Baby bedtime routine bath or feed first

The Ideal Bedtime Routine For Baby

Did you know you can literally begin a bedtime routine from Day 1 of baby’s birth?! When we had our first, of course, I had no idea what to do with a baby. When our second came along, I had been established as a sleep consultant and I was pumped to begin a bedtime routine from the first night in the hospital, and we did!

But let’s be clear – starting a bedtime routine is just a cue! Newborns won’t know the difference between day and night until 8-9 weeks from their due date. But starting with small steps (like the routine!) can help cue them. The bedtime routine for newborns is exactly the same for babies, minus the fact that you’ll be helping them fall asleep!

For babies 4 months+ we’re shifting the expectation that they need you to fall asleep to, they can put themselves to sleep independently within 10 minutes.

How long should the bedtime routine be?

The entire bedtime routine from start to finish should last around 30 minutes.

The whole purpose of the bedtime routine is not to get them to go to sleep, but it’s just to get them ready to get into their bed to go to sleep.

If your bedtime routine is longer than 30 minutes, your little one could become quite overtired and frustrated with the process. Here’s an example of an ideal routine.

The Ideal Baby Bedtime Routine

How to start fresh with a bedtime routine for your baby

Alright, let’s begin at the very beginning. The first step that I love in the bedtime routine is a bath.

Step One: Bathtime

If you do this step every other night, that’s fine! A quick face wash on non-bath nights is sufficient to send a cue that bedtime is starting! Remember this isn’t a time where we’re lighting candles or playing soft music (that’s for you later!)…bath is supposed to be FUN, so enjoy it!!

Step Two: Feeding

After the bath, I want you to pick them up, wrap them in a towel, slip on a diaper, sit down with them and feed them in their room, right away. There really is nothing better than a clean, naked baby, so enjoy this time together. Enjoying this awake and alert feed with your baby is one of the simple joys I looked forward to after a long day.

Step Three: Pajamas

Once the feed is over, we’ll do our lotion and jammies. This is also a great opportunity for you to start brushing those teeth that are popping in.

Step Four: Reading a Book

Once that’s done, then I’d like you to sit down with your baby and read a book. Of course, as a former elementary teacher, I’d say that, right?! But yes, even as a newborn they can start to look at the pictures. Babies will absorb all of the colors on the page, play with the pages, and enjoy a few minutes together.

A few years ago, a mom told me she was so happy I demanded a book at bedtime. She had been wanting to implement reading, but bedtime was so stressful she couldn’t even figure out WHEN to do it! So now, having the freedom to enjoy a book or two with her little one just really gives them that connection time that she was missing.

Reading a book is also a great step for babies who need a gap between feed and laying flat. Often babies who have GERD may need to be upright for 10 minutes before laying down, and this is our chance to do just that!

If you’re finding that your baby is showing sleep cues like arching their back, rubbing their eyes or face…it is a clear sign to skip the book and get them to the next step!

Step Five (The FINAL Step): Place your child into the crib

The final step?! Placing your child into the crib! Say goodnight, give kisses and they’re off to do their job – put themselves to sleep! (For 4+month-olds!)

You leave the room, they go to sleep within 10 minutes!

Sweet Dreams!!

…just kidding, I can’t leave you on that kind of cliffhanger!

Now What?

This bedtime routine is within the second step of the Baby Sleep E-Coaching™ I teach parents. Bedtime routine sounds simple, but it really is the foundation of how the night will go. If you’re helping your baby go to sleep as part of the bedtime routine, that’s exactly WHY they will wake throughout the night! Whenever I hop on the phone with a family, the first thing I need to know is, “Tell me about the bedtime routine.” From the moment they explain their steps, I can actually gauge exactly what the problem is. A bedtime routine is that powerful!!

If you’re reading through this routine and wondering, “Yeah but WHAT DO I DO when my baby goes down awake?!” Then it’s time to get the full step-by-step process for sleep training! Take this quick quiz and find the exact program for your child…and get started on all of this, right away!

