not to wash the baby's hair for several months because the water and soap could "get through that soft area in the top of the head and cause brain damage." Explain to her why this is not true.
I am an exploratory teacher, and I like to ask the questions on here before asking my students! So any and every one help me with my studies.
2006-11-22 06:07:49 · 23 answers · asked by pop89eyes 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
If that was the case, we are all brain damaged, cause i don't know a single person who has not washed a baby's hair.
2006-11-22 06:10:45 · answer #1 · answered by who be boo? 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The reason there is a soft area at the top of a newborns head is because the skull is not fully formed yet. No soap or water can harm the baby's head and cause brain damage. What could cause brain damage is if the baby gets hit or bumped on the soft spot there is no skull to protect the brain therefore causing damage to the brain. And if the baby's hair is not washed he or she could get bad cradle cap which is yellow and crusty.
2006-11-22 06:16:44 · answer #2 · answered by skybluebabyboo 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because this is an old wives tale or she has brain damage, I don't mean to hurt anyone feelings. However your baby can be washed from head to toe without any problems and also it is good for the child at such a young age to be especially clean. As baby's hygiene is more important because of the tender age and all the environment problems (germs) The only reasons a baby's head could not be washed would be clearing spelled out by a doctor and as result of some sort of medical problems, such as allergies,etc. If the person is not a doctor than they can not give medical advice and this is clearly medical advice.
2006-11-22 06:18:23 · answer #3 · answered by VLEEKS47 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have never heard that one before, but if a friend told me that I think I might have to give them a hard backhand slap. But I believe that is not true because even though the soft part of a newborn's skull is not completely hardened it is still covered by skin and bone and the skin absorbs some water into itself, but wouldn't leak into the brain. The brain is well-protected.
Good question for the kids. (Hope I'm right too!)
2006-11-22 06:13:25 · answer #4 · answered by jessyl135 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is just not true. The soft spots are there for the journey down the birth canal. They allow the baby's head to pass through more easily. That is why some babies are born with cone shaped heads. I would contact a local pediatric office for an official medical statement as to why that's not true if you want to give your students a medical professionals opinion. However most everything thing I read previous is true.
2006-11-22 07:59:34 · answer #5 · answered by ribbitt_ribbitt_83 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, if water could get through the skin that quickly then we'd all be water logged everytime we took a bath or went swimming!! And, the soft area has nothing to do with the skin and the ability of things to permiate it, it has to do with the areas of the skull that have not fused yet. Although you should be careful with the baby's head, of course, washing it gently will be just fine.
2006-11-22 06:25:07 · answer #6 · answered by Tallulah 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is not enough toxin in mild baby soap to soak through to the brain. If it soaked in like that, it would be in the blood stream much sooner.
The reason you don't wash a brand new baby is that there skin is very sensative and dryes out easily. Babies should be cleaned with warm water and very little mild soap every couple days just for hygene. They aren't very dirty people so nothing needs scrubing!
2006-11-22 06:18:35 · answer #7 · answered by buggerhead 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lol. Without an entire biology lesson i dont know how best to explain it to her.
While we absorb some things, especially chemicals through our skin, it ends up in the blood stream, not 'pooling' in different areas of the body. The skull doesnt stop water from getting in, anymore than the bones of your feet keep them dry.
Technically theres no need to wash a baby's hair for the first couple days, and typically once a week is good enough for the first two months.
poor girl, I hope she's not procreating.
2006-11-22 06:12:48 · answer #8 · answered by amosunknown 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Soap doesn't go through your skin. I was told it takes a while before your soft spot closes so it would be a long time before you could wash the babies hair. They would then have cradle cap really bad.
2006-11-22 13:31:36 · answer #9 · answered by teddybear 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is true because when a baby is born all parts of the body are soft but some parts are really soft like the head so I think you should listen to that advie and not wash the baby's hair
2006-11-22 06:13:14 · answer #10 · answered by hh 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well if it can get through the skin on the top of the head, what's stopping the soap and water from getting through the skin all over the body?
2006-11-22 06:11:39 · answer #11 · answered by BlairBear 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