Bathing a baby can be a stressful event with an infant screaming at the top of their voice, fear of dropping your child, the phone ringing, and the towels and diapers somewhere else.
Or your baby’s bath can be a great moment to look forward to both for you and your baby. I’ve done it both ways. :-)
It just needs a bit of planning and timing. Follow my tips, and you can’t go wrong!
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Tips on How to Bathe a Baby Safely and Fun
- Bathing a Newborn or Not
- When and How Often
- Where to Bathe your Baby
- How to Bathe a Baby
- Safety Issues
- Watch out for Kicks
- Bathing Together
- Bring Your Camera
- Bathing a Baby Instruction Video
Bathing a newborn?
The pieces of advice vary whether you can bathe a newborn baby or not before the umbilical cord stump or any circumcision has healed. I wouldn’t. It just doesn’t feel right to wet a wound on a little baby.
Instead, give your baby a sponge bath if you like. That is, put him down on a soft towel in a warm room. Wash him carefully with warm water, especially on his face, neck, armpits, and diaper area.
Don’t care about the rest of the body; a newborn baby doesn’t get dirty!
When and How Often
PinBathing babies can be done more or less anytime.
You don’t have to do it often, though. Babies don’t really get dirty. Once a week is just fine. If you wet him very often, there is a risk that his skin will get dry.
The evening is a good time of the day to set up your baby’s bathing routine. Bathing is said to first increase any person’s metabolism and then reduce it, making you tired.
Many babies sleep well after a nice, warm moment in the water.
Where to Bathe your Baby
Your baby is not picky. Buy an inexpensive plastic baby tub, use the bathroom sink, or use the bathtub. If you use the sink, it can be a good idea to line it with a towel to make it a bit more comfortable.
Ensure the room temperature is nice and warm, and the water is of body temperature. A thermometer may be handy until you’ve learned to recognize the right temperature.
What you don’t need is to buy a special seat for the baby tub (unless it comes included with the baby bathtub you buy ). It is, of course, handy, but at an extra cost). You can easily learn how to hold and support your baby’s back and neck with one hand and wash him with the other. Be two adults to help each other in the beginning.
How to Bathe a Baby
Before you start bathing your baby, prepare everything. Bring a towel, new diapers, ointment if you need it, and clothes for your baby.
Then just have fun with your baby. Lower him or her into the water slowly and with a big smile to reassure your infant that everything is fine. This way, you will also notice if he/she doesn’t like the water temperature.
Don’t use soap! I know it’s “allowed”, but I think it is completely unnecessary for bathing babies. Water and a few drops of organic baby oil are all that’s needed.
When your baby grows older, he or she is likely to start splashing the water like crazy. Very wet and a lot of fun. Take off your own clothes and let your baby splash away; it’s a great way to get used to getting water on the head and face.
Safety Issues
Never leave your baby in the tub, not for a second.
Don’t “just” go to answer the phone, get a towel, or anything like that. Babies can drown in very shallow water and very quickly. Nothing is worth taking that risk – which is why planning the bath and making sure to have everything you might need within reach of one hand is so important.
Learn more about water safety here.
Watch out for Kicks
When your baby grows, watch for his/her kicks if he or she is bathing in anything smaller than a big tub.
If your baby manages to kick the sink or baby tub, he might do it hard enough to send himself flying toward the opposite side and hit his head.
Bathing Together
A great thing to do when your baby is old enough to hold his/her head just a little bit is to bathe in the tub together with your baby. It’s wonderful!
Just make sure you support their head so that he/she doesn’t dip their face in the water by accident.
This can be a great part of the daily (or weekly, maybe) baby care!
Bring your Camera
“One last tip; for your baby’s first “dive”, bring the camera (or mobile phone)! Not because your baby is likely to react in any particular way, but because it’s a memorable moment. Many newborn babies get very calm when put in warm (not hot!) water.
On the other hand, many newborns get furious when stripped naked. So if you don’t want to record that, wait until you are just about to put him into the water before you get any film rolling.
Bathing a Baby Instruction Video
Here is a video showing how to bathe a newborn baby in a safe way.
That was it! If you have any questions OR if you want to share how your baby’s first bath went, please do below! :-)
Read Next
- Child Water Safety and Drowning Prevention: Tips, Facts, FAQ
- 12 Baby Swimming Lesson Tips! When, Where, How Make It FUN
- Newborn Baby Appearance and Why They Look So Funny!
Paula Dennholt founded Easy Baby Life in 2006 and has been a passionate parenting and pregnancy writer since then. Her parenting approach and writing are based on studies in cognitive-behavioral models and therapy for children and her experience as a mother and stepmother. Life as a parent has convinced her of how crucial it is to put relationships before rules. She strongly believes in positive parenting and a science-based approach.
Paula cooperates with a team of pediatricians who assist in reviewing and writing articles.
