Especially in the first weeks of your baby's life a "cat wash" with the washcloth is sufficient. Read here for tips on how to wash your baby properly and from what age you can bathe your baby.
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A "cat wash" on the changing table is completely sufficient to clean the skin of newborns. Simply wash your baby with a soft, damp washcloth and lukewarm water, preferably at a room temperature of 23 to 25 degrees. Even small naked babies will still feel comfortable there - and the protective layer of the skin will remain intact.
6 tips for washing the baby:
- Take your time when washing and enjoy the skin contact with your baby.
- Explain to your baby calmly what you intend to do, which part of the body is next.
- Sing a song to your baby as hands and washcloths glide over his body. Even if he doesn't understand the meaning of your words yet, your happy voice has an incredibly calming effect!
- Start in the face and, after rinsing the washcloth, walk further down to the feet.
- Don't forget the auricles and the skin folds on the neck and legs! This is where sweat and dead skin residue often accumulates.
- If an area is clean, dry it with a pre-warmed terry cloth.
From the age of three weeks, there is no reason not to bathe your baby. When caring for your baby, you should keep the following in mind:
5 tips for bathing the baby
- The water should be 37 degrees warm.
- The bath should not take longer than five to ten minutes.
- Only bathe the baby once or twice a week, because each bath removes additional fat and moisture from the baby's skin.
- Avoid foaming bath additives - they literally leach out baby skin. Only in the case of dry skin should you use moisturising, soap-free additives.
- Drying is particularly important because moisture that collects in the folds of skin behind the ears, in the armpits, between the fingers and toes, in the groins and the backs of the knees can easily lead to inflammation.
The navel needs extra care
Contrary to earlier assumptions, the rest of the umbilical cord that newborns have at the umbilicus in the first 2 weeks of their life does not interfere with bathing. "In principle, children can be bathed immediately at home", baby expert Laue knows. A few minutes' bathing time is considered appropriate. Then let the umbilical cord dry properly with the umbilical clamp before the diaper is put on. Wrap the diaper around the front so that it does not rub against the navel. Cleanliness is the top priority in navel care: first wash your own hands, then apply the special tincture from the clinic and wrap some gauze around it. Finally the bandage is applied. You will be shown these procedures in detail in the clinic or in the birth centre. And after 2 weeks at the latest, the rest of the umbilical cord will fall off on its own - most babies love this.Source: familie.de