How to wash a girl. Hygiene of girls from birth to adolescence

From the moment of birth, a girl urgently needs proper care for intimate parts so that in the future she does not have problems with the reproductive sphere. Let's find out what the features of caring for babies are and how to wash a newborn girl.

Features of intimate hygiene of a baby in the first days

Due to their anatomical features, girls' genitals are more vulnerable, more susceptible to infection and irritation. The vagina is absolutely sterile during the first three months; later it will be populated by beneficial lactobacilli and form its own microflora, while the mucous membranes are still thin and tender and are easily injured. Due to this intimate hygiene a newborn should be very careful.

Often, in the first time after the birth of a baby, parents notice the presence of a white or grayish coating in the area of ​​​​her genital organs, but there is no need to be scared at all. These are remnants of the original lubricant; it is a natural barrier that protects the vagina of a newborn girl from various bacteria and microbes. Over time, the mucus will disappear on its own; it cannot be removed by force. If the plaque is very dense, you can carefully remove it, but this should be done delicately and in several approaches, using boiled water and a cotton swab. After 2-3 days everything should disappear.

It happens that some girls experience spotting in the first few days of life; there is no reason to panic here either. The phenomenon is explained by the hormonal changes that occur in the baby’s body after birth. During this period, it is worth washing the newborn more often and changing her diapers.

Purulent discharge (sometimes it may be accompanied by unpleasant smell), and redness in the perineum of a newborn girl. In this case, you should not hesitate; you should quickly show the baby to a pediatric gynecologist.

Washing a newborn: basic principles


Every mother needs to clearly know the rules of hygiene procedures. If nurses cared for the baby in the maternity hospital, after discharge the woman will have to do everything on her own. Pediatric gynecologists and pediatricians give several important recommendations on this issue, and it’s worth listening to them.

  1. At first, the girl is washed with boiled water; after two weeks, she is allowed to use regular tap water.
  2. It's important to choose the right one temperature regime water - it should not be too hot or too cold, the optimal temperature is 36–37 degrees.
  3. You cannot wash the girl in “stagnant” water, for example, in a basin; the procedure must be carried out under a running stream.
  4. You should not use a washcloth to wash the girl - there is a possibility of injuring the baby’s delicate skin with this accessory.
  5. You should not use foams, gels, or soaps too often to care for your baby’s genitals, no matter how delicate and safe these products may seem at first glance. They are allowed to be used 2-3 times a week and when heavily soiled, but no more.
  6. You cannot use regular alkaline soap; you must choose special hygiene products intended for newborns.
  7. During washing, you must be careful to ensure that detergent does not get into the vagina.
  8. In some cases you can use wet wipes, but they should not contain antiseptics or alcohol.
  9. After washing, it is advisable to leave the girl without a diaper for a few minutes, the skin should “breathe”, otherwise irritation and diaper rash will appear.
  10. To care for a newborn, you must have an individual baby towel and soap.
  11. A baby towel should be soft, made of natural fabric and absorb moisture well.

Step-by-step instruction


Before proceeding directly to the hygiene procedure itself, it is important to prepare the necessary supplies:

  • clean diaper;
  • cotton pads, napkins/paper towel;
  • diaper;
  • towel;
  • oil, powder, cream (but they are not always required).

When everything is ready, you can move on to the process of washing the baby.

Main stages of the procedure

  1. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap.
  2. Place the baby on the changing table and remove the diaper.
  3. Using a cotton swab or napkin soaked in water, we remove the remaining feces from the skin, making sure that the feces do not end up between the labia (this is completely unacceptable), and movements should be made in the direction from the genitals to the child’s bottom.
  4. Having adjusted the water stream from the tap, we place the newborn on our arm so that the baby’s head is in the elbow bend, and the back is located along the arm; with the fingers of the same hand we securely fix the baby’s thigh so that she does not slip out of her hands.
  5. With your free hand, we direct the stream of water from the tap from front to back to prevent bacteria and germs from entering the baby’s vagina from the anus.
  6. First, we wash the child’s perineum and genitals, and at the end of the procedure, the anus.
  7. Having wrapped the baby in a thick diaper, we again place her on the changing table and dry the girl’s private parts with a towel, do not rub the skin, movements should be wet.
  8. We are not in a hurry to put on the diaper again, let the child lie for a while without it.
  9. If a child has diaper rash or irritation on his body, we treat these areas with special baby oil, cream or powder, then put on a diaper.

