By Anthony J. Mancini, MD
Your baby's first bath is a real milestone. But when to give it, not to mention how and where, are questions every new parent has. Cleaning a slippery, squirming — and sometimes screaming — infant takes practice.
So relax; it will get easier every time, and your baby will soon come to love splashing in the water. In this section, we answer your basic bath questions, and offer tips to help make bath time fun, safe, and easy for both of you.
When to Bathe: The Dirt on Dirty
How often you need to bathe your baby depends a lot on how old your baby is. For a newborn, two or three times a week is probably enough, as long as you keep her diaper area well cleaned and wash her hands and face several times a day. Unless they've spit up or soiled themselves, newborns just don't get that dirty.
The older your baby is, the more regular bathing she'll need, particularly after she's started crawling and eating her first foods. By the time your baby's a toddler, you'll need to give her a bath almost every night — if not to wash off a busy day's worth of grime, then at least to help calm her down before bedtime.
When's the best time to give a bath? In general, it's better to bathe your newborn before mealtime, if she's not too hungry. Too soon after eating and she may spit up.
For older babies, a bath before bedtime works best, since it cleans them up for the night and helps soothe them. You might want to develop this evening routine: a bath, reading a story, and then bedtime. But use your best judgment and give your baby a bath any time she needs one.
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How to Bathe: To Sponge or Not to Sponge?
Before your baby's umbilical cord stump falls off (between 10 days and three weeks after birth), it's best to sponge-bathe her to avoid getting the cord stump wet. Here's how:
- Lay your baby on a soft, flat surface (on top of a clean towel works well). Have a basin of warm water and a sponge or washcloth handy.
- Keeping your baby warmly wrapped, expose one limb at a time and gently wash it.
- Pat the area dry and start on the next limb.
- If you accidentally get the cord stump wet, simply use the towel to gently pat it dry.
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The Big Bath
Once the cord stump has fallen off, your baby is ready for a real bath in the sink or a baby tub. Whichever you use, pad the bottom with a towel to make it softer. You also might want to have a partner nearby to help you hold on to your slippery little one. Assemble everything you'll need beforehand so you won't have to scramble during the bath. Here's a sample list:
- A large, hooded towel
- A soft washcloth
- Cotton balls
- Baby soap or bath wash
- No-tears baby shampoo, if needed
- A baby brush or comb
Although soap is listed above, sometimes you don’t need to use soap on your infant, as most of the debris that accumulates is cleaned with water alone. Soap can remove your baby's natural moisturizers and dry her skin.
You'll only need about two inches of warm water to give your baby an effective bath. Try placing a warm washcloth over her belly to keep her from getting chilled. These early baths don't need to be long or involved, but they do need to get the job done. Hold your baby firmly and gently wash away any debris or loose skin that's accumulated. Always keep one hand on her while she's in the bath. This is obvious when she's a newborn, and you'll have to cradle her head and back as you wash her. But it also applies to older babies who can sit up by themselves. As you wash her, pay particular attention to:
- The genital and diaper areas
- The hands and feet. Check between the fingers and toes as well.
- The face and neck. If debris has accumulated around her eyes, use a cotton ball to swab it away, using a gentle outward motion.
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Hidden Grubbies
Newborns may not get very dirty, but they do accumulate dirt in places you might not expect. Make sure to check:
- The folds at the backs of the knees, the neck, and the thighs
- Armpits — fuzz from sleepers can accumulate here.
- Behind the ears
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Hair Care
Not every baby is blessed with a full head of hair at birth, but if your baby was, wash it with a gentle, no-tears baby shampoo as needed. Simply apply a dab of shampoo to her hair, gently massage it in, and let it sit for a short while before rinsing it out. Wash your baby's hair last so she doesn't have to sit in soapy water.
Finally, don't be surprised if your baby cries during her first few baths. She's just reacting to an unfamiliar sensation. Keep the room temperature warm and the bath water comfortable (see information on water temperature below), and soothe her by caressing and singing to her. She'll soon learn to love bath time.
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Bath-time Cautions
While bathing your baby can be a lot of fun, you need to keep two safety issues in mind: water temperature and never leaving your baby alone.
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Too Hot to Handle
Your baby's skin is more sensitive than yours. As a result, bath water that feels comfortable to you will be too hot for her. Before you put your baby anywhere near the water, test it with the back of your wrist or your elbow — these areas are more sensitive to heat than your hand. It should feel warm — but not hot! Some other tips to consider:
- Buy a baby-bath thermometer. A good temperature for a baby's bath is 90°F or lower.
- To prevent accidental scalding, turn your household water heater down to 120°F.
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Home Alone?
The single most important thing to remember when giving your baby a bath is to never leave her alone. Not even for a few seconds. Babies can drown in as little as one inch of water — and in the time it takes you to answer the doorbell or phone. Don't take the chance. If you have to attend to something while bathing your baby, always wrap her up and take her with you.
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Anthony J. Mancini, MD, is professor of Pediatrics and Dermatology and head of Pediatric Dermatology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and Children's Memorial Hospital.