✅ When can you bathe your child after feeding? How to properly bathe a newborn for the first time: instructions for young parents

When to bathe a newborn before or after eating?

Bathing is an important ritual that must be repeated daily. This mandatory procedure helps eliminate dirt and sweat accumulated throughout the day, and also relaxes the muscles well and calms the baby’s nervous system. After water procedures, children, as a rule, eat well and fall asleep quickly. Parents should take care to properly prepare the bathing area and follow safety rules.

Newborn baby in the bath

Also read with this article:

For two reasons, it makes sense to start introducing solid foods to your baby in the first half of the first year. At this age, children don't care what they eat, and as they get older, they become more picky. At the courses they said that you can bathe, as well as change diapers, only before feeding... At your age, I tried to bathe Sonya both before and after feeding, and even so - I’ll feed a little, I’ll stop hunger - and bathe, and then finish eating.

Most of them concern bathing a child. The baby's first bath is both joy and stress for parents, because they are afraid of doing something wrong. It is important, having previously familiarized yourself with the answers to the questions that interest you, cast aside all doubts and begin water procedures: they should bring joy to both you and the baby.

Pediatricians recommend choosing a large bathroom, since here the baby will be able to move, thereby developing his muscles and respiratory system. You need to bathe a newborn with an unhealed navel very carefully; when the wound heals, water procedures can be increased in time. In this case, water procedures are contraindicated until consultation with a doctor.

It will take an average of 20 days for the wound to heal. You need to examine the navel; when a crust has already formed on it, you can start bathing the newborn. In this matter, only the comfort of the baby is important. Some children like to swim after eating, others prefer water procedures exclusively on a full stomach.

Features of bathing newborns

Water procedures are a very useful activity for all babies, starting from the first day after birth. The water environment is familiar and familiar to the baby, since he spent nine months in it while he was in his mother’s womb. Newborns feel very comfortable in water. Bathing is a hygienic procedure that is aimed at cleansing the child’s skin and hair of accumulated dirt.

Taking a bath every day promotes the proper physical development of the baby, contains an element of play, and therefore has a beneficial effect on the mental and psycho-emotional development of the child.

Should I bathe with an unhealed navel?

There is no clear answer to this question. Some pediatricians recommend starting to bathe a newborn, even if he has a clothespin on his navel, while others say that it is better to refrain from water procedures until the umbilical cord is completely dry. A well-known pediatrician and author of books on the health and education of children, Evgeniy Komarovsky, says that parents will have to decide whether or not to bathe a newborn in the first days on their own.

Please note! If the child is in good living conditions, does not sweat much, does not overheat, and does not get dirty, then nothing bad will happen to him if he is not bathed in the bathroom for one or two weeks. It won't bother him in any way. If parents are worried that the baby is uncomfortable, they can always wipe the problem areas and folds with wet wipes.

If parents decide to start bathing their newborn baby immediately after discharge from the hospital, then until the umbilical wound heals, this should be done with boiled water without using soap.

Important! Komarovsky does not recommend adding potassium permanganate to water, since it is completely useless in small doses and dangerous in large quantities. It is better to replace it with infusion of string.

Bathing a child with an unhealed navel

Is it possible to bathe a child with a runny nose?

If a runny nose is the only symptom, a ban on water procedures is not justified. On the contrary, a warm bath will help alleviate the child’s condition, you just need to follow some important rules:

Make sure that the temperature of the water in the bath does not fall below +37-38°C;
Avoid drafts; the air in the room should be slightly heated before bathing (to do this, you can add a small amount of hot water to the bath);
If the baby is lying in the bath, then all parts of his body that are not immersed in water must be watered from time to time from a ladle. This is necessary in order to smooth out the difference between the upper and lower temperatures affecting the body;
Immediately after taking a bath, in order to prevent hypothermia, the child must be dressed in warm pajamas or other suitable clothing;
It is best for the baby to go to bed immediately after bathing;
There is no need to wash your baby’s hair unnecessarily, as wet hair may make the runny nose worse;
It is not necessary to carry out water procedures very often; once every two days will be sufficient;
The optimal duration of bathing for rhinitis is 7-10 minutes.

