The question of how often to bathe a child at 2 months old is quite relevant for young parents. Each baby has its own characteristics, so it is better to determine the time of water procedures individually.
On average, the duration of bathing is half an hour. The optimal time for taking a bath is 20: 00-21: 00.
Evening bathing helps to eliminate psycho-emotional stress, provides a sound and restful sleep. It is worth carrying out the procedure before feeding. If the baby is constantly crying when bathing, then this means that something does not suit him. You may need to change your bath time or water temperature.
It is important to choose the optimal frequency of bathing. Too much hygiene can reduce the skin's ability to resist bacteria. At the age of two months, the child is actively developing a beneficial microflora.
If you often wash the baby with antibacterial agents, this can lead to irritation, dryness, and rashes on the skin.
Neglect of hygiene also negatively affects the condition of the dermis: diaper rash may appear. Rare bathing is also bad for physical development... During the bath, blood circulation is normalized, muscle tension is eliminated. Active movements of the child in the water help to strengthen the muscles.
Bathing rules
In order for water procedures to bring only benefits to the child, it is worth carrying them out taking into account a number of rules. Bathing is a ritual that requires certain items.
Thermometer for measuring water temperature
To take a bath you will need:
- thermometer to determine the temperature of the water;
- baby bath. Pediatrician Komarovsky claims that in two months it is already possible to carry out hygiene in a shared bath. It should be washed with soda beforehand;
- towel;
- clean clothes;
- sheet;
- hygiene products.
Bathing a child at 2 months old should be carried out in accordance with the following rules:
- it is necessary to maintain the temperature in the bathroom at + 22-23 degrees;
- the water should be warm and comfortable for the baby (approximately + 36-37 degrees). Its temperature must be constantly monitored and maintained at an optimal level;
- before swimming, it is worth closing all the windows in the apartment to prevent the appearance of a draft;
- the child should be placed in the water gradually: first the legs, then the buttocks, then the back, arms and head;
- if the baby's umbilical wound has not yet healed, then it is necessary to bathe him in a baby bath in boiled water;
- to improve the condition of the skin, you can do herbal baths. For the preparation of decoctions, pediatricians advise to use oak bark, chamomile, string, sage, lavender, motherwort, valerian;
- if the child has a fever, then bathing should be postponed;
- every day, decoctions of herbs and soap should not be used;
- if the baby is in a bad mood, he does not want to take a bath, then the procedure should be rescheduled for another day.
In the summer, when the baby is constantly sweating, it is worth bathing him every day. In winter, the frequency of water procedures can be reduced. During the illness, the post-vaccination period, it is better to refuse bathing in the bath.
Baby care products
Today, the range of care products for children is quite wide. Therefore, parents can choose a product that will meet the needs and individual characteristics child.
Care products for babies two months old include:
- soap, gels. The advantage of the latter product is ease of use, economical consumption;
- shampoos. They can be used from the first days of life. Some parents wash their child's hair with gel or regular soap;
- cream. After each bathing, the baby's skin should be lubricated with milk or cream. This prevents drying out, saturates the epidermal integument with nutrients. A quality cream must have moisturizing, anti-inflammatory properties;
- powder. They are used to prevent the appearance of diaper rash on the skin. The most sensitive parts of the body (axillary and cervical folds, elbow folds) are treated with powders. This product absorbs moisture and prevents irritation.
It is better to buy care products for a two-month-old baby in specialized stores or pharmacies.
- Mustela. Has been manufacturing baby products for over 60 years. Constantly expanding the range and improving the composition;
- Bubchen. This is a German company famous for the production of herbal cosmetics for children;
- Eared nanny. This is a Russian company that produces cosmetics using modern technologies. Its products are cheaper than imported counterparts;
- Weleda. Specializes in the production of natural cosmetics;
- Johnson & Johnson. Differs in consistently high quality products.
Bathing a two month old baby
It is necessary to bathe the baby regularly, only a couple of times a week can be added to the water detergents... And only those that do not contain soap. By the way, the foam for bathing cleanses the baby's skin gently, while it does not irritate it at all and does not cause tears when it gets into the eyes.
Most children's detergents contain medicinal herbs, for example, string, chamomile, sage, etc. If your baby is just a couple of weeks old, use a simple, soft diaper to wipe him dry.
Trim your baby's nails. Do it this way: first trim the nails on the legs, lift each finger and trim, slightly rounding them. On your hands, start trimming with your thumb right hand baby. Then you need to carefully open the baby's fist so that his palm is in your hand, start cutting with the little finger.
We clean the ears
Gently clean your ears with a cotton swab, and the inner ear cleans itself. To clean the spout, twist the cotton wool flagellum and slightly moisten it in vegetable oil (boiled). Wipe your eyes with a cotton swab, previously moistened with boiled water, run along the lower eyelid from the outer corner of the eye to the bridge of the nose.
Baby feeding
By two months, a feeding and sleeping regimen will be developed. And if you fail to establish a regime, the baby sleeps very little, is constantly naughty and still eats badly, then you need to consult a pediatrician, probably something is not normal.
Of course, the healthiest food for a newborn is breast milk... It contains easily digestible proteins, minerals, vitamins and other substances that are useful for the baby's body. If the child is not breastfeeding, then you need to select the mixture only with the advice of a pediatrician. Sterilize feeding bottles and nipples for up to six months.
Regurgitation
There are children who often spit up after eating. In the case when the baby normally develops and gains weight, regurgitation is not scary. But still, check how well you feed your baby. To do this, answer the following questions for yourself.
