The Ideal Temperature For Baby’s Bath
The arrival of a newborn usually arouses, in most cases, a feeling of insecurity in the parents when it comes to providing them with the necessary care in their first months of life, especially for those parents who are first-timers. Among the many questions that parents ask themselves is the one we’ll stick to today: what is the ideal temperature for a baby’s bath?
The temperature at bath time
To begin with, and referring to thermal regulation, it should be noted that this is a physiological function, that is, it is defined as the ability to maintain a balance between heat production and loss in order to make body temperature normal. .
Speaking in numerical terms, it could be said that in a baby the proper average temperature would be between 36.5 and 37.5 degrees Celsius. However, you need to pay close attention to this, as babies are much more sensitive to changes in temperature.
In a time as essential and routine as bath time, it is necessary to take into account both the temperature of the bathroom and the water. First of all, it is recommended that this room has a temperature around 20 and 25 degrees Celsius, conducive to creating a mild environment.
The reason for this is so that there is no extreme temperature difference when taking the baby out of the water. Secondly, it is recommended that the water has a temperature of around 37 degrees Celsius.
Basic pre-questions
Next, we’ll expose some of the basic questions that both fathers and mothers are thinking about when starting to bathe their baby.
How often is it recommended to bathe my baby?
To start with, it is essential to warn that it depends a little on the state of each baby and the customs of each country. However, it is not recommended to abuse the bath in the first days of life of the newborn. O
first bath
it can wait.
With regard to purely hygienic issues, in Spain it is considered that a baby a few months old requires one to two baths a week. The reason is that the baby doesn’t get so dirty throughout the day and that happens until the moment he starts to crawl.
From that moment on, it is essential to pay more attention to the cleaning aspect. We must wash the baby’s hands and face, the folds of the skin, and even clean the genital region with special care, whenever we change the diaper.
However, it should be noted that in many other countries the most common is to bathe the newborn every day, establishing this act as a kind of daily routine because they consider it to be
relaxing
for the baby.
In the opinion of many pediatricians, daily bathing is recommended. Not only to ensure the baby’s well-being, but also because it’s a time to nurture parent-child bonds. Besides being a way to help them sleep better.
One piece of advice to take into account when bathing your baby is to try not to completely submerge the baby in water until the umbilical cord falls out. During this period, you can alternate the bath and a light cleaning of the whole body with a damp sponge.
As we emphasized at the beginning, the frequency of bathing depends on the preferences of each family. It is okay to bathe daily, as long as a special baby soap is used that does not irritate or hurt the extremely sensitive skin of the little ones.
What is the best method to bathe my baby?
Next, we’ll expose a series of subjects that are sure to make your child’s bath time easier. Although with a little attention and affection, you will realize that the
time
Bathing will become one of the rituals you will enjoy the most with your baby.
1. Make sure you have at your disposal all the utensils that the bath requires: a towel, clean clothes and diaper, and soap. An important fact is to check the temperature of the bathroom so that the baby does not feel cold.
2. Fill the
bathtub
. The recommended measure is approximately two or three inches of warm water, not too hot.
3. Make sure your baby is safe and close to where the bathtub is, remove his clothes.
4. Submerge the baby a little in the water, always making sure that through your hands you lift the neck and head because they are very delicate areas. From time to time, pour water in small amounts from a pitcher or glass over the baby’s torso to prevent the baby from feeling cold. The key at this time of bathing is that the baby does not slip and swallow water or get hurt.
5. Use as little soap as possible, as it is an external agent that can harm your skin. Wash your hair gently, using a wet washcloth, passing over your eyes and face. A small piece of cotton can help at this time. Wash your baby’s genital area frequently, although it must be said that, contrary to predictions, it does not require a deeper cleaning than other parts of the body.
6. Get your baby out of the tub, paying close attention to him.
Wrap it in a towel, preferably a hooded bath towel, and dry it gently. If you notice that the skin in the diaper area is dry, you can apply a moisturizing cream or lotion to soothe it.
Hygiene ends up being something essential for a baby, especially in the first months of life to ensure their care and health, since bathing is the main protection against contamination by certain diseases. In addition, and as we mentioned earlier, the
bath
it can become one of the most special moments of this phase: a time to relax and share with your baby. As we have seen, it is just a matter of practice and following this simple step by step.
