Modern mothers in everyday life are surrounded by such useful things as, for example, a circle around the neck for bathing newborns . And literally after the first regular bath, the following questions become relevant:
- At what age can it be used?
- How to dress correctly?
- How to remove the circle when you bathe your child alone?
- Is swimming in a circle beneficial or harmful?
- Which one to choose and which one is better?
The questions, as you can see for yourself, are pressing and relevant; I propose answering them in order.
Up to what age can it be used?
Manufacturers claim that even newborns can use the circle for bathing.
However, practice suggests that it would be best to start using this unit at least from 1 month of age. The optimal age for an infant is 5 to 7 weeks. However, even in adulthood, a child can use this circle. It is worn by children both one and two years old. This greatly simplifies bathing a child in a pool, bathtub, and is especially helpful in large open bodies of water, when parents do not have the opportunity to constantly hold the child in their arms.
Children perceive swimming in cereals more calmly
The bathing circle is very easy to use. Just put the circle on the child, secure it and lower the baby into the water. Before doing this, make sure that the circle is put on correctly and that nothing hinders the movement of the little one.
The detailed instructions indicate some nuances:
- Prepare the bath. Fill the bath with a sufficient level of water at a comfortable temperature.
- Put the circle on your baby. How to do this is described in the next part of the article.
- Lower the baby and the circle smoothly into the water.
- Holding your baby's hand, slowly move your baby in the water from one end of the tub to the other.
- As soon as you understand that the child has mastered it, give him the opportunity to swim on his own.
- If the child begins to be capricious, yawn and ask to be held, then it’s time to wash him.
- Before the baby is too tired, perform all necessary hygiene procedures.
- Release the child from the circle and dry with a towel.
After this procedure, your child will sleep soundly
A circle for bathing babies usually consists of several chambers. Moreover, one of them is inside the other. This structure allows you to provide the baby with maximum comfort and safety. If the outer camera is damaged, the inner one will operate as protection.
The device is fixed on the neck. Special fasteners are provided for this. There is a recess for the chin, which provides comfort for the baby. The design of such devices is very diverse. They can be painted in bright or pastel colors. In this case, the part that should be in the water is usually transparent.
Experts say that you can bathe your baby using the accessory in question from 1-2 months after birth. In this case, the umbilical wound should be healed. It is believed that even if the wound has healed before the toddler reaches a month, you can safely introduce him to water and a bathing circle. During the procedure, do not try to immediately completely immerse your child in water.
Having figured out from how many months the device is allowed, we will find out up to what age it can be used. The swim collar can be used for children under two years of age. You can take the device with you to the pool, on a pen or to the sea. This device will ensure the safety of your baby. Despite this, do not leave your child alone for a second.
Babies need to wear a children's swim ring correctly. The child needs to put on the accessory before he gets into the water. It is strictly forbidden to do this in the bathroom.
Each manufacturer includes instructions for use with their device. They are as follows:
- Inflate the circle and carefully check it for damage. This can be done by placing it in water for a minute. If there are no air bubbles, then it is intact.
- The device should be washed with warm water and soap and dried well.
- To put on the collar, you need to lay the baby on his stomach and carefully fasten the device.
- Mom must make sure that the little one’s chin is in the recess specially designed for this.
Before immersing your baby in water, you should assess his level of comfort. If the baby is cheerful, not capricious, or bending over, it’s quite possible to start swimming. Using the accessory is not difficult; one person can do it by placing the newborn on his lap. In this case, water procedures can be carried out both in a small and in a large bath.
Using the slide
A special device will free up an adult’s hands, which is very convenient for gently lathering the baby’s entire body. How to bathe a child in a bathroom with or without a slide? If the child lies comfortably on a special device, an adult can calmly wash all parts of the body.
On the hill
Pros of using a slide:
- no need to constantly support the baby's head;
- the adult's hands are free;
- An adult’s back does not get tired from tension, there is no need to rush into bathing;
- Can be done by one adult.
There are also disadvantages. The child does not have as much freedom of movement, so if nothing bothers him, you can do without a slide. Just in case, secure your head with a circle collar and go on a long voyage.
Newborns in the bathtub quickly get used to the extra space. The choice of parents is whether to accustom their baby to adult swimming or not. The listing of all the advantages and features of swimming is advisory in nature.
