The wrapped bath , also called " swaddled bath" or "swaddling bath" provides a real moment of calm and soothing for your baby during the bath. More than a bath, it's a treatment, a unique experience to share with your baby.
This practice helps strengthen the bonds of attachment between parents and their baby during the first months. During the wrapped bath, your baby rediscovers rather familiar sensations, those experienced in utero ... Let's discover the benefits and the right actions for carrying out a wrapped bath.
Summary
- What is the wrapped bath?
- What is the difference between a classic bath and a wrapped baby bath?
- The benefits of a wrapped bath
- How to give a baby a wrapped bath?
-
How to protect your baby's skin during bathing?
What is the wrapped bath?
For several months, your baby bathes in amniotic fluid, in a calm, containing, warm and humid world. At birth, the baby arrives in a world that is unknown to him. The wrapped bath brings him back to this “aquatic environment” which is so familiar and soothing.
Wrapped bathing is a technique that involves covering your baby with a swaddle and immersing him in a warm bath. Thanks to swaddling, your baby feels like he's in an envelope, a bubble of well-being like when he was in his mother's womb. The heat, the buoyancy and even the calm reproduce the same atmosphere as in the womb. Naturally, your baby may assume a fetal position. This position gives him a real feeling of security.
The wrapped bath technique is often used for premature babies and babies who are anxious and/or tense. However, this type of process is suitable for all babies since it provides lots of benefits!
In summary, the wrapped bath is an effective technique that promotes relaxation and well-being because it improves the quality of sleep and promotes a more relaxed state of mind . It is a practice with many benefits.
What is the difference between a “classic” bath and a wrapped baby bath?
The main difference between a traditional bath and a wrapped baby bath is the method used to hold the baby in the water.
A classic bath is a traditional bath in which the baby is placed in a tub of water at an appropriate temperature. During this classic bath, the baby is completely free to move.
A wrapped baby bath consists of immersing your baby, previously wrapped in a diaper, in a bathtub of hot water (37 degrees).
You might like these bath products
The benefits of a wrapped bath
A wrapped baby bath can provide many benefits to your child's health and well-being .
Provides a feeling of well-being and security
During this moment, the baby feels immediate well-being. The happy hormone, called oxytocin, is released into your baby's body. Being wrapped in a swaddle in a warm bath makes the baby feel comfortable and relaxed. In the mother's womb, the baby's body is contained in the walls of the uterus in the fetal position. The wrapped bath provides sensations previously experienced in utero. Furthermore, at birth, the baby does not have the maturity to understand that its container is its skin. Thanks to unique experiences such as a wrapped bath or massage, your baby becomes aware of the limits of his body.
Helps reduce stress and anxiety
A wrapped bath is a pure moment of relaxation and well-being for little ones. It can help reduce stress and anxiety in babies, which can improve baby's sleep quality and promote a more relaxed state of mind. Combined with massage and a bedtime ritual, it can also be beneficial for babies who have difficulty falling asleep or who have sleep disorders.
Strengthens the bond and the feeling of attachment
This special moment with your baby helps strengthen the bond that unites you in a different way. Time spent together can create an opportunity for parents to focus on their child and create a calm, relaxed environment. It can also help reinforce positive physical interactions (hugs, caresses, tender looks, etc.).Additionally, wrapped baths can help parents better understand their child's needs and meet those needs adequately, which can strengthen their sense of attachment and responsibility for their child.
How to give a baby a wrapped bath?
Making a baby wrap bath is quite simple, but it's important to follow certain steps to keep your child safe.
Here are the steps:
-
Prepare your bathroom by providing all the necessary equipment (a baby bathtub, a thermometer, a diaper, a soft towel and clean baby clothes). The bathroom should have a temperature between 22 and 24 degrees. Place your towel on the changing table to dry baby after getting out of the bath. Then, place a diaper on top. It should be large enough to cover your baby.
-
Check the water temperature using a thermometer. The water should be at a suitable temperature (37 degrees). It is important to check that the water temperature is suitable for the baby to avoid any risk of burns.
-
Place your baby on the diaper that you have previously prepared. Handle him gently to undress him. Remove your baby's clothes little by little, covering the bare areas with the diaper at the same time to prevent him from getting cold. Fold the diaper into a triangle shape. You can also use a soothing wrap designed for this purpose like the one offered by the French brand Lilititi.
-
Wrap your baby in his diaper before placing him in the water. Take care to completely cover the baby with the diaper to create a feeling of warmth. It is important not to completely cover the baby's head to avoid any risk of suffocation. Be sure to support his head and neck. After that you can rock it gently.
-
Leave your baby in the tub for about 10-15 minutes, or until he or she feels relaxed and soothed.
- Once soothed, ditch the diaper and clean your baby with natural baby washes . This step is not obligatory.
-
Remove baby's diaper gradually , leaving it in the bath water. Then dry it gently with a soft towel. Dress the baby in clean clothes and place your baby in a comfortable place to rest.
- For optimal relaxation, you can massage your body before or after bathing with an organic oil suitable for baby massages or practice skin to skin with your infant.
How to properly protect your baby's skin during bathing?
Babies' skin needs special products specially formulated for their delicate and dry skin. Therefore, promote the use of products designed for dry, sensitive skin with atopic tendency and certified organic .
Discover our DERMABébé range formulated without alcohol, essential oils, parabens and aggressive cleansing agents.
- The certified organic multi-care oil protects the skin from the drying effects of water and limescale. By applying it before bathing, this oil creates a protective layer, a barrier between your skin and water. You can massage it before bathing but also use it daily to massage it.
- Certified organic cleansing gentleness gently cleanses the scalp, hair and body thanks to its sulfate-free and soap-free formula. It contains organic extracts of mallow and lotus which soothe and relieve feelings of tightness. Diglycerin nourishes and softens the skin.
Did you like this article? Maybe you will like this one just as much: How to practice a baby massage?
Also discover our selection of organic products for postpartum .
Image source of the wrapped baby: Lilititi
