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Parenting

When do you think it's okay to top and tail?

29 replies

sweettooth45 · 03/01/2021 15:00

I just had DS yesterday is it okay for me to top and tail him ?

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sweettooth45 · 03/01/2021 15:02

I'm a new mum btw

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herechickchickchickchick · 03/01/2021 15:03

Huh?

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Terracottasaur · 03/01/2021 15:04

Yes, if he needs it - he might not though!

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QforCucumber · 03/01/2021 15:04

Neither of my ds had a proper bath for around 6 days. Do what you want to do.

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BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 03/01/2021 15:05

Do you mean give him a wash?

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MargeryMcLatchie · 03/01/2021 15:05

Washing him you mean? Yes of course.
I gently bathed both of mine on the second day (in plain water) to get the blood and yuck off; some people say that's too soon but we didn't have any problem.
Congratulations btw Flowers

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KatherineJaneway · 03/01/2021 15:05

I thought top and tail were sleeping arrangements Confused

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scrivette · 03/01/2021 15:06

I didn't give my babies a bath until after their cord dropped off/about 2 weeks, just topped and tailed.

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New2020 · 03/01/2021 15:06

I think we waited 5days...we were both pretty she'll shocked but didn't want the midwife to think we weren't keeping baby clean

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Youvegotafriendinme · 03/01/2021 15:06

I’m assuming by Top and tail him you mean as in bath him not sleep too to tail? Grin
When I had DS 4 I was told to not bath him for at least a week/10 days because he was premature and something to do with his skin still having the vernix on it and it was best to keep it there for a bit. How that advice is now, I don’t know. I don’t see why you need to bath him yet to be honest but of course no harm will be done just don’t use any chemicals, water is fine

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Megan2018 · 03/01/2021 15:09

The longer you leave it the better for their skin. I didn’t clean anything other than bum or mouth for the first 2 weeks to protect her skin.

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yankeedoodledandee · 03/01/2021 15:10

If you mean cleaning your baby you should be 'tailing' anyway when you change a nappy. The top bit? I'm not sure.

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herechickchickchickchick · 03/01/2021 15:11

I take top and tail to be sleeping arrangements too

So confused

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lcdododo · 03/01/2021 15:14

Absolutely fine.
However there is a lot of evidence to suggest that waiting a while before they get a bath is better

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linerforlife · 03/01/2021 15:14

Goodness me people are being deliberately difficult here. "Top and tail" means to wash face and bum of a new baby. You're fine to do this OP. Use some cooled, boiled water and cotton wool (pads are best). It's also a good idea to gently wipe round the cord stump too. Don't double dip the cotton wool in the water. So use a fresh piece every time you put it in the water bowl, and start with the face and move on to the cord stump then their bottom. Congratulations on your new baby!

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yankeedoodledandee · 03/01/2021 15:17

Goodness me people are being deliberately difficult here. "Top and tail" means to wash face and bum of a new baby.

I had no idea. I guess based on a few comments above but tbh I don't think anyone is being 'difficult' for not knowing this term. It does much more commonly get used in the context of sleeping arrangements.

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MindyStClaire · 03/01/2021 15:52

@linerforlife

Goodness me people are being deliberately difficult here. "Top and tail" means to wash face and bum of a new baby. You're fine to do this OP. Use some cooled, boiled water and cotton wool (pads are best). It's also a good idea to gently wipe round the cord stump too. Don't double dip the cotton wool in the water. So use a fresh piece every time you put it in the water bowl, and start with the face and move on to the cord stump then their bottom. Congratulations on your new baby!

Exactly this. Maybe it's a recent term? I have young children and it's commonly used among parents of babies I know.
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bloodywhitecat · 03/01/2021 15:58

@MindyStClaire Not that recent, I am 57 and I topped and tailed my babies (and still top and tail my foster babies). OP, top and tail is fine, newborns don't need a bath, I think it is good for their skin to not bath them in the early days. Congratulations on your new arrival.

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sweettooth45 · 03/01/2021 16:57

Lol sorry the midwife said top and tail unless she got that wrong my apologies 😫

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Evenstar · 03/01/2021 17:02

My DM referred to washing a baby that way, and I called it that when mine were small, eldest is 30. I even had what was referred to as a Top and Tail bowl with 2 compartments from Mothercare so I don’t think it is an unknown phrase Confused

OP you are fine to wash baby or give a gentle bath as others said 🙂

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greenemerald · 03/01/2021 17:05

I've heard of this expression also, don't worry OP lol. It's fine to do this. I did it myself for my newborn at first before his first bath

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BikeRunSki · 03/01/2021 17:14

I remember the terminology “top and tail” when my sister was baby, and she is in her late 40s. Anyway, it can also mean siblings/friends sleeping with their heads at opposite ends of the same single bed. I thought this thread was going to be about the age at which this becomes inappropriate.

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Figgyboa · 03/01/2021 17:18

@linerforlife

Goodness me people are being deliberately difficult here. "Top and tail" means to wash face and bum of a new baby. You're fine to do this OP. Use some cooled, boiled water and cotton wool (pads are best). It's also a good idea to gently wipe round the cord stump too. Don't double dip the cotton wool in the water. So use a fresh piece every time you put it in the water bowl, and start with the face and move on to the cord stump then their bottom. Congratulations on your new baby!

I've never heard this term used for washing of a newborn. Only for sleeping arrangements. We're not being difficult!!
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Ticklemynickel · 03/01/2021 17:25

Mine gets little wipe over with a wash cloth every morning. She seems to get loads of milk in her neck creases so needed! Bath every 4 days or so at the moment.

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Ineedaduvetday · 03/01/2021 19:30

Goodness me people are being deliberately difficult here. "Top and tail" means to wash face and bum of a new baby.

Not difficult, I'd just never heard of this phrase Hmm

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