Once you implement a new bedtime routine, be consistent! Don’t try it for a few nights and convince yourself it didn’t work. (You wouldn’t work out twice and stop, right?) Keep at it. But do have a plan and a method. Even better?! Share this blog with a friend and make a group text about your new bedtime routine tonight!!

Cheers to setting the foundations for sleep…for life!!

Sweet Dreams,
Becca Campbell
Your Pediatric Sleep Consultant

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The Ultimate Guide to Bedtime Routines for Babies and Kids

May 17, 2021

When I was first told 3. 5 years ago that I should establish a nap and bedtime routine with my baby girl, I was a little overwhelmed.

What would we do? What song should we sing? Would this really matter for a newborn? What if we somehow messed it up?

So Jason and I chatted through what our routine might look like, but to be totally honest, we held very loosely to it for the first several months of Olivia’s life. We sometimes sang one verse, we sometimes sang a million verses.

We occasionally threw in a story, but she was often too tired. I would nurse her, but sometimes she would nurse right to sleep, so there just wasn’t much consistency.

It wasn’t until Olivia was ten months old and we were ready to finally sleep through the night that we tightened up on our routines. And now she’s essentially had the same bedtime routine, with a few slight adjustments, over the last three years.

She can walk anyone right through it!

So in this post we’ll talk about:

When to start using a bedtime routine with your baby
How long your child’s bedtime routine should be
What a newborn’s bedtime routine could look like
How to change your baby’s bedtime routine as they get older
What a toddler and older child’s bedtime routine could include
Why a consistent bedtime routine is so important!

Let’s jump in…

When to Start Establishing a Bedtime Routine

The great news is, you can start DAY ONE!

The first night after Avery was born, we swaddled her up and sang our bedtime song as we lulled her to sleep. And so it began!

But if you’re reading this and you’ve never had a consistent bedtime routine, whether your little one is 3 weeks old, 3 months old, or 3 years old, it’s never too late to start!

With Olivia, we always had a bedtime song, but it wasn’t until she was 10 months old that we really got consistent and stuck to a specific routine.

Just like it’s never too late to teach your child to sleep, it’s never too late to start a bedtime routine!

You can also change your bedtime routine if what you’re doing just isn’t working; no one said once you decide on a routine you can’t ever change it.

How Long a Bedtime Routine Should Be

Your child’s bedtime routine is one of the most important times of the day. The idea behind solid sleep routines is to cue your child’s physical body and mind that it’s time for sleep.

For naps, this routine should really only last 5-10 minutes before you lay your baby or toddler down. At bedtime, however, I have found that the sweet spot is around 20-30 minutes.

A routine that’s much less than 20 minutes may not be enough time for your baby to really register that it’s bedtime, and we want to make sure we’re cuing their body that overnight sleep is to come.

With toddlers and older kids, we want to also mentally prepare them so that transitioning to sleep isn’t such a challenge!

Similarly, anything longer than 30 minutes is often too much for your little one to remember; they will likely forget that bedtime is even happening!

If you have a newborn and you are still establishing feeding and each feed is still taking 20+ minutes, note that their bedtime routine will likely be longer than 30 minutes. And that’s okay if it’s the feed piece that makes it longer!

Where the Bedtime Routine Should Take Place

I suggest the bedtime feeding take place in your living room – somewhere with bright lights, some stimulation, and somewhere that feels set apart from sleep.

If you want to feed your baby in their room, maybe because older siblings are running around the living room and it’s too distracting, just make sure to keep the lights bright and stimulation high! If the end goal is independent sleep, we don’t want your baby using this feed to get drowsy or to completely fall asleep.

Then once your child has taken a bath and brushed their teeth, try to finish out the rest of the routine in their room to help them continue to physically and mentally prepare for sleep.

