The First Sponge Bath At Home Might Seem Scary When Handling A Newborn Baby
But practice makes perfect and youre going to get plenty of that so youll be a bathing pro in no time.
Hang in there and enjoy those first baths they can be such a special time for you and your newborn. Once youve got the hang of it, you could even pass this task over to your partner, just be sure to share all the ins and outs of how to bathe a newborn first!
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Hi, I’m Sarah
Mum of two outrageously gorgeous and ridiculously energetic toddlers A.K.A. not so little, Littllees. Im determined to give them the best without losing my mind. I reckon its possible. Most days.
I love a challenge and have to find out they why, what or how to there are rather a lot of these when it comes to kids
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Staging The Bath Area
How To Give A Happier Sponge Bath In 3 Easy Steps
Its true, most newborns dont like sponge baths, but after giving hundreds of them over the years Ive noticed that theres certain things that you can do to help make it a more pleasant experience.
What are 3 easy steps you can do to help give your baby a happier sponge bath?
1.) Gather everything you need before you begin
2.) Keep your baby warmas you go
3.) Wash your babys hair under a sink faucet
How many times youll actually have to sponge bathe your baby will depend on how long it takes for their umbilical cord stump to fall off, or if your baby has been circumcised.
The umbilical cord stump usually takes about 1-2 weeks to fall off. You shouldnt submerge your baby in a real bath before then because you want to keep the umbilical cord stump dry.
And if your baby boy has had a circumcision, youll also want to hold off on a real bath for at least 1 week while it heals. The reason? Warm water hitting a wound usually hurts.
How often should you sponge bathe your newborn?After your baby has had their first sponge bath, youll only need to give them a bath every 3-7 days. Its really up to you how often you do it. Use your best judgement. If you notice that their neck is sticky from breast milk or formula, or if their hair looks greasy, or if theyve had a huge poop blowout that went up their entire back, Id say those are good indicators that its time.
If your baby doesnt like sponge baths , it can be a stressful experience for both of you.
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Sponge Baths Dont Always Have To Be Unhappy
Butunfortunately, they usually are.
Some babies will never like them no matter what you do,
and thats ok.
But just by trying these three easy steps of gathering everything you need before you begin, keeping them warm during the bath, and washing their hair under a faucet should definitely help your chances of your baby having a happier sponge bath.
Let me know down in the comments if youve found anything else in addition to these steps that helped your baby have a happier sponge bath!
Disclaimer:The content that I share on Purely Postpartum is not intended nor recommended as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. I encourage you to always seek the advice of your own physician or other qualified health care professional regarding any medical questions or conditions.
About The Author
Leesa Johnson, RN, BSN, RNC-Maternal Newborn Nursing
Hi, Im Leesa! Im a Postpartum Registered Nurse and mom of three from San Diego, California.
Ive worked as a Postpartum Nurse for over eleven years, and prior to that I worked in the Newborn ICU for three years. I also work as a Postpartum Expert Practice Consultant for the California State Board of Registered Nursing.
I started Purely Postpartum because Im passionate about helping new parents and caregivers after childbirth.
Between my professional experience as an RN, and my personal experience as a mom, I have a lot of helpful information to share.
California RN Licence # RN727819
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.
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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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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 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.
Change Of Clothes For Baby If Necessary
Its only necessary to change your newborns clothes when they are actually dirty newborns are comforted and soothed by familiar smells, including their own smell, so no need to bring out new clothes just because youre bathing. If baby has only been in her pre-bath clothes a few hours or even a day and theyre still relatively clean, refrain the urge to bring out clean clothes.
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Step : Squeeze A Little Water Over Your Newborns Head
You can just wipe the scalp and head with the washcloth but for some reason newborns find the sensation of trickling water over their head very soothing. To do this:
- Hold your baby on her back along the length of your forearm, making sure her body, head and neck are well supported
- Position her head over the sink or bath
- With your free arm, using a washcloth, squeeze some warm water over her head so it drains into the sink/bath
You can also give her scalp a little bit of a massage you may be concerned about touching her soft spot but theres no need underneath its pretty tough.
The Best Bathing Tips For Your Newborn
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Although you want to keep your newborn clean, you dont have to overdo it on the baths. You clean up your baby often enough throughout the day, during diaper changes and after feedings, that your newborn needs only two to three baths each week. Heres what you need to know about your babys first bath and when to switch from sponge to tub baths.
The most important bath time rule
Whether youre giving your newborn a sponge bath or a tub bath, the most important baby bath time rule is to never take your hands off him or her. If you have to move around or leave the room to grab more supplies or answer a ringing phone, take her or him with you.
When to give baby a bath
Some parents prefer to bathe baby during the day when he or she is alert. Others prefer to incorporate bathing into a bedtime ritual. There isnt a right or wrong time. Do what works best for your family.
Give sponge baths before tub baths
At first, you need to give your newborn sponge baths and should continue to do so until her or his umbilical cord falls of and the stump heals, and if you have a circumcised boy, once his circumcision heals. In general, the umbilical cord should be kept dry, and you can expect it to fall off in about two to three weeks.
How to relax your baby during bath time
Your baby might cry during the first few sponge and tub baths because its a brand new experience for them. To soothe them, hum, sing or talk softly to your baby.
What you need for bath time
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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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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 babys 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 To Start Using Baby Soap & Shampoo When Bathing A Newborn
Firstly, do you even need to use soap when sponge bathing a newborn with umbilical cord still attached? The answer is probably not and if you can do without then so much the better the longer you wait until introducing soaps and products to your newborns delicate skin the better.
However, if a drop of mild soap means you can avoid rubbing a dirty diaper area too vigorously, then that could be the better option.
What Are The Risks Of Sponge Bathing
- Your baby may get cold quickly during a sponge bath. You can damage his or her skin if you scrub it or rub it dry. If you use soap and do not rinse it off completely, it can dry and irritate your baby’s skin.
- Even with regular diaper changes, your baby may have dried urine or bowel movement in his or her skin folds. If your baby is not sponge bathed to remove the dried urine or bowel movement, he or she may get a rash. The rash can become infected if it is not treated properly.
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How To Wash & Clean A Newborn Baby Boys Private Parts
Baby boys are a little simpler in my experience, you just need a thorough clean with wet cotton wool or a washcloth around and in between everything. There will probably be less diaper cream to wipe away and its slightly easier to clean off of a boy.
Just like for the umbilical cord, follow any specific instructions your pediatrician gave you regarding care of the circumcision area.
If your baby hasnt been circumcised, do not try to clean under the foreskin, leave well alone.
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
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:
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Best Tips For Giving Your Newborn Baby A Bath
University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s
A newborns skin is soft and delicate. Proper skin care and bathing can help maintain the health and texture of your babys skin while providing a pleasant experience for both of you.
So what does it mean to provide proper skin care?
Contrary to popular thought, most babies dont need a bath every single day, says pediatrician Linda Orosz, MD, of UH Rainbow Kids First. With all the diaper changes and wiping of the mouth and nose after feedings, most babies really just need to be bathed two or three times a week or every other day.
Baths can be given any time of day, Dr. Orosz says.
“Before a feeding often works well. Many parents also like to bathe their baby in the evening, as part of the bedtime ritual, especially if bath time is relaxing and soothing for the baby, she says.
Dr. Orosz offers this additional guidance for keeping your little one comfortable and clean, starting with what youll need to have on hand for this important job.
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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