Hygiene of a newborn girl, advice from Dr. Komarovsky: what to do and how to treat, reasons, what to take

Good afternoon, many will be interested in understanding their health and their loved ones, and I will tell you my experience, and we will talk about How to wash a newborn boy, a girl a few months old, 2-5 years old. Most likely, some details may differ, as was the case with you. Please note that you should always consult with highly specialized specialists and not self-medicate. Naturally, you can quickly find the answer to the simplest questions and diagnose yourself. Write your questions/suggestions in the comments, and together we will improve and supplement the quality of the material provided.

Why is this so important

The health of a woman’s reproductive system is directly related to intimate hygiene. You should start from birth, while still in the maternity hospital. After all, immediately after birth, girls’ hymen, which protects the vagina, is not fully formed, and the beneficial microflora has not yet had time to populate. Therefore, the remains of feces, inappropriate cosmetics and other factors can cause damage and disease to the girl’s genital organs. Parents need to learn how to properly care for the intimate parts of their newborn daughter.

Selection of hygiene and cosmetic products

It is very important to choose the right hygiene and cosmetic products for washing and caring for the girl’s delicate genitals. The sexual health of the baby depends on the composition of these products:

Wet wipes. This is, of course, a real lifesaver for moms when there is no way to wash the baby. Select the one marked “from 0”. Make sure that the composition does not contain alcohol. Try to purchase wipes with the least amount of fragrance in the impregnation - these chemicals can provoke an allergic reaction in a child.

Soap products. Today, household chemicals offer a wide range of all kinds of children's shampoos, soaps, intimate hygiene gels and foams “from head to toe.” It is important to choose a product without parabens and fragrances - they provoke irritation and allergies on the delicate skin of a newborn. Buy with the mark “from 0”. But remember, even a specialized product for girls’ intimate hygiene cannot be used more than three times a week.

Diaper cream. For infants, creams and ointments with bepanthenol are often chosen. It is recommended to select a cream that can be used daily. It is important to pay attention whether it is a cream or an ointment. The cream is an emulsion structure that is quickly absorbed into the skin. The ointment is made on the basis of fats. It takes longer to absorb, but its use is justified in case of diaper rash - the fatty layer creates additional protection from rubbing the damaged area of skin on the diaper.
Baby oils. If the girl’s skin is healthy, this is the best option. Oils create a protective layer on the skin, saturate it, preventing diaper rash.
Powders. For newborns they can be used, but wisely. No matter how safe the composition of the powder, it will still accumulate in the delicate folds of the labia and the girl’s crack. You will have to additionally remove its remnants with a cotton pad, which must be moistened with boiled water.

In addition to modern care products, it is advisable to use herbal decoctions to wash and bathe a girl:

a decoction of chamomile or oak bark soothes the skin;
A decoction of the string is an excellent antiseptic and helps with various irritations and redness.

When using various cosmetics, it is important to remember certain rules:

don’t get carried away with wet wipes, it’s much better to wash the girl;
do not use butter and powder at the same time - the latter will curl into lumps and rub against the crumbs;
When using a baby cleanser, choose the same one - the skin quickly adapts to it, and any other can cause a negative reaction in the form of redness and irritation;
To care for a newborn girl, experts recommend using only diaper cream - it is quickly absorbed, prevents chafing and diaper rash, and does not cause discomfort to the girl.

Difficulties of the first days

A newborn baby has its own characteristics. Some phenomena may cause caution on the part of parents. Newborn girls may have vaginal discharge associated with the restructuring of the child’s body after intrauterine development, its adaptation to the new environment and an excess of maternal hormones.

White, odorless discharge is normal. This is the original lubricant - smegma. There is no need to try to completely remove this white coating right away. It serves as protection for the vaginal mucosa. Gradually, when rubbed, it rolls up and is removed.

Excess creams and powders must be removed using a cotton swab soaked in oil. But purulent discharge and redness of the labia require the attention of a doctor. This is most likely a sign of infection.

When performing hygiene procedures, it is important to be careful and not overdo it. After all, it is very easy to injure the delicate skin and mucous membranes of a newborn.

Dr. Komarovsky about newborns: development by month

In anticipation of the birth of a child, loving mothers and fathers try to prepare well and find out all the important issues in this case. Caring for a newborn is a complex and incredibly fascinating topic. Dr. Komarovsky dedicated many of his programs to her. The future health and well-being of the child depends on how correct the development is in the first months of life. Therefore, it is necessary to accurately determine what development is considered normal.

