How To Bathe Your Newborn
How to bathe your newborn
With a little practice, bathing your baby is easy and provides a wonderful opportunity to bond with your little one. To make sure your baby stays safe, clean, and healthy during bath time, follow these tips from board-certified dermatologists.
For many parents, bringing home a baby is a happy and exciting time. However, it can also be daunting especially the thought of bathing this tiny, fragile human. Fortunately, with a little practice, bathing your baby is simple and only needs to happen two to three times a week, as long as the diaper area is thoroughly cleaned during each diaper change.
The first thing to keep in mind is to start off with sponge baths until your babys umbilical cord stump falls off and heals.
To give your newborn a sponge bath, dermatologists recommend these tips:
Gather the supplies. You will need a bowl of lukewarm water, a washcloth and a mild, fragrance-free baby soap.
Lay your baby down on a comfortable, flat surface. Keep your baby warm by wrapping him or her in a towel and only exposing the part of your babys body that you are actively washing. For safety, keep one hand on your baby at all times.
Start with your babys head. Dip the washcloth into the bowl of lukewarm water and gently wipe your babys face and scalp. It is safe to gently clean over the babys soft spots. Dont forget to clean the creases in the neck and behind the ears.
To give your baby a traditional bath, dermatologists recommend these tips:
If Your Newborn Hates The Bath
Its actually very common for newborns to dislike bath time, especially at first. You may be surprised to learn this, and even think you are doing something wrong or that there is something wrong with your baby if they cry or fuss during bathtime.
One reason some babies resist bathtime is that they dont like the sudden temperature changes that happen. You can mitigate this by gently transitioning your baby into the water. Wrap them in a towel at first and gradually immerse them in the water, keeping the towel on until they are all the way in.
You can also experiment with bath temperatures to see what your baby likes best. And always have a warm towel ready when they come out so that transition isnt too jarring.
Some newborn prefer bathtime if you are holding them completely. As such, many parents decide to bathe with their babies in their arms. This can be a wonderful bonding experience. However, you must consider safety here. Only bathe with your baby when you are fully alert. Make sure you have a towel ready, and possibly another grown-up to hand your baby to when you are done. Dont use soaps and other bath products geared toward adult skin.
Finally, keep bathtime fun for your baby! Newborns cant play with bath toys yet, but that doesnt mean they cant be entertained by them. Funny faces and games of peek-a-boo can be very helpful as well.
You can spot clean your baby in the meantime. And most babies will eventually enjoy bath timeall in good 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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Why You Shouldnt Wash Baby Hair Daily
Some people are grossed out by the idea of not washing hair daily, but its really for the best. Some parents try to build bathtime into their infants nighttime routine, but its better to wait until your child is a toddler before you do so.
Why?
Bathing an infant too frequently can cause their skin to dry out. Dry skin can flake or get chapped then start to peel off. Thats not what you want for your child, so make sure you stick to bathing two, maybe three, times at most.
How To Bathe A Baby
Your grip on the baby should be strong to prevent him from falling. Adopt what I like to call the power grip. Slide your hand across the babys back to hold her left hand while your right-hand slides under him to grip his left thigh. I found this to be the strongest grip on the baby.
For better cleaning, I would lather the baby up while he lay on the bed and then dip him in the water for the final rinse. This reduces the amount of time I had to wrestle with an eel-like little man.
Once youre done, give the baby a little massage to stretch his muscles and help him sleep better.
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Babys First Bath At Home
Once you get your little one home, theres no set timetable for when to give baby her first sponge bath. Experts agree that the timing for bathing a newborn is up to the parents, and that theres no big rush. Many families are excited about giving a baby their first newborn bath at home, but waiting a few days is fine, says Justin Smith, MD, a pediatrician at Cook Childrens Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas.
Holly S., a mom of two, gave birth to her second baby at home and didnt bathe him for more than a week. Theres no need to wash them right away in most circumstances, she says. Any blood from the birth can be wiped off, and you just need to wipe their diaper areas thoroughly in the meantime. She also made sure to rub the vernix into her babys skin to get the most out of its antimicrobial and moisturizing properties.
How Often Should You Bathe Your Newborn
There’s a good reason to skip your baby’s bath tonight. Learn how frequently you should bathe your newborn according to experts, as well as tips for preventing eczema outbreaks between baths.
Bath time might be part of your nightly ritual, but doctors actually don’t recommend daily baths for babies. Excess exposure to water can zap their skin of moisture and worsen conditions like eczema. Then again, not bathing your baby often enough can also aggravate eczema, plus lead to other infections.
“It’s a delicate balance,” says Scott Grant, M.D., MPH, FAAP, at Detroit Medical Center’s Children’s Hospital of Michigan. But bathing itself is probably not the entire problem: “The use of bath products, including lotions that contain dyes or fragrances, can react with babies’ skin to make eczema worse even if there isn’t a ‘bath,'” says Dr. Grant.
