When it comes to normal newborn baby care, nothing is as scary for new parents as bath time. Don’t worry about putting baby in a tub for the first couple of weeks, until the umbilical cord stump has fallen off and the navel area has healed. During these early days, a sponge bath will do.
The sponge bath
A newborn baby only needs a sponge bath two or three times per week. When you prepare to sponge bath your newborn baby, make sure that the room is warm, because newborn babies hate the feeling of cold air on their naked bodies. You can warm up a bathroom by letting a hot shower run for a few minutes beforehand. Make sure that you have a change pad, a small basin of lukewarm water, a damp washcloth, some cotton balls, some baby soap, baby shampoo, and an extra towel or small blanket on hand. Remove any rings or other jewelry from your hands before bath time, as these might scratch your baby.
Spread out a change pad to catch any leaks, and cover that with a towel for comfort. As you begin washing one part of your newborn baby’s body, keep the other parts of his body nice and warm by covering them with the other towel or blanket.
Clean one of your baby’s eyes with a fresh, slightly damp soft cloth. Continue to clean the rest of your baby’s face. You do not need to use soap to do this.
Wash the rest of baby’s body with mild soap. Clean under all your baby’s body creases, such as under his armpits, and behind his ears. Make sure to wash the diaper area last. There is no need to clean any of your baby’s inner orifices, such as inside his ears, because they are self-cleaning. Make sure to rinse off any body areas that you cleaned with soap.
Shampoo your baby’s hair once or twice a week at most. To do this, cradle your baby with your arm in a football hold, with your hand supporting his head. Hold his head over the sink and use your hand to gently splash lukewarm water over his head. Do not put your baby’s head directly under the tap. Lather with a small amount of baby shampoo, rinse well, and towel dry immediately.
When your newborn baby’s sponge bath is done, gently wrap him in a towel and pat him dry.
The baby tub
After your newborn baby’s umbilical cord stump has fallen off and the area has healed, you can start to put him into the baby tub for baths. Your baby will not be ready to use the “big” bathtub until he is able to sit steadily without support from an adult.
Some parents like to use a small plastic tub; others like to use a sink. If you buy a baby tub, try to get one that has a hole in the bottom, so that you can easily drain the water after bath time is over. There are even baby tubs that are made to fit into the kitchen sink.
When preparing for your newborn baby’s bath, make sure the room is sufficiently warm, and remove any rings or other jewelry from your hands. Keep a cup, a baby washcloth, mild soap, baby shampoo, and a soft towel nearby. Use the cup to fill the bathtub with 5 to 7 cm (2 to 3 inches) of lukewarm water. Test the temperature of the water with the inside of your wrist.
Gently lower your newborn baby into the water, making sure to support his head and neck with one of your hands. Use the washcloth without soap to wash your baby’s face. Then soap up and rinse his body. Your newborn baby will enjoy his bath if you continually pour warm water over his body to keep him warm.
Wash your newborn baby’s hair with mild shampoo, and massage it into his entire scalp. Rinse the shampoo with your hands or a cup.
When you are finished washing your baby, wrap him in a towel and gently pat him dry. You may want to use some baby lotion so that his skin does not dry out.
Safety considerations
Always make sure to hold your newborn baby when he is in the bathtub. Never leave him alone or in the care of another child while he is being bathed. Try not to ask babysitters to bathe your newborn baby. Bath rings and bath seats are not recommended.
Last but not least, always remember that hot bath water can burn your newborn baby’s fragile skin. Make sure the water is warm, not hot, before you put your baby into the bathtub.