Allergy test
Before the first bath, make sure that your baby is not allergic to the string. Most parents know how to do this. But let me remind you once again that this information will not be superfluous.
You can check the skin for sensitivity using a test - soak a cotton pad in the prepared decoction or infusion, and apply it to your baby’s skin on the wrist or in the area of the elbow. If after half an hour or an hour the treated area of skin remains unchanged (no redness, rash), then you can safely proceed to water procedures.
At what age is it legal to use a swimming ring?
Most manufacturers indicate on the packaging that the product can be used from birth. In practice, such actions are not entirely justified. The baby's navel has not yet healed; long water procedures can disrupt this process.
The optimal age to start using a swimming ring for newborns is considered to be 1-1.5 months. During this period, the baby perceives the water procedure as a game and is very pleased with what is happening. The product can be used daily for up to two years, after which the child copes quite well without it.
Bathing newborns with a circle is only allowed in the bathtub. Open bodies of water pose a threat to the baby’s life due to the presence of currents and other unforeseen circumstances. In any case, leaving a baby alone in the water, even with a safe circle, is strictly prohibited. Adult supervision is a must!
Note to parents!
A baby’s inability to hold his head up on his own is not a reason to refuse to use a swimming ring. When swimming in the product, there is no strain on the neck and there is no harm to the spine.
Before purchasing a swimming ring for a newborn, carefully study the product and pay attention to several important aspects:
An important criterion is the manufacturer. The choice of a company should be based on its reliability, longevity in the market (in particular the segment of goods for newborns); be sure to ask the seller for related documents (certificates confirming the suitability of the product for use by children); The smell emanating from the product plays an important role. If the aroma is unpleasant, has a chemical smell, then it is made of a toxic material, such a circle can cause an allergic reaction in a newborn
Choose products made from hypoallergenic materials that are absolutely safe for your baby’s health; When choosing a swimming ring for a baby, pay attention to its size. Each product has its own marking indicating the age of the child
An important role is played by ergonomic properties (correspondence to the physiological structure of the baby), reliable fastenings; It is desirable that the circle have two handles; such a device is convenient to operate; parents can direct the product in the desired direction; guarantee period. The longer the warranty period, the better the quality of the product; smooth seams. Internal seams will protect delicate baby skin from damage. Convex details on a circle for newborns indicate its low quality.
Don't skimp on your newborn's health. Low-quality, cheap circles cause dermatitis and are dangerous for the baby’s life.
Terms of use
How to bathe a newborn baby for the first time at home
Before using the baby ring for bathing, you need to inflate it and check for any damage. After lowering it into the water, take a closer look to see if it retains its appearance when on the water. If everything is in order, then you can start swimming.
Note! After the two chambers of the device are filled with air, a depression is formed between them, which envelops the contour of the child’s neck and the place where the chin is fixed. Only then is everything ready for use.
How to wear
Straps for securing the circle around the neck
During the dressing process, the following scheme is used:
First, wash the circle with baby gel and dry it, The baby is placed on his tummy on the parent’s lap, Very carefully put on the circle, using the moment when the baby begins to raise his head, Pay attention to ensuring that the baby’s chin is in a special recess, Fix the Velcro straps, Inspect child - he should be comfortable.
Important! It is necessary to put on a bathing circle for a newborn baby only in the room before swimming. It is strictly forbidden to perform this process in water.
If someone can hold the baby, then the process is much faster and calmer for all participants:
- Velcro unfastens,
- The rings of the circle move apart,
- The circle is carefully and slowly placed around the baby’s neck,
- The chin is placed in a specially designated place for it,
- Velcro is fastened, and the tightness of the circle to the baby’s neck is controlled.
After this, just as slowly lower the baby into the water, where you can no longer hold the baby, but you should definitely keep an eye on him so that the circle does not accidentally unfasten, or the baby does not get caught in it or remove it on his own. Despite the fact that the circle is a popular and modern product, you still need to be very careful and vigilant with it.
How to remove a circle without anyone's help
The child raises his head while lying on his tummy
You need to take off the circle in the same way as putting it on.
It is important to carry out this process not in the bathroom, but in the room, placing the baby on your lap on his tummy. At the moment when the baby instinctively begins to raise his head, the device is carefully removed
Some mothers suggest putting on a circle when the baby is lying facing them. In such cases, the baby's head begins to hang, which makes it possible to quickly and easily remove the accessory from the child.
