You are holding your microscopic baby in your arms, a concentration of tenderness, fragility and wonder. It is normal that the thought of the first bath can create some apprehension. But with the due precautions and compliance with a few rules, it will soon become completely natural – and priceless – to share this special moment of intimacy with your child.
THE FIRST DAYS
To experience the thrill of the first bath, it is good practice to wait for the umbilical stump to fall off (generally within the second week of life): in fact, water slows down drying and could favor an infection. In this period, prefer an accurate local cleansing with a specific oily cleanser for babies, to be applied with a cotton ball.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED
The fateful moment has arrived, have you thought of everything?
■ Plastic bowl with anatomical seat: comfortable and easy to clean and disinfect. There are changing tables that are already equipped with them (but filling and emptying the container is impractical),
otherwise the bowl can be placed in the bathtub.
■ Rice starch: ideal in the first three months, when the newborn's skin is more delicate.
■ Neutral detergent: to be preferred afterwards for washing both the body and the hair.
■ Thermometer to check the water temperature: usually it is used the first few times, then mum and dad become experts.
■ Toys: soft plastic animals and, for the older ones, small containers for pouring water and soap bubbles. Even the most refractory to the bath will have fun.
■ Changing table: to support the baby after bathing (without ever losing sight of him).
■ Soft towel: very comfortable square ones with hood.
■ Cleaning wipes: for emergencies, pee as soon as the baby comes out of the water.
■ Moisturizing cream or oil (almond oil is perfect): to hydrate, soften and protect the skin after a bath.
■ Diaper.
■ Change paste: zinc oxide paste is widely used to prevent redness.
■ Little clothes: socks, bodysuit, onesie, everything close at hand so that the little one doesn't catch cold.
■ Necessary for hygiene: scissors with rounded tips for nails, brush for hair with soft bristles…
THE ABC OF THE PERFECT BATH
Take care to heat the room:
22°C is ideal.
Just fill the tray
halfway .
Check that the water temperature is around
37°C. If you don't have the appropriate thermometer, immerse your elbow, a timeless grandmother's method.
As a rule, the first time the bath should not last more than
ten minutes .
And don't delay feeding time to give him a bath, the baby could
get nervous .
Do it quietly after feeding,
if you are breastfeeding : mother's milk is very digestible and the bath is so short that it does not affect digestion.
Just be careful, however,
if the baby is bottle-fed : better to wait an hour or two.
The time
is of little importance: before bedtime, as soon as you wake up...
The right time for the bath is the most congenial time for every family.
The sink, when the child is very small, can be used as an alternative to the tub, but it is not as safe: it is therefore good to hold the newborn very firmly.
T he most practical position to support the newborn in the water is this: the mother's left arm behind her back, with the thumb over her left shoulder and the other fingers under her armpit. In this way the head remains well supported.
N ever let go: the newborn
is unable to sit up unaided and could slip under the water.
Don't forget to
sweet talk to him and have fun with him,
all the way to Z.
by Sara Lanfranchini | Taken from the magazine Nascere mamma
