What to do if a child becomes afraid of water? The newborn does not like to bathe. It happens

Most children love to swim, and not only in the bathroom, but also in the sea, pools and ponds. This is especially true for newborns and babies in the first six months of life. On a subconscious level, the child remembers that he was in liquid for a long time - amniotic fluid inside the mother's body. Therefore, when immersed in warm water, he feels protected, comfortable and instinctively calms down. However, with age nervous system The baby is forming and he may develop fears and anxiety. One of the objects of fear is often water. Some kids calmly swim in the bath, but are afraid to go near the sea. And others experience horror just from the thought of swimming or an evening shower, especially when it comes to washing their hair. Psychologists have their own opinions on what to do in this case.

Why is a child afraid of water: the main reasons

Parents should understand that fear does not arise spontaneously in children; there are good reasons for this. Fear of water is one of the most common cases that adults encounter in preschool children. Therefore, mom and dad should try to find out the reason and help the baby overcome his fear.

Psychologists say that by not paying attention to this situation, parents are making a big mistake. Until about the age of seven, children accumulate information on a subconscious level about what they are afraid of. And if you don’t help the child overcome his worries, he will begin to experience fear as an adult. This is why some teenagers, men and women develop aquaphobia - a panicky fear of water, as well as hydrophobia - a disease in which a person experiences horror not only from contact with water, but also being near it and is even afraid to drink liquid.

To help a child overcome fear, you need to find out the reason why he began to be afraid of water.

If a baby is afraid of something, this is a completely normal situation, because fear is an emotion of the body. However, child psychologists say that the reasons for the fear of water differ depending on the age of the children.

Newborn is afraid to bathe

At this age, the child does not experience fear of immersion in liquid, because he spent nine months in it. He is afraid of unpleasant sensations that could cause such a reaction to water:

inappropriate temperature in the bath: perhaps the parents lowered the baby into too hot or cold liquid while bathing, so next time the baby is afraid to feel discomfort again;
discomfort during diving: if a child has signs of allergies, irritation or rash on his body, the baby may experience burning, itching or pain upon contact with water. That is why he does not want to bathe and cries;
afraid of diving: infant swimming is very popular today. However, not all parents listen to the advice of specialists and begin to carry out exercises on their own without qualified help nearby. As a result, while diving with his head, the baby could swallow water and get very scared;
psychological discomfort: very often young parents are afraid to bathe their newborn. Doctors explain that any changes in the mother’s mood are transmitted to the baby. If a woman is nervous, afraid and unsure of herself during the procedure, the baby will also be capricious, cry and be afraid.

Causes of fear of water in infants from 6 to 12 months

After six months, the child’s nervous system begins to work differently. The baby learns environment, shows interest in many things, he has favorite toys. The same applies to people: a baby can happily and joyfully go into the arms of his parents, but he treats strangers with wariness and a little anxiety.

Do not shout at your child while bathing, so as not to scare him.

There are times when a child has always happily swam in the bathtub, pool, or his parents have already shown him the sea, but at some point he suddenly began to be afraid of water. Most likely, the subconscious mind remembered the unpleasant moment that occurred while in the liquid. And now the baby is afraid of its repetition, thinking that it will arise during bathing. The reasons may be the same as for a newborn, but several new ones are added:

the baby hit himself while in the bath: for example, he slipped on the smooth bottom of the bath and hit his head, hand, etc.;
Mom suddenly turned on the water in shower mode and the baby was afraid of the strong pressure;
after the procedure, water remained in the ear and it began to hurt or cause discomfort to the child, so the baby instinctively tries to prevent a recurrence of the situation and does not want to bathe;
parents used a new shampoo and the foam got into the baby’s eyes or mouth;
adults yelled at the child during the bathing ritual, so the baby is afraid to again cause a negative reaction from the parents.

Why do children older than one year suddenly become afraid of water?

At this age, children already experience a conscious fear of water. Babies up to two years old suddenly begin to throw tantrums, hide so as not to go for a swim, and even small splashes can put the child in a state of anxiety and nervous tension.