Here are my suggestions for bedtime routines according to your child’s age:

Newborn Bedtime Routine (0-3 months old)

Example Newborn Bedtime Routine:

Bath/wash hands, feet, face
Diaper
Feed
Lotion and jammies
Swaddle
Song

I want to point out a few “why”s in this newborn bedtime routine:

First, you’ll see that I have the bedtime feed between the diaper and jammies. The purpose of this is one, to help you find some extra space to enjoy some skin-to-skin time with your baby, if that’s something you’re being intentional about.

And two, feeding your newborn in just a diaper also helps them stay awake so they can get in a nice and full feeding without falling asleep!

You may need to tickle your baby’s toes, blow on their face, stroke their cheeks, etc, to help keep them stimulated, and doing all of this before they’re extra warm and cozy in their jammies is really helpful.

You’ll also see that this routine includes swaddling your newborn. I highly recommend parents of newborns swaddle their babies the first several weeks of life to help prevent the Moro, or startle reflex!

And then between 8-12 weeks, transition your baby out of the swaddle, either into a more standard sleep sack or just jammies.

Finally, I want you to note that your newborn will still need help getting to sleep! While we can absolutely start establishing sleep habits from the start, newborns still need quite a bit of comfort and support getting there.

Baby Bedtime Routine (4-12 months old)

Example Baby Bedtime Routine:

Feed
Bath/wash hands, feet, face
Diaper, lotion, and jammies
Sleep sack
Read one-two books
Song

Now to point out a few “why”s in this baby bedtime routine and how it’s different than a newborn’s bedtime routine:

One of the biggest differences between newborn and baby bedtime routines is when the feed takes place in the routine.

Around 3-4 months, I suggest parents move the feed to the very first step of the bedtime routine, even before the bath.

The main reason we do this is to make sure your baby is not trying to use the breast or bottle to fall asleep, or even get drowsy before you lay them down.

Although laying your baby down “drowsy but awake” can be helpful in newborn world, once babies go through the four month regression and their sleep cycles mature into being more adult-like, “drowsy” is now the first step into their sleep cycle, and laying them down drowsy will likely cause further sleep challenges.

You’ll also notice that I love ending bedtime routines with a song; we have done this with both of our girls since day one!

When choosing a song to sing, try to pick a song that you can sing in about 30 seconds, or just pick one verse. Because although singing and cuddling your babe as the last step in your routine is so so sweet, we want to watch that they are not getting drowsy in that last step before lying them down in their crib.

Finally, I want to point out that we are no longer swaddling babies at this age, but I am a big fan of sleep sacks! Read more about why I love sleep sacks and what my favorites are here.

Older Baby and Toddler Bedtime Routine (12 months-3 years old)

Example Older Baby & Toddler Bedtime Routine:

Bath/wash hands, feet, face
Diaper, lotion, and jammies
Sleep sack
Read two books
Song

Now to point out a few “why”s in this older baby and toddler bedtime routine and how it’s different than the newborn and baby routines:

The biggest change is that a feed is no longer part of the bedtime routine.

It doesn’t have to be at 12 months on the dot, but it’s around this age when babies should now be consuming solids as their main source of nutrients, and any form of milk is an added bonus.

Just like adults don’t need to end the night with a glass of milk or snack, the end goal is that our baby or toddler’s last milk of the day ends with dinner.

You’ll also see that I still have a sleep sack in this bedtime routine. I am a huge fan of sleep sacks and both of my girls (1.5 and 3.5) still wear one to sleep, but know that sleep sacks are not required to have great sleepers.

Older Child Bedtime Routine (3 years and older)

Example Older Child Bedtime Routine:

Bath/wash hands, feet, face
Jammies and affirmations
Read one chapter or two books
Massage

[Get a free printable bedtime routine chart here!]