Does the baby swallow excess air when sucking? What is the size of the nipple hole and is it suitable for the consistency of the mixture in the bottle? How much the child eats: Calculate the approximate single serving by dividing the amount of food per day by the number of all feedings. A baby at the age of two months should consume about 900 grams per day. food. From time to time after feeding, lift your baby and hold him upright so that he can regurgitate excess air.
It is undeniable that all young mothers are worried about the baby's stool. When breastfeeding, the stool remains liquid, it happens three to four times a day. During this period, intestinal colic still occurs, but it is already much easier to deal with them.
In addition to dill water, try activated carbon as an option. To do this, dissolve 1/6 of the tablet in boiled water at one time, give the baby the medicine two to three times a day.
A decoction of chamomile is also useful. You can prepare it by adding a teaspoon of chamomile to a glass of water. After that, you need to boil, leave for 20 minutes, strain and give to the child before feeding one teaspoon a day three times.
- If a newborn has noticeably large pimples on the cheeks in one to three weeks, know that this is a hormonal rash, not an allergy. And if the baby's temperature and appetite are normal, then this is not an infection. Atopic dermatitis (diathesis), manifests itself in infants, usually either by plaques all over the body, or by a crust behind the ears. Pimples in newborns happen, pour out on the back or legs.
- Colic is significantly common in a newborn in the first three months. Of course, this is very unpleasant and it is a pity for the little one, and the parents do not get enough sleep for a long time. There are certain guidelines for caring for a newborn who suffers from colic. It is good to use a variety of physical methods: warm on the stomach, massage, etc. Espumisan, fennel tea for newborns, dill water will also help.
If the baby is actively eating and gaining weight well, then with a high probability he is healthy. So don't worry without unnecessary reasons... And such a newborn needs competent care, not medical care.
Zagudailova Galina
So, 2 months have passed since the birth of your baby
Now that you have entered the mode of new, unusual, everyday worries, and your child has grown up enough, it's time to start developing his new skills.
Have you noticed how his behavior, facial expressions, gestures, habits change?
See how interesting your little one reacts to the toys that you chat with over him. Compared to last month, his movements are now more coordinated. He can reach out to get an object of interest to him, and even try to hit it with his hand. If you put a rattle in his handle, he will hold it tightly for a while. Give him a chance to shake her up. Children react to this movement in different ways. Some may look and listen in surprise. Others may cry when they perceive the noise of the rattle as annoying. Some children, on the other hand, will try to mimic your movement while smiling.
Development of a 2 month old baby
- Smile!
- Start changing your baby's position!
- We swim like adults!
- First sounds!
By the end of the second month, your baby begins to smile with a delightful, toothless smile in response to yours. If it isn't already happening, take your time. Smile more at your baby, talk to him. The kid loves to look at your face, he feels your love for him and will definitely reciprocate you. There is nothing more beautiful than the contemplation of a child's serene smile in a dream.
Start changing your baby's position!
When your toddler is awake and wants to play, flip him over onto his tummy. This position will not only allow your little one to see the world around him from a different angle, but will also strengthen and develop the muscles in the neck to better hold the head. Put bright toys in front of the baby, soft books... Be sure to talk to him, showing the objects that are in front of him. Your baby will be happy to be in this position, and will also begin to slowly try to reach for an interesting bright object. This will prepare him for the next stage of his development - a crawler.
We swim like adults!
Your baby is already old enough. It's time to bathe him in the big bathroom. Buy an inflatable ring that will allow your child's head to stay on the surface of the water. Begin active swimming exercises. Children tend to enjoy this activity very much. They begin to actively swing their legs and arms. This will strengthen your baby's muscles and will also teach him not to be afraid of water. Finish the swim with contrasting douches. This will strengthen your child's immunity.
First sounds!
This month, your little one not only begins to actively listen to your speech, carefully observing how you articulate, but also tries to make the first sounds. The first sounds that babies begin to make are vowels. Continue talking to him, repeating the sounds your baby is trying to make. At the same time, carefully monitor his eyes to understand what subject he is trying to tell you about. Over time, this will turn into an interesting game.
Babies love to suck. Whether it's a nipple, mom's or dad's finger, your own finger, the edge of the diaper. This is a very important skill for a toddler. Thus, as a rule, he tries to calm himself down.
Pay your attention to this. Perhaps, taking the baby in your arms at this time, you will give him the opportunity to relax without a nipple.
Often, by the end of the second month, the baby is more and more demanding of you to be upright. For the kid this opportunity will see new world! Take him in your arms more often! The warmth of your body, the love emanating from your heart, as well as the contemplation of objects around - all this makes your baby happy.
How often should a 2 month old baby be bathed in a bathtub or bathtub how long should water procedures take
how often you need to bathe a 2 month old baby in a bath or bath. how long should water treatments take?
- Everyday. At this age, evening bathing is not a hygienic procedure, but a means of hardening. And bathe - in a large bath, after being treated with soda.
I bathe my baby 2 times a week, the first bath was only when the umbilical cord fell off. My son does not walk like a pig and does not smell afterwards ..)))
By the time I bathed for 10 -15 minutes
Home »Pregnancy, Childbirth» How often should you bathe a 2-month-old baby in a bathtub or bath how long should water procedures take?
