In my experience, some babies will begin to smell if not bathed.  I  
used to work in a single room maternity care unit.  One night while  
checking a baby who had been under phototherapy I noted that he was a  
bit smelly.  I asked the mother if he had had a bath and no, he  
hadn't.  He was probably about 3 days old at that point.  I am sure  
that being under the lights contributed to his smell.  I am all for  
delaying bathing but eventually we all would like a bath.  I am also  
quite happy sending babies home without a bath if the parents want  
this, however, most parents would like have their babies bathed and  
are quite anxious about bathing their child.  It also really nice to  
have the parents do the bath with you there to provide guidance as  
needed.

Cordelia

On May 28, 2009, at 2:22 PM, LACTNET automatic digest system wrote:

> On Sat, 23 May 2009 10:00:00 -0700, Cordelia Merritt  
> <[log in to unmask]>=20=
> =20
> That baby is going to need a bath at some point.  It should be  
> delayed un=
> til=20
> the parents can take part.=20=20
>
> Well, do they really need a bath? Isn't that just a cultural  
> construct we=
> have=20
> about what should happen after a person comes out of another  
> persons=20
> vagina? Sorry if that sounds vulgar, but really, if you think about  
> it, w=
> ipe the=20
> goop off and move on!
>
> Jamelle Lyons, IBCLC


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