PREGNANCY
When Should a Newborn Baby Get the First Bath?
Scrub-a-dub-dub! It’s time for your newborn to get all clean.
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PREGNANCY
Escrito por
Happiest Baby Staff
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Scrub-a-dub-dub! It’s time for your baby’s first bath…but when?
Some parents worry that they need to give their baby a bath right after birth…after all things can get pretty messy during delivery. While it is important to wash your baby in the first few hours after she’s born, you don’t have to do it immediately.
When your baby is born, she’ll be covered in blood, mucus…and vernix. Vernix caseosa as it’s officially called in the medical community is a thick, waxy white substance that covers your baby’s skin to protect it in the womb and during birth. She’ll shed most of that cream cheese-looking layer before birth. (Preemies often come out coated with it!) This miracle covering protects her delicate skin…just imagine if you were in a bathtub for 9 months! It also acts as a lubricant to help her slide down the birth canal during delivery and offers antimicrobial benefits after birth. Scientists now know that vernix helps to prevent infection and retain heat following birth.
You won’t want to leave the vernix on her too long. While it’s fine to rub it into her skin, it’s best if you wash it off 3-4 hours later. Make sure to keep her warm afterward, since she’ll lose the heat-retaining quality that it provides. If left on too long, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria on her skin. Bacterial infections are a big danger to babies because of their weak immune systems. During the first 3-4 months of life, you’ll want to take extra care to protect her from the world’s germs!
Descargo de responsabilidad: La información en nuestro sitio NO es un consejo médico para ninguna persona o condición específica. Solo se proporciona como información general. Si tiene alguna pregunta o preocupación médica sobre su hijo o sobre usted mismo, por favor contacte a su proveedor de salud. La leche materna es la mejor fuente de nutrición para los bebés. Es importante que, en preparación para la lactancia y durante la misma, las madres lleven una dieta saludable y equilibrada. La combinación de lactancia materna y alimentación con biberón en las primeras semanas de vida puede reducir la producción de leche materna y es difícil revertir la decisión de no amamantar. Si decide utilizar fórmula infantil, debe seguir las instrucciones cuidadosamente.