Every mother may find herself in a situation where there is no way to wash her child under the tap. There is no need to refuse the hygiene procedure; it can be performed directly on the changing table.

We wash the baby as follows:

  • pour warm water into a ladle or bowl;
  • undress and place the child on his back;
  • soak a cotton ball in water or gauze pad, squeeze lightly to remove excess liquid;
  • we wash the perineal area in the center, moving from the labia to the baby’s anus;
  • changing the napkin or cotton swab, wash the baby’s side folds;
  • With a new napkin, lifting the baby a little by the legs, we wash the buttock folds and the anal area;
  • We remove the remaining moisture from the child’s skin by blotting it with a soft towel or gauze napkins.

How often to wash your baby

Intimate hygiene of a newborn girl should be regular. But a mother’s excessive scrupulousness in such a matter and an excessive desire for cleanliness can, on the contrary, play a cruel joke. The mucous membranes of the genital organs contain beneficial bacteria; if they are washed away with diligence and even several times a day, the vagina will be unprotected from the penetration of pathogenic microflora into it. And if hygiene products get inside, it leads to vaginitis, inflammation and irritation.

Water procedures should be carried out in the evening before going to bed, as well as every time after defecation. But we change the diaper regularly throughout the day - every 2-3 hours.

We use soap to wash the anus area, and to clean the labia area, clean warm tap water is enough.

Young mothers need to clearly know how to wash a newborn girl according to all the rules. Delicate and regular care of the baby’s intimate parts is the key to her women’s health during adult life. By teaching your baby hygiene from the very first days of life, you will help her avoid many problems.

Komarovsky about proper washing of girls

It is important to direct the movement of the hand or stream of water in a direction from front to back to minimize the entry of discharge from the rectum into the labia area. Closer to 3-4 years, slowly begin to teach the girl to wash herself and dry herself after using the toilet, showing her how to do it correctly.

5. Can we use wet wipes?

It is possible, but it is important to remember that this is an “emergency” hygiene product and it is wrong to make it a daily norm. If it is possible to wash the girl with water, then that is much better!

6. Is it necessary to separate the labia when washing?

When washing after stool - yes, BUT!!! very carefully, without effort, wash off accumulated residues. You can simply direct a thin stream of water there. During routine daily hygiene, we do not separate the labia.

Photo source: wattpad.com

7. White plaque between the labia of a newborn. What to do?

Nothing. There is no need to wash or wipe it. This is a kind of transitional state of a newborn. It will go away on its own. Excessive mother's activity in removing this plaque can be traumatic.

Negligence in daily care can cause infection and inflammation. And excessively strong and “high-quality” hygiene causes dryness, irritation, and disrupts the natural microflora, which can also be fraught with unpleasant consequences.

You need to stick to the golden mean.

8. How to suspect inflammation in a girl?

It is accompanied by redness, irritation, itching, the appearance of yellowish, grayish discharge with a possible unpleasant odor. If you see this, you should consult a pediatric gynecologist.

Quite often, mothers of girls are faced with the problem of synechiae (sticking together of the labia minora). Poor hygiene is one possible cause.

Adhere to competent moderation in the matter of intimate hygiene for girls!

Caring for a newborn baby requires special knowledge on the part of young parents. The gender of the child also affects the specific procedures for caring for the baby. Not every young mother, much less a father, knows how to properly wash a newborn girl, but the health of her reproductive system in the future directly depends on this.

The health of a woman’s reproductive system is directly related to intimate hygiene. You should start from birth, while still in the maternity hospital. After all, immediately after birth, girls’ hymen, which protects the vagina, is not fully formed, and the beneficial microflora has not yet had time to populate. Therefore, the remains of feces, inappropriate cosmetics and other factors can cause damage and disease to the girl’s genital organs. Parents need to learn how to properly care for the intimate parts of their newborn daughter.

