Mothers of teenagers, recall the joyous occasion of your child’s birth: Your Nᴇᴡʙᴏʀɴꜱwas probably taken away from you soon after birth. After all, the ʙᴀʙʏ needed to be washed off and cleaned up, so it was to be anticipated. However, specialists now advise parents to wait a little longer—at least 24 hours, if not longer—before bathing their children.

Conventional wisdom suggests that the wʜɪᴛe, waxy coating that covers Nᴇᴡʙᴏʀɴꜱ should be removed as soon as possible. But if applied over a longer period of time, this substance, known as vernix caseosa, may prove useful. While it might appear that bathing a Nᴇᴡʙᴏʀɴꜱimmediately after birth has been the custom for as long as any of us can remember, there has been a recent and growing interest in realizing that Bᴀʙɪᴇꜱ are covered in vernix for a reason, and we’re only now learning more about its advantages.

According to a 2004 study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the ACOG, vernix offers a protective coating to the skin, softening it and safeguarding the immune system. Vernix and amniotic fluid also include antimicrobial peptides that can prevent the growth of germs and fungi.

In a similar vein, medical professionals have recently started delaying clamping a ʙᴀʙʏ’s umbilical cord until a minute after birth, demonstrating that the bathing controversy is only one aspect of a larger initiative to enhance the entire birthing experience for moms and their Nᴇᴡʙᴏʀɴꜱ.

Change-makers also emphasize the value of unbroken skin-to-skin interaction for mother and child since it helps your Nᴇᴡʙᴏʀɴꜱfeel more secure in the early stages of life. Nothing is more beneficial for a ʙᴀʙʏ than to lay next to a mother’s skin, according to Dr. Jaffe. A mother’s chest can heat up or cool down to help the infant maintain the proper body temperature, according to Very Well, but removing a ʙᴀʙʏ from his mother right away for a bath will drop his body temperature.

While there isn’t a single accepted ᴍᴇᴛʜod for determining the ideal time to bathe a Nᴇᴡʙᴏʀɴꜱ postponing washing is expected to gain popularity as more women learn about it. According to Today’s Parent, the World Health Organization currently suggests waiting at least 24 hours before taking a bath, but some mothers prefer to wait longer. It’s simply incredibly intuitive, according to Dr. Jaffe. It just makes sense once you start to think about it because this is what’s best for the ʙᴀʙʏ.