Dr. Komarovsky talked a lot about newborns, and he especially carefully described the development month by month for parents. As the pediatrician himself says, for a newborn the main activities in the first months are sleep and nutrition. Until three or four months, the newborn does not need anything else. Therefore, the responsibility falls on parents to ensure the correct daily routine. The child will learn what time he eats and sleeps. Then development will be normal and productive.

However, in the first months it is important to monitor certain behavioral characteristics of the newborn and his physical condition. The most characteristic manifestations in this case include regurgitation, abdominal cramps and constipation. Proper nutrition and sufficient physical activity can protect against such manifestations. But what is the essence of competent care? To do this, it is necessary to consider the monthly development described by Dr. Komarovsky. Conventionally, we can distinguish two main periods in the development of a newborn: the first and second half of the year of life.

Komarovsky: development of a newborn in the first six months

First month. At this stage, Dr. Komarovsky asks you to pay attention to the formation of reflexes. Immediately after birth, a newborn should have a sucking and grasping reflex, push off from the support placed on the legs and try to crawl.
Second month. At this age, a newborn can remain active during the day for 15 minutes per hour. Movements become less sharp, the gaze is fixed on objects. Komarovsky says that the newborn begins to pull objects into his mouth and tries to imitate sounds from the outside.
Third month. Further development involves sleeping three times a day, the appearance of signs of a smile, and recognition of parents. A characteristic “humming” appears and the head turns towards the sound source.
Fourth month. The newborn becomes more resilient, plays for 2 hours at a time, and turns over without assistance. Dr. Komarovsky talks about developing the ability to distinguish oneself from the world around us.
Fifth month. Particularly important in development. By this point, the newborn should be able to turn from stomach to back, recognize all close relatives, control facial expressions, grab and pull toys.
Sixth month. By this period, the newborn acquires the ability to sit, respond to his own name, and voice the simplest syllables. If all this is observed, says Dr. Komarovsky, the development of the newborn month by month can be considered successful.

Rules of intimate hygiene

When performing hygienic procedures for caring for a newborn girl, certain rules should be followed.

Perform all procedures with clean hands
Washing with water is necessary after defecation.

If there is no feces in the diaper, then simply wipe the baby with a damp cloth.

Use warm, but not hot, water to rinse

It is better to use running water.

When washing under the tap, first adjust the water and then take the child.
Movements should be directed from the pubis to the perineum

And not the other way around, so that feces do not get into the vagina.

After washing, gently dry the baby's skin with a clean soft cloth (diaper).

There is no need to rub the baby's skin, just blot it.

Examine the labia, make sure they are well washed

If necessary, gently moisten a cotton pad with warm water to remove any missed stains.

After washing and drying, apply protective cream or oil to the skin and put on a diaper.
It is mandatory to carry out hygiene procedures in the morning and evening and after bowel movements.
Change the diaper after every baby has a bowel movement

If there is no feces, then every three hours.

Give your child air baths more often
Do not overuse cosmetics – powders, creams, oils

Use them as needed.

How many times a day should I wash my newborn?

Hygiene procedures under clean running water must be performed every time after the girl wets herself, if she is not wearing a disposable diaper. A high-quality, highly absorbent diaper protects the skin from excess moisture, so washing can only be done when changing it. However, the child should not be in one diaper for more than 2-3 hours. If the baby poops, you need to change the diaper and wash her immediately, otherwise pathogenic bacteria will enter the inside of the vagina and cause inflammation.

Problems in the intimate area do not always occur due to insufficient hygiene. Some mothers, fearing infection, on the contrary, are overly zealous in caring for the baby, trying to thoroughly wash every fold of skin with soap. In this case, the soap solution gets on the vaginal mucosa, causing drying and irritation. During the process of regeneration of the resulting microcracks, the labia minora and majora begin to grow together. This is how synechiae forms - sticking together of the labia. This is also due to an insufficient amount of the hormone estrogen, which does not increase immediately, but with the girl’s age. With minor adhesions and the absence of other symptoms, synechiae go away on their own with age. In more serious cases, treatment with hormonal creams is prescribed. Very rarely, surgical dissection of fused tissue may be indicated.

It is believed that synechia does not occur during the newborn period, since the mother’s hormones are still present in the girl’s body after birth. In any case, there is no need to be overzealous with the use of cosmetics, so as not to cause irritation of the mucous membrane and its inflammation.