Child psychologists draw the attention of parents that in this case it is necessary to find the cause as quickly as possible and help the child overcome fear. After all, until the age of two, most children cannot clearly explain why they are afraid, what worries them.

Three-year-olds and older children can already formulate their thoughts more fully and tell their parents about their experiences. At this age, children still have a very unstable psyche, so even one careless sentence that naughty children Taking a merman underwater can cause fear for life. In boys and girls of this age, the fear of water is more often associated with psychological reasons, and not physical, for example, hit while swimming or too hot water in the bath. Fear may appear after the following situations:

a sharp increase in the amount of fluid: the baby bathed in the bath all the time, where he felt comfortable and safe. But the parents decided to start going to the pool or taking a full adult bath at home. The baby, without any preliminary conversation, was simply dipped into the liquid, of which there was too much. At a subconscious level, the child’s self-preservation reflex is triggered and the brain begins to perceive water as a danger that needs to be feared;
swimming against desire: most often this happens at sea or in the pool, when the baby simply needs more time to get used to big water, to get acquainted with a new place for swimming. But the adults don’t want to wait and abruptly plunge the child into the sea. The baby is instantly overcome by fear and panic, he does not feel the bottom and begins to cry, often this state develops into real hysteria;
fear of bathing alone: some parents leave their children alone in the bathroom, citing the fact that children must learn to be independent, and there is very little water in the bath. However, the child is afraid of slipping and falling, for example. This is where fear manifests itself.

How to help: methods of dealing with the fear of water in children

Dr. Komarovsky adheres to the principle that every behavior has a reason. Children do not cry, become hysterical and capricious just like that. Therefore, parents first of all need to find out why the child began to be afraid of water, and then urgently begin to solve the problem. Child psychologists also agree with this point of view.

Experts insist that for children of different ages We have our own rules of behavior for parents. For example, if with four year old son or you can talk to your daughter and explain basic things to him, help him overcome fear by talking, conveying information. This method will not work with a baby under one year old. The child simply will not understand mom or dad and will continue to be afraid.

Doctors insist that action must be taken gradually so that the child gets rid of fear step by step.

Techniques for getting rid of fear for newborns and children in the first six months of life

From the moment a baby appears in the house, parents also learn: how to care for the baby, feed, dress, change diapers and, of course, how to bathe properly. The famous pediatrician Evgeniy Olegovich Komarovsky draws attention to the fact that not only maintaining the cleanliness of the child, but also his psychological comfort depends on the correct organized process of the daily ritual with water. The fact is that the baby is calmer when he is in liquid, he relaxes and prepares for a sound sleep, so hysterics, screams and tears in the bath are absolutely not necessary. To prevent the development of a fear of water in a newborn or to effectively cope with existing fear, parents need to:

control the water temperature: this can be done using a special thermometer, which is lowered into the bath, or adults taste the liquid with their elbow. 36 o - 37 o is considered optimal;
do not draw too much water so that the child does not get scared and plunge into it headlong;
talk to the baby, because the mother’s voice calms the baby and puts her in a positive mood;
act gradually: first dip the baby’s legs into the bath, if the baby does not cry, slowly immerse the whole body. The head must be supported;
After the procedure, the baby should be immediately wrapped in a warm towel with a hood. This is done not only to prevent the child from freezing. In some cases, sudden changes in temperature: the water is warm and comfortable, but as soon as you take it out of the bath it’s cold, which can cause a reluctance to swim;
Use only special baby cosmetics for baby hygiene. It is necessary to select a shampoo that is marked “no tears” so that if it gets into the eyes, it does not cause a burning sensation in the baby.