Regimen of a newborn baby at 2 months - the correct routine of life
It seems that the entire first month of life the baby ate and slept, and to fall asleep it was enough just to put him in the crib. At 2 months everything changes. The baby, who previously needed only mother's milk and affection, suddenly begins to demonstrate habits. For example, he falls asleep exclusively during feeding, and sleeping under his mother's breast becomes his favorite pastime. Or begins to doze only when he is shaken in his arms. It's time to take a closer look at the 2 month old baby's regimen and see if it suits him, you and other family members.
Approximate day of 2 month old baby
The child still spends a lot of time sleeping when mom can do household chores. But this dream becomes sensitive: the slightest rustle seems to wake you up. Indeed, after 5 weeks of life, the senses begin to develop actively, hearing becomes more acute. And the sounds that the baby simply did not react to before can now scare him.
What does this require from parents? Provide silence while sleeping. A good rest at the age of two months (and in general up to a year) is the basis not only for the well-being of the baby, but also for the normal life of the whole family.
Child's day regimen at 2 months breastfeeding and an artificial baby is about the same. It highlights the main points: sleep, feeding and wakefulness. In such a schedule, the time for walking, bathing and hygiene procedures is selected. If the mother followed the baby's day regimen for 1 month. now it will change only slightly and there will be no difficulties with the transition. If before the family did not live according to the regime, now it is important to create the rules of the daily routine and adhere to them strictly.
Here is a rough daily routine for a 2 month old baby.
Awakening, first feeding.
Sleep and then feeding. Having a snack at night, the baby will sleep until 6 in the morning.
The nuances of the daily routine
Can the regimen of a newborn baby at 2 months thoroughly answer this? Maybe, but not always. Often, children themselves set a sleep and wake schedule that suits their parents completely. For example, he wakes up for the first breakfast not at 6.00, but at 7.00. Why not? Mom has an extra hour to rest! Or goes to bed closer to 24.00, having a good meal. Then all family members calmly rest until the morning with the child.
It's another matter if the regime of day 2 month old baby breastfed or an artificial baby does not comply with any standards. For example, a baby confuses day with night, and spends more time awake than sleep, when adults need to rest. Or it requires feeding not at certain time intervals (approximately 3.5-4 hours), but literally hourly. In such a situation, the mother needs to control the periods of sleep, feeding and wakefulness of the baby herself.
How to accustom a child to the regime at 2 months? Observe it yourself! Get up at exactly 6.00 and wake up the baby, feed him. Then wash and do gymnastics. Go to bed in an hour and a half and do your household chores. Observing the approximate daily routine of a child at 2 months, you will very soon notice that he also began to live according to your rules.
Gymnastics and bathing
It is important to observe not only the baby's sleep schedule at 2 months, but also other important components of the daily routine. It is advisable to bathe the baby at the same time, every day. For most, evening bathing is suitable: in a small bathtub, he can lie in his father's arms or happily slap his feet in the water, reclining in a special hammock.
Usually, after water procedures, which take at least half an hour, the baby eats with appetite and, tired, goes to bed until morning. If you notice that the bathroom is too invigorating for the baby, and after it he cannot sleep, reschedule the bathing for the day after one of the awakenings.
Also determine the time of gymnastics that is convenient for both of you, for example, after the first or second morning waking up. Helpful physical exercises include bending and extending the legs, extending the arms, and gently massaging the back and chest with gentle strokes. Do not exercise immediately after meals and keep your baby in a good mood during gymnastics.
When the baby is 2 months old, development and regimen are closely related. The health and emotional state of the baby depends on the duration and frequency of sleep, adherence to the correct feeding schedule.
Baby bathing is always exciting for aspiring parents who constantly think they are doing something wrong. The first month it is especially noticeable, by the second month confidence is growing, but new questions appear.
How not to get confused in a large amount of information, let's try to figure it out one by one.
Bathing attributes for babies two months
Bathing accessories for two months are not particularly different except for a few points. We will need:
- baby bath;
- thermometer for water and room;
- towel, diaper;
- decoction of herbs;
- changeable things are clean.
reference
Choose your baby's bath products carefully. Some manufacturers use ingredients that cause allergic skin reactions in the production of bathing cosmetics:
- dyes;
- synthetic components;
- silicones;
- products of animal origin;
- petroleum jelly, paraffins.
Dear moms, before grabbing bathing shampoo from the store shelf, ask the question: is your baby soiled at 2 months old enough to wash it cosmetics, like a hero from "Moidodyr"?
A bath with the right herbs is enough for your child, which will bring much more benefits than shampoo or bath gel.
Conditions of water procedures
- It is advisable to bathe your baby at a specific time - this will help you accustom your baby to a specific regimen. It is better to choose the time in the evening before meals, approximately from 20:00 to 21:00.
- You can bathe every day, believe me, your child will receive a lot of positive emotions that will improve his sleep.
- The temperature of the room or room where the child will take a bath should be on average 22-23 ° C.
- The water temperature should be 36-37 ° C.
reference
If you don't have a thermometer on hand, test the water by dipping your elbow into the tub. You shouldn't have temperature discomfort.
- It is better to wrap the baby in a diaper, so the difference in temperature between water and air will not be noticeable, and the baby will not feel any obvious discomfort.
- The baby should be placed in the water gradually, first the legs, then the buttocks, the back, and only at the end of the wash the baby's face and head.
- Bathing can also be carried out in a large, previously washed bath.
- You do not need to boil bathing water if the umbilical wound has healed.
- Prepare in advance a change of clothes, a towel, a changing table, oil for processing after bathing, a diaper.