Now to point out a few “why”s in this older child’s bedtime routine and how it’s different than the newborn, baby, and toddler routines:

As kids get older, they often start gaining more fears when it comes to bedtime, or they struggle to really settle in bed for the night (especially after transitioning from a crib to an open bed!).

I encourage parents to include some sort of affirmation, a quote, a Bible verse, etc, in their older child’s bedtime routine to help them think more positively about bedtime.

I also encourage parents to finish the routine with some sort of massage, as it’s a great way to give your child that final grounding in their bed before you leave for the night.

Just remember not to rub their back for so long that they’re once again getting drowsy or even falling asleep before you leave the room!

Finally, I want to note that it’s okay for your child’s bedtime routine to be fun. This is the last time of the day you have to really connect with your little one, so if that means having a bubble bath, or wrestling while getting jammies on, or singing silly songs while brushing teeth, that’s all okay!

And if your little one fights to get through the bedtime routine, consider using a visual schedule to give them more independence over it!

Should I Give My Baby a Bath Every Night?

I always encourage parents, whether they have a newborn, baby, toddler, or school-aged child, to start the bedtime routine with a bath.

And if it’s not bath night, splashing your child’s face with water/using a wash cloth, washing their hands, and running their little feet under the warm sink is second best!

Why?

First, we’re not generally bathing our kids all day long, so having a bath is a great way to establish that something different is happening; this is not just another part of the day, this is bedtime. And we want our kids’ bodies and minds to register this!

Second, as melatonin (our body’s natural sleepy hormone) starts producing at night, our body temperature also starts declining; this is helpful to prepare us for sleep. And our body temperatures tend to lower after a warm bath, so starting bedtime routines that way helps our bodies continue what they’re already naturally doing, preparing us all the more for sleep.

(This also means that baths or showers are helpful for adults before bed, too!)⠀

Conclusion

Your little one’s bedtime routine is one of the most important parts of the day, and it’s also a really sweet time to connect before you go your separate ways for the night.

We want bedtime to be predictable for your child and also repeatable by anyone who puts your kiddo to bed, so keep that in mind when planning what your bedtime routine will look like.

If you’re reading this and don’t have a nap or bedtime routine, it’s not too late to start! Decide on what you’d like to do and in what order, start it tonight, and stick to it!

And before you know it, your child will pick up on it (even those newborns!) and will be able to predict what’s coming…SLEEP!

With Grace,

Lauren

When and how to properly bathe a newborn baby after the maternity hospital

When to bathe a baby for the first time, what means to choose, what to do with the umbilical wound, whether to boil water, add potassium permanganate or herbal decoctions? We will answer these questions

Upon arrival from the maternity hospital with a newborn, the first thing young parents take care of is a comfortable accommodation for the baby, so that he can rest after the journey and he likes his new bed or cradle, regular feeding and daily hygiene. An important item on this list is swimming.

The first time is always exciting and often difficult: a newborn may react to water by crying and screaming, which will greatly alarm mom and dad. Do not worry, in just a few days you will master all the tricks of bath procedures, and bathing will turn into a pleasant and favorite pastime for a child.
We will help you master the intricacies of this useful and pleasant hygiene procedure, choose products for bathing and moisturizing the skin, and answer the most common questions of moms and dads.

Bathing with an unhealed navel

The first days of bathing the baby is carried out with an unhealed umbilical wound. If the stump of the navel has not yet fallen off, you can bathe the child in warm water without adding anything to it (the wound is covered with the remnants of the umbilical cord). To prevent infection, if the remainder of the umbilical cord has fallen off, and a small wound or erosion has appeared, can be added to the water of the bath , a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate .

Important! When potassium permanganate is added, it is first diluted in a small volume of water and filtered, and only then added to the water so that the crystals do not get into the bathing water and onto the skin of the newborn. They can cause burns.

