Which behavior indicates a client understands how to bathe their newborn?

Washing the newborn's hair before unwrapping them demonstrates an understanding of the proper techniques and order of bathing an infant. This approach is important for several reasons. First, keeping the baby's body wrapped, typically in a towel or soft blanket, helps to maintain their body temperature and provides comfort, minimizing the shock of exposure to air during the bath.

Furthermore, when you wash the hair first while the baby is still secured and wrapped, it allows for a gentle and careful approach, ensuring that soap and water do not excessively run down the baby's body, which could lead to discomfort or chilling. Proper bathing techniques also emphasize the need for safety by keeping the baby securely supported and avoiding unnecessary direct water exposure, which can be overwhelming for an infant.

In contrast, using a wet cloth to wipe the baby may not sufficiently cleanse the skin, especially if a full bath is warranted. Applying soap directly to the newborn’s skin can irritate sensitive skin and is generally not recommended; it’s better to dilute soap in water before washing. Holding the newborn under warm water may be unsafe if proper support and temperature control are not maintained. These methods do not reflect best practices in newborn care as comprehensively as washing the hair while the baby is wrapped does.