So how often should you bathe a newborn? Read on for the guidelines.
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How Long Can You Go Without Bathing A Newborn
You may bathe the baby less than three times a week. Alternatively, you may give sponge baths even after their umbilical cord falls off and only bathe the baby in a bathtub when they are soiled and dirty. Parents may prefer to wash only the face, hands, neck, and bottom. This is known as topping and tailing . Ultimately, parents may choose a frequency of bathing the baby based on their choices and the pediatricians opinion.
How Often Should I Wash My Babys Hair The Answer Might Surprise You
You know that you have to bathe your baby thats clearly part of having a baby 101, but that still leaves some questions unanswered. For example, how often should you wash your babys hair? Most adults dont wash their hair daily, but is that the same for babies? Who knows!
Unfortunately, babies dont come with a clear-cut manual, but its a shame that they dont. It would make our lives easier.
While some adults wash their hair daily, people are slowly releasing that this isnt the smartest thing to do. This is particularly true if you have curly or dry hair it wont do your skin any favors if you continue to shampoo all of the time.
This is the truth for babies as well. Lets take a look to help you groom your baby the right way.
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When Should You First Bathe A New Born Baby
Your baby shouldnt be given a bath straight after theyre born as they need to stay warm. But dont worry, the nurses will have given them a good clean after birth.
While you can give your little one a bath as soon as a few hours after theyre born, many parents prefer to give them a while to get used to their new surroundings, so will just give them a top and tail for the first few days. This involves just making sure your babys neck, face and hands are clean and you can do it using moist cotton wool pads.
Many parents will wait until they feel a little more confident lifting and handling their baby, so will wait a week or so before they put them in a bath, but its safe to do so as soon as you feel comfortable.
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.
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Keep Your Baby Feeling Clean And Smelling Sweet
Lets review. How often should you bathe your newborn? Not often! With a bath two or three times a week, theyll stay clean and smell just like their sweet baby self! More frequent baths could dry out their delicate skin. Follow the steps and tips listed above to get your newborn clean and keep them safe, happy, and warm in the tub.
And dont forget to use the right products for their sensitive skin: Sensitive Newborn Foam Baby Wash or Moisturizing Baby Shampoo & Wash and 3-in-1 Sensitive Baby Face, Hands & Body Wipes for quick cleanup in-between baths. Happy bathing!
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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.
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Water Isnt Enough For Your Babys Bath
Water as a cleanser doesn’t remove the fat-soluble impurities left behind under nappies and clothes, and if they remain, they can cause the delicate skin barrier to break down. And water alone can actually dry your babys skin. Repeated use of water only, especially when hard or chlorinated, has been shown to cause moisture loss from the skin cells, which can leave baby skin irritated or red.
A gentle baby specific cleanser like JOHNSON’S® TOP-TO-TOE® Wash is recommended to help cleanse effectively.
Babys First Bath Time
When that first bath time comes, theres a lot for parents to consider, from what products you need to use to the water temperature and depth. However, for babys first bath, its best to keep things simple and stick to a few tried and tested tips, including:
- Bathe them with someone else around for support and confidence
- Stick to gentle sponge baths initially
- Start with a short bath and a quick clean to let them get used to the experience
Remember, while your babys umbilical cord stump is still attached (this will fall off anytime between around five and 15 days after birth1 its best to avoid getting it wet to avoid infection, so sponge bathing may be the best method for keeping your little one clean in their first couple of weeks.
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When Will Your Baby Be Ready For His First Tub Bath
After your babyâs umbilical cord stump falls off, you can transition from sponge baths to actual baths in a sink or a baby bathtub.
His first bath in a tub should be gentle and quick however, you might need to go back to sponge baths if your baby fusses a lot and simply doesnât like this new activity.
Your Newborn Baby And Sponge Baths
With a fresh-out-of-the-womb baby in your house, you might feel at a loss for what to do! When it comes to bath time, your babys first few baths should be sponge baths. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, only give your newborn sponge baths until the stump of the umbilical cord falls off, which usually happens by about one or two weeks of ageSee the baby’s doctor if the cord has not dried up and fallen off by the time the baby is two months old.So, what exactly does a sponge bath involve? Its easier than you might think!Simply fill a bowl with warm water, grab a baby washcloth, and wrap your naked baby in a cozy bath towel. Lay them on a flat surface. The American Academy of Pediatrics says, Start washing the face first. Use the dampened cloth to wash her face, being careful not to get water into her eyes or mouth. Then, dip it in the basin of water before washing the rest of her body and, finally, the diaper area.To help your newborn stay warm during their sponge bath, keep them wrapped in the towel and only uncover the part of their tiny body that youre washing.When your babys umbilical cord has healed, you can put them in the water to get them clean, but be prepared they might not like it at first!
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