Difficulties of the first days

A newborn baby has its own characteristics. Some phenomena may cause caution on the part of parents.
Newborn girls may have vaginal discharge associated with the restructuring of the child’s body after intrauterine development, its adaptation to a new environment and an excess of maternal hormones.

White, odorless discharge is normal. This is the original lubricant - smegma. There is no need to try to completely remove this white coating right away. It serves as protection for the vaginal mucosa. Gradually, when rubbed, it rolls up and is removed.

Excess creams and powders must be removed using a cotton swab soaked in oil. But purulent discharge and redness of the labia require the attention of a doctor. This is most likely a sign of infection.

When performing hygiene procedures, it is important to be careful and not overdo it. After all, it is very easy to injure the delicate skin and mucous membranes of a newborn.

Rules of intimate hygiene

When performing hygienic procedures for caring for a newborn girl, certain rules should be followed.

    1. Perform all procedures with clean hands
    2. Washing with water is necessary after defecation.

If there is no feces in the diaper, then simply wipe the baby with a damp cloth.

    1. Use warm, but not hot, water to rinse

It is better to use running water.

    1. When washing under the tap, first adjust the water, and then take the child.
    2. Movements should be directed from the pubis to the perineum

And not the other way around, so that feces do not get into the vagina.

    1. After washing, gently dry the baby's skin with a clean soft cloth (diaper).

There is no need to rub the baby's skin, just blot it.

    1. Examine the labia, make sure they are well washed

If necessary, gently moisten a cotton pad with warm water to remove any missed stains.

    1. After washing and drying, apply protective cream or oil to the skin. and put on a diaper
    2. It is mandatory to carry out hygiene procedures in the morning and evening and after bowel movements.
    3. Change the diaper after every baby has a bowel movement

If there is no feces, then every three hours.

    1. Give your child air baths more often
    2. Do not abuse cosmetics – powders, creams, oils

Use them as needed.

How to wash correctly - algorithm of actions

It is better to wash the girl with running water. How to perform this procedure correctly:

    • Adjust the water pressure and temperature;
    • Place your baby on one arm, tummy up

The baby's head lies on the elbow, the back is on the arm, the butt is supported by the hand.

    • Bring it to the tap

With your free hand, gently pour water and perform movements from the pubis to the butt.

    • Do not use washcloths or other auxiliary devices; it is best to wash by hand so as not to injure the delicate skin of the baby
    • When performing the procedure not under the tap, you can simply pour water on the baby’s genitals, observing the direction

Pre-lay down an absorbent waterproof diaper or place a bowl.

Pediatrician-neonatologist about hygiene of girls - video

How often to perform procedures

Washing the baby too often, for example, after each urination, is not required. On the contrary, it can be harmful, because at the same time the beneficial flora of the vagina is washed away. How often should this procedure be performed? A newborn girl should be washed after each bowel movement. Sometimes in the first weeks this can be 10 times a day. Later, when the child’s stool returns to normal and becomes 1-2 times a day or every other day, the washing procedure is carried out at least twice a day.

Video of the process of washing a boy and a girl

Water

Some doctors recommend using boiled water when bathing and washing newborns. However, the famous pediatrician Evgeniy Olegovich Komarovsky says that this is not necessary. It is perfectly acceptable to use regular tap water. Thus, parents must decide for themselves what is convenient for them.

For example, in the first days of a baby’s life, you can use boiled water to avoid exposure to chlorine on the baby’s delicate skin, and later tap water. You can immediately wash your child under the tap.

Hygiene procedures without water

If you need to clean the skin, but there is no water, you can use special wet wipes or a clean cloth moistened with water. soft cloth. It is necessary to remove the girl’s diaper, wipe her genitals from top to bottom, the folds between her legs, and then her bottom, each time taking a clean napkin as it gets dirty, and put on a clean diaper.

Do not overuse wet wipes. Their frequent use can negatively affect the condition of the child's skin. Water hygiene procedures should not be replaced by wiping with napkins unless necessary.