Note! When the child is in the bathroom, his respiratory tract will be well moistened and warmed up, as during inhalation. This will reduce swelling of the mucous membrane and strengthen local immunity. If the baby looks lethargic, behaves capriciously, or has an elevated body temperature, then it is better to postpone bathing for a while.

Bathing a child in herbal infusion

For the first bath, a temperature of 36-37°C is recommended.

Bathing a newborn, especially the very first, is a real event, joyful and exciting for all family members. Do you want your bathing to go without a hitch? You can read everything parents need to know about bathing their precious baby here.

Caring for a newborn is a pleasant and joyful chore, writes moirebenok.ua. Believe me, bathing a child is not at all difficult and not scary. And it’s okay that you are still young parents with no experience, and he is so tiny. Just a few days will pass, and you will truly enjoy bathing your baby and enjoy how the little man enjoys water procedures. And so that bathing a newborn in practice follows all the rules, arm yourself with theory and get answers to the most exciting questions.

FIRST BATH: WHEN YOU CAN

Modern pediatric doctors allow bathing a baby on the first day after discharge from the hospital, without waiting for the umbilical wound to heal. You only need to wait until the umbilical wound heals if there are any special recommendations from the doctor and problems with healing, for example, the wound gets wet. After bathing, simply blot the umbilical wound with a towel or napkin and treat the newborn’s navel.

BATH TIME

Each child is individual, so you should determine the time for bathing based on the baby’s behavior. As a rule, newborns are bathed in the evening, before night feeding. It is believed that after water procedures, children fall asleep more soundly. However, there are babies who are excited by bathing, and it’s not easy to put such little ones to bed later. Observe your child, if evening bathing is not suitable for him, bathe him in the afternoon or in the morning.

WHAT TO ADD TO WATER

According to modern rules, there is no need to boil water, much less add potassium permanganate to it (remember, potassium permanganate can cause serious burns to delicate skin!). If desired, you can add a decoction of herbs: string or chamomile. It’s easy to make them yourself, or you can use ready-made cosmetics for newborns, which are sold in a wide range in pharmacies (check with your doctor first).

Use baby soap and special products for bathing babies no more than twice a week - they dry out delicate skin.

If a child has very dry, problematic skin, or has allergic rashes, on the recommendation of a pediatrician (neonatologist in the maternity hospital), you need to purchase a special product for bathing babies with problem skin at the pharmacy.

HOW TO BREW HERB

Pour a glass of chamomile (chamomile) into a saucepan and pour a liter of boiling water. Cover with a lid and leave for 3-4 hours. Pour the resulting infusion into the bath through a double layer of gauze.

The decoction must be fresh; brew the herb every time for swimming on the day of water procedures.

WATER AND AIR TEMPERATURE

The temperature in the room should be comfortable (20-22° C), there is no need to specifically warm up the room - in a stuffy room, with a lot of steam, it will be difficult for your child and you to breathe.

For the first bath, they recommend a temperature of 36-37°C - check the readings of the water thermometer and remember: it’s better to be a little cooler than a little hotter, because the baby’s skin is very sensitive. In the future, lower the temperature of the water in the bath by 1°C every week or two. By one month it’s good to reach a temperature 2-4 degrees lower than the original one, by two months – 4-6 degrees lower. After bathing, shower your child 1-2°C lower than in which he bathed.

HOW TO PREPARE A CHILD

You need to bathe either before feeding or 45 minutes after. Before bathing, give your baby an air bath - undress, place on a changing table, or on any other spacious place (sofa, your bed). Let the baby lie naked for a few minutes - don’t worry that he will freeze, this is an important component of hardening! Stroke the baby's body: from the legs and arms to the back, tummy, bend and unbend the arms and legs.

HOW TO BATH

Supporting the child with both hands (under the neck and chest, or the back of the head and back), lower it into the water and guide the baby - swim - from one edge of the bath to the other. Taking the child's armpits, lower him into the water and remove him from it.

The first bath should last 5-7 minutes, after a few days increase the bathing time to 15 minutes, then, if the baby wishes, the time can be increased.

