Delayed first bath?

gingerkid9989 · July 2014

Hey ladies. First I want to say hi and give big ((hugs)) because I love this board so much. I love the vibe we have going here. Anyway, enough sappy and on to the question...

What do you ladies think about delaying your baby's first bath? FTMs will you do it? STMs/PAL lurkers, have you done it?

I'm considering it because it's supposed to be good for baby's skin and I would really like to participate in her first bath. At my hospital, they take the baby to the nursery to get cleaned up with dad while mom gets cleaned up and a new room.

Thoughts??

chicagojackie · July 2014

DD wasn't that cheesy so there wasn't really any reason to delay washing her. I like the baby washed and clean especially after I've had my postpartum shower the next day so neither of us is stinky

LifeofCat · July 2014

I just want to chime in and concur with @gingerkid9989 on how awesome this board is (and am also curious about responses)

carlsonbaby2014 · July 2014

I'm lurking for responses - I never even thought about this so I'm glad you brought it up @gingerkid9989! Also want to throw my weight behind how awesome our board is

. I love you ladies :x!!

gingerkid9989 · July 2014

I heart all you ladies!!

@hawkward I hope that's how I can get my hospital to do it too.

@chicagojackie Yea, I don't want a stinky baby but I'm thinking about delaying it until at least I can help.

Also, this got me thinking about delayed cord clamping. Thoughts on that??

MsAmandaPants · July 2014

We will be delaying first bath. Any remaining vernix that is on him at birth can be wiped/massaged in a bit.

SandSunBliss · July 2014

For our little one, they didn't do the bath until she had latched successfully and had 2 or 3 consecutive temperatures in the range they wanted. They said it also helps them to have the scent still on them. She wasn't dirty since they wiped her off and it was cool to be there for the first bath

voplo · July 2014

Exactly the same as @sandsunbliss They didn't (well, my husband with the help of a nurse) bath him until he latched successfully (is that a thing?). Also they bath him in our room in a very nice transparent little baby bath. It was really good watch it and participate! Very family-bonding and learning experience

gingerkid9989 · July 2014

I wish my hospital was as cool as all of y'all's (@voplo & @sandsunbliss). I'm going to talk to them about this when I go for sure!

[Deleted User] · July 2014

I really don't even remember what they did with DS1. I know they wiped him down after he was born to get most of the gunk off. They must have sponge-bathed him at some point but I don't remember him actually having a bath in the sink getting his hair washed and all until the morning we were discharged.

gingerkid9989 · July 2014

@puglife5869 That sounds like an awesome hospital experience. The original hospital that my OB was supposed to deliver at was like that then he stopped delivering there.

I'm hoping this other hospital will accomadate.

footprint · July 2014

My mom had me at home in 1977. She didn't bathe me for a month. She would wipe me down periodically but no bath.

I guess across every culture in the world newborns have the same scent. Regardless of diet or anything. Instinctually people recognize the smell on some primal level. Kinda cool.

CaraH · July 2014

My daughter was cleaned up while I was in recovery. (There were complications.) It honestly didn't matter a bit to me. I was so in awe of her, I don't think I even noticed. And, frankly, I still consider her first bath to be the one I gave her at home. That was her first time in water, etc. They just wiped her down from the birth.

2redtulips · July 2014

gingerkid9989 said:

Also, this got me thinking about delayed cord clamping. Thoughts on that??

I started a thread on that last week. It's probably on page 2 of the threads - people gave some great info there. (Just bumped up the thread for you.)

E&B0811 · July 2014

I didn't even know this was a thing! I am learning so much

Mom2anAngel2 · July 2014

DS was born at 9 pm. They didn't take him for a bath until I was settled in my room and he had a chance to latch for a while (probably around 12:30 or 1 am). This way I also got some time to sleep/rest.

gingerkid9989 · July 2014

Thanks for all the replies ladies!!

chicagojackie · July 2014

@footprint most newborns aren't given a real submersion bath for several weeks because you are not supposed to give a baby a true bath until the umbilical stump heals.

All the baby gets in the hospital anyway is a sponge bath with a little bottle of Johnson's. If your baby is term, has latched well and has normal temps, going to get a quick bath isn't going to hurt the baby. All the arguments for delayed bathing (12-24h by definition) center around breast feeding success, body temperatures and keeping baby with mom.

Another point if you're interested in helping breast feeding is to not use crazy scented body washes and shampoos then in the hospital. I used the plain earth mom angel baby angel wash for myself in the hospital with DD.

PS even though she got her bath she's still a stinky baby (now and then)!!!

Junebug060609 · July 2014

Pal lurker

Both of mine got a cursory wipe down and I had no say.

DS was a vag delivery but had a few hours observation in NICU. They wiped off a bunch. Bathed him in my room the next day.I was too exhausted to do anything but watch.

DD was an unplanned section. They wiped her down as well. I did sponge baths once we were home.

FWIW, I didn't use any specific body wash or whatever and the kids didn't care. They cared if the milk was there and if they could get it. Eating, sleeping and pooping were pretty much their priorities at that point

voplo · July 2014

I seriously had no idea that they wanted the babies to latch properly before having a bath and this was a thing. It happened with my son - obviously, the nurses knew better than me - but I never asked myself why. It is so awesome the things you learn.

Bonnesetter27 · July 2014

Our hospital has the policy of washing the babies in the middle of the night. I think their reasoning is that once the lo's are warm and cuddly after they fall asleep for awhile, giving mom and dad a break.

Junebug060609 · July 2014

Bonnesetter27 said:
Our hospital has the policy of washing the babies in the middle of the night. I think their reasoning is that once the lo's are warm and cuddly after they fall asleep for awhile, giving mom and dad a break.

Why does it have to be in the motn? NBs sleep A LOT, they won't know the difference between 2AM and 2PM. Personally, I generally slept better when the baby was in the room...less anxiety about where s/he was and if they were ok. Plus washing them wakes them.

gingerkid9989 · July 2014

Thanks PAL lurkers for coming in and sharing your experiences.

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Began trying for a baby January 2012
BFP 4.25.2013 EDD 1.3.2014 MMC 6.3.2013 D&C 6.19.2013
BFP 11.3.2013 CP 11.6.2013
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Delayed first bath?

Re: Delayed first bath?

Began trying for a baby January 2012BFP 4.25.2013 EDD 1.3.2014 MMC 6.3.2013 D&C 6.19.2013BFP 11.3.2013 CP 11.6.2013BFP 3.31.2014 EDD 12.10.2014 Baby boy Carlson born 12.19.2014

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Began trying for a baby January 2012
BFP 4.25.2013 EDD 1.3.2014 MMC 6.3.2013 D&C 6.19.2013
BFP 11.3.2013 CP 11.6.2013
BFP 3.31.2014 EDD 12.10.2014 Baby boy Carlson born 12.19.2014