The most common question I come across on the first day I get to see a new born is “When can I bathe my baby?” or “Is it necessary to bathe my baby” or “Can I wet or pour water over the umbilical cord” or a worried mother may ask “I mistakenly put water over my newborns umbilical cord. what do I do?”

The first bath of the baby is one of the most awaited moments that new parents look forward to. All credit to all the baby toiletries companies who make these fabulous cute advertisements.

Anyway, the intension of the first bath of the newborn is remove unwanted dirt from your baby which in the first few days would by blood (which the baby has got during delivery) and sometimes meconium. However, that cheesy, white material vernix should be left. This vernix helps creates a barrier for microorganisms and protect your baby.

Firstly, bathing should only be considered if the vital i.e. temperature, heart rate and other parameters are normal for the baby.

Second, bathing your baby can cause to temperature of your baby to fall and cause hypothermia. So, you need to be watchful of this.

The world health organization advocates that bathing the baby should be differed till at least 24 hours of birth. If this is not possible due to cultural reasons, bathing should be delayed for at least 6 hours. American Academy of Pediatrics and many neonatologists usually advice to withhold bathing till the umbilical fall off, which may take up to 7-10 days.

I prefer advising babies to be given a sponge bath -which excludes the umbilical cord- after 24 hours of birth. A proper bath differed till the baby is 3 days old. This gives us the benefit to clean blood and meconium and gives the newborn enough time to stabilize his/her vitals.

Whether to pour water over umbilical cord during bathing or not does not make any difference. If you have poured it, then relax. It’s safe as long as the water was clean. The AWHONN guidelines state that there is no difference umbilical cord healing. However, you should pat dry the cord and leave it open to air-dry after bathing the baby.