Waiting to Bathe Baby

When giving birth in a hospital setting, nurses will almost always ask mothers when they want to give their little newborn that first bath. This exciting ritual of bathing your new one for the first time is often greeted with excitement, anticipation, and a little nervousness (those newborns are so tiny and slippery!). A family member is often designated to take photos, and a well-meaning nurse usually stands-by to offer a helping hand. And while that first bath is definitely an event to look forward to, it is usually an event best postponed for 2-3 days.

Waiting 2-3 days to give that first bath may surprise many new parents. Newborns are typically covered in blood and a white goop (called "vernix") when they make their first appearance. Nurses quickly towel dry the baby (ideally this is done while baby is resting on mom's chest) and wipe off most of the fluids and blood. What is left is typically the vernix, that white goop that looks like a waxy cheese substance. While it is many parent's (and nurse's) instinct to want to clean it off their baby to reveal that beautiful, soft pink skin beneath - that vernix is serving several important purposes.

Vernix is thought to help baby slide more easily through the birth canal. It also helps to moisturize baby's skin once out of the womb. In fact, it is the best moisturizer out there for babies! Instead of bathing baby right away to get rid of the white substance, gently massage it into baby's skin! This will help minimize drying and cracking that can often occur as baby makes it way out of it's watery surroundings of the placenta into the outside world.

Vernix is also thought to help baby conserve heat and stay warm, allowing baby to better adjust to life outside the womb. More recently, pediatricians have recognized an antibacterial benefit of vernix. In other words, that white, waxy substance actually forms a barrier between bacteria in the environment and your newborn's skin! Why in the world would we want to wash that off?!?

Some babies will have more vernix than others when born. Babies born full term (40 weeks) will have more vernix than a baby born post term (41+ weeks). Baby's born post term actually absorb much of the vernix into their skin while still in the womb. Because Little Bear was born at almost 42 weeks, she did not have much vernix left on her skin. She did have some left in the folds of her skins.

When Little Bear came home, we washed her hair (she had a lot of it!), but didn't bathe the rest of her body until day 3. By that time, all the vernix had been absorbed into her skin. Even after the vernix is gone, however, resist the temptation to bathe baby every day. Natural oils in the skin help protect and moisturize the skin (this is true even as adults!). Bathing a newborn twice a week is more than enough. Wiping down areas such as the bottom, neck, armpits, and skinfolds that can collect dirt and milk inbetween baths will keep baby's skin healthy and clean.

Remember that some drying and cracking of your newborn's skin the first few weeks after birth is normal. Resist the temptation to rub all sorts of lotions and oils onto baby. Simply let the dead skin slough off naturally.

When writing your birth plan for your home, birth center, or hospital delivery - make sure to include when you want to bathe baby. This will let nurses, doctors, and midwives know that you wish to wait to bathe your little one. A little waxy white stuff in those first baby photos won't hurt anyone - in fact, it can only help!