Friends-

At our hospital, the lactation consultants also teach the daily "baby basics"
course.  What are your procedures for demonstrating a newborn bath to new
parents?  Do you submerge the baby in the water, covering the cord?  Is there
research out there demonstrating that there is no increase in cord infections
if the baby is bathed this way?  We want to change our policy of
"sponge-bathing until the cord falls off", and would like something to back
up our policy change (for presentation to the baby docs).  I didn't
sponge-bathe my kids ... in fact, they went in the tub or shower with us from
early on.

Also, I have had parents tell me that with the current instruction we give on
sleep positioning for newborns (i.e. no tummy sleeping), that it is taking
longer for cords to fall off.  Anyone else having this experience?

Thanks so much for your input.

Janet Bergeson, RN, MS, IBCLC