Important ! Using soap too often in the intimate area can lead to the development of synechiae in girls.

Thus, many doctors do not recommend using soap when washing your face more than once a day. Dr. Komarovsky advises doing this no more than 2-3 times a week.

As for washing with clean running water, the opinion is unanimous: it is advisable to do this after each urination and always after defecation.

How to wash correctly - algorithm of actions

It is better to wash the girl with running water. How to perform this procedure correctly:

Adjust the water pressure and temperature;
Place your baby on one arm, tummy up

The baby's head lies on the elbow, the back is on the arm, the butt is supported by the hand.

Bring it to the tap

With your free hand, gently pour water and perform movements from the pubis to the butt.

Do not use washcloths or other auxiliary devices; it is best to wash by hand so as not to injure the delicate skin of the baby
When performing the procedure not under the tap, you can simply pour water on the baby’s genitals, observing the direction

Pre-lay down an absorbent waterproof diaper or place a bowl.

Washing a newborn: basic principles

Every mother needs to clearly know the rules of hygiene procedures. If nurses cared for the baby in the maternity hospital, after discharge the woman will have to do everything on her own. Pediatric gynecologists and pediatricians give several important recommendations on this issue, and it is worth listening to them.

At first, the girl is washed with boiled water; after two weeks, she is allowed to use regular tap water.
It is important to choose the right water temperature – it should not be too hot or too cold, the optimal temperature is 36–37 degrees.
You cannot wash the girl in “stagnant” water, for example, in a basin; the procedure must be carried out under a running stream.
You should not use a washcloth to wash the girl - there is a possibility of injuring the baby’s delicate skin with this accessory.
You should not use foams, gels, or soaps too often to care for your baby’s genitals, no matter how delicate and safe these products may seem at first glance. They are allowed to be used 2-3 times a week and when heavily soiled, but no more.
You cannot use regular alkaline soap; you must choose special hygiene products intended for newborns.
During washing, you must be careful to ensure that detergent does not get into the vagina.
In some cases, you can use wet wipes, but they should not contain antiseptics or alcohol.
After washing, it is advisable to leave the girl without a diaper for a few minutes, the skin should “breathe”, otherwise irritation and diaper rash will appear.
To care for a newborn, you must have an individual baby towel and soap.
A baby towel should be soft, made of natural fabric and absorb moisture well.

Step-by-step instruction

Before proceeding directly to the hygiene procedure itself, it is important to prepare the necessary supplies:

clean diaper;
cotton pads, napkins/paper towel;
diaper;
towel;
oil, powder, cream (but they are not always required).

When everything is ready, you can move on to the process of washing the baby.

Main stages of the procedure

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap.
Place the baby on the changing table and remove the diaper.
Using a cotton swab or napkin soaked in water, we remove the remaining feces from the skin, making sure that the feces do not end up between the labia (this is completely unacceptable), and movements should be made in the direction from the genitals to the child’s bottom.
Having adjusted the water stream from the tap, we place the newborn on our arm so that the baby’s head is in the elbow bend, and the back is located along the arm; with the fingers of the same hand we securely fix the baby’s thigh so that she does not slip out of her hands.
With your free hand, we direct the stream of water from the tap from front to back to prevent bacteria and germs from entering the baby’s vagina from the anus.
First, we wash the child’s perineum and genitals, and at the end of the procedure, the anus.
Having wrapped the baby in a thick diaper, we again place her on the changing table and dry the girl’s private parts with a towel, do not rub the skin, movements should be wet.
We are not in a hurry to put on the diaper again, let the child lie for a while without it.
If a child has diaper rash or irritation on his body, we treat these areas with special baby oil, cream or powder, then put on a diaper.

Every mother may find herself in a situation where there is no way to wash her child under the tap. There is no need to refuse the hygiene procedure; it can be performed directly on the changing table.

We wash the baby as follows:

pour warm water into a ladle or bowl;
undress and place the child on his back;
moisten a cotton ball or gauze napkin in water, squeeze lightly, removing excess liquid;
we wash the perineal area in the center, moving from the labia to the baby’s anus;
changing the napkin or cotton swab, wash the baby’s side folds;
With a new napkin, lifting the baby a little by the legs, we wash the buttock folds and the anal area;
We remove the remaining moisture from the child’s skin by blotting it with a soft towel or gauze napkins.