What not to do
Dear parents, bathing is a responsible procedure, so you need to be extremely careful about what happens at this moment.
- You cannot leave the child unattended - this applies to the moment if during the water procedures special devices are used for bathing the baby, such as an inflatable circle on the neck.
- You cannot swim with your baby in the bathtub.
- You can not make sudden movements while taking water procedures.
- If you pour hot water into the baby bath, this should be done outside the presence of the baby in it to avoid burns.
- You cannot put your baby in a bath of water abruptly, this can postpone a negative imprint and your child may subsequently be afraid of water procedures, even if he is only two months old.
- You cannot take the baby out of the bath by the head. Many parents find this method useful, but it can cause trauma to the cervical spine with subsequent complications.
- You can not bathe the child immediately after feeding or hungry, the interval between feeding and bathing should be about 30 minutes.
- You cannot bathe a child if he is crying.
- You cannot bathe your baby in a hectic environment in the house, believe me, even at such a small age, he feels anxiety about this.
How to make a decoction of herbs
Pour about 2 liters of water into a saucepan, heat to a boil. After that, add a handful of herbs, close the lid and let it brew for about 20 minutes. We filter the broth and pour it into a bath of water.
What herbs can be used:
- Oak bark - promotes wound healing, has a cleansing property;
- Chamomile - has anti-inflammatory, cleansing properties for the skin;
- A series - has anti-inflammatory properties, especially indicated for water procedures for diathesis in infants;
- Valerian root - promotes sedative properties, is used for intestinal colic, neurological pathologies with hypertonicity, as a rule, is used in combination with motherwort, sage;
- Lavender - has anti-inflammatory and soothing properties;
- Calendula - has many useful properties necessary for the delicate skin of the child;
- Bran - a bath is indicated in case of rashes in infants (diathesis, prickly heat, etc.)
Remember, herbs should only be used with the advice of your healthcare professional. Each plant has its own indications and contraindications, so the wrong choice can cause an allergic reaction in the baby.
Herbs should be purchased from specialized pharmacies or retail chains that have appropriate certificates of conformity. Not all medicinal plants harvested in different places can be beneficial for the health of the child.
Frequently asked questions from parents
- What to do if water gets into a child's ear while swimming?
Do not worry, after bathing with a cotton turunda, blot the outer entrance of the baby's ear.
- Is it possible to bathe a baby if he has nozzles?
In order not to worry about the aggravation of the baby's condition, you can refrain from bathing. Contraindication to water treatments are:
- increased body temperature;
- vaccination;
- acute periods of illness.
- What to do if during the bathing the child choked on some water?
If your baby accidentally tasted the water from the bath, it doesn't matter, it will not harm health, after all, he will not drink half of the bath.
It is more dangerous if water gets into the respiratory tract. Wherein skin the child acquires a purple or bluish color, there is a release of foam from the mouth or nose. The main thing here is not to get confused, to call " ambulance"To provide further professional assistance. It is urgent to start providing first aid before doctors arrive. It is necessary to remove the baby from the bath, turn it face down, free the airways from foamy discharge.
Then the position of the child following: head must hang down, gently but firmly press between the shoulder blades into the lungs to release water from the lungs, or simply by taking the legs, turn it upside down, patting it on the back. If water flows out of the mouth, then your actions are correct. The baby should cry and the skin should turn pink.
Bathing a child should be done by two adults to avoid unpleasant situations. Remember bathing should be a pleasure for your treasure, not a challenge.
It is necessary to bathe the baby regularly, only a couple of times a week can you add detergents to the water. And only those that do not contain soap. By the way, the foam for bathing cleanses the baby's skin gently, while it does not irritate it at all and does not cause tears when it gets into the eyes.
Most children's detergents contain medicinal herbs, for example, string, chamomile, sage, etc. If your baby is just a couple of weeks old, use a simple, soft diaper to wipe him dry.
Marigold
Trim your baby's nails. Do it this way: first, trim the nails on the legs, lift each toe and trim, slightly rounding them. On the hands, start trimming with the thumb of the baby's right hand. After you need to carefully open the baby's fist so that his palm is in your hand, start cutting with the little finger.
We clean the ears
Gently clean your ears with a cotton swab, and the inner ear cleans itself. To clean the spout, twist the cotton wool flagellum and slightly moisten it in vegetable oil (boiled). Wipe your eyes with a cotton swab, previously moistened with boiled water, run along the lower eyelid from the outer corner of the eye to the bridge of the nose.
Baby feeding
By two months, a feeding and sleeping regimen will be developed. And if you fail to establish a regime, the baby sleeps very little, is constantly naughty and still eats badly, then you need to consult a pediatrician, probably something is not normal.
Of course, breast milk is the healthiest food for a newborn. It contains easily digestible proteins, minerals, vitamins and other substances that are useful for the baby's body. If the child is not breastfeeding, then you need to select the mixture only with the advice of a pediatrician. Sterilize feeding bottles and teats for up to six months.
Regurgitation
There are children who often spit up after eating. In the case when the baby normally develops and gains weight, regurgitation is not scary. But still, check how well you feed your baby. To do this, answer the following questions for yourself.
Does the baby swallow excess air when sucking? What is the size of the nipple hole and is it suitable for the consistency of the mixture in the bottle? How much the child eats: Calculate the approximate single serving by dividing the amount of food per day by the number of all feedings. A baby at the age of two months should consume about 900 grams per day. food. From time to time after feeding, lift your baby and hold him upright so that he can regurgitate excess air.