Video: Dr. Komarovsky about bathing babies

We help children under one year old cope with their fear of water

At this age, in addition to a properly organized bathing process, the baby must be interested and created comfortable conditions for taking a bath:

the baby already knows how to sit, so you definitely need to lay a special mat on the bottom so that the child does not slip;
turn bathing into a game: you can buy various bath toys, an inflatable ring or a special cap. Of course, some children are afraid when these items are put on them, but others like it and enjoy playing in the water;
gradually increase the time you spend while swimming: first five minutes, then 7, 10 and so on up to half an hour;
turn on soothing music for your child: soothing sounds help the baby relax and more easily endure the process of immersion in liquid;
Mom should always be nearby, you can tell a story to the baby, sing a song or play. The child should see that the mother is joyful, then this mood will be transmitted to him.
if the baby is very frightened, you can cancel bathing for a few days so that the unpleasant impressions are forgotten, because babies very quickly erase various moments from their memory, not only bad, but also good;
change the environment: children always make associations, so as soon as the mother enters the bathroom, the baby starts crying. Place a bath in the room on the sofa and try to bathe the baby there. Often a change of environment has a positive effect on the child’s perception of the process of immersion in water.

Psychologists warn parents that to help their child overcome fear, they need to be patient and act slowly. Under no circumstances should you shout at the baby, much less hit him. This can only aggravate the situation, which in the future will cause the development of real phobias in a growing child.

If parents act correctly, the baby will quickly fall in love with water and will bathe with pleasure.

Every day the child understands more and more. He learns to analyze, find the reason for this or that action, shows fear and tries to fight it. Of course, there are children who, for example, after unexpectedly diving headfirst into water, will not be afraid, but will try to repeat this trick again, or will not attach any importance, will quickly forget and will not be afraid of water. But such people are in the minority. Therefore, if your baby suddenly begins to experience anxiety from the bathing process, psychologists recommend the following methods:

start bathing in a playful way: take your child’s favorite toy with you, let him bathe it himself, while parents should explain to the baby why washing is necessary. Afterwards, invite the baby to plunge into the water himself, emphasizing that mom and dad will always be nearby and will immediately get him out of the bath as soon as he wants;
Psychologists insist that we must not forget to praise the baby. Even small step forward, for example, the child touched the water with his hand - a reason to praise the baby and rejoice with him. Adult approval is very important for children, so they will try to overcome their fear and gradually get rid of it.
bathing with parents: some adults bathe in a large bath with the baby from the very birth. But if you've never done it, now is the time to start. The feeling of mom or dad nearby will give the child confidence and teach him not to be afraid of water;
acquaintance with liquid: before the evening procedure, fill your baby with water in a toy bucket or other container, for example, a bowl, pan. Dip your fingers and your whole hand together, throw small items: Some will drown, others will not. This way the baby will get used to the liquid and see that there is nothing wrong with it;
You can do breathing exercises: place one or more objects on the surface of the water that will not sink, for example, lids from plastic bottles. Invite the baby to blow on them so that they begin to move along the surface of the liquid. Surely he will like this game. Then suggest trying to repeat it in the bathtub, because there is much more space there.
tell fairy tales, nursery rhymes, learn new poems, so the baby will be distracted and will not focus on his fear. This way the bathing process will be fun and playful;
Give your child a choice: ask him if there is enough water or if he should pour more, or maybe, on the contrary, pour out a little if the baby is scared. When the baby himself controls the process, he will have strong confidence that there is no danger, because at any moment the liquid can be removed or his mother will take him out of the bath.

If your baby enjoys bathing in the bath, but is afraid to enter the sea or pool, you should not force him. You can tell interesting stories, show by the example of other children who swim calmly and do not experience fear. Good method- lure the baby with the help of a new object: a mattress, a swimming ring, a bright ball or another toy with which you can swim. However, when a child is afraid, there is no need to rush; over time, he will dare if he feels support and approval from his parents.

Video: what to do to help your baby stop being afraid of water

From the experience of parents

We had this happen once and we managed to distract him with toys.

Young

Girls, we also had a problem with bathing. We are now 1.6 years old, although we have an older daughter (she is 10 years old). In general, I turn on a thin stream of water and don’t close the drain, I give her toys - she plays with it and doesn’t notice how I plug the drain. Sometimes I make foam for her and she plays with the foam. It’s true that I’m nervously washing my head, but I’m trying to do it very quickly and I need to do it before I get out.

