Guidelines Bathing & Cleaning in Infants & Children:

Basics of personal Hygiene in Infancy Period:

The infant is born in a helpless state and all functions like proper bathing cleaning & maintenance of personal hygiene of child are performed by the mother only.  great importance for health and developing good habit and practices in the child. The main steps regarding cleanliness which the infant's mother should be careful are discussed below: 

The infant needs  bath with Luke warm water in morning  and also given a bath at night on a regular basis. This satisfies the necessary requirement of keeping baby clean and fresh all day..

For a sensitive baby of one to two weeks age, the guide line is  not to give cold water bath associated with a misconception that it strengthens baby.  Cold bath  can on  contrary prove harmful to infant's health and can cause a number of diseases to the child.

Morning Bath:

The morning bath consists of sponging with slightly warm water whereas  night bath with little warmer water, which shall be highly refreshing and pleasant for the child. 

After achieving the age of few months, the slightly lower water temperature sponging or dipping the child in such water started for a short duration. In summer season. Prolonged exposure to cold water depletes the energies and there is absence of healthy skin glow feeling.

Few children are extremely sensitive and for them cold water bathing is harmful and does not bring expected glowof skin.  State of infant's health of is  of main consideration while deciding to give a cold bath or warm bath. 

Drying of Skin:

After the bath  skin needs drying and rubbing with  flannel. Besides drying the skin due to mild friction induces warmth and stimulation required.  The process of bathing, drying needs to be done at a fast pace, which is a most effective way of strengthening muscular build up of infant. 

Enough care is must to  keep arm pits and groins clean and dry. A fat child requires dusting of talcum powder which prevents sores development and excoriations often cause of skin troubles  of the infant. Soap be used on  parts of body exposed to dust or dirt.

The Childhood bathing:

In routine the mothers now become negligent and are satisfied by just cleaning hands and face. As a daily routine, cleaning of entire body followed by drying with a coarse cloth be continued. Secret of child's good health lies on external cleaning and drying..

A child having strong build up and vibrant health, when he gets up in the morning is fresh and highly active due to  night's rest. He should be encouraged to have a bath under shower. If  he is afraid of shower bath, sponging be done all over the body with salt water.

During cold climatic conditions, the bath water should be slightly warm. Preferably if the health permits, the  water for bath should be always cold. Body needs to be rubbed with dry flannel at a fast pace for drying subsequently the clothes are to be worn without a delay. Such routine should be followed in the morning on a daily basis during childhood.

A boon for Children Living Coastal Areas:

The children living near sea are at an advantageous situation of having bath at sea beach preferably some time after breakfast. Be careful that the child does not get fatigued.

Prolonged sea bath is harmful for health in children of feeble built up.  One should be Careful with children who get frightened by immersion into water. It is a good opportunity to make children swim. Swimming is a very healthy exercise and has double benefits of bath as well as vigorous refreshing exercise.

For children of weak constitution a cold bath in the summer season gives a pleasant feeling and is a best for his health. With conditions permitting sea bath will provide many benefits to child.

An observation of sea bath should be kept, if found beneficial only then it should be continued further. If positive signs of skin glow or increase in stamina and good appetite are not observed, sea bath should be abandoned.

Beliefs Associated with Bathing:

The general belief that warm water bath is relaxing is grossly a wrong. All the methods when rightly applied, shall increase  vigor and tone up of body and its systems. The plain truth is that warm bath produces good effects in weak constitution children and cold bath produces good results for strong constitution children.

The Concluding Views:

The conclusion is daily bath by any manner should be followed by a sponging with cold salty water through out the year as long as adequate glow is achieved. In the situation it is not so in case of delicate child warm water with a tinge of vinegar should be tried.