Do Baths Help Newborns Sleep
Becoming a parent is indeed one of the most fascinating feelings in the world. Those tiny feet, soothing smiles, and cute sounds can melt anyone's heart, let alone the parents. Things are all good until you realize your newborn is not having a good sleep.
Disturbed sleep patterns are common in newborns because they don't know how to settle themselves—they need external help for that. According to a common belief, massaging their feet or forehead or giving them a bath improves their sleep.
The question is; do baths help newborns sleep better? Let’s have a detailed answer to this commonly asked question.
Do Baths Help Newborns Sleep?
According to a research report published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, newborns who were given routine baths before bedtime had better sleep patterns and woke up less frequently during sleep.
In addition to this, their quality of sleep was much better than those who didn’t get routine baths before bedtime. The researchers proposed that the reason behind this was the gentle relaxation and soothing effect of bathing with warm water before bedtime. The next question is; how or why do baths help newborns sleep better?
Why do Baths Help Newborns Sleep?
There are multiple scientific reasons to why do baths help newborns sleep better. Let’s have a look at them in detail.
1. Thermoregulation
The National University- Manila published a study named, ‘The effect of swaddle bath in the thermoregulation and quality of sleep among infants. According to this research, warm baths help induce sleep by regulating body temperature in infants.
The process of thermoregulation is a lot more important in newborns than the adults. That’s because the thermoregulatory system is still in the process of development in infants. Therefore any external aid plays a positive role.
Bathing with warm water helps regulate the temperature of a newborn's body before sleeping. Giving a warm bath to the newborn increases the body temperature slightly. After taking a bath, the temperature tends to get back to normal. This helps develop the natural process of temperature dropping before going to sleep. It also gives them a cooling sensation and a signal to the brain that it's time to sleep.
What’s more, as bathing gives an overall cooling effect and regulates the temperature of the infant’s body, it makes them drowsy. Thermoregulation is an ideal reason why baths trigger better sleep regulation in newborns. So, if you are having trouble making your newborn sleep, try giving a bath before bedtime. Don’t forget to consider the bath time and temperature of the water.
2. Vasodilation
When you put your little one in the bathtub under lukewarm water, the blood rises toward the surface and dilates the vessels. In scientific terms, we call it vasodilation. When you take the baby out of warm water, the vessels are still open which sort of slightly decreases the body temperature. The slight drop in temperature prepares the body of newborns for sleep. So, yes, baths help newborns sleep.
3. Soothing Effect of Bathing
It is a natural phenomenon that physical relaxation affects the quality and time of sleep, even in adults. Similar is the case with infants. The more relaxed and easy they feel physically, the more easily they get to sleep.
Bath your newborn with lukewarm water as it helps in the muscular relaxation of the newborn's body and soothing gives a calming effect which eventually helps them sleep better.
4. Cortisol Reduction
An important scientific reason why baths help newborns sleep is cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone that controls stress levels in the human body. It helps decrease tension and stress in the human body. If the cortisol levels are high, they interfere with the sleep of newborns and the baby stays more active and alert.
A warm shower decreases the level of cortisol in newborns. This helps the baby to feel more relaxed and sleepy. According to research published in the Journal of Infant Behavior Development, warm baths decrease cortisol levels in newborns. Due to this, the babies potentially get a better quality sleep.
5. Routine Establishment
Regular bathing before bedtime eventually becomes a routine for newborns. They tend to take it as a signal to sleep. This routine psychologically sets a sleeping cycle and clock in their mind. Their internal clock associates their baths with sleep, and their brain takes baths as a cue to relaxation and sleep. It becomes easier for them to drift off after a relaxing bath.
6. Sensory Stimulation
Bathing before bed helps babies sleep as it provides a gentle stimulation that soothes the baby and helps them get a restful sleep. However, too much stimulation may ruin the entire sleep. You can avoid overstimulation by regulating the bath time.
What is the Right Way to Bath Your Baby?
So, now we know that baths help newborns sleep. How you bathe them is also important. Here are some important considerations when bathing your newborns.
- Use a clean bathtub: It cannot be simpler than this; the bathtub should be clean. However, don’t fill too much water in the tub. You just need enough water to dip the lower half of the baby in water.
- Regulate the water temperature: Before you take the baby into the water, check the water temperature. If you don't have a thermometer, you can dip your wrist or elbow to check the temperature. If it feels comfortable on your skin, go ahead. Ideally, the water temperature should be around 36’C-38’C
- Keep a firm grip: Use your dominant hand to wash the baby and the other one to support the neck and head while washing. Start from the face to the head and then clean the body.
- Don’t use soaps on the face: Keep a gentle hand and use a damp washcloth to wipe the face. Don’t use soap on the face; it helps avoid eye irritation.
- Wrap in a warm towel or cloth: pick up the baby from the tub with a firm grip, as babies are slippery when wet. Cover with a warm towel and use the hood of the baby towel to cover their head.
- Add an optional massage: Massage is optional before dressing them up. However, massage can help them get better sleep as well.
- Sleep transition: Lastly, give them a quiet and calm environment to sleep. Lower or even switch off the lights. Feed them if it is a part of their bedtime. Using a bassinet surely improves their sleep.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time for bathing the newborn before bedtime?
Well, it is important to check the time before taking a bath. The bath shouldn’t be given too close to the sleep time because this can cause a reverse effect. It can stimulate the baby instead of calming them. Baby needs enough time to cool down to the ideal temperature for sleeping. Therefore, bathe your newborn about 30 minutes to an hour before bedtime.
What should be the temperature of water?
Water temperature regulation is highly important because newborns’ skin is highly sensitive and cold or hot water can cause health problems. The most suitable water temperature for infants is 98.6 F to 100 F (38’C). Also, make sure you check the temperature before dipping your cutie in water.
Why is a newborn fighting sleep?
There are various reasons that lead to affected sleep patterns. However, some of the most common reasons which may force your newborn to fight sleep include, separation anxiety, teething, overtiredness, hitting a milestone, overstimulation, traveling and discomfort or illness. Remember, newborns don’t have to the ability to calm themselves—they need external help.
How to calm an overtired baby?
When a baby is tired, it is important to make their surroundings as calming as possible. You can try swaddling them using white noise or giving them a pacifier to help them understand it is time to sleep. If the baby is very tired, you might need to spend a bit more time comforting them and being actively involved.
Conclusion
So, do baths help newborns sleep? Yes, bathing plays a crucial role in helping newborns fall asleep and offers significant relief to parents and caregivers. Research shows that a bath not only relaxes a baby's muscles and nerves but also helps regulate their body temperature, which helps in a smooth transition to sleep.
Additionally, baths can lower cortisol levels and provide psychological relaxation for the baby. Establishing a consistent bath routine before bedtime can help set an internal clock for the newborn, signaling that it is time to unwind and sleep.
If you are concerned about your baby's sleep patterns, a regular bath routine may be beneficial. However, it is recommended that very young infants consult a doctor about the frequency of baths.
Lastly, caretakers or parents should know how to bathe a baby properly. Lukewarm water with temperatures around 36'C to 38'C is highly suitable for bathing newborns or infants. Be careful when washing the baby's face.