Galina Vasilievna

http://www.komarovskiy.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17417

We had one like this, the cause turned out to be a small crack between the buttocks (it was either sweated or rubbed) - it screamed because it was pinching. They started washing it in the shower, healed the crack, then they waited a week and fell in love with swimming again.

And we had it. It helped to throw on new toys and sit him in the bathroom while the water was still filling.

MagicGirl

http://www.babyplan.ru/questions/133380-rebenok-boitsya-vody/

My granddaughter also didn’t want to bathe and I taught her this way... Both of us got into the shower at the same time and I tried to wash her hair first so that water wouldn’t get into her eyes (lift her head up), and another way, I started washing her hair in front of her and face under the shower and at the same time fooling around (they say it’s so cool, etc.) and she started squeaking like a mouse and let’s go under the stream, now she bathes with pleasure.

Raisa Kkat

http://www.psychforum.ru/archive/index.php/t-265.html

As children grow older, many fears may appear, but fear of water is one of the most common. First of all, a lot depends on the parents, because they know their baby best and can determine the reason that served as the impetus for the formation of anxiety and fear. Child psychologists and pediatricians recommend not to rush, so as not to scare the baby even more. The calmness and patience of adults is transferred to the child, so after a while he will be able to overcome his fears and enjoy swimming not only in the bathroom, but also in open water.

Lyudmila Sergeevna Sokolova

Reading time: 7 minutes

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Article last updated: 04/04/2019

For most children, such a procedure as “bathing” evokes the most positive and happy emotions. Any newborn toddler loves water because it soothes and creates an atmosphere in which he has been for nine whole months. Older children like to frolic and play in the bath during bath time. But there are also cases when a baby cries during water procedures. And sometimes it’s quite difficult to understand why this happens. Although in fact there are reasons for such behavior.

The main reasons for crying when bathing

The reasons why a child cries while bathing are completely varied. There are a number of main factors that influence a child’s behavior when taking water procedures.

Neither the temperature of the water nor the bathing room

Often a child experiences some discomfort when immersed in a bath precisely because of the temperature of the water: too hot or too cold. In addition, the air temperature in the room where he is bathed can also affect the condition of the baby. If it is too low, the child may freeze before or after bathing.

Before starting water procedures, parents must be sure that the air temperature is not lower than 24-25 degrees, and water fluctuates within 34-36 degrees. Gradually, to harden the child, the water can be heated to 27-28 degrees. Check the water temperature with a thermometer or with a body part such as the elbow.

Large bathtub

In the first months of life, the baby should bathe in a small bath. Thus, he gets used to water procedures. If you decide to let your baby swim in a large bathtub, then make sure that he is ready for this. Of course, in the womb the baby was constantly in liquid and got used to such an environment, but it should be remembered that he had not yet had time to get acquainted with large bodies of water. Sometimes a newborn baby, on the recommendation of doctors, is wrapped in a diaper before immersion. This process is able to recreate familiar conditions for the baby.

Baby is afraid to swim

Fear during bathing can occur due to soap getting into the eyes, or due to accidental water getting into the mouth or ears. A child, even the smallest one, is able to remember such situations and subsequently experience fear of water.

The child is uncomfortable in the bath

Often fearing that the child will slip out of their hands, parents hold the child too tightly. This can create some discomfort, which will lead to the newborn crying and being very capricious during bathing. In this case, you need to try to hold the baby in a different way, or give him the opportunity to swim on his tummy.

Other factors

A child’s behavior in water can also be influenced, for example, by a feeling of hunger. If a child wants to eat or drink, then he tends to inform his parents about this. Or maybe for now he can only do this by crying. You should try offering your baby either some drinking water or expressed breast milk in the bath.

Neurological disorders

Neurological disorders are also one of the reasons why the baby began to cry in the bath. In this case, the newborn experiences discomfort not only when in contact with water. Moody behavior usually occurs during sleep or eating. Therefore, if a child cries while bathing and there are no apparent reasons for this, then you should contact a specialist who will conduct a special examination of the baby.

