How To Get Newborn To Like Bath

Best Baby Bathtub For Comfort

NEWBORN BABY HAS HIS FIRST BATH | Did He Like It?!

Price: $$Key features: This nifty tub is compact, yet offers optimal water levels to keep baby warm throughout bath time. Whats most unique about this tub is that it allows even newborns to sit in an upright position. It also has a non-slip, padded back rest for added safety from slippage. This tub functions similarly to, but is a more economical version of the Shnuggle .Considerations: Nearly 90 percent of reviewers give this tub five stars. Those who dont say that theyre frustrated with its small size and that it doesnt fit longer infants very well. Other reviewers report that the tub itself is hard to clean and that scum and dirt show too easily.

Watch Your Babys Eyes And Head

Those areas may be especially sensitive to the water, so its important to be prepared. Have a dry towel or washcloth nearby to dry their eyes if they dont like having water near their head, Dr. Mitzner says. Try adding a bunch of different towels, washcloths and sponges to your baby shower registry to see which one your baby responds to the most. If your baby still doesnt like water poured near his head, try cleaning his face and hair with a wet washcloth until hes ready.

Other Helpful Bath Time Tips

Your kneeling pad makes a great post-bath time toweling spot!

Its cushioned so its comfortable for your baby, plus it gives your back a break.

I spread out Adens towel on the pad and then lie him down on top and wrap him up.

Its really squishy and of great quality.

Have changing supplies ready and waiting!

I lay everything out on the bed beforehand so I can speedily put on Adens diaper, apply lotion, and get him dressed after a bath.

Also Check: How Many Bottles Do You Need For Newborn

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.

Best Baby Bathtub For Small Sink Baths

Bathing baby: How often to bathe newborn and how?

Price: $$$Key features: A more streamlined sink bath insert option is the Puj Tub. Made from soft mold- and mildew-resistant foam, its thin design fits into most standard bathroom sinks.Cleaning is easy just scrub gently with soap and water and hang to dry. Parents love this inserts small footprint and say its great for folding into a suitcase while traveling.Considerations: Some reviewers feel the foam material is too fragile for the high price tag. Others say to be careful when measuring your standard sink because its best suited for sinks that are 15 inches by 12 inches and around 6 inches deep.

Don’t Miss: How To Get My Newborn To Sleep Longer At Night

Here Are Tips To Help Make Bath Time The Best It Can Be:

  • Pick a time of day when your little one is calm, rested, and isnt hungry. Baths dont have to always be a part of the bedtime routine. If your baby is the most alert and happy in the mornings, try it then. Or even after a nap and a messy lunch.
  • Try different water temperatures. Maybe your little one likes the bath a little warmer or cooler. Most of the time, it helps to make the water a little warmer.
  • Warm up the bathroom with a space heater if its cold so it can be as comfortable as possible.
  • Introduce new toys during baths. You can provide bath toys that help them explore the amazing properties of water like our dripdrop cups.
  • Try playing music during bath time.
  • Take it slow. Some babies do NOT like getting their hair or faces wet take your time, talk them through it, and if theyre old enough, invite them to try wetting their face a little.
  • Incorporate something fun to distract them like bubbles, or letting them watch the water flow from the faucet.

Bonus Tip: Use rich vocabulary, even when theyre very young, like spray, drip, pour, drizzle, splash, and slippery.

Can You Give Your Baby Bath Toys

Keep in mind that for infants, you donât need any bath toys at all, as splashing around in the water will be enough entertainment. As your baby gets older, you can add some floating baby toys or even waterproof books to keep him occupied.

Eventually, your baby will start to enjoy baths, and at some point, it will become more like playtime than bath time. When sheâs bigger, let your little one splash around and have some fun in the water.

Between your babyâs baths, youâll probably be doing a lot of diapering. Why not get rewarded for all your efforts? Download the Pampers Club app and for every purchase, youâll earn points that you can redeem for rewards.

Recommended Reading: How To Help Newborn With Hiccups

Best Temperature For A Bath

You can experiment to see what temperature your baby likes their bath best. In general, lukewarm temperatures are ideal. You dont want the bath to be too cold, but you certainly dont want it too hot.

Some parents err on the side of heating the bath up too much, and risk scalding their babies. The AAP recommends that your babys bath be no more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Its helpful to fill the baby tub or sink with a few inches of water before immersing your baby in it. Test the water first to see if it is an appropriate temperature for your baby.

If Your Newborn Hates The Bath

Silicone Baby Gets A Bath & Outfit Change – Life Like Silicone Doll

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.

Read Also: What To Give A Newborn For Congestion

Use A Bath Kneeler And An Elbow Rest Pad For Your Comfort

Bathtime is filled with repetitive kneeling and reaching for the parent. These actions can be hard on the back and joints especially at the knees and elbows. Plain bath mats can be uncomfortable to kneel on, and resting elbows on the side of the tub is hardly a pleasant feeling.

Using a bath kneeler and elbow rest pad that is specifically designed for baby bath time can be a real game-changer.

