Baby taking a bath in winter
Release time : 04/05/2025 09:30:01
Winter, the temperature changes so drastically at night and in the morning.
Many new parents are at a loss when it comes to bathing their young children. They fear that if the baby doesn't cooperate, then they might catch a cold due to the chilliness of the water.
So, how can parents make bath time enjoyable for their baby? Here are some expert tips from Mama.com:
In winter, how to wash a baby's bath? The temperature of the water should be controlled between 37-40 degrees Celsius. With the arrival of winter, our hands are usually colder, making it challenging to keep track of the correct temperature for a baby's bath. We can use a thermometer for the bath and add more water to ensure that the temperature is maintained at around 37-40 degrees Celsius, which is the most comfortable temperature for babies, preventing burns.
At the same time, during winter when the wind is strong and cold, make sure to close all windows and doors while bathing your baby.
If conditions permit, you can add a shower cover for your baby and put as much steam as possible in the shower cover to keep it warm, so that the baby can stay for a while longer without getting too cold.
In winter, choose a time when your baby takes a bath. You won't be disturbed and can completely focus on your baby.
It is best for the baby to be awake and in good spirits before taking a bath.
Choose between feeding times, the baby's stomach is neither hungry nor full.
If your baby is still in the neonatal stage, it will be easier to bathe him during the day.
But, by the time he was a few months old, bathing could be part of his bedtime routine.
Warm water can help your baby to relax and feel sleepy.
It's also a good opportunity to get the rest of the family involved.
Bathing the baby at night is part of the baby care job that fathers are usually willing to undertake.
In addition, the stratum corneum of your baby's skin is thin. In order to avoid wrinkling the skin and prevent your baby from catching a cold, the bathing time should be controlled within 15 minutes.
After washing, do not leave the bathroom immediately. Dry your baby's body and head thoroughly.
Then wrap it tightly with a thick cotton towel, especially the head, which should be wrapped with a separate towel.
Then turn on the bathroom door and wait for 3-5 minutes, then take the baby out. This will prepare him to adapt to temperature changes.
After coming back to the bedroom, thoroughly dry the baby's feet, armpits, and groin areas before putting on clothes.
In winter, the frequency of bathing for babies should be considered. After a baby is born, parents need to pay attention not only to feeding but also to the baby's hygiene needs. It is important to frequently bathe the baby.
If a child's hygiene is poor, it can lead to various skin conditions such as eczema and diaper rash.
Let me share with everyone the issue regarding how often babies should be bathed in winter.
During the winter season, when it's colder, you should lower the frequency of bathing your baby to once every 2-3 days.
Please note that the frequency of bathing children varies with different seasons.
If it is a hot summer, you must wash the baby every day, which can make the child feel cool and comfortable.
Some mothers are very clean, even in the cold winter, they will bathe their child every day. In fact, this is not beneficial to the baby's health, because there is a layer of mucous and sebum on the baby's skin, which can protect the skin. If a mother bathes her baby every day, she will wash away this layer of mucous and sebum, which may damage the baby's skin's horny layer, leading to dryness and itching.
Although winter is cold and babies are not easy to get dirty, it's also important not to wait too long between baths.
If a child is not bathed for a long time, the waste substances discharged from their skin will remain on the surface for a long time, which can easily breed bacteria and lead to skin diseases.
How to take care of my baby after taking a bath in winter? After taking a bath, be sure to dry your baby's whole body. After taking a bath, immediately wrap your baby in a bath towel and dry the whole body to leave the navel. Use an alcohol cotton swab to clean the navel from the middle out, and pay attention to keep the navel dry and clean.
If the umbilicus is red, pus, or has an unpleasant smell, you should see a doctor for treatment.
Usually, you can apply some talcum powder to your baby's wrinkled skin to make him feel dry and comfortable.
Apply skin oil to your baby's buttocks to prevent urine from irritating the skin and causing diaper rash.
Put a diaper around the baby and put on clothes.
However, the baby should not be wrapped tightly in a "candle bag". His hands and feet should be relaxed and he should move freely, which is conducive to breathing and blood circulation to promote growth and development.
If the baby's skin is dry, you can also apply a small amount of moisturizing oil to keep the skin moist and smooth.
It is worth noting that skincare oils and baby powders sold in the market should only be used when there are no diseases on the baby's skin.
And these oils or powders should not be applied directly on the baby's skin, but first on your hands and then on the baby.
When there is rash, red buttock, etc., keep dry and apply medicine as directed by the doctor. If you use these oils or powders now, it is a kind of unnecessary irritant for babies.
How to bathe babies of different age groups in winter? The methods for bathing babies at different stages are also different. Infant period: Gentle "bathing". Therefore, when bathing a breastfeeding baby, do not rub hard, but gently wipe.
The skin of an infant is still soft and pliable.
Before the baby enters the bathtub, he or she should be cleaned up.
Ensure that the area around a baby's buttocks, the creases between their legs, and the openings for defecation are gently wiped with warm, moist cotton balls dipped in lotion. Change one spot at a time.