Whether to bathe your baby with or without a diaper is up to you. It is believed that it is more comfortable for a child to swim in a diaper - it envelops the baby’s body, creating the effect of protection, as if in a mother’s tummy.

AFTER BATH

After you finish bathing your baby, wrap him in a soft towel, pat your baby's skin dry and give him air baths again for a few minutes.

When is the best time to bathe a baby?

When is the best time to bathe a newborn? The best time for water procedures is 8-9 pm. After the bath, the baby will get tired, relax, have a good meal and quickly fall asleep until the morning. If the child cannot wait that long and, as a rule, falls asleep much earlier, then parents must adapt to the baby’s biological clock and monitor his behavior. You may need to reschedule your bathing ritual for the morning or afternoon. Once the appropriate time has been determined, it must be fixed and made permanent.

When to bathe a newborn: before meals or after meals? Some babies like to take a bath before feeding, others - on a full stomach. You can only understand which option is more suitable for the baby and when it is best to feed him through experience. Just a few procedures are enough to find out your child’s preferences and make the right decision. Parents should not ignore a child’s cry; they should always remember that for the baby it is the only way to express dissatisfaction.

Important! Hygiene procedures performed in the evening will help relieve tension, relax and fall asleep. If the baby is very agitated after bathing and does not fall asleep well, it is better to wash him during the day, in between feedings.

An evening bath will calm and relax your baby.

How long after feeding should I bathe?

Parents who do not know how long after feeding a child can bathe should know that immediately after the baby has eaten, it is impossible to wash it - this can cause excessive regurgitation and the appearance of intestinal colic. Pediatricians say that the minimum amount of time that should pass after feeding is 30-40 minutes. How long after eating can you bathe your baby? Ideally, about an hour should pass between the process of eating and hygiene procedures (this time will be enough for some of the food to be completely digested).

When is the best time to wash a baby?

There is no unambiguous correct answer to this question: all babies are different, they have different personalities, health conditions and methods of feeding (breastfeeding, artificial or mixed).

Therefore, each mother will have to choose the time for water procedures that is optimal for her little one .

This will help the child form a certain routine for bathing, feeding and sleeping.

Is it possible before meals?

Of course, in most cases, bathing before eating is optimal. Theoretically, by bathing, the baby not only becomes clean, but also performs a kind of exercise, which is quite costly in terms of physical effort. And that’s why it’s logical to first let the baby get tired, and only then feed him and put him for a long and sound night’s sleep.

This is exactly the scheme (bathing - last feeding - night sleep) that Dr. Komarovsky recommends, emphasizing the obvious advantages of this approach:

A gentle attitude towards the baby’s digestion (physical activity not on a full stomach).
Ease of getting your child to fall asleep.
Duration and high quality of night sleep.

Is it possible to harm the baby?

Alas, schemes that work well in theory often break down in practice due to the characteristics of a particular little person. Many young mothers, trying to literally follow Komarovsky’s advice, note with alarm that their children for some reason do not want to be consistent. And if you bathe them before feeding, the whole family will be treated to a waterfall of tears and real hysterics performed by the little artist.

If your child cries every bath, then such bathing is harmful for him . There is no need to endure toddler tantrums for weeks just because the child supposedly owes something to someone “according to Komarovsky.”

In what cases is it not possible?

Moral comfort is especially important for children with neurological problems, and the same hypertonicity in infants is by no means a rare phenomenon.

For such children, hysterics are literally contraindicated, so we remember: the goal of parents is to bathe without tears, and if for this purpose it is necessary to first feed the child, then we feed it and do not experience any pangs of conscience.

How to carry out the procedure?

If you bathe your child before meals, then freely choose any method of water procedures : showering, washing in a baby bath or swimming in a large bathtub.

Is it possible after meals?

So, let us repeat: after eating, we bathe the child only if bathing before eating causes a persistent and violent protest in him. And in this case, we try not to feed the baby, because, having eaten from the belly, the baby can simply fall asleep, presenting parents with a difficult choice: refuse to bathe (which is not good from the point of view of hygiene rules and adherence to the regime) or wake him up (thwarting his night's sleep your child and risking running into a new batch of tears).

