How Soon To Bathe A Newborn

How Often Does A Newborn Need A Bath

Growing up, you may have heard that babies and children must be bathed daily for optimum cleanliness. However, this isnt the case. Especially with a newborn, bathing daily can actually dry the skin, and irritate it.

Additionally, most newborns do not get very dirty, so its not necessary to fully immerse them in a bath each day or night. You can spot clean any areas of concern in between baths.

For these reasons, most doctors recommend only bathing your newborn baby a few days per week.

AAP recommends bathing your baby no more than three days per week. Of course, even that is not a hard and fast rule.

If you want to bathe your baby more often, thats fine, and if you only bathe your baby one or two days per week , thats fine too!

As your baby gets older and ventures into the toddler years, they are going to get dirtier, because they will be exploring everything and playing outside. Your bathing frequency will likely naturally increase during this 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.

How Hot Should The Water Be

The water temperature to bathe your baby should be warm, never hot. The ideal temperature is 98.6°F . You can use a bath thermometer to monitor the temperature, or check the water with your wrist or elbow to confirm its warm and not hot.

Also, check different sides of the tub or baby bath to confirm there are no hot spots. If using a tub or basin, turn on the cold water first and then the hot water to fill it.

If you live in a house, you can also adjust the water heater to ensure it doesnt go above 120°F , which can badly scald your babys skin. You likely cant adjust the water heater if you live in an apartment complex or condo.

Read Also: What Can You Do For A Constipated Newborn Baby

How To Bathe Baby In A Bathtub

After your infants umbilical cord falls off, you can bathe them in a baby bathtub. Follow these steps to safely bathe your baby:

Remember to never leave a baby unattended in a tub, even for a second. They can quickly drown, even in a shallow amount of water.

Putting Baby In The Bath

To put your baby in the bath safely:

• lower them into the water on their back
• support their head, shoulders and back with both hands

If you use your bath youll need to lean over your baby, which isnt very comfortable. Usually it’s easier to use a basin or a small baby bath on the floor. When theyre bigger and youre feeling more confident, you could try a slightly deeper bath.

Don’t Miss: What Causes Meningitis In Newborns

Giving Your Baby A Bath After Circumcision

You may be a little nervous about caring for your newborns penis especially after circumcision. Regardless of whether it was done by a mohel as part of a religious ceremony or in the hospital, the healing process is more or less the same. The guidelines and advice on the post-procedure care will almost always vary when you throw specialists of all kinds into the mix. For this reason, whoever performs the procedure is the ideal person to guide you through your baby’s follow-up process. The penis isn’t nearly as fragile as it may seem and circumcision isn’t exactly as traumatic as you can imagine. It is just a simple procedure meant to remove the foreskin, usually done within two or three days of birth. Activities for newborns are never restricted as they do not really have much to do at this stage of their life.

When Should You First Bathe A Newborn

Before you give your baby their first bath there are a couple of things that you should remember. One is to have someone help you handling the newborn for the first couple times. Whether it is a sponge bath or tub bath, chances are you might have forgotten something in the other room out of reach. Also being the first bath, handling your bundle of joy may not be so joyous. A wet soapy, slippery baby can be a lot to manage on your own on the first time of asking.

Sponge Baths

When should you first bathe a newborn baby depends on when the umbilical cord stump falls off. The stump can take anywhere from 1-4 weeks to fall off. Until it doesnt fall off you should give your infant sponge baths using a soft washcloth. Washing their face and hands frequently, and genitals after each diaper change is crucial.

Now you might be wondering why you shouldnt give your baby a bath until the umbilical cord falls off. Thats pretty straightforward. You want to avoid the chance of infection.

Before you begin giving your newborn a bath make sure you have everything you need at arms reach. Here is a list to help you:

• wash clothes
• diaper
• a hooded towel

Infant Tubs

It is also worth keeping in mind the quality of water that is being used in your home. If you live in areas that have hard water, too much tap water can dry out the skin of your newborn very quickly.

Regular Tubs

Don’t Miss: How To Become A Newborn Hearing Screener

What Do I Need For A Tub Bath

• Baby bathtub

• Nonslip mat or pad

• Bath thermometer . These often have “safe” bath temperature ranges marked on them.

When bathing your baby in a tub:

• Clear the counter or table top of breakable objects and electrical appliances to prevent injury.

• Fill the tub with warm water, making sure the water is warm, not hot. Always test the water before placing your baby into the tub. Some parents feel most comfortable using a baby bath thermometer to confirm the correct temperature of the water.

• Follow the same general bathing instructions for a sponge bath.

• NEVER take your hands off your baby, or walk away, even for a moment.

• Be sure to clean the bathtub after each use.

How To Bathe A Newborn

Bathing a newborn may seem daunting at first, but with a little preparation and the right setup, babys first bath can be a stress-free, joyful experience. Yes, baby will likely cry, but it doesnt mean youre doing something wrong.

