Baby Care and Clothing Guide at Mediclinic

Washing and bathing

For your baby’s daily hygiene, wash his or her face (not forgetting the eyes, nose and ears!) and nappy area in clear water and without soap. In addition, avoid excessive use of moist towels, as they contain additives that can unnecessarily irritate your baby’s sensitive skin.

Give your baby a maximum of two to three baths each week. Avoid perfumed or foaming bath products and use a special, moisturising (baby) bath oil. Take particular care when choosing soaps and shampoos; always check the ingredients and suitability of such products. As a rule, plant-based, soap-free products are better for your baby’s skin.

If your baby is afraid of or resists having a bath, try to introduce him or her gradually to water, but never force him or her. As an alternative, you can wash your baby with a flannel or sponge.

Skincare

After a bath, apply baby care cream or baby oil to your child’s skin, in order to support his or her natural skin processes. It is recommended that you use products free of preservatives and artificial perfumes. If your child has particularly dry skin, your paediatrician can prescribe a medicinal skin cream.

Nappy care

Change your baby’s nappy whenever required, before, after or in between meal times. It is not necessary to change your baby’s nappy during the night unless he or she has a sore or red bottom.

In the nappy area, your baby’s sensitive skin may react to urine or faeces with reddening or a rash. Special creams are available that form a layer of fat, thus protecting baby’s skin from dampness and inflammation. Sore or chafed areas heal best in the fresh air and can be treated with a special balsam.

Clothing

Baby’s clothing should be practical, easy-care and comfortable. Underclothes offer protection and warmth and are extremely important for your baby’s comfort. Pay particular attention to quality and materials when choosing bodysuits: wool, silk and pure cotton are friendly to the skin and comfortable to wear.

A complete baby wardrobe should contain at least the following items of clothing:

• 6 to 8 bodysuits (short-sleeve and long-sleeve)
• 3 to 4 clothes sets (romper suit, trousers, pullover or t-shirt)
• 1 jacket
• 4 pyjama suits
• 4 pairs of socks and tights
• 1 pair of slippers
• 1 pair of mittens
• 1 scarf or sun hat

Sleeping

For the first six to eight months, babies aren’t able to stay awake much longer than two hours at a time.  If you wait longer than that to put the baby down he/she may feel overtired and as a result have trouble falling asleep. Additionally, it is never too early to get your baby into a bed time routine and teaching him/her the difference between night and day. 

Infection prevention

In order to actively prevent infection it is important for mother and father to wash hands before and after touching raw eggs, meat, unwashed vegetables, preparing and eating food and gardening and touching soil. Reduce contact with saliva from other babies and young children  and avoid contact with raw milk and foods made with raw milk in them.