How long after eating can you start washing your baby? We feed the baby lightly, wait 5-10 minutes - as long as we can wait without causing the matter to cry (do not forget to carry it in a column to optimize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract), and deliver the little one to the bathroom.

Pediatricians recommend waiting an hour between feeding and bathing ; as an exception, at least half an hour. Therefore, we still try to carry the child not immediately from the breast to the bathroom, but still after taking the maximum possible pause in your situation.

Benefits and harms

A well-fed child, as a rule, behaves calmly when bathing. You might even fall asleep while washing, if you're lucky.

However, in this “profit” lies the other side of the coin: ideally, bathing should become an important part of the baby’s physical activity, and washing a sleeping passive toddler has zero effect in terms of motor development.

In addition, if you bathe your baby after eating, be prepared for a number of consequences:

Regurgitation . Bathing on a full stomach will almost certainly lead to profuse regurgitation directly into the bath. After this, hiccups or even an attack of colic may begin, which means that tears cannot be avoided. Therefore, we remember to moderate feedings on the eve of bathing.
Defecation . Newborns are known to go to the toilet very often and, as a rule, they do this immediately after eating. You will have to quickly change the water and somehow “entertain” the baby during the forced pause. You definitely can’t do this without the help of a second parent.

How to carry out the procedure?

As you know, before bathing, mothers are recommended to do gymnastics for their baby. So, while it is still possible to feed a child before going to the bathroom, it is strictly prohibited before gymnastics. Therefore, plan your evening well: feeding - at least half an hour (or better yet, an hour), break - exercises - feeding - carrying - bathing - feeding - sleep.

When bathing a well-fed baby, it is better to refrain from swimming in a large bathtub with a special circle around the neck. Of course, you will also have to give up diving. Your option is a gentle shower or washing the child in a baby bath.

We act as carefully as possible, trying not to “splash” the baby and avoid excessive regurgitation of food.

How to properly bathe a newborn

In order for the procedure to bring maximum benefit and comfort for the child, parents should take into account some nuances:

For bathing, it is better to use not a large adult bathtub, but a child’s one, 70 cm long. You can purchase a special anatomical bathtub, which is more convenient for use, since its plane will be located at an angle so that the baby’s head is well kept above the water;
Before use, you need to wash the bath well with baby soap and pour boiling water over it;
In order not to worry about the selected water temperature, you can purchase a water thermometer. The water temperature should be 37-38 degrees;
If there is a need to use herbal decoctions for bathing, you should find out in advance what healing properties each of them has. The decoction should be prepared in advance (an hour before bathing) and added to the bath, straining immediately before bathing;
In the first month of an infant’s life, you should not use a sponge or washcloth for bathing; it is better to take a soft cloth, a cotton swab, or lightly wash the newborn’s skin with your hand;
In the process of lowering the baby into the water, you need to hold your head and back with your left hand, and your legs and butt with your right hand;
Carefully lower the child into the water, holding it so that the head and shoulders are above the surface of the water. Rinse the baby's hands and arms, then the feet and legs.

Additional Information. After bathing, be sure to treat the navel, allowing it to dry. To do this, it is better to use 3% hydrogen peroxide, Chlorhexidine and Miramistin. Drop into the umbilical wound using a pipette. Remove the sodden crusts, but only if they separate well. There is no need to treat the navel with brilliant green. You should not cover your navel with a plaster or bandage, as this can cause the appearance of pathogens and further infection.

Bathing a newborn in a diaper

How to bathe a month old baby

How to properly bathe a one-month-old baby:

Lower the child into the water with his back down.
It is important that the baby’s head and neck lie in the palm of mom or dad, and that the shoulder blades and shoulders are in the water.
For greater convenience, you can use a slide or a hammock so that both hands are free for bathing your baby.
Using gentle movements, lather the entire body of the child, moving from the neck to the legs. Pay special attention to skin folds, neck, palms, elbow and popliteal fossae, genitals, anus.
Next, lather the newborn’s head and rinse off the soap.
At the end of bathing, pour water over the baby, the temperature of which should be one degree lower than in the bath.