Do not get carried away with taking baths with this composition , it dries the skin a lot, and you should not take such baths every day, only one or two days, while the umbilical wound is fresh and has not yet tightened with a dense crust. Then you can already bathe the baby in ordinary warm water.
Also do not replace the bathing of a child with an unhealed navel for rubbing the body with baby wet wipes - they do not replace a full-fledged bathing, but only supplement it. You need to use them only in extreme situations - if the hot water is turned off, you are on a trip or there is no way to fully redeem the baby [4].

When to start bathing a newborn baby

The baby can take the first bath on the first day after discharge from the maternity hospital. But if the discharge was after dinner, the way home was long and emotional, and the mother and the baby were tired, you can postpone this procedure for the next day, when the baby is already a little comfortable at home, rests and is in a good mood.
In the future, bathing can be carried out daily - in the evening or morning hours , although experts disagree on the frequency of hygienic baths.

Some doctors believe that hygienic baths are required daily, others are of the opinion that until the baby begins to crawl and walk, run, actively play in the sand, on the ground, get dirty, he does not need a daily bath: it is enough to take it every other day or three times a week.

Opinions differ, but it is important to emphasize that the benefits of daily bathing are obvious . Throughout the day, bacteria, particles of exfoliating epithelium, and sweat actively accumulate on the skin of the crumbs. They can irritate delicate skin, provoke inflammation, if the baby is not washed regularly. Plus, water procedures are part of the rituals , the daily routine.
It will be correct to bathe the child every day, but with some exceptions: if the baby is not in the spirit, the mother is tired or it is cool at home, it is quite possible to do without a bath, washing the baby and changing the diaper. In the heat, when the air temperature is high, even two baths a day are possible - in the morning and in the evening [1].
Kids are very fond of bathing: this is the time when they can once again communicate with their mother, or with their father who came home from work, older brothers and sisters. Bathing has a positive effect on physical development, improves a child's sleep . During the procedure, talk to the baby, let him feel protected, dim the lights, you can turn on pleasant music.

Preparation for bathing

The first baths, until the baby's umbilical wound heals, can be done in a baby bath. The volume of water in it is less than in a conventional bath, it is more convenient for parents to hold and wash the baby. As your child grows older, you can switch to bathing in an adult bath. Usually this age is from 2-3 months. But do not forget about cleanliness - before bathing in a large bath, you need to wash it with soda and a sponge, then thoroughly rinse the composition with hot water.
One of the burning questions when parents are going to bathe a baby for the first time is whether it is necessary to boil the water? The modern water supply system implies that tap water is safe for children and adults, so there is no need for additional boiling. If water from open sources is used (wells, rivers, lakes), it is better to boil it in advance and cool it to the desired temperature at least in the first weeks of life, while the umbilical wound heals.

Be sure to prepare before bathing:

towel (possible with a corner to cover the head),

clean diaper,

bathing and moisturizing products, protective diaper cream;

clean clothes or diapers.

Organize your essentials on the changing table or where you will dress your baby so everything is within reach.

Water temperature for the first bath of a child
To make hygiene procedures enjoyable and safe, you need to choose the right water temperature . Every day, when bathing a newborn, you need to pour water into the bath approximately equal to 37-38 degrees . To measure the temperature, you can use special water thermometers. They are usually made in the form of funny figurines, animals of bright color, the child likes them, they attract attention. But it is quite possible to do without this device, determining the temperature of the water with the back of the hand or elbow (as our mothers did). The water should be about body temperature and feel comfortable. You should not focus on the perception from the fingers of the hand, they are more resistant to temperature: more sensitive skin on the elbow or back of the hand will give more objective information.

Important! If a gas water heater or an electric water heater is installed in the house, and even when collecting water from a hot tap of a central water supply, always check the temperature of the water before lowering the baby there (even if you initially collected water at the right temperature). Due to the change in water pressure, the temperature may rise sharply, and the water will be too hot. For the delicate skin of babies, it is dangerous for burns!