Bathing, in addition to the fact that it is an important hygienic element in the life of any person, for a child is also a cognitive process in which, through play, he discovers many new, interesting and unknown things. This is a full-fledged, exciting adventure in which the baby and his parents learn to interact, understand, trust and feel each other. Bathing is the first, most accessible and, for the most part, favorite pleasure in every person’s life. However, despite this, not all children love to take baths. What to do if the child does not like to swim? If he becomes hysterical at the sight of water? What if the whole washing process turns into a test, not only for the baby, but also for his parents?

If your newborn baby does not like to bathe.

It is necessary to understand that absolutely all children are born without any fear or fear of water. After all, this is their native element, where they spent 9 long months. Small children feel very good and free in the water environment; any awkwardness of their first movements disappears. 3-month-old babies even retain the ability to swim underwater, and with the right approach, they can do this without problems for up to a year.

The fear of water in newborn children is formed forcibly, albeit unconsciously, by the parents themselves. This can happen directly. For example, the anxiety of a mother who is afraid of accidentally harming her baby and doing something wrong. Her hands are shaking, the timbre of her voice is changing, she feels insecure. This uncertainty and fear is passed on to the child, and if similar situation repeated several times in a row, the baby develops fear as a conditioned reflex. This can happen indirectly. For example, improper lighting, incorrect water temperature, rough use of a washcloth or towel can easily discourage a baby from diving into the water. It is quite possible that the child does not like to swim because he remembers some unpleasant situation that happened to him: he drank too much water, got soap in his eyes, slipped off his hands, etc. There may be dozens of such reasons, and an adult may not even be aware of many of them. Therefore, before you begin to fight the child’s reluctance to bathe and forcefully wash him quickly, you need to find the reasons why the baby does not want to get into the bath and, as quickly as possible, get rid of them. Knowing the problems and understanding the reasons for a newborn child’s reluctance and fear of water, you can gradually cope with the mother’s anxiety, make the water warmer or cooler, install a heater, change the towels. You can deal with his bad memories too. Before bathing, it will always be useful to give a light massage, turn on pleasant and familiar music to the baby, throw his favorite toy into the water, and use special bath stands. You can achieve mutual understanding and trust with a small child by using affection, love and patience.

It’s another matter if a child who doesn’t like to swim is no longer a month-old baby who completely trusts his mother’s caring hands, but an adult toddler who, quite consciously, for some reason, doesn’t want to wash?

If a child who does not like to swim is over a year old.

In such cases, love, patience and affection, of course, should remain, but a little cunning will have to be added to this arsenal. As a rule, children after a year begin to show more interest in what is happening around them. They already want to try everything on their own. Give your child this independence. Let him pour water into the bath himself, take off his pants, soap up a washcloth, and rub his tummy. At the same time, be sure to praise him, focus on how great he is and what a great fellow he is. You can let your baby wash your hands, you can get into the bath with him, wash some of his favorite toy, or wash the doll’s dress. Children play well in the bathroom with toys. These do not have to be special rubber fish and ducks. First, allow your child to take with him any toys he wants, of course, if it is not a soft bear or a metal car with batteries. However, similar toys that cannot be washed can be placed next to the bath, so the child will be calmer. You can use small mugs, cups, jars as toys. Children love to pour water and water themselves. Children also love games with children's bubble bath. You can also glue large foam rubber puzzles to the wall in the bathroom, which you can assemble while distracted from the washing process. Familiar music is also a great distraction. You can sing his favorite song with your child or tell him a fairy tale.

If the child does not like to bathe, after the washing procedure, tell him how delicious he smells, how clean and beautiful he is. Show him his reflection in the mirror, teach him to like himself. The method of subsequent encouragement helps tremendously. For example, you say that after a bath, you will read him a book or turn on his favorite cartoon. But be sure to do everything promised immediately after washing. Children remember your promises well, they remember for a long time what was not done, and next time they will never believe you.