Note! Until one and a half months of a child’s life, it is better not to use baby hygiene products (shampoo, foam, gel). If necessary, it is better to use baby soap, but not more than once a week.

One month old baby swims in the bath

Bathing process

How to wash a baby in a baby bath:

Position the bath so that it is comfortable for mom or dad to keep their back straight for 7-10 minutes. You can conveniently place a baby bath in a large bath using special frames. It is also convenient to use an anatomical bath, in which one tip is slightly raised. This will allow the baby's head to be well supported so that it does not fall into the water. If the bath is ordinary, you can simply place a diaper folded two or three times under the child’s head;
Prepare the water, bringing it to a temperature of 37-38 degrees. If necessary, you can add a pre-prepared decoction of medicinal herbs to it;
In the first weeks of a child’s life, it is better to bathe him not naked, but wrapped in a thin diaper - this way he will feel much more comfortable;
Immerse the baby’s body completely in the bath along with the shoulders, and carefully place the head above the surface of the water, placing it on a folded diaper;
You can leave the baby in the water for a few minutes or immediately start watering it with water from a ladle. You need to do as the baby likes and constantly monitor the comfortable water temperature;
If the baby bathes in a diaper, you need to gradually release his legs and arms and lightly wash them;
After bathing, you should rinse your child with clean water, especially if soap was used for bathing.

Additional Information. You should bathe your child every day, as this is not only an important hygienic procedure, but also gentle hardening.

Baby in a neck circle

Bath time

Evening is considered the ideal time to bathe a child. Water perfectly calms you down and sets you up for a good night's sleep. It is important for parents who choose this daily routine to create an atmosphere of peace themselves so that the baby does not become overexcited and can fall asleep peacefully. However, there are children for whom evening bathing is not suitable due to individual characteristics of the regime: then their parents should bathe it in the first half of the day, choosing the most convenient moment in order to get the maximum benefit and positive emotions from the process.

Another question that concerns many parents is when to wash the baby - before or after feeding? And even pediatricians do not have a definite answer, since the time for bathing is determined by the baby himself with his mood. If the baby is hungry and crying, taking a bath, of course, should be postponed, waiting some time after feeding (especially if the baby is bottle-fed, since formula takes longer to digest than breast milk).

What to do after swimming

Actions after swimming:

Wrap the baby in a towel that will absorb moisture well. It is better to buy a baby towel with a hood so that the baby is warm and his hair on his head dries faster.
In the first weeks, treat the navel.
It is good to blot all the folds on the baby’s body, dry the skin with gentle blotting movements, try not to rub it with a cloth.
Carry out hygiene procedures: clean the ears, treat the skin with powder or moisturizer.
Put the baby on a diaper and clothes (or swaddle him in a diaper).

Bathing a baby is a special procedure that, apart from some small hassles, will bring parents and the child a huge amount of joy and undoubted benefits, provided that the parents do everything correctly.

Bathing sequence

Before bathing your child, make sure that the bathtub is at a comfortable height for you. Then fill the bath with warm water and, if necessary, add bathing foam or herbal decoction. Check the water temperature with a thermometer or touch it with your elbow. Place a ladle of hot water near the bathtub to add to the bathtub as it cools. Gently immerse the baby in the water, leaving the head on the surface and placing a pad of folded towel or diaper under it. Water your baby with warm water, washing hands and feet alternately, using soap if necessary. The newborn also needs to wash all the folds, spaces between the fingers, and armpits. Lastly, wash your baby's hair. For greater comfort, you can bathe your child by first wrapping him in a thin diaper so that he does not feel cold. If you use the product to bathe your baby, be sure to rinse with clean, warm water. After this, pat the baby dry with a well-absorbent diaper, then wrap it in a large bath towel.

When can you bathe a newborn after the hospital?

Now almost every sensation your baby experiences is new to him. But what he is already very familiar with is the pleasant and soothing feeling of immersing his body in a warm liquid. After all, this is exactly how he spent the previous nine months!

The child’s first bath can be organized even immediately after arrival from the maternity hospital; this will not cause the baby any discomfort. And even if the umbilical cord has not fallen off, there are no contraindications for water procedures - just remember to blot it dry after bathing.

