It’s a common practice among African women to bathe their newborns with hot water and also stretch their hands without knowing the medical implications, while many have argued whether using hot water to massage newborns is good.

Newborns’ skin may vary, this depends on the duration of the pregnancy. Some infants who are born prematurely tend to have thin, transparent skin, whereas the skin of a full-term infant is thicker.

As the days go by, the skin lightens and may become dry and flaky. To some babies, their skin may often turn red when they cry, together with their lips, hands, and feet may turn bluish or when the baby is cold.

Babies have soft skin and it is ideal to keep it soft and smooth. You can ensure that with warm water, and 15-minute baths. This helps to absorb the lotions and moisturizers you will apply later more easily.

Basically, newborns don’t require much bathing so long as you’re always changing diapers and burp cloths, and you’re already cleaning the parts that need attention such as the face, neck, and diaper area. But then, you can choose to bathe your baby in the morning hours instead of cleaning the parts that need attention. Some prefer to make baby baths part of a calming bedtime ritual, that is, bathing their babies at night before they retire to bed. That’s up to you.

Is there any time I can bathe my baby with hot water?

Bathing your baby in hot water can have several effects on his body. In as much as it helps to relax muscles, relieve tension, and promote blood circulation. Hot water can also open up pores and help to cleanse the skin, but it may also strip away natural oils, leading to dryness. Additionally, prolonged exposure to hot water can lead to dehydration and may cause dizziness or lightheadedness. It’s important to be careful of the water temperature and not to stay in hot water for too long to avoid potential negative effects.

There are no times you should use hot water to bathe or massage your baby, rather the water should be warm, not too cold, and not too hot. It should be warm enough for your baby to feel comfortable during the bath.

The recommended water temperature for a baby’s bath is around 32 degrees Celsius.

Hot water does not bring relief to your baby instead it scalds your baby.

Hot water will not help to relax the tense muscles and joints which improves blood circulation and makes them have a good sleep.

Studies show that children who bathe with warm water, not hot water before bedtime, sleep in one go for hours and wake up early in the morning, much faster.

Except for Healings

Hot water has healing powers, even for kids. If your child slipped and fell badly and has aching joints, a hot water bath or massage will be the best option for your baby. Not only will the hot water help him relax but it will also heal the joints, relax him, and help reduce the pain.