A healthy, full-term newborn should not be bathed until at least 24 hours after birth.
A bath can be a stressful procedure for a newborn. Early bathing can trigger hypothermia, potentially leading to hypoglycemia, hypoxia and pulmonary hemorrhage.
There is no evidence to support the need for a first bath soon after birth.
Neonatal hypothermia is a common condition affecting from 32% to 85% of newborns at the hospital.
All possible actions be implemented to minimize heat loss during bathing, such as maintaining a thermally neutral environment, immediate drying, clothing for the infant appropriate to the room temperature (this means one or two more layers of clothing than adults and the use of hats or hoods), and allowing the mother and child to remain together at all times.
A delayed bathing policy may mean that some infants' first bath may take place after discharge; therefore, in most cases, the person in charge is likely to be the mother, parents, or a family member. Additional time may be required prior to discharge to provide information and support to families about first bathing and bathing practices at home.
Delaying the timing of the first neonatal bath is a simple intervention with no additional continuous cost implications for facilities or families.