Chair
It is undeniable that all young mothers are worried about the baby's stool. When breastfeeding, the stool remains liquid, it happens three to four times a day. During this period, intestinal colic still occurs, but it is already much easier to deal with them.
In addition to dill water, try activated carbon as an option. To do this, dissolve 1/6 of the tablet in boiled water at one time, give the baby the medicine two to three times a day.
A decoction of chamomile is also useful. You can prepare it by adding a teaspoon of chamomile to a glass of water. After that, you need to boil, leave for 20 minutes, strain and give to the child before feeding one teaspoon a day three times.
- If a newborn has noticeably large pimples on the cheeks in one to three weeks, know that this is a hormonal rash, not an allergy. And if the baby's temperature and appetite are normal, then this is not an infection. Atopic dermatitis (diathesis), manifests itself in infants, usually either by plaques all over the body, or by a crust behind the ears. Pimples in newborns happen, pour out on the back or legs.
- Colic is significantly common in a newborn in the first three months. Of course, this is very unpleasant and it is a pity for the little one, and the parents do not get enough sleep for a long time. There are certain guidelines for caring for a newborn who suffers from colic. It is good to use a variety of physical methods: warm on the stomach, massage, etc. Espumisan, fennel tea for newborns, dill water will also help.
If the baby is actively eating and gaining weight well, then with a high probability he is healthy. Therefore, do not worry without unnecessary reasons. And such a newborn needs competent care, not medical assistance.
As a reminder, the bathroom door is open.
Sitting on a chair at first is probably not worth it. When you get the hang of it, please.
So, we lower the baby into the water, all in all, so that only the face looks out of the water. You can only hold the child by the head - the little finger under the neck, and the rest of the fingers - under the back of the head. The more the head is immersed, the better, and it's okay if water gets into the eyes, as long as the nose and mouth are on the surface. You can immediately notice the following: the body, which you do not hold at all, does not sink to the bottom, but, on the contrary, floats up. In this case, the chest and abdomen, as a rule, stick out of the water. Therefore, with the other hand, it is necessary to regulate the immersion of the torso so that both the chest and abdomen are completely under water. I draw your attention - there is no danger that water gets into the ears, no!
After the baby is in a large bath, you will immediately understand the fundamental difference between this option of bathing and soaking in a baby bath. You will see how easy it is for the child to move, without any risk of hitting the walls of the bath.
Carefully observe the child's behavior - if he is not active, lies calmly, yawns, then this water is warm for him, and, therefore, bad. Supporting the head, walk the baby in the water from one side of the tub to the other. It makes no sense to experiment especially for the first time - all participants in the bathing process still have to get used to and adapt, but it is much more difficult for parents to do this than for a child. In principle, three poses are quite sufficient for a home bath - one is described above, the other is swimming on the stomach (the child was turned over, his chin is between the thumb and forefinger spread apart), and the third is sitting. It turns out that a child can sit in a large bath already in the neonatal period! Further actions of the parents do not require any special knowledge - only common sense. After all, it is obvious that after 15 minutes the temperature of the water in the bathroom will drop by 1-2 degrees, and this temperature will be familiar to the child the next time he swims. If you are afraid to drop the temperature quickly, do as follows: start at 34 ° and after 2-3 days reduce the starting water temperature by 1 degree. We must ensure that the baby is active in the bath. What you get depends not only on you, but also to a large extent on the child. Each baby has peculiarities of body temperature regulation inherent only to him, and it is simply impossible to predict the minimum water temperature: one smiles at 23 °, the other screams at 30 °.
Time and temperature benchmarks are as follows:
At the beginning of bathing - 34 °, 15 minutes;
By the age of one month - 30-32 ° and 20-25 minutes;
At 2 months - 28-30 °, 30 minutes.
I emphasize that these are guidelines. If a baby at 2 months calmly swims at 24 ° - very good and not at all scary. But that doesn't mean he is that special. The fact of the matter is that anyone can do it! It's just that this child was lucky with his parents. The latter are devoid of prejudices, and the level of common sense is higher than the average. Everyone is interested in lengthening the bathing time and reducing the water temperature as much as possible. The more the child gets tired, the more good night provided to his parents.
And some more information and some recommendations. In so many books on swimming and swimming children, the diving procedure is described in detail. In so much detail that many parents consider it a must. And since they cannot overcome their own fear, they prefer not to bathe the child in a large bath at all. If you are very afraid, do not dive. But it is better to swim without diving than to mock yourself and the baby by rinsing it in a small bath.
In fact, there is nothing wrong with diving - a newborn has a very pronounced reflex that prevents water from entering the respiratory tract. If you do not dive for two to three months, this reflex fades away and you can choke. But, fortunately, the very procedure of bathing in a large bath is impossible without the fact that at some point the child does not slip off your hand and submerge completely under the water. Do not be afraid! It's even good - pick it up, plant it, let him shout, cough, cough. At the same time, it coughs up and sneezes out all the dust that has accumulated in the upper respiratory tract during the day. Calm down - continue swimming. However, the situation when parents deliberately organize diving is more preferable. This should be done with the baby in the prone position. Say the word "dive" out loud and guide your child underwater for a few seconds. He will work out very quickly conditioned reflex, and the word "dive" alone will be enough for the baby to hold his breath on his own.
