The other day I was trying to remember what it was like to give my daughter Joana her first newborn bath. I was very young and had never imagined I could pull off such a feat right from the start. I was 21 years old when she was born and I am the youngest child, I had no nephews or nieces and had never really had direct contact with newborns—and even less had I ever given a newborn bath in my life. In short, my experience with newborn babies was practically zero.
Luckily for me, I had a super experienced mother when it came to newborn baths. She was always called upon to care for newborns, and ever since I was little, I remember her stories about so many babies she cared for, the umbilical cords she healed and the thousands of newborn baths she gave—all starting in her own childhood! Yes, she has always done this, and since the age of 7 she would care for and bathe the babies born to neighbors, cousins, godmothers—and even her younger siblings when they were newborns, because she’s always been so gifted at this. So what about those who don’t have a super mom nearby like I did?
Even so, I was afraid, but I wanted to bathe my daughter myself, and with guidance from the supermom I am lucky to have, everything went well. At first, babies seem so fragile that a lot of people are afraid to pick them up, bathe them, or change them… but if you’re about to experience this moment, don’t worry! I know a story about a woman who had her baby and, together with her mother-in-law, didn’t have the courage to turn the baby over during the bath for an entire month! Haha, yes, they only bathed the front of the baby, because they were so afraid of dropping him if they tried to turn him over in the bath to wash his back. But don’t think this is a unique case—before you get the hang of bathing a newborn, especially first-time moms and dads are often very scared of the new, and rest assured, this is completely normal. I know because I went through it, and believe me, you’ll learn.
So, how do you give a newborn bath?
Although nowadays in the maternity ward there’s an opportunity to learn, everything seems easier while we’re there, and at home the moment can become a bit stressful. But try to make this an enjoyable moment for you and your baby, because they may cry for any number of reasons—cold, fear of falling, etc. So here are the steps for giving a newborn bath:
1- Set aside all the materials you’ll use for the bath: soap, cotton swabs, cotton, towel, diapers, diaper rash cream, and the baby’s clothes.2- The bath water should be around 37 degrees Celsius, which is where the baby feels comfortable. And remember never to put hot water in the tub before adding some cold water first—avoid accidents and burns due to a moment’s distraction.3- Always wash the baby’s head first! Avoid getting residue in the eyes and ears to prevent irritation or infection.4- Try using liquid soaps; they make things much easier, and nowadays there are neutral soaps you can use from head to toe, which makes life a lot easier for moms.5- High bathtubs are very good in the early postpartum days, but be cautious as your baby grows.6- Always keep everything within reach so you don’t need to step away from your baby.7- Holding the baby firmly is essential; use one hand behind their back and under the armpit for security.
Do everything according to your instinct; at the maternity, they teach you one way, but your mother, mother-in-law, or aunt may start giving advice and confuse you—so do what feels right for you. In the end, everything works out and enjoy, because this moment is unique and you’ll definitely miss it someday.
See also: How to Bathe a Newborn – 3 Videos With Different Techniques
Photo: bebe.com.br