This one from our brand NeoLittle is made from a water-friendly neoprene material with a thick layer of supportive foam underneath.

An added bonus, the pad has side pockets for storage of baby wash, shampoo, toys, and other bath accessories. And it comes with a carrying bag for easy pickup.

Best Time Of Day For A Bath

Similar to the question of how often to bathe your baby, what time of day to bathe your baby is really up to you!

Many families adopt the bath before bed routine, as baths can help your child relax before bedtime, and can become part of a routine that signals to them that sleep is coming.

Evening is also when parents usually have the time to dedicate to bathing their baby. However, if you prefer bathing your baby in the morning or during the day, thats perfectly OK.

When considering what time of day to bathe your baby, also consider when you are going to be most alert. Bathing babies, and especially newborns, takes good hand-eye coordination, patience, and must involve vigilance on the part of the parent.

If you think you will be distracted with other responsibilities, or with your other children, choose another time to bathe your baby.

Recommended Reading: How Do You Get Health Insurance For A Newborn

Safety Tips For Bath Time

Its important to keep safety in mind at bath time. Babies and young children should never be left unattended in a bath, not even for a minute . Here are some bath time tips:

  • Get everything ready ahead of your babys bath, so you have everything you need to hand.
  • Make sure you always use the hot and cold taps at the same time when you run the bath.
  • Check the bath water temperature first before putting your baby in. The standard way to check is to put your elbow in the water because your hand can cope with high temperatures.
  • Dont be distracted away by another child, a phone call or doorbell. What feels like a couple of seconds can turn into a minute or two. Leaving your little one even for a few moments could be enough time for them to seriously hurt themselves or drown.
  • If you forget anything ask your partner or another family member to grab it for you. Or take your baby with you to get what you need.

How Often Does A Newborn Need A Bath

Wordless Wednesday: Baby

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.

Don’t Miss: How Often Should I Change My Newborns Diaper

The Flow Of Water Into The Eyes

Toddlers are not savvy with the concept of shutting their eyelids as a reflex to avoid foreign bodies from getting into the eyes. The continuous flow of water can be an irritant and make the baby cry.

What Can You Do?

Use a head visor to protect the eyes and avoid pouring too much water on the face.

Important Baby Bathing Safety Tips

Never leave your baby unattended for any amount of time. A baby can drown in less than two inches of water.

If youre going to be kneeling down by a tub, use a bath kneeler to save your knees. Youll need a firm grip on your baby and a kneeler can help stabilize you while holding your wet baby. Never underestimate how slippery a wet baby can be!

If your baby is older and on the move, be sure to use a spout cover to keep them from hitting their head on the faucet.

Pin This To Your Baby Board!

Hopefully, these hacks can make bathing your baby easier! There are even some solutions for you even if he or she loved washing up before, but now the baby hates baths all of a sudden.

Stick with the routine for bath time and before you know it, your little one will love, or at the very least, not dread bath time!

Don’t Miss: How To Soothe Newborn Constipation

How To Give A Baby A Tub Bath

After the sponge bath stage, the real fun begins. First, choose the right tub thats safe and easy to use. There are many types of baby tubs on the market, or you can simply use the kitchen sink. The kitchen sink is easy to use because it is the right height. If using the kitchen sink, observe the following safety tips:

  • Purchase an insert-type plastic or rubber tub that fits into your sink, or line the bottom of the sink with a folded towel or sponge mat to keep your baby from slipping.
  • If you have a movable faucet, be sure to turn it away from your baby.

Before the water touches your baby, make sure it is comfortably warm but not too hot. Tie a towel around your neck to keep yourself dry during the bath, and in case your baby needs to be picked up quickly and cuddled. Most newborns do not eagerly await their bath. Singing a few songs, making eye-to-eye contact, and gently massaging your baby during the bath often relaxes the reluctant bather.

How To Sponge Bathe A Newborn

BATH SONG | FUN TIME | how to get toddler to like bath time again!

For the first week or so after birth, youll want to give baby a quick, gentle sponge bath. Heres how.

Step 1: Gather supplies. Use our handy baby bath supplies checklist to make sure youve got everything you need. At a minimum, youll want a dry towel, clean diaper, washcloths and baby soap at the ready. Have all your supplies within arms reach so you dont have to step away, Smith advises. Never leave a baby alone in the bath, even for a second.

Step 2: Pick a place. Decide where youll be giving baby that newborn bath. While not strictly necessary, baby bathtubs are convenient. They can be placed in the sink or tub, and some have a hammock-style sling that supports babys head. Choose a spot thats fairly warm and where its comfortable for you to kneel or stand while keeping a hand on baby at all times.

Step 3: Wash small sections at a time. After removing her clothes and diaper and placing her in the baby bathtub , youll want to cover baby with another towel, lifting only a small area at a time and patting dry as you go. Using a washcloth dipped in warm water, gently wipe baby all over, paying special attention to her diaper area and any creases and rolls.

You May Like: How Do I Get A Pediatrician For My Newborn

Related Posts

Popular Articles