How often to wash your baby

Intimate hygiene of a newborn girl should be regular. But a mother’s excessive scrupulousness in such a matter and an excessive desire for cleanliness can, on the contrary, play a cruel joke. The mucous membranes of the genital organs contain beneficial bacteria; if they are washed away with diligence and even several times a day, the vagina will be unprotected from the penetration of pathogenic microflora into it. And if hygiene products get inside, it leads to vaginitis, inflammation and irritation.

Water procedures should be carried out in the evening before going to bed, as well as every time after defecation. But we change the diaper regularly throughout the day - every 2-3 hours.

We use soap to wash the anus area, and to clean the labia area, clean warm tap water is enough.

Young mothers need to clearly know how to wash a newborn girl according to all the rules. Delicate and regular care of a baby’s intimate parts is the key to her female health in adulthood. By teaching your baby hygiene from the very first days of life, you will help her avoid many problems.

How often to perform procedures

Washing the baby too often, for example, after each urination, is not required. On the contrary, it can be harmful, because at the same time the beneficial flora of the vagina is washed away. How often should this procedure be performed? A newborn girl should be washed after each bowel movement. Sometimes in the first weeks this can be 10 times a day. Later, when the child’s stool returns to normal and becomes 1-2 times a day or every other day, the washing procedure is carried out at least twice a day.

Video of the process of washing a boy and a girl

Dr. Komarovsky's advice on caring for the genitals

Dr. Komarovsky, whose opinion on children's health and the peculiarities of caring for babies is one of the most authoritative for modern parents, is sure that.

If a newborn boy does not have external manifestations of pathological processes, it is enough to simply wash him daily with soapy water, then rinse thoroughly and dry. It is not recommended to mechanically violate the integrity of the upper flesh of the male genital organ, or to apply preventive lotions or steaming.
Little girls can be washed with soap no more than once a day under running water, the temperature of which should vary from 34 to 37 degrees Celsius. As hygiene products for a newborn, the pediatrician recommends choosing the simplest and cheapest ones, with a minimum number of components in the composition.

Properly washing a girl is necessary both to prevent her from having health problems in the future, and for the correct adaptation of the child’s body to life outside the mother’s womb.

Among the large number of hygiene products for children and recommendations for caring for a little person, it is advisable for parents to choose those that will be approved by a trusted pediatrician who monitors the health of the newborn.

Water

Some doctors recommend using boiled water when bathing and washing newborns. However, the famous pediatrician Evgeniy Olegovich Komarovsky says that this is not necessary. It is perfectly acceptable to use regular tap water. Thus, parents must decide for themselves what is convenient for them.

For example, in the first days of a baby’s life, you can use boiled water to avoid exposure to chlorine on the baby’s delicate skin, and later tap water. You can immediately wash your child under the tap.

Join the Komarovsky newborn care group

Komarovsky about caring for a newborn baby

The birth of a child is an absolute miracle of nature, which loving parents always look forward to. As a rule, during pregnancy, each of them tries to read as much literature as possible regarding the care and upbringing of a newborn. And since it concerns the most precious thing in this life, a child, then the study of all issues must be approached responsibly and scrupulously.

Where to begin

And you need to start with arranging the children's room and sleeping area. According to Dr. Komarovsky, a newborn baby needs a bright, well-ventilated room. Of course, we are not talking about constantly opening the windows in the room when the baby is sleeping there. Even in the warm season, the child should be taken out of the room while airing. And ventilation must be arranged every time before going to bed.

The necessary furniture in the nursery should include a bed and a changing table. Naturally, furniture must meet all safety requirements and be environmentally friendly. You should choose a special crib mattress for newborns. As a filler in a pillow, mattress and blanket, avoid the presence of down and feathers, which can cause allergies in a child. Bedding should also be made from natural fabrics without poisonous bright colors.

Komarovsky video: Your newborn

BE SURE TO WATCH THIS VIDEO IN FULL.

Organization of a regimen for a newborn

As Dr. Komarovsky says, a newborn first only eats and sleeps.

Read also: bacteria in a child’s urine

These are the two most important things in his life for the next few months. It was said above how the baby’s sleeping place should be organized, as for food. you need to know some features.

The power supply will be established gradually. Over time, a young mother will learn to understand her baby, how often and how much he prefers to eat. You should know that the human digestive system is finally formed only after birth. In this regard, colic often occurs in newborns. Komarovsky talks about this in detail in his book.