If your child does not like to bathe, you need to wash his hands as often as possible. Let him hold his dirty fists under the tap a little longer so that he can enjoy the water, splash around a little, and play with it. Allow him to help you wash the dishes, pour water into a basin, give him a rag and children's dishes, or offer to wash something. So, gradually, he will not only get used to the water, but also learn to help you around the house. This will teach you to trust each other and enjoy success together.

Fear of water and water procedures is usually associated with the inattention of adults who did not provide the baby with a sense of safety and physical comfort during bathing.

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Water procedures are loved by kids. However, parents often complain that the child suddenly begins to be afraid of water and all attempts to bathe him lead to hysterics and crying. What to do if bathing a child turns into a test of nerves?

The baby that is born is free from fears. They arise in the process of growing up and are associated with receiving some unpleasant sensations. Fear of water and water procedures is usually associated with the inattention of adults who did not provide the baby with a sense of safety and physical comfort during bathing.

We bathe babies

The first bath of a newborn child at home can cause a dislike of water procedures, or, conversely, a positive attitude towards them. It depends on the conditions that accompanied the first bath procedures. For bathing, the child must be provided with:

comfortable water temperature; water for bathing a newborn baby should be approximately 37-38 degrees;
a comfortable bath for convenience, you can purchase a special slide or a bathing mattress;
warm room; room temperature for bathing a newborn baby should be 25 degrees and above so that he does not feel discomfort after taking a bath;
comfortable psychological environment, the child’s first bath should take place in a calm atmosphere. He should not be tormented by the feeling of hunger, nor should he be frightened by sharp and loud sounds. If the mother is inexperienced and is afraid to bathe the baby on her own, it is better to call more experienced family members for help or entrust them with the entire procedure.

For an older baby, aged three months or older, you can buy a circle for bathing infants. If he is not afraid of water and has a calm and positive attitude towards taking a bath, then swimming in a circle that supports his head will be fun for him, and his mother will be able to calmly wash him even alone.

Bathing a baby is a mandatory hygienic procedure. During it, the baby should have fun, so his attention needs to be switched to bright toys for bathing, humming songs to him and telling him rhymes.

If the child absolutely does not want to take a bath, you can limit yourself to a shower or simply wash him under running water. This is quite enough for general hygiene. When the fear of a full bath goes away, you can return to the traditional method of washing.

Bathing children after one year

There are situations when a child over a year old suddenly begins to be afraid of the bath. This may be due to unpleasant physical sensations or traumatic situations:

the baby fell in the bathroom and swallowed water;
the bottom of the bathtub is slippery and the child feels insecure and is afraid of falling;
the child got soap or shampoo in his eyes.

It is easy to exclude such moments. It is enough to create a comfortable environment for your baby by simply placing a rubber mat in the bathtub and purchasing high-quality children's cosmetics that do not cause irritation to the mucous membranes.

You need to fight children's fears by involving the child in play and turning bathing into a small holiday. For a boy, you can organize a sea battle in the bathroom, for a girl, bathing her favorite dolls.

To prevent the baby from being capricious and happily running to the bathroom, the bathing and bedtime routine should be organized taking into account his own interests. After a bath, children usually go to bed, so you need to let your baby finish playing his favorite game or watch a cartoon. It is better to warn that it is time to take a bath 15 minutes in advance so that the child has time to complete his business.

If a child does not like to swim: what a parent should not do

It can be difficult for parents to understand why their baby resists bathing. If this behavior occurs constantly, they begin to think that the child is spoiled and is simply capricious. Forcibly bathing a child only makes the situation worse. Under no circumstances should you:

scold the child, shame him, call him dirty;
You cannot threaten the baby, physically punish him or deprive him of any pleasures;
You can't force him into the bath.

It is necessary to understand the reasons for children's behavior and try, if possible, to eliminate negative and traumatic factors. A particularly anxious child may benefit from taking a bath with his mother. In any case, after a while the baby will learn to enjoy swimming and playing in the water, you just need to be patient and wait a little.