Baby bath time

The first time you don't need to bathe the baby for a long time. It takes literally 5-10 minutes to wash the head and body of a newborn. Gradually, the procedure will lengthen, the baby will look forward to it.
As baths become part of the daily routine, bathing can last up to 20-30 minutes . At this time, kids can swim, play with funny toys, splash in the foam under the supervision of their parents.

Bath products

Always bathe your newborn only with specially designed baby products [2].

Adult shower gels, shampoos or regular soap bars may be too harsh and allergenic for babies' delicate skin.

For daily hygiene, the baby will need:

body and hair cleansing gel

skin moisturizing milk or cream

diaper cream to prevent redness

It is desirable that children's products be labeled 0+ , contain predominantly natural ingredients , and also have hypoallergenic composition and clinically proven effectiveness.

Mustela Soft Bath Gel contains 90% ingredients of natural origin.
Avocado's Perseose promotes the natural development of baby's skin while maintaining its own protection and hydration.

The gel gently cleanses delicate fragile skin, softens the effect of tap water, does not contain soap and does not sting the eyes.

How to properly bathe a baby

The first time the baby is bathed, holding on one arm, placing the head in the elbow bend , supporting the buttocks of the baby with the palm, and gradually immersing him in the water. You can ask for help from dad or any other family member.
Modern bathing baths are often equipped with a special slide that helps keep the baby in the correct, comfortable position when bathing. The slide is covered with a clean diaper, on which the baby is placed on top, placing the head in a special recess.
First, the baby should be gradually immersed in water, starting from the heels and lowering into the water approximately to chest level. Need to give him some time to get used to the temperature of , gently pouring some water on his chest and tummy.

Bathing baby start with the face and head to wash them with clean water until it becomes soapy. You can use a soft sponge, cotton balls, or just your hand, washing the skin. The face is wiped in the direction from the forehead to the chin, running a hand or sponge from the middle of the forehead towards the temple, cheeks and cheekbones on the left and right. Gently wipe between the eyebrows and nose so that water does not get into the nostrils.

The head is washed in the direction from the forehead to the back of the head so that water and soap suds do not get into the baby's eyes. First, a few drops of shampoo are applied to the hand, lathered and evenly covered with foam on the head, gently massaging the hairs and skin on the head with fingertips. Shampoo is also washed off with water, with soft retracting movements from front to back, pouring it from a ladle or scooping it up with a hand. Don't forget the area behind the ears , where dirt, sweat and shampoo residues often accumulate. This area should be thoroughly rinsed with clean water.
Then wash the neck, shoulders and arms, carefully opening and washing all the wrinkles with soapy foam and then with clean water.
The next step is washing the tummy and legs, including the area of the popliteal folds and the spaces between the toes on the foot.

The last step is to wash the diaper area , thoroughly washing the groin, buttocks and genital area. This is important because bacteria from the intestines enter the water when flushed and it is undesirable for them to then fall on the face or other parts of the body.
At the end of the bath, the baby should be rinsed with clean water from the ladle. It can be 1-2 degrees lower than the temperature of the water in the bath.

Important! Do not use the shower for rinsing - this is justified for safety reasons. In the shower, it is difficult to adjust the water to the desired temperature, due to changes in water pressure, it can become too hot. It is dangerous for the skin, a burn is possible. In addition, the sound of the shower and elastic jets can scare the baby, form a negative reaction to bathing.

End of water procedures

After bathing, the baby needs to warm up, wrap him in a warm cotton towel and take him out of the bathroom, moving to the changing table or any convenient place. It is important not to rub his skin, removing the remaining moisture, but to gently blot all exposed areas of the body and all skin folds on the neck, arms, buttocks and legs.
It is important to dry the baby and carry out all subsequent procedures in a warm room so that there is no sudden temperature change. Wet skin actively evaporates water and cools faster.
If the baby's hair is long, after blotting the skin on the head, you can put on a thin cotton cap for 1-2 hours until the hair is dry. You don't need to wear a hat all the time.