Komarovsky also mentions regurgitation in newborns. This feature of children's digestion should also not be forgotten.

It is also necessary to monitor the child's bowel movements. If they are suspicious or, for example, constipation occurs in newborns. Komarovsky insists on mandatory contact with a pediatrician.

Depending on the diet, you should build a schedule for other activities for the child: sleep, walks, classes, bathing.

Bathing and other procedures

Bathing a newborn. Komarovsky recommends that it should be done every day. But you can only use soap and shampoo once a week. At other times, it is enough to take a bath with herbal infusion. The water temperature should be 36-37 degrees. Gradually it can be lowered in order to harden the child. For this purpose, it is recommended to pour cooler water over the baby’s feet after bathing. Then you need to wipe the child’s eyes with cotton pads and ears with cotton swabs. If diaper rash appears, it is necessary to treat it with a special cream.

It is very useful to go swimming with your child. This has a good effect on his physical development and strengthens the immune system.

Komarovsky video: Bathing babies

BE SURE TO WATCH THIS VIDEO IN FULL.

As Dr. Komarovsky is sure, caring for a newborn is impossible without walks in the fresh air. Walks should be daily and twice a day. If the weather is not at all favorable, then you can get by on the balcony or loggia. Naturally, you need to walk with your child away from industrial enterprises and highways, and also avoid very crowded places (market, supermarket).

Massage for newborns is of great importance, as Dr. Komarovsky says. It must be done daily. Of course, it does not consist of intense exercises, but rather gentle stroking of the baby’s body.

You can find out more information by watching a video starring the famous pediatrician. Type the phrase “Komarovsky video of newborns” into the search bar, watch the video and remember the recommendations of an experienced pediatrician.

Komarovsky interview: Newborn

Hygiene procedures without water

If you need to clean the skin, but there is no water, you can use special wet wipes or a clean soft cloth moistened with water. It is necessary to remove the girl’s diaper, wipe her genitals from top to bottom, the folds between her legs, and then her bottom, each time taking a clean napkin as it gets dirty, and put on a clean diaper.

Do not overuse wet wipes. Their frequent use can negatively affect the condition of the child's skin. Water hygiene procedures should not be replaced by wiping with napkins unless necessary.

What products are included in a girl’s intimate hygiene arsenal?

What do you need to prepare before you start washing your newborn girl?

Water (in the absence of running water) at body temperature, i.e. 37-38°C.
Wet wipes for newborns.
Baby soap or gel for washing the perianal area, and, if necessary, the perineum.
Diaper product (cream for dryness, powder for diaper rash).
Diaper.
A diaper for wiping.
A diaper for changing clothes.

Both diapers must be laid out in advance, so as not to waste time on this later, holding the newborn in one arm.

Soap and special products or decoctions

It is not recommended to use soap frequently when washing a girl. After all, even baby soap dries out the skin greatly. Therefore, it is used only in cases of severe contamination after defecation or when bathing the baby.

Washing with herbal infusions or a solution of potassium permanganate should also not be used just like that. They kill not only pathogenic microbes, but also beneficial vaginal microflora. Only sometimes, if indicated, can you use decoctions of the following herbs for washing: oak bark (fights skin rash), chamomile (anti-inflammatory, sedative), string (relieves rashes, promotes skin regeneration).

However, they can be used rarely when really necessary.

How to wash a newborn

The process of washing a newborn baby can be divided into two phases - before and after the navel heals. The first bathing procedures are slightly complicated by the presence of an umbilical wound. Later, after the umbilical remnant has healed and fallen off, it will be possible to wash the child with complete immersion in water, but first you need to be very careful. The general rules for washing your baby are as follows:

The presence of a small baby bath, pre-rinsed with special baby products and washed well.
The water temperature should be 37-38°C, the room temperature 25-26°C.
It is not necessary to boil the water.
If possible, in the first 2-3 days you can add a few crystals of potassium permanganate - potassium permanganate will perfectly disinfect water.
You can add herbal decoctions to the water. Chamomile, string, oak bark, etc. are best suited.
The bath should be two-thirds filled with water.
First the legs are immersed, and then the whole baby to the middle of the chest.
Using your hand, carefully pour water over the baby, stopping at the folds.
The total bathing time for newborns in the first month is 5-10 minutes.
At the end of the bathing procedure, the child is blotted with a previously prepared delicate film.
For the first six months, it is advisable to bathe your baby daily.
After six months, you can switch to swimming every other day.