Benefits of bathing

Bathing a child in the bath is not just about caring for the child’s skin, but also strengthening the immune system. During water procedures, the baby hardens and trains his not yet perfect thermoregulation. The child learns about the world, masters a new environment, feels his body differently, and, of course, receives positive emotions together with his parents. In addition, taking a bath calms, relaxes and prepares your baby for sleep. Thus, daily bathing becomes an important stage in the development of a baby’s routine from the first days of life.

When and how to start bathing your baby in a large bathtub?

You can start bathing your child in an adult bath as soon as he learns to sit. If your baby expresses anxiety when bathing for the first time under the new rules, break the transition into two stages: bathe your baby in his bathtub for several days, placing it on the bottom of the bathtub, then remove the bathtub. For safety, you can put your baby in the bath with an inflatable ring around his neck - it will prevent his head from going under the water if he moves awkwardly.

If you decide to teach your child to swim from an early age, his acquaintance with the bath should happen earlier - as soon as the umbilical wound heals. At first, the bath will be a training place for the little swimmer, and already at 3 months you can continue training in a real pool. If your baby doesn't have practice, the innate reflex will fade by about 4 months, and he will have to relearn how to swim at a later age.

Remember hygiene and clean the bathtub every time before bathing. Do this in advance so that there is no smell of household chemicals left in the bathroom before you begin, and thoroughly rinse off any remaining cleaning product.

Baby bathing products

Modern cosmetics for bathing a child can be used from the first days of life. Baby soap and shampoo must have a special pH level that is suitable for the baby’s delicate and sensitive skin, must be hypoallergenic, and do not contain harmful fragrances. Pediatricians recommend using soap or foam for bathing very young children no more than 1-2 times a week. It is necessary to wash your child's hair with shampoo once a week. On other days, it is enough to bathe the baby in clean water. If necessary, you can add a decoction of chamomile, calendula or string to the water: this is especially true when irritation or heat rash appears on the child’s skin.

Dr. Komarovsky about bathing a newborn

Bathing for a newborn child and his parents is a whole event (especially if it is the first time after the maternity hospital). Like any very responsible business, this process raises many questions: how and when to bathe, boil water or not, whether it is possible to add herbal decoctions and how often to do this, is it dangerous to get water into the ears, and so on. The famous pediatrician Evgeny Komarovsky, in his books and articles, has repeatedly talked about the basic rules and principles of organizing water procedures for a baby.

What does modern science say?

According to medical science, your body temperature decreases after taking a shower. As it begins to cool, it has to work very hard to maintain a standard temperature to aid digestion.

As a result, the digestion process slows down as the blood that helps digestion begins to flow to other parts of the body. It can also lead to discomfort, restlessness and changes in acidity.

Peculiarities

Water procedures are beneficial for absolutely all babies from the very first days of life. In the womb, babies are in an aquatic environment, and therefore it is familiar and native to them. The little one feels at home in the water. Bathing is not only a hygienic procedure aimed at keeping the child’s skin and hair clean. Taking baths promotes physical development, contains an element of play, and therefore has a positive effect on the mental and emotional development of the baby.

Bath your baby after feeding or before feeding

Very often, young and inexperienced mothers have the same question: when to bathe a newborn, before or after feeding? Not everyone prepares thoroughly to become a mom or dad. But a child in the family is not only a great joy, but also a great responsibility. After all, now you are responsible not only for your life, but also for the life of your little miracle.

One of the very important procedures that every mother needs to be able to carry out correctly is bathing the baby.

Let's try to clarify the most important points in the process of bathing a baby, based on the recommendations of doctors.

This question baffles not only mothers of first-borns. Many women, even having a third child, sometimes perform this procedure incorrectly, which can affect the overall physical and mental condition of the newborn.

So, it is advisable to bathe a newborn, especially at 6 months of age, after two hours from the end of feeding. You can also bathe your baby just before giving him breastfeeding or formula. But there is a certain risk here.

After all, if the baby is hungry, he will begin to get nervous and capricious during bathing, and in the worst case scenario, over time he will dislike this necessary and actually pleasant procedure.

