The toilet: Moment of exchange between parents and the child

Your baby is not as FRAGILE as you usually think, but you have to take a few precautions to keep him comfortable so that he feels at ease. Whether you hold him straight or horizontally, you will support the baby’s head and you will always have a hand under his little buttocks: he will feel safe in his body, in his movements.

In most maternity wards, the baby is bathed either at birth or within hours. It is therefore possible to give the bath at the return home.

Toiletries

To give your little baby the bath, the most practical is to use a special bath for baby. You will also need for his toilet the following items and products:

* Gel soap perfume or coloring FREE. You can choose the same product for the body and face. For the first few months choose a special BABY product. In case of particularly sensitive or dry skin, there are gels and cleansing bars soap-free.

* Cream for the seat.

* An antiseptic to clean the cord.

* Physiological serum.

* Moisturizing cream without perfume.

* Cotton.

* Wipes are handy for baby’s toilet seat when you move. Prefer those without fragrance. At home, use water and soap, prolonged and repeated use of wipes is not recommended for babies with fragile skin.

* A bath thermometer.

* Two or three washcloths (of course, do not use the same glove for the seat and for the rest of the body).

* Two towels-sponges large enough to wrap your baby when he comes out of his bath, or sponge bath burnous.

* A pair of small special scissors to cut the nails.

* A hairbrush.

* A medical thermometer to use if you find that your baby grumpy

The Umbilical Care                            

At birth, the doctor or midwife cuts the umbilical cord and the ligature, the half-centimeter remaining attached to the baby takes about 7 days to dry out, leaving a small wound, umbilicus or navel, Takes a few days to heal: for 24 or 48 hours the umbilicus is a little damp, but after a week maximum; It is perfectly dry.

Clean gently with an antiseptic, moist cord base if necessary by pulling it lightly.

Any prolonged sweating, redness of the umbilicus and around the umbilicus, any unusual odor; any long healing to be done should be reported to the pediatrician.

Daily Baby Changes

The skin of the newborn is thin and fragile, it is full of small folds, sweat and rubbing can irritate it, so it is important that it be clean well-dried with every change.

Change the baby at each meal;

Change it also if you think it has become dirty because the stools are irritating to the skin.

To clean the buttocks of your baby: if necessary remove the stools with tissues or wipes; then clean the seat and thighs with water and soap (with a glove or cotton) from the front and back, rinse.

When the buttocks are clean, if necessary, put a thick layer of ointment for the seat (type paste with water …)

Frequent changes are the best prevention of red buttocks.

 

It is not only the best way to wash the baby, but especially a wonderful opportunity for him to relax, unfold, stretch, which he does not yet easily in his bed. You can bathe the baby even if the umbilical cord has not fallen, provided there is no infection. Do not worry if your first attempts are clumsy, your technique will quickly improve.

The first baths

The first day, and especially for the first baby, you will definitely be afraid to put your baby in the water. But be assured, all the parents do the same experience, very soon you will take as much pleasure in bathing as the baby will have to take it.

So that everything goes well:

* Prepare carefully and place everything you need for the bath.

* If you can give the first bath with the presence of a third party who will pass you the forgotten towel, or the glove dropped.

* Put a little water in the bathtub and check the water temperature 37 ° before you dive baby.

As long as you are not sure of your technique, proceed as follows:

* Soap the baby before putting him in water, then carefully remove any soap on your hands, so you will hold your baby firmly.

* At the beginning you will be anxious to get the baby out of the water; afterwards, while supporting him, let him wiggle, he will be delighted

. When to give the bath?

You will see what will best suit you. In general, the first few weeks, the bath is given in the morning. Later, it is often the evening that is the most convenient time, coming back from the nursery, if  your baby is crying a lot late in the day, the bath will help  him to relax

To finish his toilet

The face

If necessary, put a little cream.

The ears

Clean them with a piece of cotton that you roll with your fingers.

Clean the horn, the outer part, but not the bottom: the internal auditory canal of the ear is fragile and works by “self-cleaning”, small hairs push the wax out.

If you want to use sticks, choose those made especially for babies: their large round toe cannot enter the internal auditory canal, The skin behind the ear sometimes cracks, In this case, put a little moisturizer.

The nose

Here too tiny little hairs grow outside mucus and dust, if necessary; you can put a few drops of physiological serum into each nostril.

 The eyes

In the first few days, there may be small dirt.

To remove them, pass a cotton soaked in physiological serum from the internal angle of the eye towards the external angle (It is advisable to use a different cotton for each eye).

There you go !! Your baby clean, pretty for the final brush stroke.