Using diapers

Girls' hygiene is directly related to the use of diapers. There is an opinion that the use of disposable diapers is harmful to health. However, if you follow the rules when using them, they will not cause any harm.

Change the diaper in a timely manner, especially after bowel movements;
Wash your baby correctly

Carefully remove feces from the genitals when changing a diaper;

Arrange air baths, leaving the child in the air for several minutes without a diaper;
Buy quality diapers

To avoid making a mistake in your choice, see our rating of the best diapers for newborns.

Washing a month old baby girl

The general hygiene rules for girls under 1 month of age were described above, but I would like to mention some more important nuances:

wash the baby every time you change the diaper;
Do not use any synthetic creams or powders. They will only be needed for diaper rash; a healthy baby should not avoid these products and wet wipes either - they contain fragrances that can cause an allergic reaction on the baby’s delicate skin;
When bathing, use only baby soap. Products for adults act quite aggressively on the baby’s skin; also keep an eye on the mammary glands of a one-month-old girl, since due to the increased amount of estrogen in the mother, the baby may release blood or colostrum from the papillae, and the breasts may swell. Gently rinse the girl's breasts with each wash.

About the fusion of the labia

Often, girls in infancy may experience such a problem as synechia - fusion of the labia minora. Many people think that this is due to insufficient genital hygiene. However, it is not. Synechia occurs due to insufficient levels of the hormone estrogen in the body. In this case, the labia minora seem to stick together - they grow together.

If such a problem arises, then under no circumstances should you separate the labia yourself. The baby could be injured. It is best to consult a doctor.

Treatment is usually started if the growth is so large that it interferes with urination. In other cases, separation treatment is usually not required. During treatment, a special hormonal ointment is used, which gradually eliminates the accretion.

Surgical separation is carried out only as a last resort if treatment with ointment has not brought results. However, there is a high probability of re-fusion if the child is under 3 years old. This problem occurs up to 3-5 years, and then goes away on its own.

In any case, it is better to consult a pediatric gynecologist. To prevent synechiae during hygiene procedures, it is necessary to periodically part the labia minora and gently wipe them. You can lubricate your lips with special oil.

Hygiene of a newborn girl and underwear

Daily water procedures, treatment with creams and other components of a girl’s hygiene are familiar to almost every mother. But, unfortunately, not all women are responsible when choosing underwear for their baby. The growing expectant mother should grow up healthy. Therefore, it would be a good idea to pay attention to the quality of linen and diapers. Under no circumstances should they cause irritation to the baby or put pressure on the vagina. To do this, you need to follow only two rules: buy clothes made from natural fabrics (cotton, linen) and accurately calculate the size.

To protect your child from various types of infections, you need to change your underwear daily. It should only be washed with baby powder and rinsed thoroughly. Don't neglect ironing. It is necessary to iron not only the T-shirts and panties of the little princess, but also the bed linen, since the baby spends quite a lot of time in bed.

All experts, including Dr. Komarovsky, argue that it is necessary to accustom a child to hygiene from the first days of life. In this way, the girl will get used to doing personal hygiene in the future, and procedures such as brushing her teeth, washing and washing up will not become a burdensome task for her, but a completely natural and necessary activity. The hygiene of girls at an early age depends entirely on the mother, and the future of an adult girl depends on her efforts!

Advice for parents - what to pay attention to

Immediately after birth, a newborn girl may experience the following features due to abnormal hormonal levels:

Bloody vaginal discharge;
Swelling of the labia;

These phenomena disappear with age as the child gets rid of maternal hormones. Therefore, you should not use any means to eliminate them. However, if the baby has purulent discharge with an unpleasant odor, redness, or a rash in the perineum and genital area, then you should consult a doctor. Compliance with all the rules of intimate hygiene from birth will help the girl become a healthy woman and a happy mother in the future.

Why is regular soap bad?

By “ordinary” soap we mean toilet soap - the one that you, adults, use every day. It, in addition to all sorts of plasticizers, synthetic surfactants, foaming agents and mineral oils, includes dyes, antiseptics and various fragrances. All these components give the soap you like a pleasant smell and appearance, provide rapid foaming, and have a slight antibacterial effect. But you try to wash only rough skin with it, and for intimate hygiene you stock up on special products. What did your little one do to deserve a disdainful attitude? Regular soap can do her great harm!