I am quite deliberately not trying to fool you with details about the bathing technique: how it is necessary to hold the child, how to turn, how to sit down, etc. You will quickly learn all this yourself if you follow the principles described above.
The only thing you will most likely need is a cap supporting the baby's head. What is it for? First of all, in order to make the bathing procedure more pleasant for the parents. Obviously, sitting or standing bent over for 30-40 minutes is very difficult. And you cannot make a child healthy due to the appearance of radiculitis in his dad. Therefore, at the age of about two months, it is necessary to make a special hat, and we will now tell you how this is done.
You must have:
- an ordinary thin cotton hat (cap);
- a piece thin fabric half diaper size;
- 2 blocks of polystyrene, the optimal size of which corresponds to the size of a regular pack of cigarettes.
First, the foam is sheathed with a cloth, and then fixed on the cap, as shown in the figure. Pay attention - the upper edge of the blocks should rise above the child's head. A baby in such a hat evokes a feeling of emotion, resembling a gentle and noble Cheburashka.
The procedure for bathing in a cap is no different from that described above for the position of the child on the back. Within a week, gradually removing the hand supporting the child, you will teach him to stay on the water and you will be able to calmly read the newspaper while swimming. Swimming on their own, children often push their feet away from the edge of the bathtub and quickly swim to its opposite end, banging their heads. Therefore, I drew your attention to the fact that the styrofoam bars should rise above the head, protecting the child from impacts from above and from the side. It is quite possible that you will come up with a more original design. To your health.
Starting from the age of two months, it is very good to hang toys on thin ropes above the bathroom so that the child, while swimming, looks at them, a little later he will touch them with his pens.
A month of bathing in a cap is quite enough to take it off: the child has already learned how to hold his head correctly, he will be able to swim on his own. If it doesn't work - don't.
We do not aim to teach him how to swim. We only need one thing - that every day for a certain time the baby is in cool water, because regular cold exposure is most effective for stimulating the child's vitality and his ability to resist infectious diseases.
Of course, it will be very good if the child learns to swim. A half-year-old baby emerging with a smile on its face is an unforgettable sight. But there are very few parents able to provide their children with constant swimming. In the home bath, all diving ends after the child begins to sit. The clinic's swimming pool is a different matter, but once you stop using it, your skills will quickly fade away. Therefore, I repeat: whether or not to be able to swim in infancy is not a matter of principle. It is determined by the availability of free time with parents and the well-being of the family. Solve it yourself, if only you feel comfortable.
Most likely, your family is an ordinary family. And does not have the funds for an individual pool and a swimming instructor. Up to 6-7 months, a home bath is enough for you and your child. And after that we will simply change the bathing method - we will put some cool water into the bath, put a rubber mat on the bottom, sketch beautiful toys, and the child will play with them while sitting or crawling, while receiving hardening contact with water.
In any case and regardless of age, it is necessary to occasionally combine bathing with washing. For nursing baby 2 times a week is quite enough, but for a crawler around the apartment, maybe it will be necessary every day.
Washing a child who is bathing in a full bath is carried out as follows. Before the end of the bath, you need to take a plastic bucket and fill it with water - the easiest way is to scoop it straight from the bath. Then, with the help of baby soap (shampoo), the child lathers himself right in the water, you can several times and washcloths are not at all necessary ( mother's hands much nicer). That's all. One parent lifts the child, holding him under his armpits, and the other pours a bucket of water from above.
Since we are already talking about the end of bathing, it should be noted: it is necessary to strive in every possible way to ensure that the duration of the procedure is at least 15 minutes. It is quite possible that the baby will be capricious and you will not be able to determine what he wants. Try it, experiment. Change the temperature of the water and the position of the child in the water, move him more actively in the bath, maybe he is hungry and the next time you need to change the bathing time (bathing not an hour before eating, but an hour after eating).
Trust me: you cannot foresee all possible problems. But to solve the vast majority of these problems, special education is not required.
Note that if a child is "supposed" to swim for 20 minutes, and he continues to behave himself - he does not cry, jerks, etc. - then there is no need to rush. But, as soon as one of the participants in the process is very tired, we finish.
So, for example, the son of my friends at the age of 4 months made it a rule to poop in the bath. And it was in winter, and there was no hot water. Therefore, we prepared in advance, actively heating the water in all possible ways. And he, a minute after the dive ... Well, nothing: we got out - put on panties with elastic bands and kept a bucket of warm water ready to rinse.
Regarding the child's cry in the bath, I will allow myself, however, two practical tips.
1. The situation with the water temperature often develops in such a way that a specific temperature - for example, 28 °, is tolerated by the child well and with pleasure. But, immediately after immersion in water, the sharp contrast of temperatures causes negative emotions and you have to calm down for 5 minutes. You can do the following: prepare a bath with a temperature acceptable for the child, let's say 32 °, and, after a safe and calm immersion, force the rate of water cooling. For example, make sure that cold water constantly flows in a thin stream into the bath. This technique can be used simply as a component of hardening procedures - to activate cold effects.
2. For no apparent reason, the child in the bath systematically yells. Before the bath he did not yell, but in the bathroom he yells! Why? There is no definite answer. The parents' actions should be aimed at finding the optimal conditions for a particular child, accompanying the bathing process. Options:
- Change the time of day. To bathe, for example, not late in the evening, but in the early evening, or in the morning, or in the afternoon;
- Change the time in relation to food. To bathe, for example, not an hour before meals, but an hour after meals;
- Change the water temperature, usually it comes about making the water warmer.