Dont worry about it so much! advises Mary F., a mom of two. We were so concerned about how to handle our first baby. She was so tiny! So breakable! And then we watched the nurse give our daughter her first bath in the hospital. You would have thought she was washing dishes! That was the moment where we were like, Ohwere not going to break her.

Here, we lay out step by step what you need to doand what you need to knowwhen it comes to bathing a newborn.

You May Like: What Do You Need For A Newborn Baby

Why Not Every Day

While it may feel odd to bathe your baby so infrequently, babies simply dont need to bathe as often as adults. They dont sweat or get dirty in the same way as older people, and their skin is much more sensitive than that of adults. Frequent bathing can actually do more harm than good.

To avoid drying out babys skin and worsening conditions like eczema, bathe your little one to two times per week and wash them with a mild, fragrance- and dye-free soap. When you get them out of the bath, pat them dry before applying a dye- and fragrance-free baby moisturizer and promptly dressing them.

If your little one has a known skin condition, consult their pediatrician to make a plan for exactly what products and routines you can follow to help them stay comfortable.

How To Give Your Baby A Bath

Get everything ready before you start your baby’s bath:

• Ensure that all the supplies you need like shampoo, soap, a hooded towel, and a cup for rinsing are within armâs reachânever leave your baby unattended in the bath, so make sure you have everything you need on hand, including your babyâs fresh change of clothes

• Make sure the room is warm before undressing your baby.

Follow these step-by-step guidelines for bathing your baby:

Read Also: How To Give Newborn Baby A Bath

How Often To Bathe Your Newborn

You may be surprised to learn that your newborn doesnât need bathing every day â although thatâs fine too, if he or she really enjoys it.Otherwise, two or three bath times a week is enough, as long as you give your baby a daily clean-up of the face, neck, hands and bottom , and thoroughly clean the nappy area at each nappy change. In terms of when to give that first official bath, itâs up to you! You may like to wait a few days and just give âtop and tailâ cleanses in those first few days instead of proper baths, but you might also like to start a bathing routine as soon as you bring your baby home.

How Do I Wash My Dog After Giving Birth

• Timing is everything, so it is important to start by choosing the perfect time for a bath. Namely, the perfect time would be when the puppies are fed and sleeping. If the mom has already nursed, the bathing will be simpler, too, as there will not be any milk dripping in the bathing water.
• Place your dog in the tub while handling her as gently as possible. It is vital to avoid pressuring her abdomen and mammary glands.
• Use the shower to wet your dog and gently rub her with a mild shampoo formula. The shampooing procedure is the same as usual. The only difference is the pressure you apply while working the belly area.
• Rinse thoroughly. Rinsing is a critical point in every bathing. However, it should be extra thorough when dealing with a nursing mother as you do not want the newborn puppies exposed to shampoo leftovers.
• Dry thoroughly, too. Once again, thorough drying is always recommended, but it is even more important in nursing mommas because if the mother is wet, she will make her puppies wet. As usual, the drying is done with a dry towel and then with a hairdryer.

Note: Keep in mind that momma dogs do not like being separated from their pups and might be nervous during bathing or sad after bathing.

To prevent slipping, put a non-slip mat on the tubs floor and to prevent escaping, close the bathroom door.

It is also helpful to prepare everything in advance so that the bathing can take as little time as possible.

Don’t Miss: What Is The Best Formula Milk For Newborn

Where To Bath Your Newborn

You can give your newborn a bath in a small plastic bath or even in the kitchen sink. The kitchen sink might be easiest in the first few weeks. A plastic baby bath is probably easier once your baby gets bigger.

You can bath your baby in any room thats warm, safe and clean it doesnt have to be a bathroom.

You can also shower with your baby. Keep your babys face away from the pouring water and make sure to use warm, not hot, water.

How To Wash Babys Scalp And Hair

Plan to wash your babys scalp or hair twice a week. To wash your babys scalp or hair, gently massage a baby shampoo into their hair, if they have any, or directly onto their scalp. Rinse it out by dabbing with a wet washcloth.

In a baby tub, you can also gently tip your babys head back and keep one hand over their forehead while you pour on some warm water. The water will spill over the sides of their head to rinse out the shampoo.

Gently washing your babys hair will not hurt a soft spot, but talk with your pediatrician if you have concerns. If your baby has cradle cap, you can gently brush your babys hair and scalp. But take care not to pick or scrape at their scalp.

Read Also: How Long Can A Newborn Sleep

How Often Do Babies Need Baths

In your babys first year, they may only need about three baths a week. This is usually frequent enough if you wash the diaper area thoroughly every time you change your baby.

Bathing once a day or every other day is also OK, but any more frequently than that could dry out your babys skin. Thats especially the case if you use soap or other baby wash.