In the first weeks after Baby’s birth, keeping your little one clean can seem like the least of your worries. But every 2-3 days, it’s a good idea to think about a bath.
Learn how to give a newborn a sponge bath
Experts recommend washing newborns two to three times per week, so knowing the best way to give Baby a bath is important. Older advice involved keeping the umbilical cord totally dry, but we know now that getting it wet does not increase the risk of infection. You have options for bathing your baby, and they can be fun to explore!
Supplies
Before attempting to bathe Baby, make sure you’ve got all of your supplies handy. Many parents choose to purchase a newborn bath tub, but you can also bathe with your newborn if preferred. If you want to do a sponge bath, you can use the sling attachment for a newborn tub or a stack of towels. You will also need mild baby soap, washcloths, and a towel. Optionally, you may want a rinse cup and a hairbrush or comb.
Although bathing babies in a kitchen sink used to be quite common, experts now suggest avoiding this. This is because it is nearly impossible to get rid of the invisible food related bacteria in and around a kitchen sink, and chemicals used to kill those bacteria may not be the best for baby’s skin.
Giving the bath
- First, you’ll need to choose whether you’d like to do a sponge bath or a typical swaddle bath.
- Fill your tub or basin with warm water. If you have a water thermometer, throw it right in!
- Next, dampen a washcloth and wipe their face and ears, without using soap. Don’t forget their skin-folds, or behind their ears, but be sure not to wash or let water drip into Baby‘s inner ear canal. No q-tips or other small items should be used inside of Baby’s ears.
- Place a little soap on the cloth and wash Baby’s body.
- Next, it’s time for a hair wash! If you’re sponge-bathing, wrap them up in a nice clean towel to stay warm before starting their hair. For most babies, a very simple massage by hand or towel will get their hair and scalp clean. Newborns who arrive with a full head of hair could need a more thorough hair-wash, which you can read more about here.
- Rinse off the soap and dry, rewrapping Baby with a towel. Your baby’s head is likely to get cold after a bath, especially if they have a luscious head of hair, so covering their head with a dry towel is a great way to keep them from getting a chill.
- Some newborns come into the world with that fabled soft skin, but others are a little more sensitive, and bathing can dry sensitive newborn skin out even further. If Baby‘s skin is a little dry or peeling or cracking, you can gently rub a basic baby moisturizer into their skin.
- Put on a clean diaper and clothes, and resume cuddling!
Tips and Tricks
Make sure you never take your hands off Baby while bathing them– after a bath, babies are just so slippery. This is a great time to bond with Baby, so make sure to use it as a fun play-time, not just cleaning. Put on music, smile, coo, and generally make it a positive time. Have a baby who seems to hate the bath? Keep it brief and switch up your plans next time. Remember that Baby does not need to be bathed every day, because this can dry out their skin.
Sources
- AWHONN (2018) Neonatal Skin Care Evidence-based Clinical Practice Guideline 4th ed.
