Table 3.61, Main resource requirements for delayed first bath compared with early first bath - WHO recommendations on maternal and newborn care for a positive postnatal experience

Resource	Description
Staff	▪ Midwives/nurses, as for usual care
Training	▪ In-service training to implement the new facility protocol and provide the necessary information and support to parents and caregivers for delayed first neonatal bathing (e.g. counselling families, managing blood or meconium on newborns without bathing, bathing safety) ▪ Additional training, support and clinical champions, especially for settings in which early bathing is culturally normative and where staff may be resistant to change
Supplies	▪ Posters, flyers and information leaflets for staff ▪ Information (written and/or pictorial, e.g. leaflets) for parents ▪ Appropriate clothing for the baby according to ambient temperature (1–2 layers of clothing plus hats/caps) ▪ Bathing supplies including clean water, clean towels (as for usual care)
Equipment and infrastructure	▪ Same as for usual care
Time	▪ A policy of delayed bathing may mean that some babies’ first bath will occur after discharge; in most cases the primary bath provider is therefore likely to be the mother, parents or a family member ▪ Additional time may be required before discharge to provide information and support to parents about first bath and bathing practices at home
Supervision and monitoring	▪ Ongoing chart audit by clinical leaders to monitor bathing times and address any barriers to implementation

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WHO recommendations on maternal and newborn care for a positive postnatal experience [Internet].

Geneva: World Health Organization; 2022.

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Table 3.61Main resource requirements for delayed first bath compared with early first bath