The arrival of a little one is no less than a ray of light. Once the child steps into the world, you, as a mother, do everything to protect and love the bundle of joy. If your child is a winter baby, the first thing you think about is ensuring that the little one doesn’t catch cold. So, you wrap your newborn in the warmest blanket you can find and keep the baby close to you. The thought of bathing a baby in winter may be scary for you. Read on to find out all about bathing a newborn during winter months.
Health Shots reached out to Dr Rashmi R, Consultant – Pediatrics and Neonatology, Motherhood Hospitals, Whitefield, Bengaluru, to find out how often mothers can give a bath to their newborn child during winter months.
Babies don’t typically sweat a lot or don’t get exposed to dust to require a full bath. So, the expert says it takes just 5 to 10 minutes to bathe a newborn. More frequent and time-consuming baths can cause your little one’s skin to become dry, so it is important to take precautions to prevent the newborn from contracting a cold and being ill.
She shares that most experts concur that parents can bathe their infants three times a week without any health risks. A baby must be bathed in the morning or at noon rather than in the evening. So, it’s completely fine to bathe your baby no more than three times each week, provided you wash the diaper area carefully after each change and use a moisturiser every day.
Things you need to keep in mind while bathing your baby
Bathing and good skin care might keep your baby’s skin healthy and smooth. Let’s take a look at more things you should know before giving your newborn a bath.
- Keep a towel or blanket covering your baby.
- Each eye of your baby should be cleaned with a fresh washcloth or cotton ball. Start at the bridge of the nose and move outward to the corner of the eye.
- Use a gentle and wet washcloth without soap to clean your baby’s face.
- Although it is not necessary to scrub, most newborns love having their arms and legs gently massaged while taking a bath, says the expert.
- After bathing, ensure your baby is dry before dressing.
- Gentle tub bath is best for your little one.
Dos and don’ts of bathing your newborn during winter
1. Avoid chilly days for bathing baby
Assess whether it’s too chilly outside before bathing your child, and only do so when you are certain that the little one will be warm enough afterward. In the winter, it’s best to wait until the sun is out before beginning your infant’s bath routine.
2. Bath baby when the temperature is right
Use a room heater to create heat in the bath area for your newborn’s baths if the outside temperature is very low. Warm water (not too hot) should be added to your infant’s bathtub.
3. No chemical-loaded baby products
Make sure the products chosen for baby care are all natural, toxic-free, and fully safe for the bath of a newborn baby (skincare tips for babies). The newborn’s skin might lose its natural oils due to the presence of chemicals and harmful compounds in winter, leaving it dry and uncomfortable, says Dr. Rashmi.
But don’t get too excited about giving your winter baby a bath right after taking him or her home. The expert shares that the newborn’s skin is delicate and sensitive, so baths should be avoided till the umbilical cord falls.
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