From the moment your newborn arrives, keeping them clean – safely - can be a real worry. Parents worry about the umbilical stump in the early days and then we move on to be concerned with personal hygiene, oral care and so much more.
Dr. Hassan Alzein of Alzein Pediatrics in Oak Lawn, Illinois, and Evergreen Park, Illinois understands these concerns. He has 5 basic tips for his patient families and says, “Keeping a few simple ideas in mind will relieve parents’ concerns while Baby stays clean and healthy.
Bathe Your Child – Safely – But Not Obsessively
Bathing your child every day is unnecessary and will dry out their skin, especially if using soap. “Newborns can be bathed in warm water,” says Dr. Alzein, “and their hair doesn’t require shampoo in the first few weeks either.” Dr. Alzein recommends a bathing schedule of once every three days, or as needed.
For the first two weeks, while parents wait for the umbilical cord to fall off, a sponge bath is sufficient. Wash the baby in warm water from head to toe, washing the diaper area last. Keep Baby calm during this process by wrapping them in a towel and only exposing the skin that is being actively washed.
This keeps Baby as warm as possible. Dr. Alzein also reminds parents to keep the child lying flat on a safe area either on the floor or on a changing mat with a strap to ensure Baby doesn’t roll onto the floor.
After a few weeks, when the stump has fallen off, Baby is ready to advance from a sponge bath to an infant bathtub. Again, the schedule for bathing should be kept at once every three days or as needed. Mild soap should only be used to clean extremely dirty areas, usually the diaper area; otherwise warm water is sufficient.
While you are washing your child, make sure you are also observing anything out of the ordinary on their skin – a new skin tag, rash, or bruising that may be an early sign of illness. If anything looks out of the ordinary, Dr. Alzein recommends calling your pediatrician to schedule an exam.
When your child experiences baby acne between one and four weeks old, soap won’t help relieve it. “Stick to warm water, and call your pediatrician if it lasts longer than a week or two,” says Dr. Alzein.
Dr. Alzein stresses safety just as much as good hygiene. “Touch is the key to safety; always keep one hand on the baby and never ever leave your child alone in the water.” The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that most child drownings happen in their home’s bathtub and over half of those deaths are children under the age of one. Before placing your child in the bathtub, always test the temperature of the water with your elbow to make sure that it is not too hot.
Care of Your Baby’s Personal Hygiene
It’s important that parents practice healthy genital care with children, especially in the newborn phase. If you choose to circumcise your son, you will need to apply petroleum jelly to the penis to prevent sticking to the diaper as the skin heals. Dr. Alzein tells parents that if the skin has not healed within 10 days of the procedure, they will need to schedule an appointment to check for infection.
If you choose not to circumcise your son, you will need to properly clean the penis underneath the foreskin. Gently pull the foreskin back, wash the area underneath with mild soap and warm water, and then gently pull the foreskin back over the penis. At some point, the foreskin will naturally retract from the tip of the penis, but that will happen on your son’s own biological timeline and should not be forced.
If you have a daughter, you will notice that her labia majora and clitoris may be swollen and enlarged. This is from hormone exposure in utero and will reduce in size as hormones work their way out of her body. Dr. Alzein reminds parents that there is a natural cleaning system inside the vagina and no need to be alarmed by any discharge in the few weeks or so after birth. For proper hygiene, use warm water and gently wash the creases in the labia.
Nail Trimming for Health and Safety
Baby fingernails are incredibly sharp, often described as razor-sharp. They are paper-thin and just as dangerous as a blade. Babies may cut themselves on the face, arms, or legs as they move about and these injuries can make babies and parents very upset.
To trim Baby’s nails, use tiny safety nail-clippers or a pair of infant-sized blunt safety scissors to trim the nails down. Finish off the manicure with an emery board to eliminate any sharp edges. Dr. Alzein says, “Parents should never bite the baby’s nails or peel the nail off, as that increases the chance of infection.
Even Infants Have Oral Hygiene Needs
When your child finally cuts that first tooth, on average between four to six months of age, the doors open for all kinds of possibilities and unfortunately one of those possibilities is the start of a cavity. When your child’s first tooth comes in, Dr. Alzein recommends a fluoride varnish treatment, a professional treatment.
“Your doctor brushes the varnish on the child’s teeth and it sets quickly, allowing the child to eat and drink as soon as the varnish is dry. This provides all the protection needed to prevent cavities in early childhood,” says Dr. Alzein.
Attend All Child Wellness Appointments
Bring your child to all recommended well-child appointments so your physician can routinely check developmental milestones and identify any signs of concern. These appointments are the perfect time to ask about bathing, tooth care, personal hygiene care, and more. Regular appointments are also the best way to ensure that your child is up to date on all vaccines.
Dr. Alzein urges all parents to follow the AAP schedule for well-baby visits and vaccines to keep Baby in the very best of health:
· within Baby’s first week of life
· 1 month
· 2 months
· 4 months
· 6 months
· 9 months
· 12 months of age
Dr. Alzein recommends finding a pediatrician that parents feel comfortable with. “It’s important to have open and honest lines of communication with your child’s doctor. You should feel that it’s okay to reach out even about the smallest of concerns, and you should never feel judged or scolded by your child’s pediatric care office. If you don’t feel that you could tell your pediatrician anything – whether it’s a question about your child’s development or your own parenting dilemmas – you should seek out another pediatrician. Your child’s health depends upon it.”