Soap and special products or decoctions

Washing with herbal infusions or a solution of potassium permanganate should also not be used just like that. They kill not only pathogenic microbes, but also beneficial vaginal microflora. Only sometimes, if indicated, can you use decoctions of the following herbs for washing: oak bark (fights skin rash), chamomile (anti-inflammatory, sedative), string (relieves rashes, promotes skin regeneration).

However, they can be used rarely when really necessary.

Using diapers

Girls' hygiene is directly related to the use of diapers. There is an opinion that the use of disposable diapers is harmful to health. However, if you follow the rules when using them, they will not cause any harm.

    • Change the diaper in a timely manner, especially after bowel movements;
    • Wash your baby correctly

Carefully remove feces from the genitals when changing a diaper;

    • Arrange air baths, leaving the child in the air for several minutes without a diaper;
    • Buy quality diapers

About the fusion of the labia

Often, girls in infancy may experience such a problem as synechia - fusion of the labia minora.
Many people think that this is due to insufficient genital hygiene. However, it is not. Synechia occurs due to insufficient levels of the hormone estrogen in the body. In this case, the labia minora seem to stick together and grow together.

If such a problem arises, then under no circumstances should you separate the labia yourself. The baby could be injured. It is best to consult a doctor.

Treatment is usually started if the growth is so large that it interferes with urination. In other cases, separation treatment is usually not required. During treatment, a special hormonal ointment is used, which gradually eliminates the accretion.

Surgical separation is carried out only as a last resort if treatment with ointment has not brought results. However, there is a high probability of re-fusion if the child is under 3 years old. This problem occurs up to 3-5 years, and then goes away on its own.

In any case, it is better to consult a pediatric gynecologist.
To prevent synechiae during hygiene procedures It is necessary to periodically part the labia minora and gently wipe them. You can lubricate your lips with special oil.

Immediately after birth, a newborn girl may experience the following features due to abnormal hormonal levels:

  • Bloody vaginal discharge;
  • Swelling of the labia;

These phenomena disappear with age as the child gets rid of maternal hormones. Therefore, you should not use any means to eliminate them.
However, if the baby has purulent discharge with an unpleasant odor, redness, or a rash in the perineum and genital area, then you should consult a doctor.
Compliance with all the rules of intimate hygiene from birth will help the girl become a healthy woman and a happy mother in the future.

9 months of pregnancy are over, and your family has long-awaited joy - the birth of a baby. Feeding technology has almost been mastered, with changing diapers everything is generally simple and clear, but you still don’t know how to wash a newborn. Intimate hygiene issues are very important; they are the main component of reproductive health. Therefore, caring for the intimate parts of a newborn should be carried out correctly, carefully, carefully and thoughtfully.

Basic Rules

The intimate hygiene procedure for an infant girl differs in technology from a similar procedure for a boy. And this is obvious. The significant difference is due to the fundamental difference in the structure of the organs of the reproductive system. But there are a number general rules care, regardless of the baby’s gender predisposition. These rules are simply vitally important for all parents, future and present, to know.

  1. Changing diapers. A disposable diaper must be changed for the baby after each bowel movement. In terms of time, this amounts to (at best) every three or four hours. After each bowel movement, changing a diaper or diaper, the child must be washed with clean water. In the first days of life - only boiled.
  2. Washing during the day. It is not at all necessary to wash the child under running water after each removal and change of a diaper if the contamination is minor. It is enough to wipe the skin with baby wipes, cotton pads, cotton swabs, after moistening them in warm boiled water. All movements must be carried out in the direction from front to back.
  3. Hygiene rules for adults. The person carrying out the procedure for caring for children's intimate areas must wash their hands using soap or gel before handling the boy.
  4. Washing the baby. If washing is carried out under a stream of warm running water, then the child should be placed on your arm with his tummy down, on his back or side so that his head touches your elbow. It is very important that the baby's body is fixed. To do this, it is necessary for parents or the person who washes him to hold the baby by his hips or buttocks. And with the second, free hand, wash the genitals with gentle tangential movements.
    If the skin is cleansed from minor contaminants using cotton pads or wet wipes, then it is enough to place the child on his back on the changing table.
  5. Water temperature. It is very important that the water with which the child is washed is not too cold or too hot. The optimal temperature is 36 degrees. If there is no special thermometer, then an old but proven one will help in this situation folk way. Place your elbow in the water intended for washing your baby. If you do not experience any sensations, the water is ready for use.
  6. Baby soap, towel and sponge. You can use soap to wash your baby, but only on condition that the body is heavily soiled, for example after defecation. If it's just changing a diaper, it's better to limit use detergent. You should also note that the soap should not contain cosmetic fragrances. It is desirable that it be “childish”. Towel, soap, sponge for washing the body must be for individual use.

