Newborn Essentials: Must-Haves for Baby’s Bath and Hygiene
Before baby arrives, it’s important to have hygiene products ready for their bath and care as soon as you return from the maternity ward. Choose natural products and stick to the essentials, minimizing the number of care products. There’s no need to layer on multiple skincare products.
Before baby arrives, it’s important to have hygiene products ready for their bath and care as soon as you return from the maternity ward. Choose natural products and stick to the essentials, minimizing the number of care products. There’s no need to layer on multiple skincare products.
The newborn layette should consist of sturdy childcare equipment, specially designed for babies. It should be ergonomic to make bathing your child easier. Care products should be as natural as possible to protect your child’s skin and maintain its balance.
Good hygiene practices to adopt from the moment you leave the maternity ward
The bath takes place in several steps. Baby should be soaped from the cleanest to the dirtiest areas (from head to torso, then limbs, finishing with the diaper area).
Next, baby is placed in bathwater at 37°C for rinsing. Always remember to check the temperature each time with a bath thermometer. There are eco-friendly bathtubs: round with high sides, they help maintain the temperature longer and use less water.
After thoroughly drying with a bath cape, clean your child’s face with saline solution and comb their hair with a soft brush. The best time to cut nails is after the bath, when they are softened. Small round-tipped scissors are necessary for safe trimming.
Must-have products for baby’s toiletry bag
For the bath, a lipid-enriched liquid soap or a body/hair gel is enough to wash baby. To prevent dry skin, a moisturizing cream is ideal, applied in a thin layer.
On the face and scalp, an anti-cradle cap cream may be needed to reduce dry patches. Facial cleansing doesn’t require any special cosmetics, just cotton and saline solution.
The diaper area requires more care products. A cleansing milk can be used to clean your child’s bottom. A drying product may be useful to prevent moisture from damaging the skin. Finally, a water-based paste ointment or a zinc-based cream creates a protective barrier, like a shield, between the diaper and the skin.