Bathing for a newborn child and his parents is a whole event (especially if it is the first time after the maternity hospital). Like any very responsible business, this process raises many questions: how and when to bathe, boil water or not, whether it is possible to add herbal decoctions and how often to do this, is it dangerous to get water into the ears, and so on. The famous pediatrician Evgeny Komarovsky, in his books and articles, has repeatedly talked about the basic rules and principles of organizing water procedures for a baby.

It is worth considering the most important points that you should know so that bathing brings pleasure and benefit to both the child and his parents.

Peculiarities

Water procedures are beneficial for absolutely all babies from the very first days of life. In the womb, babies are in an aquatic environment, and therefore it is familiar and native to them. The little one feels at home in the water. Bathing is not only a hygienic procedure aimed at keeping the child’s skin and hair clean. Taking baths helps physical development, carries an element of play, and therefore has a positive effect on the mental and emotional development baby.

A few decades ago, pediatricians categorically forbade bathing a child with an unhealed umbilical wound, opposed raw, unboiled water, and set many more fairly strict requirements and restrictions for parents.

Modern doctors look at bathing more democratically.

Parents with experience, as a rule, have significantly fewer difficulties during the first bath of a newborn at home than new mothers and fathers who received their first child just a few hours ago. Komarovsky advises maintaining Spartan calm. It is this that guarantees success in the difficult task of bathing the baby.

Preparation

Should I bathe with an unhealed umbilical wound?

This question comes up quite often. Some pediatricians allow bathing even with a clothespin on the navel, while others recommend refraining from taking water procedures until the umbilical cord dries. Evgeny Komarovsky says that the choice is, of course, up to the parents. However, if the child is kept in acceptable living conditions, does not sweat, does not overheat, and does not get dirty, then nothing bad will happen to him if the baby does not bathe for a week or two. It doesn't bother him at all. If anyone is worried, it’s only mom and dad, but in this case there are wet baby sanitary wipes that can be used to wipe problem areas and folds at any time.

However, if you still decide to bathe, then until healing umbilical wound The doctor advises doing this exclusively with boiled water.

For a long time, doctors advised bathing in water with a solution of potassium permanganate. However, you need to be extremely careful here; undissolved grains of potassium permanganate can cause serious burns on the delicate skin and mucous membranes of the baby. The solution should be pale pink and should be added to the water immediately before bathing. Komarovsky does not recommend potassium permanganate at all, since in small doses it is useless, and in large doses it is dangerous. It is better to replace it with infusion of succession.

Massage

A massage before an evening swim is a very useful and important procedure, says Evgeniy Komarovsky. During stroking and patting, the blood supply to the muscles and skin improves, and the benefits will be even more noticeable if you bathe the baby immediately after the manipulations. All parents, without exception, can master a simple massage. To do this, you do not need to enroll in special courses.

Komarovsky recommends doing a light and soothing massage before a bath. First, with baby cream, mom can easily massage her hands (stroking and in a circular motion, this should be done with your thumbs). Then the legs are massaged in the same way. The tummy is stroked clockwise with the palm or fingertips. Then the baby is laid on the tummy and the back is gently massaged - first in circular and arched movements, and then with light pats.

The mother's movements should not cause pain to the baby, he should not go to the bath too excited and screaming from the heart.

Water temperature

Doctors recommend keeping the temperature at 37 degrees. It should be followed for at least the first 10-14 days. Then you can experiment - slightly increasing or decreasing the temperature (maximum - 1 degree).

Some parents try to warm up the bathroom in advance by bringing heaters into it (especially in cases where the first bath at home occurs in winter). Komarovsky does not recommend doing this. The temperature in the bathroom should be approximately the same as in the rest of the apartment (optimal values are 18-20 degrees), and overheating the air in the bathing room is harmful.

For a good night's sleep, Komarovsky advises to practice swimming in cool water, the temperature of which is no higher than 32 degrees.

