Bathing your newborn can be a beautiful experience for you both. It’s time to bond, time for baby to learn and experience new sensations and to soothe and relax baby to sleep. Baby’s all react differently to the water, some can take time to get used to it and you might be nervous if this is your first baby. But given time, you’ll both relax and enjoy bath time.
A newborn only needs to be bathed two or three times a week, but if your baby loves bath time and it helps send them to sleep peacefully then there’s no harm in having bath time more often.
Here’s our top tips for bathing time:
- Don’t bathe a tired or hungry baby, it could make them even more unhappy.
- Have a set routine and have all the things you need (cotton wool, baby flannel, warm towel, clean nappy and clothes) to hand and make sure the room is warm before you undress baby.
- A newborn doesn’t need any soaps or shampoos, just plain, warm water is fine.
- Use a baby bathtub inside your regular bathtub and be prepared for kneeling over the bath by placing a mat for your knees on the floor. You can also use the bathroom sink.
- Fill the bath with warm water until its about 8-10 inches deep and test the temperature with your elbow. Hands can withstand higher heats and may make the water feel cooler than it is. Use a bath thermometer if you have one, the water should be around 37C.
- Undress your baby and wrap them in a towel. Watch out for any unexpected happenings now there’s no nappy.
- Wash baby’s face using cotton wool dipped in the bath water and squeezed out. Gently wipe the cotton wool across baby’s eyes, tops of ears and behind the ears, using a clean piece of cotton wool each time. Do the same for baby’s nappy area, this is called topping and tailing.
- If you’re washing baby’s hair, gently hold them over the bath water and massage their scalp with water.
- Now it’s time to gently lower baby into the bath, keeping them secure the whole time. Holding a wet, wriggly baby has its challenges, so expect to get a bit wet yourself. Keep one arm behind their shoulders and neck and gently splash water over the rest of their body with your free hand.
- When you’re finished, slide your free hand under their bottom and gently lift them out of the bath.
- Keep bath time to around five to ten minutes.
- Dry them thoroughly paying special attention to their creases and folds their umbilical cord stump if they still have one.
- Newborn babies shouldn’t need any creams but if their skin is showing any signs of dryness (especially in hard water areas) then a baby emollient added to the bath should help, but take more care as it will make them a lot more slippery.
It’s vital to remember not to leave baby alone in the bath even for a second. If you’re nervous, have someone else with you for the first few times until you get used to a routine. Keep baby well wrapped up in a towel after bath time as they can lose heat quickly. Enjoy!
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