Bathing baby Bath time is usually a very important, highly appreciated time for both baby and parents. It is a time for interaction, affection and play that strengthens affective ties. Here is some advice about bathing your baby: Babies can have their bath before or after feeding. However, it is better to bathe them before feeding to prevent wet burps caused by the movement; Baths normally have a relaxing effect and can help baby sleep if given in the evening; The ambient temperature of the room should be around 24ºC at bath time; Wash your hands thoroughly before beginning bath time; Before taking the baby out of the cot, prepare everything you need, so you don’t have to leave baby alone for any reason; Open up the clothes that you will be dressing baby in after the bath and place them in the order in which you will be putting them on; As a matter of safety, always put the cold water in the bath before the hot; The ideal temperature for the bath water is 36ºC to 37ºC; Use a suitable baby soap, preferably of the same brand as your other baby products; For the first month, wash your baby’s face after and not during the bath; After the bath, dry baby carefully, paying special attention to creases (armpits, groin, neck and ears); Finally, apply an appropriate baby moisturising cream. Baby’s face During baby’s first month, wash its face after the bath: Start by wiping its eyes with compresses or make-up removal pads soaked in saline solution or clean water; When wiping the eyes, go from the cleanest to the dirtiest area in one motion, using the pad or compress once only. Do not use the same pad or compress for both eyes; After the eyes, wipe the rest of baby’s face with another compress soaked in saline solution or clean water. Baby’s navel The navel area must always be clean and dry to prevent inflammation and infection. The navel area requires special care until the cord stump falls off, which normally happens during baby’s first week: Make sure the stump is not covered by the nappy when you put it on and fold the nappy over if necessary; Clean the stump and the clamp on the end of it after bathing baby and whenever necessary; First clean the clamp with one or more compresses soaked in 70º surgical spirit. Discard the compresses used to clean the clamp; Then clean the stump with compresses soaked in 70º surgical spirit. Wipe from the base of the stump towards the tip; After the stump falls off, and especially if drops of blood come out, cover the area with a dry compress. Nappy change Change the baby’s nappy whenever it is dirty . It is important to keep the area clean and dry : For cleansing during nappy change, you can buy special wipes or use cotton wool or compresses soaked in warm water and pH neutral soap; After cleansing, apply a thin layer of moisturising or protective cream whenever necessary; Put on the clean nappy, taking care not to cover the navel stump. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
