Bathing your baby for the first time is one of parenthood’s truly memorable rites of passage. However, for the uninitiated, giving your baby their first wash can feel a bit nerve-wracking.
Until your baby’s umbilical cord stump falls off you might choose just to sponge bath your baby with clean water only. (See top and tailing below.) There is no necessity to bath or wash your baby in the first few days, but you may wish to sponge her down, especially if there is any blood or amniotic fluid on your baby’s skin or in her hair.
Vernix, the white waxy covering which might still be on your baby’s skin, might look off-putting but it’s a natural moisturiser and has protected your baby’s skin in the womb. There’s no pressing need to wash it off and it can even protect your baby’s skin in the first few days of life.
The key to bathing your baby with confidence is to be prepared for this special event – the better prepared you are, the calmer you will be and the more positively your baby is likely to respond. So, before getting her wet be sure to:
Getting the temperature and depth of the water right is essential to ensuring a safe and comfortable first bath for your baby – a positive experience the first time is likely to make subsequent baths that much easier.
You can wash your new baby in your main bath (make sure it’s clean and follow the guidance below) or you may choose a baby-specific bath tub – there are lots of specialised products out there including standalone miniature tubs which can be placed in a kitchen sink or on a table top.
Prepare the bath water as follows:
Remember that a baby can drown in even very shallow water. As such, always hold your baby when she is in the bath, never leave her unattended (even for a few seconds), never leave her in the charge of a child and never become distracted by a phone call or indeed anything else.
If you are bathing your baby after a dirty nappy, remove as much of the solids as possible and wipe with a baby wipe or damp cotton wool. Keep close to baby and stay calm as you prepare to lower her into the bath and always do the following:
The short answer is, no. Even hypoallergenic unperfumed products can irritate your newborn’s skin so you should avoid all soap, baby bodywash and shampoo until your baby is around 4 to 6 weeks old. If you decide to start using a bath additive, choose an unperfumed baby bath formula and be careful to only use a little so you don’t damage your baby’s delicate skin.
Babies with longer hair may need a drop of mild shampoo on wet hair, lathered and rinsed off thoroughly.
Topping and tailing is a great way to wash baby without the stress of having to run and give a regular bath. To top and tail you will need:
Once you have these things ready you can begin.
Once your baby is old enough it’s fine to wash her every day, especially if she enjoys it. However, there is no need to wash this often. In fact, as long as you keep your baby’s bottom and genitals clean, two to three times a week should be enough.
Some babies will take to bathing and washing more easily than others. Don’t worry if it doesn’t go brilliantly at first – it is quite normal for the first few baths to feel a little stressful. The more you talk to baby and make bathtime a fun time, the easier the routine will be.
Some parents enjoy having a bath or shower with their child and this can be a good option to try if your baby seems to dislike being put into a bath. However, you must ensure the water temperature and depth is correct so as not to put your baby at risk.