You might have heard about the wonders of bath time – but when's a good time to start splashing around? Well, a daily bath isn't essential until babies start to crawl and get messy. But a short dip in the tub three times a week is a nice way of soothing baby and getting them ready for bed. Floating no doubt reminds them of life in the womb.
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You and your baby
Week 3 News
Newborn babies are so delicate that new mums often prefer to 'top and tail' wash at first: wiping face, neck, hands and bottom. But when it's time for a proper wash, have everything at hand before you start – you should never rush off and leave a baby alone in a bath. Take a look at our guides to top and tailing and bathing for more help on important questions like the temperature of bathwater.
It's important to look after yourself too, so take every chance you can to get some rest. This can be harder than it sounds, because some new babies need feeding as often as every couple of hours. So when your baby has been fed, put your partner on care duty and get some well-deserved shut eye!
Need to know
Make sure that your little one has finished one breast before offering another. That's because there are two types of milk – the first ('foremilk') is to quench thirst and the second ('hindmilk') is full of healthy fats. If you swap breasts halfway through feeding, your baby might not get the fatty milk they need to grow.
Get into the habit of keeping a glass of water nearby when breastfeeding. You might find that you become thirstier whilst breastfeeding – it's important to stay hydrated and it's not easy to get up once baby is latched.
Tip: Mastitis
Some breastfeeding mums suffer from mastitis, an inflammation of the breast which can be very painful. We have some tips to avoid and treat it. If you're at all concerned, speak to your midwife or GP, who may also prescribe antibiotics.
Remember our Careline team is always on hand to help. You can talk to our expert mums about mastitis or anything else that's on your mind. Get in touch 24/7 using our live chat, by phone or by email.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The best way to feed a baby is to breastfeed, as breast milk provides the ideal balanced diet and protection against illness for your baby and also many non-nutritional benefits for both baby and mother. We recommend that you speak to your healthcare professional when deciding on your choice of feeding your baby. Professional guidance should also be sought on the preparation for and maintenance of breastfeeding. If you do choose to breastfeed, it's important to eat a healthy, balanced diet. Infant formula is intended to replace breast milk when mothers choose not to breastfeed or if for some reason they are unable to do so. A decision not to breastfeed, or to introduce partial bottle-feeding, will reduce the supply of breast milk. If for any reason you choose not to breastfeed, do remember that such a decision can be difficult to reverse. Using infant formula also has social and financial implications which must be considered. Infant formula should always be prepared, used and stored as instructed on the label, in order to avoid risks to a baby's health.
