We don't do it this way anymore — it is now standard protocol at many hospitals to wait 8-24 hours to give a baby his or her first bath, and up to 48 hours if the baby was delivered by cesarian section. Delayed newborn bathing is consistent with World Health Organization recommendations and based on medical research.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends delaying baby's first bath until 24 hours after birth—or waiting at least 6 hours if a full day isn't possible for cultural reasons.
It also keeps their skin moist. If you wash it off right away, that can increase a baby's risk of infection and cracked skin. Therefore, doctors recommend parents wait to bathe their newborn until about 24 hours after birth.
It's standard practice for nurses to bathe babies in hospital, and parents are usually encouraged to participate.
After your baby's umbilical cord stump falls off, you can transition from sponge baths to actual baths in a sink or a baby bathtub. His first bath in a tub should be gentle and quick; however, you might need to go back to sponge baths if your baby fusses a lot and simply doesn't like this new activity.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says bathing a baby too often can not only dry out their skin but strip their skin of necessary bacteria that ward off infections.
A bath 2-3 times a week is enough to keep your newborn clean. But if your baby really likes baths, your baby can bath once a day. Bathing more than this can dry out your baby's skin. You can keep your baby's genitals clean between baths by using warm water and cotton wool.
You can wash your baby with just water if you want to. ... In fact, doing so could dry out your baby's skin. You may think that water-only baths are the gentlest way to keep your baby's skin clean, especially when they're very young. In fact, a lot depends on whether you live in a soft water or a hard water area.
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