It is best for the baby to take a bath (if we are talking about bathing, and not about the usual washing of the child) before feeding and bedtime.

Such a choice of timing will ensure that bathing a newborn will not be subject to sudden whims. After the bath, the child will digest food well.

After all, the washing process takes him as much effort as it takes an adult to practice any kind of sport for an hour.

Therefore, the baby will only have two desires: to eat well and go to bed. Bathing before bed and before meals will help your child fall asleep in a sound and healthy sleep, completely relaxed. This will make life easier not only for the baby, but also for the parents.

Doctors advise feeding the baby a few minutes after bathing (about 20-30 minutes).

This is explained by the fact that during the bathing process, the child can swallow a small amount of water and regurgitate it soon, thereby freeing the stomach from the food already given to him.

If you allow a tired and hungry baby to wait a little with food, then after he receives his long-awaited feeding, the baby will fall asleep calm and satisfied for several hours.

This will allow parents to sleep together with their child and not get up so often at night.

Always try to establish a routine for your child, conduct classes with hygiene procedures at the same time. The baby will then get used to bathing faster and will not be capricious.

It is not recommended to feed the baby immediately before taking a bath, because this can lead to excretion of feces directly into the prepared water.

The child must be bathed in boiled water and only when the wound in the navel has healed (approximately 18-22 days of the baby’s life). It is recommended to boil water in advance so that it has time to cool to 37-38°C. The room in which you will bathe your baby should be warm, without drafts, so that the baby does not catch a cold.

Pour enough water into the bath so that the baby's head, ears and shoulders are above the water. Otherwise, the baby may become frightened. There is also a possibility that water will flow into the ears, mouth or nose of the newborn. This will cause him discomfort.

Before bathing, you need to prepare in advance the clothes in which you will wrap your baby after washing. Use soap and shampoo for children. Before starting the procedure, prepare a jug for dousing, a soft towel, special moisturizing baby oil, and powder.

It is also advisable to use herbs (decoction of chamomile, St. John's wort and others).

If your child's umbilical wound has not yet healed, then you need to treat it after bathing. To do this you will need hydrogen peroxide, brilliant green and a pipette.

Take peroxide with a pipette and drop 2-3 times directly into the wound. Remove any remaining liquid using a cotton pad. Then, using the same pipette, drop another drop of brilliant green into the navel.

We dress the baby only when the green stuff is dry.

In addition, after bathing it is recommended to have a soft and relaxing massage. It will allow the baby to sleep soundly.

As you care for your child and grow, you will soon notice what suits him best. After all, children have their own characteristics, and everyone cannot be held to the same standard.

Then it will be possible to slightly change the bathing process in accordance with the individual desires and characteristics of your baby. In the meantime, be patient and calm! Everything should work out for you.

You will definitely become the best mom and dad! Happiness and health to you and your baby!

Source: https://detishki.ahuman.ru/kupat-grudnichka-posle-kormlenija-ili-do-kormlenija/

Preparation

Your baby should have everything he needs for a pleasant bath. Mom and Dad need to take care of this in advance. Even during pregnancy, parents usually purchase the necessary equipment. You shouldn’t throw money away and buy a lot of unnecessary things - for example, several sets of rubber toys for playing in the water. The most necessary things, according to Komarovsky, are:

