Steps for Bathing a Newborn Baby

Medical Video: Bathing your Newborn

Bathing a newborn is a valuable experience for both parents. This experience can bring you closer to the baby. However, newborns are still very vulnerable and sensitive. So, it's natural if you feel nervous if you have to bathe your baby. Especially if this is the first time you have to bathe a newborn baby. No need to worry, by following these guidelines, bathing your baby will be a beautiful and anticipated moment.

How newborn babies should take a shower?

Newborns actually don't need to take a shower too often. The important thing is as long as you change your baby's diaper, you also cleanse his body If you take a shower too often, your baby's skin can dry out. Usually bathing a newborn three to four times a week or once every day is enough.

However, you can adjust yourself to the condition of the baby. Because Indonesia is a tropical country where the temperature is quite high and moist, you might want to bathe your baby every day. There are also parents who bathe newborn babies twice a day.

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When is the best time to bathe a newborn?

Avoid bathing the baby after drinking milk. Bathing after the stomach is filled can make your baby feel uncomfortable. In addition, if he feels his stomach is depressed, your baby can vomit. We recommend that you choose your free time. That way, you can focus on the baby and not be in a hurry.

You can bathe your baby in the morning when your baby's mood is good and he is not so sleepy. Bathing your baby in the afternoon doesn't matter either. The important thing is that you keep him from getting cold.

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Bathing a newborn baby whose umbilical cord has not been released

Most babies under the age of two or three weeks have not released the umbilical cord. Be careful because the baby's umbilical cord is still rather wet and should not get water. For that, you can bathe it by wiping its body with a soft washcloth or cloth. Note the steps below.

Cover a table or a flat surface such as a floor with a waterproof pad or soft towel. You can also do it at the table to change the baby's diaper
Lay the baby on his back, hold the back of the head and neck with one of your hands
Wipe your baby's body, head and face slowly with a washcloth that has been moistened with warm enough water
After the body is wet, wipe it again with a washcloth with soap that is very soft and safe for newborns
To clean both of his eyelids, prepare two sheets of soft cotton with not much fiber. Start from the part of the eye that is close to the nose and wipe outwards. Repeat on the other eyelid with the new cotton
Make sure you also wipe the curves of the body like the armpits, neck, back of the ear, and the back of the knee
Finish by cleaning the baby's genitals and buttocks, starting from front to back
Lift the baby with your hands and wrap it with a dry towel
Before wearing diapers or clothes, hugs and cymbals, the baby, because this can provide stimulation for the senses to touch while building a strong bond between you and your baby.

READ ALSO: 4 Things You Need To Do On Baby Umbilical Cord After Birth

Bathe the baby with the umbilical cord off

After your baby's umbilical cord has come off and the scar has dried, you can start bathing the baby in the baby bathtub. The method is also quite simple. Check out the steps below.

Prepare a baby bathtub with warm water (with a temperature of about 37 degrees Celsius) as high as 5 centimeters
With both of your hands, move the baby into the bathtub in a rather upright position
Hold the back of the head and neck with your non-dominant hand
Start by gently wiping the baby's face with a washcloth, followed by his head and all over his body
Pour safe bath soap for newborns on washcloths
Wipe again the face and the entire body of the baby, do not forget to clean each curve and folds of his body (no need to get into the ears or nose)
Clean the baby's eyelids with a soft cloth or cotton that doesn't have much fiber
Finish by cleaning the baby's genitals and buttocks, starting from front to back
To stimulate the senses to touch, let the baby enjoy the bath time and pour warm water into the stomach or shoulder slowly
Lift the baby with your hands and wrap it with a dry towel
Hug and weigh your baby after a shower to bond and love between mother and child

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Steps for Bathing a Newborn Baby

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