Bath time can be an important bonding experience between mother and baby and is also important to maintain good hygiene. Many first time parents are nervous about giving their newborn a bath but with a little bit of practice, bathing your baby will become second nature.
Gather Your Supplies
Babies can drown quickly and should never be left in the tub for any amount of time. Gather all of your bath supplies before you put your baby in the tub. Have a dry towel ready so you can wrap your baby up as soon as you lift her out of the tub to keep her warm. Have a clean diaper ready to put on your baby right away. Basic bath supplies such as a washcloth, body soap, shampoo, and a scalp scrubber should be within reaching distance.
Fill the Tub
With young babies it helps to use a smaller countertop baby tub, but they can be bathed in the regular tub as well. Fill the tub up before bringing your baby into the bathroom so you can be sure that the water is the right temperature. You may be distracted while getting the bathtub and bath supplies ready so it is best to have your baby in her crib or another secure location until you are ready. Remember that your baby has sensitive skin and will feel temperatures more dramatically than you do.
Wash Your Baby
Bring your baby into the bathroom after you have gathered your infant bathing supplies and prepared the tub. Shut the door to the bathroom to keep the heat inside and help your baby stay warm. If you are bathing a newborn during the winter, you may want to bring a small space heater into the bathroom or turn the shower on hot for a few minutes to warm up the air. Undress your baby and gently lower her into the water. Newborns may startle as they are put into the bath water. That is a normal newborn reflex and does not mean that your infant is afraid of the water.
Hold your infant securely with one hand and wash her with the other. Use a soft wash cloth to clean your baby, working from her head down. Wipe her head down with the wet washcloth and clean well under her neck and in between fat folds if she has them.
Newborns can be washed using only warm water unless they have spit up or had a very messy diaper. Older babies may need a mild soap and tear-free shampoo.
After you have wet down your baby’s body, you can add a small amount of shampoo to the top of her head. Rub the shampoo gently over her scalp, using an infant scrub brush if you have one. Use a clean washcloth to carefully wipe the shampoo off of your baby’s head, being careful to avoid dripping water into her eyes.
You can add a small amount of body wash, soap, or more shampoo to the washcloth and clean the rest of your baby’s body. Rinse the soap well. If your baby has eczema or sensitive skin, you may want to rinse her body with clean water before drying her off.
Dry Your Baby
Carefully lift your baby out of the tub, keeping in mind that wet babies are slippery, and lay her gently onto the clean towel that you set aside. Wrap the towel snuggly around her body and pat her skin dry. Allow your baby’s diaper area to air dry for a minute, making sure that there are no damp spots in her skin folds and put a clean diaper on your baby. Apply a mild moisturizing lotion to your baby’s skin within a few minutes after leaving the bathwater to prevent her skin from drying.
Bathing your baby is a wonderful way to bond with your baby and an experience that both you and your baby will learn to love as you both get a little more practiced. Be sure not to fully immerse your baby in water until her umbilical stump has fallen off and dried. Get in the habit of working carefully and consciously to give your baby a comfortable and safe bath time experience.
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