What is Right Time to give your Newborn Baby a Bath?

Newborn baby is very delicate. He or she is not yet ready to control his or her internal heat. That is reason, why you should think, before giving him or her a bath, immediately after birth. Never give him first birth immediately after birth. He or she is very sensitive at that time. If you give bath at that time, then newborn baby will lose her vital heat and vital vernix covering.

Image Source - https://pixabay.com/photos/newborn-baby-girl-cute-child-753825/

Vernix covers skin of newborn baby in womb. When newborn baby comes out in world, this vernix acts as a natural skin moisturizer. It also acts as a protective layer that protects the skin from infection. Vernix covering hospital sister will mildly clean with a towel in delivery room. Do not need to wash it with water bath.

What is right time to give your newborn baby a bath after birth? 

First of all your newborn baby does not need bath, after birth immediately. The reason being water bath will make newborn baby lose his or her vital body heat and wash away vernix covering.

What to do, if we can’t give newborn baby a water bath immediately after birth? 

You need to give newborn baby a sponge bath, not proper water bath. This sponge bath should not be given immediately after birth. It should be given at gap of 2 days.

What is sponge bath? 

It is done with wet cotton swabs. Water used to make cotton swabs should be filtered water and lukewarm in temperature.

• First, newborn baby is given mild massage of coconut oil, with gentle hands on whole body. After that wet cotton swabs, are used to wipe skin of newborn baby. Each sponge is used only one time, not again. Baby should be wiped with these cotton swabs gently, not harshly. 
• Whole of this sponge bath process, should take only 5 to 10 minutes, not more than that. The reason being, to prevent loss of vital heat. After sponge bath, baby should be immediately wrapped in soft towel to prevent loss of vital heat. After wrapping in towel, baby should be worn clothes one by one, by slightly removing towel from one by one area, not totally uncovering to prevent loss of vital heat. So, that was how sponge bath is given.

Image Source - https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Newborn_Kerala_baby.jpg

• This sponge bath should continue up to 1 to 3 weeks. But, take care don’t give sponge bath every day. Because that will dry newborn baby’s skin. Give sponge bath only twice a week, not more than that. 

When should newborn baby be given proper water bath? 

Newborn baby should be given proper water bath from 3rd to 4th week after birth. It should not be given before that.

POINTS TO BE TAKEN CARE, while giving sponge bath-

• Temperature of water used for cotton swabs should be lukewarm.
• Sponge bath completion time should be 5 to 10 minutes.
• Coconut oil massage should be given before bath.
• No soap should be used in this process or direct water splash.
• While giving sponge bath, SPECIAL CARE should be taken of UMBILICAL CORD STUMP. It should be mildly sponged just once. Because over rubbing, will cause abrasions, giving a way for infection. The reason being umbilical cord stump is like wound, which needs to be closed on its own pace. It should be kept away from direct splash of water. Direct splash of water will cause infection. 
• No oil massage should be done their. 
• If during sponging, a little blood mark comes on sponge, then do not worry. That was just a dried clot of blood, on umbilical cord stump that was just cleaned with sponge. 
• But, if bleeding starts after sponging and does not stop, then consult your doctor. 

Make sure, room in which you are giving newborn baby a sponge bath, should be at right temperature. It should be weather friendly. It neither should be excessively cold nor excessively warm. It should be cosy (mildly warm).