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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Dont bath baby for a week?

24 replies

ParsleyCake · 22/02/2015 23:22

I have recently been reading a lot about how newborns should not be bathed until the vernix (white substance which covers baby skin when born) has been absorbed into their skin. Apparently it's really good for them, and prevents a lot of skin problems. At first I thought this was disgusting, but I did some more reading and I was wondering what the policy is in the UK? Is it normal for newborns to be washed right after birth?

I knew somebody who for whatever reason did not bath their baby for the first week, and their baby smells really bad, and was covered with peeling bits of substance. However most people on the forearms I was reading said that the baby did not smell and that the vernix is not disgusting and the baby skin feels soft and nice, not slimy or cakey.

What does the babies skin really look and smell like if they are not bathed? By the way although I say not bathed, the blood and any other substance other than the vernix is dabbed off with a towel I think. And does having a water birth take the vernix off?

I'm just wondering what other mums think of this as this is the first I've ever heard of this kind of thing. I'm wondering if it would be best for my baby not to bath him for the first week, and what the midwife and nurses will make of me suggesting this.

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Original poster

ParsleyCake · 22/02/2015 23:23

forums not fore arms lol

OP posts:

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 22/02/2015 23:25

I didnt bathe either of mine while still in the hospital (3 days with dc1, 2 days with dc2), but once home we bathed dc1 every night. Poor dc2 gets a slosh in the water whenever we remember (poor sod).

I couldnt imagine waiting a week. If anything the milk collects in their neck and armpits etc and goes a bit cheesy.

CurlyWurlyCake · 22/02/2015 23:27

A week would be a bit yuck in my book but a top and tail wash in the first few days is fine.

LittleBearPad · 22/02/2015 23:29

I didn't bath either of mine until their cords came off. A week to ten days and thrn not frequently afterwards. Babies don't get that dirty. The vernix doesn't smell unpleasant at all.

IdaClair · 22/02/2015 23:29

Not all babies are born with vernix. Neither of mine were. It is more common with earlier babies, I understand.

I think my first was about ten days for first bath, second was three days or so, just down to the season and my home life at each point really.

Noone ever asked me about bathing babies or mentioned it at all so I suspect it would not be an issue.

LittleBearPad · 22/02/2015 23:30

The midwives/nurses won't particularly care either way.

nousernamesleft · 22/02/2015 23:32

None of mine were bathed in hospital, and dd1 was in until she was 7 weeks old, and she didn't smell. A top and tail is much easier when they're first born anyway.

Bonsoir · 22/02/2015 23:32

I didn't like the way my newborn baby smelt one little bit after four days in hospital only rinsed with water. I couldn't wait to wash her (especially her curly black hair - now poker straight blond...)

shitebag · 22/02/2015 23:33

With DC1 I was offered a 'lesson' in bathing a baby before I left hospital when he was 3 days old and I was happy to do it.

With DC2 my midwife suggested just a quick top and tail until I got home when she was 3 days old, I bathed her on day 5.

Both were only bathed with water until 6 weeks then added a bit of goats milk soap (I have v.bad skin), neither smelt or looked dirty.

HollyBdenum · 22/02/2015 23:35

I only washed the mucky bits from DS for a lot longer than the first week, and he had a lovely smell - like very expensive face cream.

The flaky skin is quite normal in newborns.

munchkinmaster · 22/02/2015 23:44

I never washed either of mine for a week. They didn't do much to get dirty. They looked and smelled fine and both had beautiful baby skin. The vernix pretty much disappeared on its own straight away except in the creases of knees etc. It's not like they looked like I was greasing them up.

I'd also say it's no big deal. Wash then when you feel like it.

seaoflove · 22/02/2015 23:45

Babies tend to be born covered in vernix if they're a little early. Mine was right on time and didn't have any.

Hamsolo · 22/02/2015 23:47

I didn't wash dd for about 6 weeks. No odour whatsoever. She did not sick up at all though, and had a bottom wash with every nappy change. If either of those had not been the case she might have ponged, I guess!

Discopanda · 22/02/2015 23:55

DD was 12 days overdue so most of her vernix was gone and she had slightly scaly skin in places, I just topped and tailed until she lost her cord then bathed her properly.

SoonToBeSix · 23/02/2015 00:10

It is not necessary to bath newborns more than once a week. Too and tailing is fine. Also only use water even for hair. There is no need to use baby bath/ shampoo and it's not good for their skin.

SweetSorrow · 23/02/2015 00:12

Neither of mine were bathed in the first week. DD1 was a water birth so fairly clean and wasn't bathed until she was 3 weeks old (she was top and tailed), DD2 was about 10 days old. Neither of them had any smell other than the delicious baby smell.
I didn't use any products on DD2 until she was 6 months old either, she has the most beautiful skin and hair.

skyra13 · 23/02/2015 08:27

At one of my classes I went to the other day they said they used to advise to wash baby every night back in the day but turns out they were wrong and now say just bath them once a week in plain water as baby's natural oils on skin in better for them.
She also said it was personal preference if you wanted baby washed after delivery.

PourquoiTuGachesTaVie · 23/02/2015 08:37

Dd was born at 38 weeks and I had a water birth, she was covered with vernix, although not as "covered" as other babies I've seen pictures of.

I didn't bath her for nearly a week and the first bath was an emergency one in the bathroom sink due to a poo explosion. She didn't smell bad before the bath (even the poo explosion didn't make her smell bad!), the vernix felt waxy and after the first couple of days it was only in her creases anyway. Dd's skin never peeled at all, whereas ds's, who was born closer to 40 weeks and had no vernix at birth, spent the first few weeks peeling like someone had dipped him in pva glue!

Dogsmom · 23/02/2015 13:19

I've never heard this, I washed dd1 at about 2 days old because she had little bits of dried blood in her hair.

WhereIsMyFurryHat · 23/02/2015 14:44

It was the norm to bathe babies in the delivery room when I had my first (7 years ago). By the time his brother came 2 years later that was no longer the case due to the reasons stated in your initial post.

neversleepagain · 23/02/2015 17:01

My twins were in nicu for 14 days. They had their first bath on day 10, top and tail until then. The neo natal nurses said it is the best moisteriser in the world and not to wash it off. They didn't stink,

GotToBeInItToWinIt · 23/02/2015 17:25

Didn't bath DD until her cord fell off which I think was a week. We just top and tailed. She didn't smell at all as far as I'm aware, and at that age there wasn't any milk spillage to get into her neck etc as there is very little colostrum at first and it takes a while for your milk to 'gush'.

GotToBeInItToWinIt · 23/02/2015 17:26

Also DD didn't have any vernix. She was 6 days overdue.

GotToBeInItToWinIt · 23/02/2015 17:27

The midwife won't care either way. We were out of hospital 3 hours after giving birth so they had no idea when DD was first bathed!

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