Dont Forget All The Easy
Newborns have an abundance of adorable folds and rolls, which can be easy to miss when you’re bathing them. Specifically, make sure to wash the folds around your newborns neck, wrists, knees, and elbows.
And dont forget to clean behind your babys ears, as well as in-between their fingers and toes. Wash your babys genitals and diaper area thoroughly. Its extremely important to clean this area well, but this task should always be left for last.
That way, any bacteria or germs that get washed off wont dirty other areas of your loved ones body, which helps prevent rashes and other skin conditions.
Fill Your Babys Bathtub With Water
The second step is to fill the bathtub with water. You only need two to three inches of water to bathe your newborn.
The water temperature should be roughly the same temperature as the human body98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Anywhere between 90° F and 100° F is perfect. Use a thermometer to make sure youve got the temperature just right.
Before Your Babys First Bath
While most parents are eager to give their babies the experience of their very first bath, it is important to ensure that your baby is truly ready. When you first bring your newborn home from the hospital, the stump of their umbilical cord must be kept clean and dry. While it is still attached, sponge baths are the best option for your baby.
Typically, after about 1 to 3 weeks, the umbilical cord stump will dry up and fall off. It is important to continue caring for the umbilical cord until the area completely heals. The ideal way to do this is to moisten one end of a cotton swab with water, gently clean around the base of the umbilical cord stump, and dry with the other side of the cotton swab.
Although moisture and drops of blood around the belly button is normal during this period of time, keeping the area clean and dry will help fight infection and prevent delayed healing. Check out our blog post on bathing a baby with an umbilical cord for more information.
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Gently Pat Your Newborn Dry
Once youve finished bathing your newborn, you can remove them from the bathtub and set them on a clean, soft towel. Use the towel to gently pat them dry, going in the same order that you washed their body.
Your baby might feel a little cold when first coming out of the bath, so it helps to dry them off quickly.
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How Often Should Kids Wash Up
I mean, as long as everyones talking about itwhat about your toddlers stink? Per the Cleveland Health Clinic, toddlers and little kids only need a soak in the tub two to three times per week. Older kids ages six to 11 should hit the bath two to three times per week at a minimum, and tweens and teens should shower daily. But the experts note that these arent exactly hard-and-fast rules. If your toddler is throwing a temper tantrum and doesnt want to get in the bath, its no biggie. And if your big kid spent the day playing in the mud, then theyll need to hop in the tub even if its not their bath day.
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Proper Bathing And Skin Care For Your Newborn
A newborn’s skin is soft and delicate. Proper skin care and bathing can help maintain the health and texture of the baby’s skin while providing a pleasant experience for both of you.
Contrary to popular thought, most babies don’t need a bath every single day. With all the diaper changes and wiping of the mouth and nose after feedings, most babies may only need to be bathed 2 or 3 times a week or every other day.
Baths can be given any time of day. Bathing before a feeding often works well. Many parents prefer to bathe their baby in the evening, as part of the bedtime ritual. This works well especially if bath time is relaxing and soothing for the baby.
Sponge baths are needed at first. To prevent infection, bathing in a tub of water should not be done until the baby’s umbilical cord falls off, and a baby boy’s circumcision heals.
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How To Bathe Your Baby After His Circumcision:
You can wash your baby’s penis 3 to 4 days after the circumcision. Drip warm water gently over his penis to clean it. Put petroleum jelly inside his diaper so the diaper will not stick to his penis while it heals. If a plastic circumcision device was used, do not use petroleum jelly. Ask your baby’s healthcare provider for more information.
The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
How Often You Should Bathe Your Newborn
Newborns dont need daily baths in their first few months of life. In fact, bathing your loved one too often may dry out their delicate and easily irritated skin. Three baths per week is plenty, as long as youre following a basic daily hygiene routine.
For example, always clean your babys bottom thoroughly when changing a dirty diaper. Your babys diaper area needs to be kept clean to avoid infections and rashes.
Use gentle baby wipes, like Mustelas Soothing Cleansing Wipes or Stelatopia Cleansing Wipes. This will keep your little one clean while protecting their delicate skin.
On the days when you arent bathing your newborn, you can use micellar water to cleanse their most important areas. Mustela No Rinse Cleansing Water is both gentle and effective! Use it to keep your little one clean without drying out their skin.
When using micellar water, focus on your babys face, hands, feet, neck, armpits, and the backs of their knees. These areas need to be cleansed more often than their arms, legs, and tummy.
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Have All Of Your Supplies Handy
First things first: make sure to have all of the supplies we listed above easily available. Choose a stable place to set out all of the items. Some parents like to use a bathroom countertop, or even just the bathtub itself.
Other folks prefer to use a changing table or a kitchen countertop. Whatever surface you choose, just make sure that its safe and stable.
Doctors Recommend Sponge Bathes To Start
For the first two weeks, or so, pediatricians recommend sponge baths. Two weeks is about how long it takes for the stump left from the baby’s umbilical cord to fall off and heal. If you completely submerge your baby in water before the wound heals, this could increase the risk of infection or cause irritation, says Daryznkiewicz.
