How Do You Take A Bath Safely While Pregnant
Maintain a core body temperature of less than 101°F .
A healthy pregnant womans internal body temperature is roughly 99°F , which is 0.4 to 0.8 Fahrenheit degrees higher than a healthy non-pregnant woman.
Ideally, youll take a bath in warm water thats safe to bathe in, about 98.6 to 100°F. If you want to know the precise temperature of the water, buy a thermometer to keep in the water youll still need it when the baby arrives.
If you start to feel hot, take a chilly shower preferably one thats no hotter than 100°F to cool down. Overheating symptoms include feeling hot, sweating, and having red skin. Dizziness, nausea, falling down, or fainting is more dangerous symptoms of hyperthermia.
How To Give A Newborn A Bath
Once the umbilical cord stump has fallen off, you can start giving baby full baths. Bathing a newborn can be tricky at first, so if possible, enlist the help of a partner or family member. Its best if those early baths can be done with multiple caregivers around so you have extra hands if you need them, Smith says. After youve rounded up your baby bath supplies and decided where youll be bathing your little one, follow these steps.
Step 1: Fill the tub with a few inches of warm water. Aim for about 2 to 3 inches of water, to keep baby safe. Making sure to support babys head at all times, gently lower your little one into the water. The bath temperature for a newborn should be between 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, never hotter than 120 degrees. While most parents are worried about making the bath too hot, be sure you dont err in the other direction, since babies get cold easily. Kelly B., whose baby is now 3, learned a thing or two when she nannied for a woman who had infant twins. She taught me that the water should be warmer than youd expect, she recalls. Dipping your wrist in is a good way to gauge the temperature, but if youre nervous about getting it right, you can use a thermometer.
Yes, theres a lot to think about when it comes to babys first bath. But soon enough bathing a newborn will become second nature, and before you know it, your child will be sitting up on his own and splashing away in the tub. Thats when things really start to get fun!
Setting Up A Newborn Bath: Tips
Heres how to get ready for a newborn bath:
- Take the phone off the hook or turn your phone off while bathing your baby. Youll be less likely to get distracted.
- Make sure you have everything you need within reach for example, towel, washcloth, cream or ointment, clean clothes and clean nappy.
- Avoid using soap because this will dry out your babys skin. If needed, use a fragrance-free oil or a gentle non-soap cleanser at the end of the bath.
- Position the bath somewhere stable and at a height where you can comfortably hold your baby.
- Fill the bath with just enough warm water to wash your baby. Use jugs of water to fill the bath if youre planning to bath your baby away from the tap.
- Take off your watch and jewellery and wash your hands.
- Check the water temperature is 37-38°C before you put your baby in the bath. If you dont have a thermometer, use your wrist or elbow to test the temperature it should be comfortably warm, not hot.
- Before bathing your baby in a sink, briefly run cold water through the tap once youve finished filling the bath.
- Dont add extra water while your baby is in the bath.
You May Like: What To Do With A Newborn All Day
Sign Up To Our Newsletter To Get The Day’s Biggest News Straight To Your Inbox
The Mirror’s newsletter brings you the latest news, exciting showbiz and TV stories, sport updates and essential political information.
The newsletter is emailed out first thing every morning, at 12noon and every evening.
Never miss a moment by signing up to our newsletter here.
“We would give anything to turn back the clock and change what happened, but that’s not possible.
“All we hope now is that lessons are learned so others don’t have to go through what we have.”
Alice Webster, specialist medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Sener, said: “It’s less than 21 months since Amelia’s death and what happened is all still so raw for Sener and Craig.
“They were both really looking forward to becoming parents and continue to struggle to accept what’s happened.”
Mirror Online has approached Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for comment.
When Should You Transition Your Baby To A Bath Tub
For months, you’ve been able to use your baby’s infant tub to bathe them, propping it up in the sink, and taking bath time one step at a time. But the infant tub won’t last you forever. As your baby grows, and begins to have more and more control over their own body, you begin to realize that this phase of your life is coming to an end. But when should you transition your baby to a bath tub?
According to Parents, babies are ready for the big bath tub when they can sit up on their own. Transitioning them to the bathtub before they can sit up on their own can prove to be overwhelming for both you and your baby, and can create an aversion to bath time in the long run. Babies can usually sit up on their own around six months, but depending on your child’s individual growth and ability, you may want to start a little earlier, or, wait a bit longer until you feel your child is ready.
Don’t Miss: How To Treat Colic In A Newborn
Baby Bath: Time For A Sponge Bath
Gentle sponge baths are perfect for the first few weeks until the umbilical cord falls off, the circumcision heals, and the navel heals completely.
The basics of bathing a baby:
- First, undress baby — cradling the head with one hand. Leave the diaper on . Wrap baby in a towel, exposing only those areas that you are washing.
- Using a baby bath sponge or wash cloth, cleanse one area at a time. Start behind the ears, then move to the neck, elbows, knees, between fingers and toes. Pay attention to creases under the arms, behind the ears, around the neck.
- The hair comes toward the end of bath time so baby doesn’t get cold. While newborns don’t have much hair, you can sponge the few wisps that are there. To avoid getting eyes wet, tip the head back just a little. There’s no need for shampoo just use water.