You can use a body wash to remove difficult-to-remove oily excreta and water-soluble secretions. Good body wash also has the function of resisting bacteria.
After washing your little one's bottom, remove the clothes.
You should gently wipe and pat the corners of your eyes, the bridge of your nose, your mouth, and your ears with a warm cotton ball. After each area has been cleaned, change the cotton ball.
It is important to note that when washing the ears, a dry cotton swab should first be inserted into the baby's ear canal to prevent water from entering the middle ear and causing otitis media.
After washing the face, then wash your hair.
When washing baby's hair, hold the baby's head steady with your hands and gently stroke the baby's head. Be sure not to touch the baby's crown of thorns or scratch the scalp.
Up to 2 years old: Cultivating good bathing habits. The bathing routine for this age group is basically the same as that for nursing infants, with the buttocks still being washed outside the bathtub.
However, the amount of pressure when cleaning and wiping should be slightly increased for babies.
This age is the time to start instilling good hygiene habits, so you can really dress up the bathroom as a "play room".
If your baby wants to play with a bucket or an elephant duck swimming, just make sure safety is in place, and then let them have fun.
Let your baby slowly like taking a bath every day.
2 - 6 years old: Adhere to bathing and practice perseverance, so that children of this age group gradually develop the habit of bathing every day in summer. Part of it is because of the need to clean the skin, but the greater significance is to let children develop clean, hygienic and regular living habits.
In summer, if conditions permit, your child can be bathed three times a day for about 10 minutes each time after getting up in the morning, after taking a nap during the day, and before going to bed at night.
This regular and clean living habit plays an important role in children's healthy growth, future patience training, and willpower development.
What should I do if my baby refuses to take a bath in winter? The baby refused to take a bath, probably because he had an unpleasant bathing experience. Mothers must first find out why the baby refuses to take a bath. Some babies refuse to take a bath, probably because they have had an unpleasant bathing experience.
There are roughly the following reasons: 1. Uncomfortable water temperature: The temperature for bathing your baby should be moderate. In summer, the water temperature should be 37-38 degrees Celsius and in winter, the water temperature should be 39-40 degrees Celsius.
2. Hold too tightly: It can easily scare or anger the baby.
3. Bath water or shower gel splashed on the five senses.
Now there's a special baby bath cap and eye mask that prevents water from getting into your baby's ears and eyes.
4. When playing happily, be mindful that bath time should not interfere with your enjoyment; therefore, choose a time when the baby is relatively free and undisturbed by activities.
Many mothers on Mama.com have shared their experiences, and they often encounter challenges with babies resisting bathtime. Here's how some of them tackle it: Mama.com user "Hua Hua" suggests that incorporating playful toys into the bathtub can make bathtime a fun activity for the baby. The auxiliary tool is these toys.
You can buy some special toys like big ships, little ducks, which not only entertain your baby but also let them know more about the world around them.
I tend to use safety items around me as baby toys, such as toothbrush cups, leftover perfume bottles, and cooking spoons.
It not only saves money but also allows for the creativity of your baby.
Momnet user "Liying": "EyeGuard" Eye Mask I bought a "EyeGuard" eye mask for my son who doesn't like taking showers.
When you're bathing your baby, especially when washing the hair, it can prevent water from getting into his eyes.
And we call him "the Super Eyes". When we're about to take a shower, we shout out, "The Super Eyes are coming! Time to battle the monster!"
The baby really enjoys this approach; he treats bathtime as a game.
Mom.com netizen "Mao Mao": Put less water in the bath. My son also used a bathtub to take a bath. At first, he didn't like to take a bath. Later, I found that there was too much bath water in the bathtub, and the buoyancy of the water made the baby feel insecure in the bathtub.
So I immediately corrected it, poured out some bath water, and the baby immediately felt very comfortable.
Mom.com netizen "BBB": Washing your hair can be easy. Washing your hair is a problem, but I have a good way.
Lift the toy above the child's head and let the child face up and head up.
If he doesn't want to, pretend to compete with him and see whose head holds high.
Take this opportunity to quickly wash his hair.
If a child gets water in his eyes, he will remember it next time and is afraid of taking a bath, so he must move quickly.
Mum's Net user "Feng Feng 33": Please have Dad join in. My daughter is also a child who hates taking baths, especially when it comes to washing her hair.
Eventually, my husband took the initiative and stepped up to tackle the issue, and it was resolved promptly.
Every time I hear the laughter and noise coming from the bathroom, I feel both relieved and intrigued.
One time, I was invited to watch the whole process of bathing. To my surprise, Dad's secret weapon is a game of water fights, magic tricks (for washing hair), and playing with animal toys... It seems that my baby prefers Dad's way.
*The medical information provided in this text is for reference only.
In case of discomfort, it is advised to seek medical attention immediately. The diagnosis and treatment should be based on the examinations conducted in person by a medical professional.