Not all parents understand that babies need to be bathed not only to keep them clean. Moreover, in the first year of a baby's life, washing and bathing have fundamentally different meanings for him. How to properly bathe a newborn and an older baby, and why do this in principle? Let's tell you!
Bathing a baby is a special procedure that, in addition to some minor troubles, gives parents and baby a lot of joy and benefits. Of course, if the parents approach this "warm" event with a "cold" head ...
Bathing and hygiene: what's the connection?
No! Baby bathing has nothing to do with baby hygiene. Is that - water is involved in both rituals, but that's all. You wash the baby (or, wash the baby, wash it whole from time to time, etc.) with one single purpose - to make it cleaner.
This usually requires: running water or special wet wipes, delicate baby soap (preferably in liquid form) and about 5 minutes.
But bathing is a longer, more creative and rewarding process. You bathe both a newborn and an older baby so that:
- give him a feeling of pleasure and psychological comfort (after all, he still remembers how he swam in the womb of his mother);
- provide him with some necessary physical activity;
- develop the infant's communication, tactile and emotional skills;
- to awaken his appetite;
- finally, bathing is an excellent procedure for hardening and preventing colds.
How to bathe a newborn in the first two weeks of life
Let's define in terms: you can wash your baby for hygienic purposes from the very first day of his birth. But swimming in a large bathtub and ordinary tap water as long as it is contraindicated for him.
The umbilical wound heals completely about 10-15 days after the baby is born. Therefore, for the next two weeks after discharge from the hospital, parents have 2 adequate options for a hygienic procedure for a newborn baby:
- 1 A newborn baby can be bathed in a small baby bath using only boiled water. In the Western tradition, it is customary to bathe a newborn baby with a tiny soft towel - this way he has a more believable association with the mother's womb. But from a medical point of view, there are no arguments for this either "for" or "against" - if you want, bathe with a towel, if you want - without.
Bathing a newborn in a diaper or a small towel gives him a feeling of "intrauterine comfort" - as child psychologists and neonatologists say.
- 2 For the first two weeks, a newborn baby may not be bathed in water, but simply wiped with special wet wipes.
How to bathe a newborn in tap water for the first time
Finally, the baby's umbilical wound has completely healed, and this means that the newborn baby can now be bathed in ordinary tap water. We repeat: not just wash, but bathe! How to do this so that both the child and the parents get the maximum pleasure and benefit from the bathing process? So, you need to bathe your child:
In a big bath. A large bathtub for a baby is practically an ocean-sea: he can happily jerk his legs and arms, follow the toys or grab them. The water in a large bath cools down more slowly and bathing can be "stretched" up to 20-30 minutes. And it is by bathing in a large bath that the baby spends a large amount of energy, which allows him to sleep soundly until the morning, gaining strength. This physical energy exchange is extremely important: it normalizes metabolism, stimulates the work of muscles and internal organs.
Another important argument in favor of bathing in a large bath: when the baby's chest is completely immersed in water (that is, the baby bathes entirely and only his head sticks out), the very mechanism of the breathing process becomes fundamentally different. In the water, the baby spends just as much energy on inhaling and exhaling, as always, but his lungs open up much more. This means that they contain more oxygen than "on land". And accordingly, more oxygen will flow from the lungs to all corners of the body, which will ensure faster and more prosperous development and growth.
In clear water. There is no need to boil the water for bathing after the umbilical wound has healed - now this is already unreasonable, inconvenient and meaningless. However, the water in which you plan to bathe your baby should be as clean as possible. If you don't trust the water treatment system in your city, put a special purification filter on your tap.
In a pleasant and interesting environment. If you find it difficult to constantly support your baby in the water with your hands, then you can easily switch him to the "free swimming" mode. To do this, today there are many devices, such as special swimming circles for babies and hats with foam inserts. These useful inventions securely keep the child's head "afloat", but at the same time allow his body to completely submerge in the water without any support. Hang a mobile with music and toys on the edge of the bathtub - so that gradually the baby learns to reach for them, and every night bathing will become for the baby a real symbiosis of a kind of "Disneyland" and a spa - both exciting and useful!
Special inflatable rings and hats with foam inserts are real "lifeguards" for the parents' lower backs. Agree - even in the name of ideal and long-term children's bathing, it is very difficult and risky to stand for half an hour or more ...
At what temperature to bathe a newborn and an older baby
The temperature of the bathing water varies slightly depending on the length of the bathing period. At the very beginning - as soon as the baby's navel has healed and you have already prepared for him the usual "adult" bath, the optimal water temperature for the beginning of the procedure is 33-34 ° C.
Let's pay special attention - this temperature regime is suitable for a large volume of water and space - when the child has the opportunity to actively move in the water, move the arms and legs, "swim" in the arms of the parents.
If the toddler was put in a small baby bath, where there is no way to move a finger, then the temperature of the bathing water should be about 36 ° C. However, no more than 37 ° C is the temperature "ceiling" for the water in which you bathe the baby.
Now again about those lucky ones, whom the parents allow to swim in the "adult" bath. You can start swimming from a temperature of 33-34 ° C, but gradually it makes sense to lower it a little. Namely - every week you can reduce the water temperature by 1 degree. It is absolutely safe for a child, but prevention of respiratory diseases is the most reliable.
Gradually, the temperature of the bathing water can be brought to 28-30 ° C, and in such conditions the baby will be able to spend 30-40 minutes completely comfortably and with health benefits by six months. After a long swim in cool water, tired and well-fed, the baby is almost guaranteed to sleep soundly until morning.