If soap was used to wash the baby, after the procedure it must be thoroughly rinsed off the baby’s skin. Pay special attention to folds. Sometimes the remnants of a soap solution can provoke allergic reactions, irritate the delicate baby epidermis or lead to a cosmetic burn.

It is important to know! Constant use of soap harms children's delicate skin. The gel works the same way. Pediatricians recommend ordinary running water for frequent use.

If to skin the baby has dried stool, you need to prepare a compress from heated baby oil. Apply warm oil to baby's skin and gently wipe away dirt using cotton pads or swabs.



In order to prevent the appearance of irritation, redness and minor scratches on the baby’s skin, it is recommended not to wipe the baby’s epidermis after washing, but to touch the body with a soft terry towel using blotting movements until the moisture disappears completely.

Attention! Oil and powder cannot be combined.

After washing the baby, it is advisable to treat the baby's skin or cosmetic oil, or baby powder. Under no circumstances should these two remedies be combined. Their practical orientation has a different principle of action: the oil has a moisturizing effect, and the powder has a drying effect.

If the baby's skin is dry, use oil; if it is prone to diaper rash, choose powder. If you find irritation, prickly heat or diaper rash in your baby’s intimate areas, it is advisable to seek help special means– diaper cream.



Washing the baby: what is necessary?

Before washing your newborn boy or girl, it is important to prepare in advance everything you need for this procedure.

  • Diaper, romper, diaper.
  • Cotton swabs, pads, wet wipes or paper towels.
  • Terry towel.
  • Oil (or powder), diaper cream.



Procedure algorithm

The first steps of the process of washing a child are identical for both girls and boys.

  • You should wash your hands first.
  • Pick up your baby and place him on the changing table
  • Remove the diaper, carefully removing any remaining feces from the skin with a tissue. Wait a minute or two. Usually the baby starts writing immediately.
  • Take the baby in your arms so that the head is on the crook of your elbow and the back touches the space along your arm.
  • Secure the leg along the baby's thigh with your fingers, holding the baby's bottom with your other hand.

These are the actions that a parent should take when washing a newborn child, regardless of gender. Further, the difference in the washing process depends on the structure of the genital organs. It is this difference that dictates the rules.



Washing a newborn girl

You can learn how to properly wash a newborn girl from specialized literature, from videos starring highly qualified pediatricians, neonatologists and, of course, the newborn baby.

In a newborn girl, an accumulation of vernix lubrication can be seen in the labia area. Please be aware that it must be removed. To do this, just take a cotton swab and wipe everything with gentle touches. intimate areas. Delicate care of children's genital organs helps support the correct formation of the reproductive system.

Negligent and inattentive attitude to hygiene issues can lead to fusion of the labia minora in a girl. Only experienced surgeons can restore them to their original structure.

  • The water jet should be directed from front to back. This rule helps prevent infection from entering the anus into the vagina.
  • After washing, dry your intimate areas with a towel.
  • Wait a while for the baby's skin to dry.
  • Put on a clean diaper.



Washing a newborn boy

In order not to violate the laws of nature and not to cause significant harm to the development of the genital organs of the future man, it is very important to know how to properly wash a newborn boy.

  1. It is forbidden to pull back the skin of a newborn boy to expose the head. Urologists recommend not touching the flesh at all during the first year. She is so tender and delicate that her care must be very careful.
  2. It is necessary so that the stream of running water is directed from front to back. Rinse the penis and scrotum thoroughly without touching the foreskin.
  3. When your baby's skin is completely clean, dry it with a towel and put on a diaper.



What to do, if…

Sometimes force majeure circumstances lead to the fact that there is no running water in the house. What to do? Stop worrying and panic. Nothing bad will happen if you use cotton pads, tampons or wet wipes. The only condition is that they must be moistened in boiled water or lotion.

