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Hello, I am 37 weeks pregnant and live in the UK. This is my first baby and my family live in India. My mum will come to help me soon. I just had a question on bathing the baby.Out here they suggest not to bath the baby at all until 1 or 2 months ! But I want to start bathing baby maybe after 24 hours of birth. My question is - how do you bath the baby ? I already have a baby bath stand. Do I give a bucket bath ? HOw long should it last ? Should I use some shower gel or wait for a few weeks before ? Should I just pour water over the baby ? And is it OK to make the umbilical cord wet ? Thanks ! for your advise rammi replied. Hi,
In uk, you can attend baby care classes which will be conducted in metarnity hospitals. You can get more information about the same with your midwife.
You can place the baby mat in a kitchen sink and give him a bath by pouring little water or sit in a bath tub and stretch your leg and keep the baby on your leg and give him a bath. i found this way is really easy and comfortable.
By the by in which city u stay? I too stay in UK.
Good luck Ritika replied. Please wait a few days at least before giving a bath to the new born...the baby will be given a bath immediately after being born by the nurse...so don' t worry about it...

Follow your pediatrician' s advice in all respects.

You can give your baby sponge baths the first few times...giving a bath once in 2-3 days is fine to a new born baby. their skin is very delicate and anyways, its not getting too dirty (as they are not going anywhere).

You can buy baby bath mats that you can place over your kitchen sink and then place the baby over it. you can use a baby soap or shampoo for washing your baby. Again, you don' t have to use soap or shampoo every time.

If you are in the UK, try attending a baby care class (it might be run by your hospital). It will prove very useful to you, specially since its your first baby.

Congrats and enjoy your motherhood!