Babies are so cute, cuddly, and sweet-smelling, aren’t they? But keeping them this way requires certain care that, alongside maintaining their adorableness, will also ensure good health, keeping them away from illnesses, bad odors, and those dreaded diaper rashes. But after all, what is the proper way, and how do you clean a baby correctly?
Typically younger babies need more frequent diaper changes and greater attention to hygiene, since they tend to soil their diapers more often than older babies. In the first months of life, babies often poop right after feedings and don’t yet know how to control their urine, urinating many times, so diaper changes can reach up to 8 times a day. As your baby grows, diaper changes gradually decrease and should be done only when the diaper is dirty or has a lot of pee.
Because a baby’s intimate area is very delicate, cleaning must be meticulous and gentle, using products and items specifically designed for babies. Some parents choose to clean their baby with cotton and warm water, while others, for practicality, prefer baby wipes. There is a long list of brands and products for baby hygiene, but it’s advisable to opt for fragrance-free products or well-known brands that dermatologically test their items. This helps prevent possible allergies from hygiene products.
After the entire cleaning process, removing all urine and feces residue, a diaper rash cream is essential. Urine is very acidic, and as it sits in the diaper for a while, it can cause swelling and severe rashes, which lead to pain and discomfort for the baby. Using a cream will protect the baby’s intimate area until the next diaper change. One important reminder is about hand hygiene. Before performing any cleaning procedure, especially diaper changes, hands should be properly washed with water and soap to ensure bacteria are not transferred to the baby’s vaginal, anal, or penile area, reducing the risk of urinary infections.
Intimate Hygiene – How to Clean Girls?
For those who find diaper changes intimidating, it can seem even more overwhelming when it is a girl, especially for dads. The female genitalia, having several folds of skin covering the vulva, needs particularly careful cleaning, as feces residue can get between these small folds. Besides paying attention to every detail, the direction in which cotton or wipes are used in the area is also important.
The correct procedure is to always clean from front to back, that is, from the vagina toward the anus. If done the other way, bacteria from the anus and fecal residue can be transferred to the vagina, causing infections. Cleaning should usually be done with cotton and warm water or a wipe, or during a bath using water and a baby-appropriate soap.
A big fear among inexperienced parents is that cleaning the intimate area might harm or damage the baby’s hymen. But this isn’t possible, as cleaning is done externally and should be done with utmost gentleness. Using your fingers, you can gently separate the labia majora and carefully clean the entire area. There is no need to scrub hard, after all, the vagina has its own natural protection which should also be preserved. After the hygiene procedure, the area should be thoroughly dried with a soft towel and a diaper rash cream applied. Then, change the baby’s clothes as usual. A very important warning for mothers: intimate soaps should never be used on babies, as they alter the vaginal pH.
See also: What Is the Best Diaper for Day or Night?
Photos: jon hayes, mary
