Why newborn’s first bath should be delayed

In many Nigerian communities, mothers bathe their newborns within six hours of birth, often due to cultural beliefs about cleanliness. However, this practice varies from one community to another based on socio-cultural influences.

Cultural beliefs significantly shape immediate bathing practices for newborns in Nigeria, particularly through traditional rituals and practices passed down through generations. These practices often prioritise warmth and the use of specific substances, reflecting deep-rooted cultural values.

Research indicates that only 12% of women in Nigeria bathe their newborn after 24 hours, based on the 2018 Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). This is in accordance with World Health Organisation recommendations to delay bathing to prevent hypothermia.

Newborns can’t regulate their body temperatures very well. So, delaying newborn baths can help keep their temperature stable longer.

In the Dakace and Tsibiri communities, newborn care emphasises warmth and nutrition, with bathing practices intertwined with cultural rituals.

In Ado-Ekiti, a survey in the African Journal of Reproductive Health indicated that 39.5% of mothers bathed their newborns immediately after delivery, which is a common practice. Only 16.6% of mothers bathed their newborns on the first day of life.

Likewise, infant care practices at home for newborns in Ibadan did not substantially conform to the provisions of essential newborn care, and many practices were harmful. Only 16.6% of mothers bathed their newborns on the first day of life.

In the West African Journal of Medicine, the researchers at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, assessed infant care practices at home in the first week of life and how they conform to the provisions of essential newborn care. These were babies delivered at Adeoyo Maternity Hospital in Ibadan.

Evidence from the NDHS survey says that women with secondary or higher education are 30% more likely to delay bathing, wealthier women show a higher tendency to practice late bathing, and women delivering in health facilities are more likely to adhere to recommended practices of delaying bathing.

Also, rural women were less likely to bathe newborns after 24 hours due to limited health services and education.

But many women still contradict the recommendations to delay bathing for at least six hours to prevent the baby from catching a cold and protect the newborn for cultural or cleanliness reasons, which can conflict with health guidelines.

Professor Chinyere Ezeaka, a neonatologist with the College of Medicine at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), in a reaction, said cleaning babies is very good, but the first bath should be delayed to at least after the first 24 hours after delivery to keep the baby warm.

According to her, “It is the best way of keeping the baby warm. Also, when you bathe them as soon as they are born, you are removing God’s own bacterial protection on their skin against infection, and you are creating more problems.”

Delaying the baby’s first bath gives more time in those critical first hours of the baby’s life to enjoy some skin-to-skin contact, establish a connection, and begin successful breastfeeding.

Researchers found that pushing back bath time to at least 12 hours after birth increased rates of exclusive breastfeeding, particularly following vaginal birth. It also increased the likelihood that parents reported planning to continue breastfeeding after they went home.

The study analysed data from nearly 1,000 healthy newborns. The results showed the rates of exclusive breastfeeding rose from 59.8% to 68.2% after implementing delayed bathing practices.

Researchers theorise that delaying washing away that familiar scent from the baby’s body could help the newborn feel more like they’re in their comfort zone. That might help encourage them to latch for their first breastfeeding session because there’s a similarity in smell between amniotic fluid and a lactating breast.

Immediate bathing practices for newborns in Nigeria influenced by cultural beliefs pose significant health risks. Cultural beliefs link “cold” to illnesses, prompting the use of hot baths as a remedy, despite the associated health risks.

These practices, particularly the ritual hot baths known as “wankan-jego,” are prevalent in various regions and can lead to severe injuries and complications for both mothers and infants.

There is a need for increased education on the dangers of these practices, as many women remain unaware of safer alternatives.

While cultural practices are deeply rooted, addressing the health risks associated with immediate bathing through education and community engagement is crucial for improving neonatal outcomes in Nigeria.

Conversely, some argue that the persistence of these traditional practices can hinder the adoption of evidence-based healthcare approaches, leading to potential health complications for both mothers and newborns. This highlights the need for culturally sensitive interventions that educate communities on safer practices while honouring their traditions.

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