So, if we are talking about the general hygiene of a newborn, then allergy symptoms of varying severity may appear to dyes and fragrances. An antiseptic will gradually lead to a microbial imbalance on the skin, because it does not selectively destroy microflora. As a result, the “correct” microorganisms that protect the skin from surrounding pathogenic bacteria will also die.
As for the intimate hygiene of a newborn girl, then:

contact of adult soap components with the mucous membranes of the labia majora and minora will definitely cause irritation, even leading to the formation of erosions;
its alkaline environment will lead to an acid-base imbalance in the area of the vaginal vestibule and cause vulvovaginitis;
the antiseptic will cause severe dysbiosis with subsequent thrush.

What is the difference between baby soap

We are now talking about soap intended for newborn children. It comes in two forms: liquid and solid. The term “baby soap” means hypoallergenic soap, without dyes, without fragrances and without antiseptics. Additionally, if desired, the manufacturer can add moisturizing cream, medicinal herbal extracts, and additives from natural healing vegetable oils. In addition, the acidity of baby soap is 7-8 units, i.e. it is neutral or slightly alkaline.

Now let's discuss which soap is better: liquid or solid.

Liquid. Convenient to use, foams quickly, the dispenser allows you to use it sparingly. By the way, the dispenser is fixed in the closed position and the bottle with the product can be safely put in your bag if you have a trip ahead (for example, to visit your grandmother). From the range available on the market, you should choose soap without synthetic components. It is several times more expensive than the most common ones, but your newborn girl is worth it. Relatively cheap liquid products contain synthetics, so you should carefully monitor the condition of your skin after each use.
Solid. After unpacking, it remains open, capable of soaking in a soap dish; before washing, they need to first soap their hand, which somewhat lengthens the hygiene procedure and makes it a little uncomfortable. But! Solid baby soap consists almost exclusively of natural ingredients, represented by saponified plant and animal fats with alkali. Additional synthetics are present in small quantities, they are approved for use by newborn children, and serve to improve quality.

The role of diapers in girls' hygiene

Most pediatricians these days are sincerely grateful for the appearance of diapers on the Russian market. It would seem like such an insignificant wardrobe detail! But as in the case of hip dysplasia, diapers play a significant positive role in matters of intimate hygiene for girls.

The fact is that the diaper prevents liquid feces from entering the vagina of a newborn girl. Namely, this is the main cause of severe infectious diseases in infant girls.

As soon as diapers “came into fashion,” the statistics on infectious diseases of the genital organs in girls under one year of age decreased several times.

In other words, let your baby wear a diaper, in the literal sense of the word, to her health! And the grandmother, who always grumbles that her granddaughter “has a butt in this armor,” you don’t have to convince, but you shouldn’t rely on her outdated knowledge in this matter either.

Does proper hygiene help a girl avoid synechiae?

Let us explain: labia synechiae is a fairly common physiological phenomenon (remember: this is not a disease!), the main feature of which is the sticking together of the labia minora in infant girls.

The fact is that the work of the mucous membranes of the genital organs is determined by the amount of sex hormones in the blood. Little girls aged 6 months to about two years have very little female sex hormones (estrogens). This is why the mucous membranes of the genital organs often stick together (and in very rare cases can even grow together).

Synechia is never observed in babies in the first six months of life, because each girl receives a certain supply of estrogen at the time of birth - a kind of parting gift from the mother. After 2-3 years, the amount of estrogen in a girl’s body gradually begins to increase, reaching its first peak at the initial stage of puberty (about 7-9 years).

The most common age for synechia to occur in girls is from 10 months to two years.

According to the observations of Dr. O. E. Komarovsky: official statistics in our country indicate 1.5-3% of girls who have synechiae between the ages of 6 months and 3 years. However, the professional practical experience of pediatricians states that in some regions of Russia such a phenomenon as synechiae is observed in 30-40% of girls of this age.

What to wear on sensitive areas?

Requirements for clothing in the genital area of girls are the strictest.

Clothes and underwear should not be allowed to be tight, or even worse, to squeeze the genital area.
Materials are only natural, the best being 100% natural cotton.
It is advisable that the panties that the girl wears are white (this is especially true for very tiny girls, who are gradually weaned off wearing diapers and trained to use a potty and wear underwear). White means no dyes. The fact is that the dyes used in the production of fabrics are very mysterious in nature. By themselves, they can be completely harmless, but when mixed with human sweat, they can suddenly turn into serious allergens. There is no reason to take risks - it is wiser at first to simply use linen without dyes.