  • First wipe the penis, then the testicles and finally the folds between the legs.
  • Then lift the boy's legs and wipe the entire area around his bottom.

To ensure that children's bottoms always remain tender, soft and rosy, parents need to follow a number of rules for hygiene and care of the newborn. By following the tips and recommendations, you will give your child a healthy and comfortable childhood.

Due to the anatomical features of the intimate female organs, newborns are more susceptible infectious diseases. The mucous membrane of their genital organs is quite sensitive and vulnerable to various irritants. Therefore, young parents should take the care of their baby especially seriously, following all the rules.

When and how often should I do this?

Therefore, you need to approach the choice of bathing products following the following criteria:

  • It should be designed for bathing babies from birth.
  • The contents must consist exclusively of pH neutral components.
  • Have no smell.

 Herbal decoctions have a good effect on the baby’s intimate parts. The following types are recommended for washing newborn girls:
  • A decoction of string, which perfectly helps prevent inflammatory processes.
  • A decoction of oak bark is good to use for...
  • Chamomile decoction has disinfecting and bactericidal properties.
You can use such decoctions after bathing, blotting your genitals with a moistened towel.

Did you know? Infants smile on average 200 times a day.

Features of washing

Some parents are of the opinion that a newborn baby should be washed under running water. Others insist that it is necessary to use only boiled water, while others even prefer napkins. In fact, there are quite a lot of features of caring for the genital organs of a newborn. We suggest looking at how to do this correctly below.

Washing should be carried out strictly in the direction from the pubic area to the anus. This rule should be followed in order to prevent stool from entering the vagina, and consequently, inflammation of the vagina. Based on these thoughts, it is not recommended to wash the girl after defecation in the pelvis. The use of washcloths is also prohibited; you just need to wash it with your hand.

After washing, there are also a number of mandatory actions. Firstly, the child should have his own separate clean towel, with which the labia and the area around them are first blotted with light movements, then the folds of the groin and only at the end the anal passage. It is strictly forbidden to wipe the labia from the inside, as this can cause microflora disruption.

Finally, dry baby skin needs to be anointed with a special one, and for the labia it is better to use a sterile one. After which it is advisable for the child to have air baths for at least 15 minutes so that the intimate organs can get some fresh air and not be blocked.


White liquid in the first days

You can use this method not only in a situation where there is no water, but also, for example, if the child has not pooped, and you simply replace it so as not to carry it under the tap every time.
In this case, the girl needs to be placed on her back, holding her legs up with one hand. Then remove the diaper and wipe your private parts from top to bottom. In this case, you need to use each time new napkin so that feces do not get on the labia. At the end, you should wipe the baby’s skin and folds.

Why this is important: the consequences of poor hygiene

Maintaining the rules of intimate hygiene for a newborn girl is extremely important, and parents should take this issue very seriously. After all, the state of her health depends on it. But since cases are different, and even the most caring parents have unforeseen situations, you should know exactly what consequences a violation of the rules of intimate hygiene entails.

Most often, parents are faced with such an unpleasant phenomenon as diaper rash or, more simply put, diaper rash. It manifests itself in the form of redness, rash, itching and peeling of the skin in the genital area. The most common cause of diaper rash is improper use of diapers.
In such a situation, you need to immediately cleanse the skin of all irritants. The baby should be washed only with clean water, if possible not to wear a diaper, so that the skin can breathe and heal faster, and the inflamed area itself should be treated with special pharmaceutical products for diaper rash. Otherwise, erosions and ulcers may appear on the skin.

Other extremely unpleasant and serious consequences include what is the fusion of the labia in girls. This happens when inflammatory processes V . If synechia is detected in a newborn, you should urgently consult a doctor.

A number of other consequences that parents of girls often encounter include the following: pain and pain when urinating, a change in the smell and color of urine, discharge, itching and redness in intimate places.

In order to ensure the health and well-being of a newborn girl, parents must daily observe the rules of intimate hygiene and monitor the condition of her genitals. If you notice something wrong, you should immediately contact your pediatrician for help.