Hydration and treatment of the diaper area

The last step is to treat the skin of the body, treat the crotch area and put on a clean diaper. The skin of a newborn baby is very fragile, the epidermal barrier is not yet fully formed, it is subject to moisture loss. Therefore, it is necessary to moisturize the skin on the body so that it does not dry out, does not peel off and does not become inflamed [3].

Hydra Bebe Body Milk gently moisturizes for a long time , strengthens the skin barrier and cares for baby's skin.

With 97% ingredients of natural origin.

Apply a small amount of milk to the hands and spread over the body with soft stroking movements, starting from the neck and shoulders, chest, back, ending with the legs, from the hip to the foot. In addition to care, it is also a light massage with a calming effect.

Before putting on a clean diaper, the delicate skin under the diaper must be properly protected from the aggressive effects of urine and feces. To create a protective barrier, it is worth using a special diaper cream.

Diaper cream 1 2 3 protects, quickly soothes and regenerates the skin, does not hinder skin breathing.
Effective in 80% of cases from the first application for redness*

This cream can be used for prevention and for redness in the area under the diaper and skin folds.

Should I use herbs?

Often, parents are advised to bathe a newborn child in a bath with the addition of decoctions of various herbs - a decoction of chamomile, an infusion of string or celandine. You need to be careful with this advice. Herbal infusions and decoctions are not as harmless as parents might think. Firstly, they can be allergenic for the skin of the crumbs and provoke rashes.
Secondly, decoctions of herbs, especially string, strongly dry the skin, can provoke its increased peeling. Therefore, you do not need to use these components yourself. If necessary, a pediatrician who comes for regular visits will advise bathing the baby in herbs. This is usually required when prickly heat appears, severe sweating in the area of \u200b\u200bthe folds, if there is a tendency to dermatitis.

How often to wash a newborn's head

Newborn babies do not get very dirty, so they need to wash their head with shampoo no more than 2-3 times a week. But the baby’s head can sweat a lot, so during daily bathing, you can simply wash it with warm water.
If there are crusts on the head, do not force them off. Wet the baby's head, soak for a few minutes and wash off those crusts that have peeled off on their own or use special products to soften and then gently wash off the crusts.

Mustela Milk Crust Foaming Shampoo Removes Crust Easily

What is Absolutely Prohibited

The most important rule for parents to remember is Never leave your baby alone in the bath for even a second . This threatens with dangerous consequences.
Do not leave the baby in the bath under the supervision of older children, especially if they are still preschoolers or younger students.
If you need to immediately answer the phone, open the door or get out of the bath for other reasons, take the baby out of the water, wrap it in a towel and take it with you or put it in the crib.

There are a number of other rules that should be observed when bathing little ones:

Always check the temperature before immersing the baby in water, even if you checked it 5 minutes ago.
Do not use adult detergents if there are no children's detergents or they have run out. Just wash your baby with clean water.
Do not refuse hygiene procedures when the baby is sick. Do not bathe your baby if he has a fever. At normal temperatures, bathing helps to improve skin respiration, stimulates metabolism.

Although the first baths can be difficult and exciting, you will quickly master all the stages of bathing. And then daily hygiene procedures will become another way to improve, develop the crumbs, and improve his mood.

Literature:

*Clinical trial conducted on 69 children aged 3 days to 2.7 years, under the supervision of pediatricians and dermatologists

