BATHING NEWBORNS

In most hospitals newborns receive a

complete bath to wash away vernix
caseosa within an hour after birth.
Bathed once a day:
Baby’s face
Diaper area
Skin folds
Wear gloves when handling newborns until
a first bath to avoid exposing your hands to
body secretions.
 BATHING NEWBORNS
Babies of HIV positive mothers should be
bathed immediately to decrease the
possibility of HIV transmission.
Bathing of an infant is best done by parents
under a nurse’s supervision.
When giving a bath, it should proceed from
the cleanest to the most soiled areas of the
body
Eyes and face
Trunk
Extremities
Diaper area
 BATHING NEWBORNS
Room: 75°F (24°C)
Bath water: 98 °F to 100 °F (37 °C to 38 °C)
Teach parents to wash the infants hair daily
with a bath.
Most health care agencies do not apply
powder or lotion. (infants are allergic) Many
adult talcum powders contain zinc stearate,
which makes talc irritating to the respiratory
tract.
For extremely dry skin, lubricants (Nivea oil)
are added to water or directly on the baby’s
 EQUIPMENTS
Basin of water
Washcloth
Towel
Comb
Clean diaper
Shirt
 EQUIPMENTS
Cotton Balls or disposable washcloths
Neutral soap (varies with facility, but
examples include Castile, Dove and
Neutrogena)
70% Alcohol
Petrolatum Gauze
Protective ointment
 PROCEDURE
Nursing Action Rationale
Weight, temperature &
blood pressure
2. Weigh infant & record 1. Newborn may lose 5%-
weight 10% of birth weight loss
3. Take axillary temperature of excess fluid.
by placing the 2. Use of rectal
thermometer in the axilla thermometer
and pressing infant’s arm predisposes to irritation
gently but firmly against it of rectal mucosa.
for 10 minutes. Prevent
exposure; provide warm
environment (24°-27°C)
5. Hypotension may be
4. Take blood pressure, if present and require
indicated.
 4. Tilt head back to  4. Exposes neck folds for
cleanse neck more through cleansing
 5. Bathe torso and  5. Prevents unnecessary
extremities quickly exposure and chilling
 6. Carefully dry each area  6. Prevents heat loss and
after washing maintains
 7. Inspect umbilical cord. thermoregulation
Check area for bleeding or  7. Minimize colonization
foul odor. A drying agent, by bacteria
such as 70% alcohol or
merthiolate, maybe
applied several times
daily (according to your
facility policy).Do not
cover with
 8. Cleanse genital area of
male infants.
a. Cleanse penis without  a. Edema and constriction
retracting foreskin.
b. Circumcision care-
keep area clean. Place
sterile petrolatum gauze
over are for first 24 hrs.
change after voiding
observe hourly for
bleeding. Position infant
and diaper to avoid
friction.
of the penis may result it
foreskin is retracted
b. Prevents infection and
promotes healing.
Bleeding can be controlled
by pressure or by
application of adrenaline
solution. Prevents
discomfort.
 9. Cleanse genital area of  9.
female infants.  a. Remove vernix and
a. Wash vulva front to other discharge
back b. Front to back
b. Wipe vulva with cotton cleansing prevents
ball using one stroke in a contamination of vagina
front-to-back direction 10. Area is susceptible
 10.Bathe buttocks, using tpskin breakdown because
gentle, patting motion. of acid reaction of urine
Keep area clean and dry and feces.
to prevent diaper rash. I
rash does occur,
protective ointment (zinc
oxide or A & D)maybe
used. Exposure of