When is it advisable to bathe a healthy full-term newborn for the first time?
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.