Some parents may hear the advice of newborns should not be bathed immediately, but some others actually hear the opposite. What exactly should be done, huh? Come, see the following explanation.
During this time, it has become a culture that newborns need to be bathed immediately. Even so, the World Health Organization (WHO) and several recent studies suggest that babies should be bathed only 12-24 hours after birth.
Benefits of Delaying Bathing a Newborn
Delaying the first bath time for a newborn baby can provide a variety of benefits, including:
Prevents hypothermia
Newborns are very sensitive to changes in temperature. Even normal temperatures may feel cold to her tiny body. When a baby is immediately bathed, a change in temperature will trigger the baby's body to work harder to keep warm. But if the body is not able, the baby can be cold to experience hypothermia.
Not only that, the increased workload of the baby's body when adapting to changes in temperature can also make blood sugar levels drop quickly so that babies are more at risk of developing hypoglycemia.
Maintains the natural layer of skin
Newborns have a waxy, whitish coating all over their body called vernix. Not just any layer, vernix serves to maintain skin moisture while maintaining heat in the baby's body. Not only that, this layer can also be additional protection for babies.
One way to prevent this layer from being eroded too much is to delay the baby's first bath time. Newborns should simply wipe with a wet towel.
Support the breastfeeding process
Delaying the baby's first bath after birth can also support the initiation process of early breastfeeding (IMD). After birth, the baby should be placed directly on the mother's chest. In addition to helping IMD, this can also make babies feel safe and comfortable.
Meanwhile, if the baby is separated directly from his mother to be bathed, he will feel stressed. This condition will interfere with the initial bonding between the baby and the mother, which is important in the process of breastfeeding.
Things to Look for when Bathing a Newborn
When Mother brings Little Home home and wants to bathe her, here are a few things to note:
No need too often
Mother may bathe Little One whenever necessary. Because, in some babies, bathing can be one way to be more relaxed and fast asleep.
Even so, some experts suggest that newborns are only bathed 1-3 times per week with a bath duration of 5-10 minutes. This is useful for keeping the baby's skin moist.
Do not immediately soak
Mother is advised to clean the baby gradually, it can be started by wiping the skin with a wet towel and soap specifically for babies. As much as possible avoid directly soaking newborns.
Soaking the baby in water is not recommended before the umbilical cord is loose. Whereas in male infants who have been circumcised, bathing should only be done after the circumcision wound is healed.
Pay attention to the temperature of the water
The baby should be bathed in a warm room and with water lukewarm (not too hot or cold). The recommended water temperature is around 32 ° - 45 ° C. Avoid temperatures that are too hot because it can cause the skin to burn.
Some of the benefits of delaying bathing a newborn can be taken into consideration when the baby should be bathed. Even so, as long as the Little One looks fine when directly bathed, Mother does not need to worry too much. No less important thing to do for newborns is to follow the doctor's visit schedule and the recommended immunization schedule.
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