Bathing for the first time
Even if you were shown how to bathe your baby in hospital – perhaps even having
your first go with a member of staff standing by – it can still be quite a daunting
experience when you get home and have to do it yourself!
Lots of moms find it easier to give their baby a sponge bath for the first week
or so, until they feel more comfortable handling their baby. For this, you’ll just
need to clean your baby with a warm, wet flannel or sponge. Do this in a warm room
and keep a warm towel underneath them for drying them off.
What things will I need
to bathe my baby?
Bathing your baby is easier if you’re well prepared. So, before you start, these
are the things you’ll need:
• A plastic baby bath. Much smaller in size than a regular bath so it makes the
task of bathing your baby much safer. The other plus is that you can move it into
the warmest room to keep your baby at a comfortable temperature. Try and place it
at a good working height so that you don’t have to bend your back too much –placing
it onto a table works well
• A couple of warm towels
• Cotton wool
• A baby sponge or cotton flannel
• For newborn babies, plain water is sufficient as some newborn baby products may
have perfumes and chemicals that may cause skin irritation. If you do use a cleanser,
look for a mild, pH neutral one and use it sparingly
• A clean nappy
• Nappy cream
• Clean clothes or bedclothes
Bathing your baby – one
step at a time
• When you bathe your baby, the main thing is to keep them warm so that they don’t
lose too much body heat. Make sure before you start that the room and bath water
is warm.
• Run the water into the bath first without the baby inside. Take care to mix it
well to avoid any hot spots and make sure the water level isn’t too high. It’s also
important to test it before you begin bathing by dipping your elbow into the water.
The bath water should feel warm but not tepid and certainly not hot.
• Undress your baby to their nappy and gently clean their eyes, ears, face and neck
creases, using some clean cotton wool for each area.
• If your baby needs their hair washing it’s easier to do this before you put them
into the bath. Wrap them in a towel with their arms and legs tucked in so they feel
safe and support their head and shoulders with your forearm. You might also want
to tuck their body under your arm. Hold your baby over the bath slightly to avoid
water going into their eyes and use your other hand to scoop water over their head.
Then dry your baby’s hair. You only need to wash your baby’s hair (using a mild
baby shampoo) once or twice a week. The rest of the time plain water will do.
• When you want to bathe your baby, unwrap them and remove their nappy. Chat away
to them in a soothing voice to reassure them. Gently lower them into the bath, cradling
their head and shoulders with your forearm and hand. You can then use your other
hand to swish water gently over their body.
• After a few minutes lift your baby out of the water, taking care to hold onto
them firmly – their skin can be quite slippery! Wrap back into the towel and rest
them on another warm towel or changing mat. Pat them dry carefully, paying special
attention to the skin creases in their neck, arms and legs.Put a clean nappy on,
apply any nappy cream if they need it and get them dressed again.
If you’re still feeling unsure, your doctor or caretaker will be happy to show you
the way to bathe your baby that works best for you. Once you get the hang of it
and get some practice in, you’ll grow in confidence and bathing your baby will be
one of those little priceless moments you’ll come to treasure!