Such procedures will not cause any harm, but the general strengthening effect will be obvious, and in a cool bath it is more difficult for a child to fall asleep while bathing. However, you should not immediately rush to implement this recommendation. This should start gradually. The initial water temperature for a newborn is 34 degrees. A child can reduce it by 2 degrees per month - up to 32 degrees, and bathing time can be increased from 15 minutes to half an hour. At two months, the temperature of cool water can be lowered to 28-30 degrees, bathing time is half an hour.

Komarovsky advises to take these figures rather conditionally. If a 1-month-old child calmly accepts swimming in water whose temperature is 24 degrees, there is nothing wrong with that. He sleeps soundly, rests well, worries less himself and allows his parents to sleep.

Time

The first bath should not be very long. It is better to start with 3 minutes, the next day extend the procedure to 5 minutes, then add a little more time. Komarovsky considers the best duration of bathing to be 15-20 minutes. If a quarter of an hour has passed, and the baby is calm and determined to continue the procedure, nothing bad will happen if the bathing is extended.

A newborn does not have time to get so dirty that he needs to be bathed every day.

Although Komarovsky strongly advises washing the baby every day. When the baby begins to crawl, get dirty, and actively explore the world, water procedures before bed should become regular and mandatory - you will have to bathe the baby every day.

It seems to Komarovsky that evening swimming is not a dogma. Parents themselves have the right to choose the most convenient bathing time for the family. Some evening hygiene procedures postponed until lunchtime. However, Komarovsky warns that evening swimming has its benefits - for example, it promotes relaxation for a strong and healthy night's sleep.

Herbs and decoctions

No matter what they say traditional healers However, any use of phytotherapeutic agents during bathing is best coordinated with the treating pediatrician. Grandmothers, of course, will advise bathing their granddaughter more often or making sure to brew him nine strength, but the common sense of parents should be above all. If a child suffers from atopic dermatitis, has diaper rash, or has a (genetic) tendency to allergies, be sure to consult a doctor.

For healthy children, bathing with the addition of decoctions of medicinal herbs is quite useful procedure, says Evgeny Komarovsky. However, moderation is good in everything; you shouldn’t prepare herbal baths every day, and you should be more careful with the dosage of decoctions and infusions.

Naturally, it will not work to treat something with herbal infusions added to water, since this is impossible, says Dr. Komarovsky. But there won’t be much harm with moderate dosing.

What to do if a child does not like to wash and screams?

Such situations do occur, says Komarovsky. But the point here is not at all about the child and not even about the fact that he is afraid of something. Most likely, according to a famous pediatrician, bathing conditions should be adjusted. Maybe the water temperature does not suit the baby - it is too high or too low for him. After experimenting for several days, parents will be able to understand which water is most comfortable for their child. Bathing should begin with it - and only then adjust the temperature in favor of cooling (adding cold water in a thin stream) or heating (adding hot water in the same way).

Another reason for a child’s screaming in the bathroom, according to Komarovsky, lies in the baby’s rejection of the bathing process, since it goes against his internal biological clock.

For example, a mother tries to bathe her baby only at night, and it is at this time that the child wants to sleep and not bathe. Therefore, Komarovsky gives some advice that will help parents whose children have trouble in the water:

Change the time of day.

Change your eating and bathing routine. If your baby screams when bathing half an hour after eating, then try bathing him half an hour before eating (or vice versa).

Practice sharing baths with your baby.

Large bath

This can be done as early as 2-3 months, says Evgeniy Komarovsky. At first, a child can get comfortable in a large expanse of water with a circle around his neck. This is a special inflatable device with a recess for the chin and Velcro on the back of the neck. The baby is fixed in such a circle, his head is always above the water, and he can practice swimming on his back, stomach, and turning over on his own in the water. Usually this picture brings the baby’s parents into indescribable delight.

You can swim without a circle. For this, Evgeny Komarovsky recommends three poses:

The baby is immersed in water entirely, leaving only his face on the surface. At the same time he is supported index fingers under the neck. There is nothing dangerous about getting water into your ears and eyes, says the doctor. The main thing is that water does not get into your nose and mouth. Even if the baby drinks a little of it, nothing bad will happen.