Also, if your baby is circumcised, pediatricians recommend sponge bathing until the circumcision site is healed, as well.
“The sponge bath should start with washing the face and working downwards until you are done,” says Daryznkiewicz. “As you get comfortable you can extend the bath but you want to make sure your child stays warm.”
As they get older, you can transition to a warm bath in a few inches of water. When choosing a soap, Daryznkiewicz suggests a scent and fragrance-free option, since scents can irritate sensitive skin or cause flare-ups of eczema.
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When And Why Babies Should Get A Sponge Bath
The American Academy of Pediatrics says to give your baby a sponge bath until the umbilical cord stump falls away.
The average amount of time it takes for this to happen is 2 weeks, but sometimes the cord may fall off a little earlier or later. Anywhere between 5 to 15 days after your baby is born is typical, according to a 2016 study .
Your baby might also need a sponge bath if theyve had any kind of surgical procedure and have stitches or bandages on their skin.
Make a sponge bath easy and fun by having all your supplies on hand before you start. Heres a list of what youll need:
- a large bowl of warm water
- two towels
Now the fun starts. If youre in the bathroom, you can warm up the air by letting the warm water run for a few minutes.
Then, follow this step-by-step guide for a clean and happy baby:
Tips For Safely Bathing Your Newborn
Besides keeping your baby happy and getting them clean, safety should be a top concern when it comes to bathing your baby. Unfortunately, drowning is something all parents of newborns need to be aware of.
As the AAP notes, ost child drownings inside the home occur in bathtubs, and more than half of bathtub deaths involve children under 1 year of age. These are sobering statistics, but they are not meant to scare you instead, they are reminders to take safety very seriously when it comes to bathing your baby.
Here are some other safety recommendations to keep in mind:
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Clean Scalp Once Or Twice A Week
You can shampoo your babys hair once or twice a week. Massage the entire scalp with mild shampoo, including the part over the fontanelle. But be gentle. Cup a hand across your babys forehead to prevent soap from running into the eyes. If soap does get into the eyes, wipe it off with clean, plain warm water.8 Soap nut works well at cleaning your babys scalp as well. 9
How Often Should You Bathe A Newborn
For newborns, a sponge bath one to three times a week should be sufficient. Babies dont need to be bathed that often, Williamson says. Newborns dont really get dirty. Keep in mind that you shouldnt fully immerse baby in water until the umbilical cord falls off. For circumcised baby boys, sponge baths should continue until their penis is healed.
Jacoba C. waited several weeks to give her daughter her first newborn bath at home, and rarely washed her after that. She was so clean and smelled so good, I didnt see any reason to, she says. Of course her diaper area was getting cleaned all the time, and I made sure to wipe down all the little fat roll crevices under her neck and behind her knees regularly.
Some parents prefer to give regular baths as part of a bedtime routine, which is fine as well. Baths can help soothe babies who are fussy and be part of a healthy sleep regimen, says Sabrina Fernandez, MD, a pediatrician at UCSF Benioff Childrens Hospital San Francisco.
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Why You Should Sponge Bathe Your Newborn
Experts recommend sponge baths for newborn babies whose umbilical cord stumps have not yet fallen off. Sponge baths are also a good option for boys who haven’t fully healed from circumcision. Keep in mind that daily baths aren’t necessary, and could dry out his delicate skin. Bathing three times a week will be just fine until your baby is a year old.
How Often Do You Bathe A Newborn
Newborns need not bathe daily, and two to three baths a week are sufficient to keep them clean . Take the pediatricians opinion if you wish to bathe the newborn more than thrice a week. You may wash the babys face, hands, neck, and bottom every day with water or a sponge since these areas are most likely to become dirty easily.
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Can You Bathe Your Baby While The Umbilical Cord Stump Is Still Attached
During your babyâs first few weeks, while the umbilical cord stump is still attached, you should only give sponge baths.
A sponge bath is as simple as wrapping your baby in a towel, and wiping her with a damp washcloth and soapy water. Youâll want to do this on a comfortable surface such as a changing table. Keep your baby wrapped in the towel, bathing one part at a time.
The umbilical cord stump typically falls off in a few weeks. If it stays on longer than that, you might want to check with your babyâs healthcare provider.
Youâll want the umbilical cord stump to dry up and fall off on its own, which is why only sponge baths are recommended until that time.
How To Give Your Newborn A Tub Bath
Once your baby’s umbilical cord has fallen off and after a boy’s circumcision has healed, you can give your baby a tub bath. This can be a pleasurable experience for you and your baby. However, some babies may not like to be bathed, especially the first few times. Talk softly or sing and try some bath toys if your baby protests.
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How Do You Give A Baby A Regular Bath
If youre ready to take the plunge and start giving your baby regular baths, the expert has some advice to see you through. One of the most important things to keep in mind when your baby has graduated from sponge baths to regular baths is that you only need to fill the tub or sink with a couple of inches of lukewarm water the more water, the more riskso dont overdo it. Dr. Poinsett also recommends testing the temperature of the water on the inside of your arm to ensure its not too hot for your babys delicate skin. Finally, its incredibly important that you never leave your baby unattended in a tub or sink…not even for a second.