- Now it’s time to remove the diaper and sponge baby’s belly, bottom, and genitals.
- Wash little girls from front to back. If there’s a little vaginal discharge, don’t worry — and don’t try to wipe it all away. If a little boy is uncircumcised, leave the foreskin alone. If circumcised, don’t wash the head of the penis until it’s healed.
- Gently pat baby dry. Rubbing the skin will irritate it.
Bath time is over, and your fresh little baby is ready for a clean diaper and clothes!
Continued
Gently Place Your Newborn In The Bath
With one hand supporting the back of your babys head and the other under their bum, gently lower your baby into the bathtub. Dont let them dive in head first! Let your little one dip their toes in first.
Expert tip: It may also be helpful to place a towel at the bottom of the bathtub, which makes it feel softer and prevents your baby from sliding around too much.
Bathing Your Baby In The Sink
Giving your baby a bath in the kitchen sink is another option. For this type of bath, you would use a sink insert instead of a traditional baby tub that you place in your bathtub.
Sink inserts are recommended for infants up to six months of age and sit inside your sink to give your baby a nice cushion against the hard, cold sides. This way, your newborn is comfortable for their bath and can relax!
These are also a great option if youre running low on space or are traveling. Whats more, giving your baby a bath in the sink is better for your back! You can stand up while giving your baby a bath, instead of having to lean over the bathtub.
Read Also: What All A Newborn Baby Needs
Fill Your Babys Bathtub With Water
The second step is to fill the bathtub with water. You only need two to three inches of water to bathe your newborn.
The water temperature should be roughly the same temperature as the human body98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Anywhere between 90° F and 100° F is perfect. Use a thermometer to make sure youve got the temperature just right.
Baby Bath Time: Step By Step
Here are basic steps for giving your baby a bath:
Try to keep soap, shampoos and bubble baths to a minimum they can irritate skin and cause nappy rash. A mild non-soap cleanser is a good alternative.
Your baby will probably try to pull themselves up or stand up in the bath. If you cant stop them trying this, at least make sure youre holding them so they cant slip. You might like to use a non-slip bath mat and have a non-slip surface in your bath.
Recommended Reading: How To Feed Gripe Water To Newborn
Doctors Recommend Sponge Bathes To Start
For the first two weeks, or so, pediatricians recommend sponge baths. Two weeks is about how long it takes for the stump left from the baby’s umbilical cord to fall off and heal. If you completely submerge your baby in water before the wound heals, this could increase the risk of infection or cause irritation, says Daryznkiewicz.
Also, if your baby is circumcised, pediatricians recommend sponge bathing until the circumcision site is healed, as well.
“The sponge bath should start with washing the face and working downwards until you are done,” says Daryznkiewicz. “As you get comfortable you can extend the bath but you want to make sure your child stays warm.”
As they get older, you can transition to a warm bath in a few inches of water. When choosing a soap, Daryznkiewicz suggests a scent and fragrance-free option, since scents can irritate sensitive skin or cause flare-ups of eczema.
Drying And Dressing Your Newborn After A Bath: Steps
Heres how to take your newborn out of the bath, ready for drying and dressing:
Bathing your baby takes practice, so try to relax and take your time. You might like to start by bathing your baby when someone else is around to help. If youre worried about losing your grip on your baby, you can make the bath less slippery by lining it with a clean cloth nappy or towel.
You May Like: What To Do For Gassy Newborn Baby
Maintain A Warm Not Hot Bath Water Temperature
Water that is hotter than your body temperature, whether in a hot tub or a bath, has the potential to harm your baby, especially during the first trimester. This is due to the fact that submerging oneself in hot water may raise your body temperature, which may restrict blood supply to the baby and induce stress.
Since the average body temperature is at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, keep your baths at or below 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Some moms even utilize water to relax and relieve discomfort during birth. The temperature is likewise controlled here to maintain it around 100 degrees for the safety of both the baby and you.
This popular method of birthing is not as successful at lowering pain as an epidural anesthetic, but many women who use it find the relaxing component of being in the water quite beneficial.
Try using a childs bathtub thermometer to monitor water temperature . Allow it to float, then check the temperature of the water and adjust as required.
Also, keep in mind that heat may be dehydrating, so drink lots of water before and after bathing. If your skin feels too dry afterward, apply lotion to seal in moisture . If you become hot when bathing, it is imperative to quickly take a cold shower and drink enough cool fluids.
How Often Does A Newborn Need A Bath
Growing up, you may have heard that babies and children must be bathed daily for optimum cleanliness. However, this isnt the case. Especially with a newborn, bathing daily can actually dry the skin, and irritate it.
Additionally, most newborns do not get very dirty, so its not necessary to fully immerse them in a bath each day or night. You can spot clean any areas of concern in between baths.
For these reasons, most doctors recommend only bathing your newborn baby a few days per week.
AAP recommends bathing your baby no more than three days per week. Of course, even that is not a hard and fast rule.
If you want to bathe your baby more often, thats fine, and if you only bathe your baby one or two days per week , thats fine too!
As your baby gets older and ventures into the toddler years, they are going to get dirtier, because they will be exploring everything and playing outside. Your bathing frequency will likely naturally increase during this time.
You May Like: How Often Should My Newborn Eat Formula