How to swim with a circle
A child bathes with a circle on his neck
The very first water activities with the accessory last no more than 10 minutes, since the baby encounters it for the first time and makes a lot of independent movements in the water. Because of this, a large amount of energy is wasted.
Bathing time increases by a minute every day
Be sure to pay attention to the baby and its activity
Swimming with a circle occurs both in a position on the back and on the stomach. Initially, it is permissible to help the child by indicating the direction of movement. To do this, an adult takes the edge of the circle and pushes it in the required direction. The baby will quickly understand everything and learn to swim. As a rule, all babies enjoy swimming with such a water accessory.
Important precautions:
- Do not leave the child unattended,
- Do not inflate the circle to the limit, it may burst during swimming,
- Inflate only with your mouth,
- The baby's feet must touch the bottom of the bathtub,
- Valves must be tightly closed
- At a depth of more than 1 meter it is prohibited to use a circle,
- Do not fill it with water,
- A swimming circle is not a life-saving device.
When can and cannot be used?
A circle for bathing a baby can be used from the first days of life, it is convenient, safe and provides the opportunity for physical activity that is not yet available to a newborn in other conditions.
However, there are cases when this device is contraindicated for a child due to his individual characteristics . For example:
- In the presence of certain diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
- In case of dermatological diseases, as well as allergic reactions to components of water or the material of the collar itself.
- During the treatment of dislocations or fractures.
- In the presence of increased intracranial pressure.
- For certain diseases of the central nervous system.
A consultation with your treating pediatrician will help you avoid negative consequences , who will identify in advance possible contraindications for your baby’s active swimming in the bath.
How to put on an inflatable ring for swimming
1. Inflate the circle as described in the instructions for its use.
2. The child must sit or stand facing the adult who is putting on the inflatable bathing ring for him. This way you can easily check that the special recess is located exactly under the baby’s chin
In addition, it is important to monitor the baby's reaction when fastening the Velcro so as not to put too much pressure on the neck
3. Stretch the free ends of the circle so that the child’s neck can fit between them and put it on.
The younger the child, the more difficult it is for an adult to do this alone, especially if the baby cannot yet sit steadily on his own. Moreover, you often have to not only simultaneously stretch the circle and hold the baby’s body, but also lift his head by the chin in order to close the mouth that opened at the wrong time. After all, the baby so wants to try everything by heart.
4. Continuing to hold the child’s head in a slightly raised position by the chin, fasten the Velcro at the back. At the same time, make sure that there is a very small gap (about 3 mm) between the inner edges of the circle and the baby’s neck. In this position, while swimming, water will not leak out, and the trachea and blood vessels will not be compressed.
How to organize children's swimming in the bathroom
There are no fundamental differences between the basic principles of organizing swimming and bathing children. You just need to more thoroughly wash and rinse the walls of the bathroom from detergent and make sure that there are no drafts in the room. If your baby likes to frolic in the water for a long time, it should be 1-2 degrees cooler so as not to cause overheating.
If your child is sleeping poorly or has difficulty falling asleep, it is recommended that you plan to bathe your child in a bubble bath in the evening. Water will provide the necessary emotional release, bring pleasure and bring a feeling of fatigue. Sleep after swimming will become stronger and more peaceful.
Preparing a child for bathing with a circle
Exercise to prepare for swimming with a circle
Bathing a newborn in the bath
In the first year of life, bathing a child with a circle will help him quickly get used to the water and adapt to bathing.
Note! You should not immediately place your baby in the water with the accessory. Bathing a child with a circle should begin after preliminary acquaintance with the water and the new environment
No matter how long it takes, it is better to wait for the right moment and be patient. Otherwise, the child may get scared and not want to bathe in the bathroom at all.
During the first bath, you can lower the circle next to the baby so that he is just next to the baby. Also, when the child is awake, it is permissible to leave the circle in the room with him so that he can study it and play with it.
In order for the baby to feel calm while swimming with the circle, he must first be prepared for this event. You should definitely talk to him and play with him. When he is still just a baby, you can go behind him, call out to him so that he turns around and begins to swim to his parent. A little later, add toys to which he will reach and swim.
With older kids, games become more difficult:
- Several toys are immersed in the water. The baby swims and collects them in a certain container.
