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Hygiene for the newborn – to bath or to wash?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2009

A.-M. Hylén ,
E. Karlsson ,
L. Svanberg  and
M. Walder
A.-M. Hylén
Affiliation:
Malmö General Hospital and Malmö City School of Nursing, Sweden
E. Karlsson
Affiliation:
Malmö General Hospital and Malmö City School of Nursing, Sweden
L. Svanberg
Affiliation:
Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sweden
M. Walder
Affiliation:
Medical Microbiology, Sweden
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Summary

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Appropriate skin care of newborns is performed partly to prevent infection but also for aesthetic and cleansing purposes. Skin care should involve cleansing with a non-toxic, non-abrasive neutral material. This study compared the relative risks and benefits of washing versus bathing with regard to bacterial colonization rate, clinical infection rate, body temperature and crying. The results confirm our clinical impression that bathing and washing routines do not differ with regard to signs of infection or other clinical complications. However, the washing routine does increase the babies heat loss and make them less comfortable.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 91 , Issue 3 , December 1983 , pp. 529 - 534
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

References

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