Daily body care

Tips for daily care

So that your baby can feel completely comfortable, it also needs careful personal hygiene.
However, the same applies here as for bathing: Less is often more!
Simply clear water is best for your baby’s sensitive skin.
Here are the most important tips and advice on baby care from A for eyes to Z for toenails.

Cleaning of buttocks, skin, head and more...

The bottom should be cleaned with every diaper change – preferably under running, lukewarm water .
  • If you use a washcloth, it should only be used for the bottom area and should be boiled more often.
  • After washing off, dry gently but thoroughly.
  • Baby wipes should only be used in exceptional cases (e.g. when traveling) due to possible skin irritation.
  • You can normally do without creams.
    As a rule, you only need a wound cream for the diaper area in case the skin becomes red or inflamed.
    However, you can also apply a thin layer of wound protection cream or baby oil after cleansing.
  • Important for girls: Always clean the vagina from front to back.
    This can prevent vaginal and bladder infections caused by intestinal bacteria.
  • Important for boys: Do not pull back the foreskin of the penis against natural resistance.
    It is usually stuck to the glans in the first two years of life.
    If this is still the case afterwards, talk to your pediatrician.
  • Let your child kick or crawl around naked as often as possible so that air and light can reach their bottom.
If your child starts to reach for their genitals , let them explore their body in peace.
Name the body parts as normal.
Tip: Use a soft cloth (soft fabric or sensitive disposable washcloth – available from drugstores).

When cleaning and drying, also consider the skin folds, for example on the neck and under the armpits.
Sore patches or even inflammation can easily occur here.
Always clean the skin folds carefully and pat them dry gently but thoroughly.

In the first few months, warm water and a soft sponge are usually enough to clean the hair on your head:

  • Use baby shampoos at the earliest when the hair has already become somewhat thicker.
  • Use a soft terry towel to dry your hair.
  • If the hair is already thicker, brush it with a soft hairbrush.

After washing your hair, you should not go outside with your baby immediately – especially in the cold season.

If necessary, always clean the eyes from the outside in.
A damp paper towel is best suited for this.

In the first four to six weeks of life, fingernails do not usually need to be cut – unless there are signs of scratching on the face.

The baby’s navel does not need extra care.
If there is any redness, fluid leakage or unclear swelling, you should inform the midwife or visit the pediatrician’s practice.

Note: Slight bleeding is normal when the umbilicus is detached.

Source:
kindergesundheit-info.de www.kindergesundheit-info.de/themen/entwicklung/0-12-monate/babys-pflege/koerperpflege/ (last updated February 2023)

Bathing

Most babies enjoy bathing.
However, less is more.
Once or twice a week is more than enough.
Even if most people enjoy splashing around, daily bathing is not at all good for sensitive baby skin.

Tips for bathing

Wash your baby gently by hand from the face to the feet.
Remove any small pieces of fluff (e.g. from the romper suit) that may collect in the folds of the skin.
Only at the end should the hair be washed with clear water so that the head does not cool down.
Make sure that all skin folds in particular are thoroughly dry.

Keep the bath towel handy next to the bath so that you can quickly wrap your baby in it after bathing.

It is best to prepare the changing area before bathing so that you have all the necessary changing and care utensils within easy reach.

If you bathe your baby once or twice a week for five to ten minutes, this is perfectly adequate.
For more frequent baths, the bath should not last longer than five minutes.

You decide the best time yourself.
It is best to plan one or two bathing days a week into your daily routine – this will help you to establish a routine and make it easier for your baby to get used to it.
However, the best time for a bath depends on you and your baby.

  • Your baby should be lively and not exactly impatient with hunger.
  • If possible, bathing should always take place after a meal, but not immediately afterwards.
  • The bath water should be at body temperature (36-37° Celsius), slightly cooler rather than too warm.
    Only put your child in the bath when all the water – about halfway up the baby bath – has run in and you have checked the temperature with a bath thermometer.
  • Due to the risk of scalding, never allow hot bath water to run while your baby is in the bath.
  • The room temperature should be at least 23° Celsius.
  • Clear water without bubble bath is usually best for sensitive baby skin, as this dries out the skin too much.
    If your baby has very dry skin, you can add an oil bath or moisturizing bath additive at the end.
  • If soap or washing lotion is necessary, make sure it has a skin-friendly pH value (5.5 – 6).

Slide your forearm under the baby’s neck and grasp the upper arm with your hand at the level of the armpit.

  • In the prone position, reach under your arms, support the baby with your neck and chin on your forearm and hold it with your hand on the upper arm.
  • When turning over, you should be able to hold your child securely by the chest.
    If not, lift them out of the water briefly.

Be careful when the baby is older: it can then kick and splash around with joy.
So hold on tight!

Source:
kindergesundheit-info.de https://www.kindergesundheit-info.de/themen/entwicklung/0-12-monate/babys-pflege/baden/ (last updated February 2023)

Where to go in Vorarlberg

Vorarlberg midwives
connexia – Parental advice near you
Your pediatrician

Online tips

Midwife care

You are entitled to free midwife care at home.
There are midwives with a health insurance contract for this.
Ideally, you should contact them during your pregnancy, as they do not always have time at short notice. You can use the midwife search to find midwives practicing free of charge in your area.

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Parental advice near you

There are many Connexia parent counseling centers in Vorarlberg.
The connexia parent counseling service is for parents of babies and toddlers up to the age of four.

This is also the case in your area.

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