**Clinical trial conducted by specialists on 31 children with milk crust problem

1. Blume-Peytavi U, Lavender T, Jenerowicz D, et al. Recommendations from a European Roundtable Meeting on Best Practice Healthy Infant Skin Care. Pediatric Dermatol. 2016;33(3):311-321. doi:10.1111/pde.12819
2. Price AD, Lythgoe J, Akers-Johnson J, Cook PA, Clarke-Cornwell AM, MacVane Phipps F. The BaSICS (Baby Skin Integrity Comparison Survey) study: A prospective experimental study using maternal observations to report the effect of baby wipes on the incidence of irritant diaper dermatitis in infants, from birth to eight weeks of age. Pediatric Neonatol. 2021 Mar;62(2):138-145. doi: 10.1016/j.pedneo.2020.10.003. Epub 2020 Oct 23. PMID: 33221203.
3. Duan Y, Ma L, Galzote C, Kong FQ, Shen CP. A Randomized Pilot Clinical Assessment Of Three Skincare Regimens On Skin Conditions In Infants. ClinCosmet Investig Dermatol. 2019;12:895-909. Published 2019 Dec 16. doi:10.2147/CCID.S204216
4. Rodriguez KJ, Cunningham C, Foxenberg R, Hoffman D, Vongsa R. The science behind wet wipes for infant skin: Ingredient review, safety, and efficacy. Pediatr Derm

How to bathe your baby | Happy Moments

With the advent of a small child in a family, sometimes the simplest things seem incredibly difficult for new parents. Feeding the baby, dressing and hygiene ... And such an event as the first bath turns out to be a whole sacrament for many, requiring special knowledge and skills. However, having mastered this process, very soon both parents and the baby will begin to receive a lot of pleasure, pleasant emotions and benefits from it.

Benefits of bathing

Bathing a child in the bath is not just about taking care of children's skin, but also strengthening the immune system. During water procedures, the baby hardens, trains its not yet perfect thermoregulation. The child learns the world, masters a new environment for himself, feels his body differently, and of course, receives positive emotions together with his parents. In addition, taking a bath soothes, relaxes and prepares the baby for sleep. Thus, daily bathing becomes an important stage in the formation of the baby's regimen from the first days of life.

Bathing time

The evening is considered the ideal time for bathing a child. Water perfectly calms, adjusts to a night's sleep. It is important for parents who have chosen this daily routine to create an atmosphere of peace themselves so that the baby does not get overexcited and can sleep peacefully. However, there are children for whom evening bathing is not suitable due to individual characteristics of the regimen: then their parents should bathe him in the morning, choosing the most convenient moment in order to get the maximum benefit and positive emotions from the process.

Another question that worries many parents is when to wash their baby - before feeding or after? And even pediatricians do not have a clear answer, since the baby himself determines the time for bathing with his mood. If the baby is hungry and crying - taking a bath, of course, should be postponed, after waiting some time after feeding (especially if the baby is bottle-fed, because mixtures are digested longer than breast milk).

Preparation for bathing

Most parents prefer to wash their newborn baby in a plastic baby bath with a little water in it. Beforehand, the bath must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected by dousing with boiling water. For the first baths of a newborn, it is recommended to use cooled boiled water, or add a weak solution of potassium permanganate to the tap.

The optimal temperature to start swimming is 33-34 degrees. If you have not had time to get a water thermometer, you can make sure that the water is at the right temperature by dipping your elbow into the bath.

The air temperature in the room should also be comfortable: you need to make sure that there are no drafts in the room, but you shouldn’t close all the doors either, so that later on leaving the stuffy bath you don’t create sudden temperature changes for the baby.

Prepare a bucket of warm water for rinsing your baby, a diaper and a large towel to wrap your baby up after bathing. Before you wash your baby, prepare clean clothes, cotton swabs, a clean diaper, and baby skin care products.

Baby bath products

Modern baby bath products can be used from the first days of life. Baby soap and shampoo should have a special pH level that suits the delicate and sensitive skin of the baby, be sure to be hypoallergenic, and do not contain harmful fragrances. Pediatricians recommend using soap or foam for bathing very young children no more than 1-2 times a week. Shampoo your child's hair once a week. On other days, it is enough to bathe the baby in clean water. If necessary, a decoction of chamomile, calendula or string can be added to the water: this is especially true when irritation or prickly heat appears on the child's skin.