Bath. Even if you really want to immediately start practicing bathing in a large bathtub or joint water procedures, Evgeniy Olegovich advises buying an ordinary small children’s plastic bathtub and using it for the first 2-3 months of the child’s life. There are several reasons: a child is more comfortable in a small space, it is easier to fill a small bathtub with warm water, even if there is no hot water supply, and it is easier to wash and keep clean than a large bathtub, which is used not only by the baby, but by the whole family.
Water thermometer. At first, parents will need it so as not to make a mistake with the water temperature that is optimal for water procedures for a newborn. A little later, mom and dad will understand which water the child likes best and will be able to do without this device. However, the thermometer may come in handy later if the parents decide to harden the child, and Komarovsky strongly recommends doing this to everyone without exception. Now there are toy thermometers on sale (plastic giraffes, snakes and other characters). They can be great fun for your baby as he begins to play mindfully during his evening bath time.
Soap. You should buy special baby soap. However, Komarovsky does not recommend using it often. The doctor believes that it is enough to bathe the child with soap 1-2 times a week. You should not buy sponges and washcloths, since the baby’s skin is very delicate and vulnerable. Evgeny Olegovich considers the best option to soap your own hand and easily wipe the child’s skin. If you really want to lather with something, then it is better to give preference to special mittens for bathing babies. It’s time for newfangled and advertised “tearless” products to appear on the bathroom shelf a little later. In the first couple of months of life, the child does not need such gels and shampoos.
Towel. The child must have his own towel. A waffle or terry bath towel is not suitable for a baby. You need to choose a very soft product of a large size so that the baby can be wrapped in it from head to toe. Komarovsky draws attention to textile dyes, which can be quite allergenic for a baby’s delicate skin. It is better to give preference to white or light-colored towels made from natural fabrics (without dyes at all).
Slide or hammock. This is a convenient device for bathing when you don’t have an extra pair of hands. If there is no help and is not in sight, bathing the baby using a plastic slide or a hanging hammock that is attached to the edges of the baby bathtub will not be difficult.

Preparing for a swim

Most parents prefer to wash their newborn baby in a plastic baby bathtub with a small amount of water in it. The bathtub must first be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected by dousing it with boiling water. For the first baths of a newborn, it is recommended to use cooled boiled water, or add a weak solution of potassium permanganate to the tap water.

The optimal temperature to start swimming is 33-34 degrees. If you did not have time to acquire a water thermometer, you can make sure that the water is at the right temperature by dipping your elbow into the bath.

The air temperature in the room should also be comfortable: you need to make sure that there are no drafts in the room, but you shouldn’t close all the doors either, so that later, when leaving the stuffy bath, you don’t create sudden temperature changes for the baby.

Prepare in advance a ladle of warm water to rinse your baby, a diaper and a large towel to wrap your baby after bathing. Before washing your baby, have clean clothes, cotton swabs, a clean diaper and baby skin care products ready.

Should I bathe with an unhealed umbilical wound?

This question comes up quite often. Some pediatricians allow bathing even with a clothespin on the navel, while others recommend refraining from taking water procedures until the umbilical cord dries. Evgeny Komarovsky says that the choice is, of course, up to the parents. However, if the child is kept in acceptable living conditions, does not sweat, does not overheat, and does not get dirty, then nothing bad will happen to him if the baby does not bathe for a week or two. It doesn't bother him at all. If anyone is worried, it’s only mom and dad, but in this case there are wet baby sanitary wipes that can be used to wipe problem areas and folds at any time.

However, if you still decide to bathe, then until the umbilical wound heals, the doctor advises doing this exclusively with boiled water.

For a long time, doctors advised bathing in water with a solution of potassium permanganate. However, you need to be extremely careful here; undissolved grains of potassium permanganate can cause serious burns on the delicate skin and mucous membranes of the baby. The solution should be pale pink and should be added to the water immediately before bathing. Komarovsky does not recommend potassium permanganate at all, since in small doses it is useless, and in large doses it is dangerous. It is better to replace it with infusion of succession.

Reasons for the ban on swimming in a pool or open water after eating

There are different opinions about the dangers of swimming after eating food:

There is a movement of blood from the brain to the stomach. The food processing process is starting, in which a large volume of blood is directed specifically to the stomach area. At the same time, blood pressure in other areas remains low, and the person feels relaxed. As a result, an attack of dizziness may develop, which is why there is a danger of fainting while swimming. As a result, a person may drown.
Blood leaves the limbs, which is fraught with convulsions and spasms. As a result, a person feels less confident in the water.
Blood circulation is activated during physical activity. Therefore, the blood is not directed to the stomach, but spreads through the muscle tissue. This signals disturbances in the process of food processing through the appearance of tingling and spasms. Sometimes the likelihood of vomiting increases.
Due to excessive exposure to fluid in the body, including the peritoneal area, food is not digested properly, but seems to be forced out of the stomach.

It’s interesting that doctors cannot fully answer the question of why you can’t bathe or swim after eating.