Bathing the baby is a daily routine, but the post-bathing stage is when the baby is at risk of catching a cold. The baby's skin is very thin, and body temperature changes easily, so if care is not taken properly after bathing, the baby may have a cough, runny nose, fever, or even bronchitis.
Newborns and young children have a lower ability to regulate body temperature than adults, so keeping warm properly after bathing is extremely important. Below are things parents should absolutely not do after bathing their babies.
1. Not drying thoroughly has put clothes on the baby.
Many mothers rush to dress right after taking their babies out of the bathtub, but if the baby's skin is still damp, the body is very susceptible to cold. Especially, areas such as the neck, armpits, groin and finger joints, if there is still stagnant water, will make the baby cold faster and easily have cold sores.
Pediatric experts recommend drying the baby's whole body with a soft towel, thoroughly soaking each area before putting on clothes, to avoid making the baby tremble or the skin twitch.
2. Do not let the baby lie in front of a fan or air-conditioned room immediately after bathing
A common mistake of many families is to put the baby right under the fan or in a room with air conditioning because they think "it's cool to be comfortable". However, after bathing, the baby's body temperature is dropping, encountering cold winds will make the baby susceptible to catching a cold.
Young children are very sensitive to temperature changes, so avoiding drafts and keeping a warm and stable environment is important to reduce the risk of catching a cold.
3. Do not apply baby powder immediately after showering
Many mothers have a habit of applying baby powder to make the baby "dry and breathable". But if the baby's skin is still moist, the powder will clump, clogging pores and easily irritating the skin and causing redness.
Some dermatologists warn that inhaling baby powder can also affect the respiratory tract, especially in infants.
4. Do not breastfeed or feed the baby immediately after bathing
Immediately after bathing, the baby's body needs time to stabilize its body temperature. If the mother breastfeeds or eats immediately, the baby may easily vomit, feel uncomfortable, and have bloating, especially when bathing in lukewarm water, which changes the circulatory system.
You should let the baby rest for about 15 to 20 minutes before feeding or eating.
5. Not moisturizing baby's skin
Many mothers only dry and then put on clothes, but do not know that after bathing, baby's skin is very easily dry and peeling. Moisturizing after bathing helps maintain the skin's protective barrier, reducing the risk of milky eczema and irritation.
Just apply a thin layer of suitable moisturizer for children and your baby's skin will become softer and healthier.
Bathing properly is important, but taking care after bathing is even more important. Just by avoiding the above mistakes, the baby will be less sick, sleep better and develop healthier every day.
