Nikki asks:
" Where is the evidence to support routine bathing of newborns?
    Vernix is protective and insulates infants against the cold
encountered
once they leave the uterus. I can see if an infant is bloody or
covered in
poop; but many infants are born nice and clean with vernix on them.
When the
infant is not bathed, the vernix absorbs into their skin.
    Why would we want to upset a newborn? How can this help with
breastfeeding?"

Unfortunately, one big reason babies get bathes so soon in the
hospital is for the convenience of the nurses.  Caregivers are
required to wear gloves for all baby cares until after the first
bath to avoid contact with amniotic fluid which is considered a
"body fluid contact with which is to be avoided".  So the sooner the
bath is done, the sooner the nurse can stop wearing gloves for baby
cares (althi\ough they are still supposed to for diaper changes).

I'm not saying this is justification for early baths, just pointing
it out to help with understanding the dynamics involved.  I agree
that a baby that can have more time to absorb the vernix has much
softer skin than the one who has it washed off right away.

Winnie

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