- Take a medium sized ball. Show your baby how he swings in the water. In the process, the child will understand that he also needs and can flounder, splashing his legs and arms to create waves.
- Help the baby swim to the side. Then put his legs on the side and show him how to push off. Then arrange similar swims from one side of the bathroom to the other.
It is advisable to carry out preliminary gymnastics before swimming, warming up all the muscles, first with soft movements, then with more active ones.
In order for the child to understand well what positions are used when bathing, it is also necessary to use exercises when bathing without a circle:
- The baby's position is on his back. Both hands of the adult are on either side of the baby's neck. The little fingers and fourth fingers touch the upper back. In this fixed position, the baby is moved in the water from one side to the other.
- The baby's position is on the tummy. An important rule is that the child does not tense up in the neck area. Therefore, the adult’s hands are placed on the upper chest, slightly raising the baby’s chin. A very comfortable option for a child - an adult holds the baby in the chest area with one hand, while the chin is placed on top of this hand, the second hand is free, it can hold the baby’s body.
Additional Information. In the event that the baby refuses to carry out such water activities, you can try diving with him. They are also widely appreciated for their benefits. In addition, they help cleanse the nasal sinuses and get rid of gas in the baby.
General Tips
- Do not use herbal mixtures. It is better to bathe in some kind of herb (this way we can understand what the baby may be allergic to);
- Do not use additional cosmetics. The use of shampoo, foam and soap can reduce the healing effect of the herb. For the same reason, do not rinse your newborn with plain water after a bath;
- It is better to bathe your child in the evening;
- The optimal water temperature for bathing babies is 36.6 C° - 37 C°;
- Do not overuse herbal baths;
- Dry your baby with a towel that you don’t mind getting dirty. The herbal decoction can leave stains on the fabric that are difficult to remove later.
I will share my experience. Our twin daughters always got very excited after swimming. They had a surge of strength and energy. There was no talk of any dream. But pediatricians often called us “bouncy babies” ☺. There was vigor both day and night. Yes, when this cheerfulness comes one after another, you yourself understand what it is.
- Ergoferon for children Komarovsky
- Circles for bathing newborns from what age
Bathing a baby with a circle
The question of how to bathe a child with a circle worries many mothers.
To begin, straighten the circle and inflate it. Show the circle to the baby, let him play with it and touch it so that there is no fear. It is better to do this a couple of times before swimming. Then undress the baby, open the clasps and spread the parts of the circle so that the baby's head slides comfortably into it. Return the circle to its original position.
Make sure that the baby's chin is located in a special notch. Then adjust the clamps to grip the cervix without causing discomfort to the baby. Immerse the child in the water, carefully observing his condition. If hysteria begins, calm the baby down. It’s not worth removing the circle right away; it’s not a fact that the baby was afraid of it. If the baby turns his head, take him out of the water and carefully remove the circle. The attempt can be repeated the next time you bathe.
If the child reacted normally to the circle, let him work freely with his legs and arms and adapt. A couple of minutes is enough for the first time. In the future, the entertainment time can be increased to 10 minutes. Let him swim on his tummy and back. Even if the child is in a circle, never take your eyes off him!
After swimming, remove the ring and rinse your neck. It must be washed to eliminate the risk of irritation. Naturally, bathing a one-month-old baby with a circle is different from bathing an older child. If the baby confidently holds his head, the circle can be lowered to the belt starting from 3-4 months. However, watch the duration of bathing and do not let your child get too cold. Moreover, when he got physical activity and swam with a circle.
Circle care
Like any baby accessory, the circle needs careful care.
- Before your first bath, wash the circle with warm water and soap and rinse thoroughly. Treat with a disinfectant solution suitable for PVC.
- After each use, rinse the circle. There is no need to deflate it.
- Store the circle in a place where there is no contact with harmful substances, direct sunlight and the possibility of mechanical damage to it.
- Inspect the circle regularly. It should not bleed air, change color, all seams should be absolutely smooth.
- If the circle causes allergies, or a defect has formed in it due to proper storage and care, exchange the product.
A circle for bathing a newborn is a wonderful device for a baby, which also greatly facilitates the bathing procedure for the mother. It helps eliminate hypertension in the child and preserve swimming functions. And how much joy it will bring to the baby!
