Newborn Interventions | Baby’s First Bath

Babies are not born dirty. Bathing baby prematurely will result in removing the vernix from their body, which should be given time to soak in to their skin.

Vernix is a protective covering (a white "cheesy" substance) usually found on baby after birth, composed of skin cells made up of proteins that can prevent infection.

This is good- there is no need for it to be wiped or washed off!

Bathing baby can also result in baby crying or screaming, which releases cortisol levels (stress hormones). Cortisol reduces glucose levels. Baby may be tired and overwhelmed after, and may not feed or suck effectively while breastfeeding, then causing a cycle of not feeding, over sleeping, milk not signaled to come in from baby not nursing etc.

Also, most baby soaps are too harsh for their skin. If you have a water filter for your bath/shower this would be great to use for your newborn so their skin doesn’t absorb the chlorine and other chemicals from the tap water.

The best thing you can do? Just leave baby's skin alone! Do skin to skin with baby to regulate temperature and do not wash them for, at the very least, 48-72 hours. I only do a handful of baths during the first year. Again, baby's are not born dirty. The vernix on their body serves a purpose.

#lemon8partner #babybathtips #firstbath #newbornbaby #newmom #crunchymom #momsoflemon8