Stephanie Heintzeler
European midwife approach for holistic doula care.How often should I bathe my newborn and what products are safest?
common.months_ago
Newborn bathing typically starts with a sponge bath around four days after birth, performed on a changing table by wiping with a washcloth to clean skin folds, avoiding full submersion due to the healing umbilical cord and potential stress for the baby. After approximately ten days, a shallow full bath can be introduced, with an emphasis on caution due to the baby's slipperiness and the helpfulness of assistance. Post-bath, maintaining the baby's warmth is crucial; this is achieved through immediate skin-to-skin contact, a warm towel, and feeding, as newborns have difficulty regulating their body temperature. While water is often sufficient for cleaning, gentle, sensitive-skin products or a small amount of baby shampoo for hair are options if desired.
sponge bath: A gentle wash using a damp cloth while the baby stays out of the tub; helps clean the baby without soaking the umbilical area early on.
cord: Refers to the umbilical cord stump that remains after birth; it needs time to heal and dry before full baths.
skin-to-skin: Placing the baby’s bare skin against a caregiver’s bare chest to keep the baby warm and calm after bathing.
baby shampoo: A mild cleanser formulated for infants; only a small amount is suggested, and mainly if the baby has a lot of hair.