’t help and the baby continues to squirm but is gaining weight, it’s a good sign that they will soon settle down. It’s important to weigh the baby regularly.