When is the best time to bathe your baby
If we are talking specifically about the bathing procedure, not washing - that is, about a more or less prolonged (15-30 minutes or more) stay of the baby in the water, then it is best to carry out this event exactly before evening feeding and bedtime.
The fact is that bathing, as a rather active kind of "sport" available to a little baby, takes a lot of his energy - about the same as a 40-minute aerobic exercise in a fitness room takes you. And just like you, after such a load, the baby, as a rule, has only two needs - to eat "from the belly" and sleep.
Correctly and reasonably organized bathing of the baby can provide a sound healthy sleep for the whole night not only for the baby himself, but also for his loved ones.
Already at the age of 4-5 months, with the regimen of daily long-term bathing (we repeat: 20-30 minutes) and having a good meal before bedtime, the child is able to sleep soundly all night without waking up for night feeding. Which inevitably makes all parents without exception twice as happy.
Can my baby dive in the bathroom?
Newborn children have such a wonderful reflex - when water gets into the respiratory tract, a spasm immediately occurs in them, they overlap and the child cannot actually drown in the water. Of course, if it is immersed in water for a long time, it may die from lack of oxygen - that is, in fact, the little one threatens to suffocate from lack of air, but not choke on the abundance of water.
Simply put - do not be afraid if the baby accidentally turned over and "stuck" under the water, there is nothing fundamentally dangerous in this. If you quickly raise his head above the water and he can, clearing his throat (if there is a need for this), breathe freely, then such a "dive" is considered quite physiological and commonplace. Moreover, many progressive schools and courses for young moms and dads specifically teach parents how to dip their babies upside down so that the child does not lose this valuable reflex - automatically holding his breath when water enters the respiratory tract. As a rule, children who are thus "taught" to float freely in the water and behave underwater without panic learn to swim very quickly and rarely get respiratory diseases.
Whether or not to dive the baby from time to time while bathing is up to the parents themselves. If it is pleasant and useful (with proper supervision by adults!) For the child, but every time it causes heart attack with mom - it's better not to dive at all. Not a single pediatrician will undertake to prohibit one thing or to promote another. The style of bathing at home is entirely at the discretion of the family. The main thing is that both the baby and the parent feel comfortable during the procedure and enjoy bathing the child.
If the baby never dives while swimming, then the breath holding reflex dies out completely about 2-2.5 months after the birth of the baby.
What to add to the bathing water
By and large, you don't need to add anything. It is quite possible to bathe a child of infancy in ordinary tap water, provided that it is more or less clean. But if you still really want to somehow "flavor" the water for bathing, then it is best to use the decoction of the train. Why not potassium permanganate and a supposedly soothing collection?
Potassium permanganate. Every grandmother's favorite substance. But if it can also be useful for washing newborn babies, then potassium permanganate is ineffective for bathing a baby in a large bathtub: if it is diluted to a pale pink color, then its anti-inflammatory properties are extremely small, and if diluted in a concentrated form, there is a risk of "burning »Delicate mucous membrane of the eye.
Herbal sedative preparations. As Dr. Komarovsky often jokes, pediatric neurologists are very fond of prescribing such fees for young mothers. They tell them that these herbs soothe babies before bed, but actually give them a reason for complacency ... for the mothers themselves! E.O. Komarovsky: “If a child has problems in the neurological part, then no herbs will help him, alas, even if he is“ rinsed ”in them around the clock. And if there are no problems as such, then there is no need for fees ”. One way or another, there is not yet a single serious study that has confirmed that a certain herb, added to water for soothing, would bring really tangible results.
The sequence. Perhaps this is the most useful "seasoning" for baby bathing. It has a certain antibacterial and healing effect, but at the same time it is completely safe for the delicate mucous membranes of the baby. And if it makes sense to add something to the water before bathing the baby, then it is the broth of the train.
How to brew a bathing line:
- 1 In the morning, pour a glass of dry grass (sold in packs at any pharmacy) into a liter container for hot, the easiest way is to put it in a glass jar.
- 2 Pour boiling water to the top (that is, to make 1 liter of liquid). And put it aside - let it brew until the evening.
- 3 Before bathing, through cheesecloth, pour the broth into a bath of water. And now you can "run" the baby into such water. It is not necessary to rinse the baby after bathing in the broth of the train, but it is not forbidden either. It makes sense to practice baths with a series approximately in the first 2-3 months after birth.
How to treat baby's skin after bathing
There is an opinion that daily bathing in tap water severely dries out a child's skin. In fact, this is not the case. The most insidious enemy of the skin is a dry and hot climate, because it is precisely the increased work of the sweat glands that is the main cause of dry skin. But bathing every night not only does not harm, but also vice versa - it is good for the health of the baby in general, and for his skin in particular.
After bathing, the baby needs to be blotted with a towel (do not wipe and rub, namely, gently and gently blot), then put on the changing table and examine. If there are no visible problems on the skin, the baby can be supplied with a diaper, dressed and, finally, allowed to feed.
And if problem areas are observed on the skin, then the principle of caring for them comes down to the following:
If there are dry areas on the skin - they need to be moistened. For this, a special cream, baby oil or boiled vegetable oil... It is best to consult a leading pediatrician about these remedies.
If, on the contrary, the skin "gets wet" - these areas must be dried. Likewise - using special means baby cosmetics, powders, etc., before buying which it makes sense to talk to a doctor.
