What Is the Rule of Thumb for Baths After Having a Baby

How to Breast-stroke Your Newborn Infant

Medically Reviewed past Gina Posner, Thousand.D., F.A.A.P.

Medical Review Policy

All What to Expect content that addresses wellness or safety is medically reviewed by a team of vetted health professionals. OurMedical Review Board includes OB/GYNs, pediatricians, infectious disease specialists, doulas, lactation counselors, endocrinologists, fertility specialists and more.

We believe you should ever know the source of the data you lot're reading. Larn more about our editorial and medical review policies.

on November 2, 2021

The first few times y'all give your infant a bath tin be a bit tricky, but soon y'all'll exist a pro. Hither's a complete how-to guide on your baby's first bath and how to bathe your newborn.

Back to Top

Your baby's offset bath is an exciting milestone, but handling a tiny slippery-when-moisture torso in water can exist a little nerve-wracking. Still, giving your newborn baby that offset bathroom is really a joy — and in the early on days and weeks, you don't really douse your infant into much h2o at all (phew!).

For some newborn bath pointers, as well as how ofttimes you should bathe your baby and the benefits yous'll both reap when y'all suds her up, read on.

When should infant's start bathroom be and when should you breast-stroke your newborn?

Wondering what'due south a good time to give your newborn a bath and when baby's showtime bathroom should exist? The scheduling of this event is entirely upward to you as long every bit you lot pick a moment when you won't be interrupted or tempted to hurry through the bathroom. Yous should probably program for baby's showtime bathroom within a calendar week after nascence. Simply avert bathing your newborn correct afterwards a feeding (it's all-time to allow her food settle a bit kickoff) or when she'south overtired.

Babies tend to be more alert in the morning, which is appealing to some, though others may slate it in the early evening equally part of her goodnight activities. When it's fourth dimension to wind downwardly, make her bathtime part of a relaxing bedtime routine that also includes a concluding bottle or nursing session, a book and a little song.

Keep in heed, yet, that newborns don't need a lot of washing (ii or three times a week at most is fine) and at kickoff, yous'll just be giving her a quick a sponge bath until her umbilical cord stump falls off, which normally happens about one to three weeks afterward birth.

How often should y'all bathe your newborn?

Until a babe starts getting downwards and dirty on the basis, a daily bath isn't needed (babies aren't mobile, so they can't really choice upwardly a lot of dirt). Your babe only needs a bath 2 or three times a week and in fact too much bathing tin dry your infant's delicate pare. Newborns should only have sponge baths until their umbilical cords dry up and fall off.

Keep Reading Below

If your baby's umbilical cord stump is withal intact or if a circumcised newborn'southward penis hasn't healed, avoid tub baths altogether and but employ your hands or a babe washcloth for cleanups. When your infant is ready to requite information technology a go, observe a flat surface — bathroom or kitchen counter, bed, even the floor — and keep washing up with the sponge gently and briefly until she gets used to information technology.

When you're ready to graduate from a sponge bath, move the fun to a baby bathtub and somewhen the big tub when your infant tin sit up on her own and outgrows the infant tub. There'due south nil cuter than seeing a baby splashing in the bath, soapy suds dotting those chubby folds and dimples — but always keep safety in mind. Never leave your babe alone in the bath water — even for a second.

What'southward a good baby bath temperature?

Your baby'due south bath h2o should be comfortably warm, never hot, when you dip your wrist or elbow into it for a temperature check. The American University of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that the hottest temperature at the faucet should exist no more 120 Fahrenheit to avoid scalding your baby.

How to bathe a newborn

Once you've picked a place and fourth dimension to requite your newborn her baths, read over this listing of tips that'll make the whole process a piddling easier and safer:

• Establish a routine. Your baby's bathtime routine volition help set her trunk clock, peculiarly if you exercise it in the evening ("Mommy or Daddy is giving me a bath — that means it's almost time for bed"). Reinforce the sleepy-fourth dimension bulletin by dimming the lights and keeping the noise and activeness down after the bath is over. Of course, information technology's fine if another time of twenty-four hours works better for you lot and your baby.
• Cheque her mood. You should, however, postpone the bath if your infant is hungry, grumpy or has an upset tummy — that wouldn't exist proficient for anyone involved.
• Get together your supplies. Take everything on hand since you tin never go out your baby in the bath (and information technology's no fun searching for what you need with a wet, naked babe in tow). The essentials include infant soap and shampoo, cotton washcloths, cotton wool assurance, a plush towel or ii, and a plastic basin. You may also want a new diaper, a fix of make clean apparel and diaper ointment or foam for after the bath.
• Document the result. Want to remember these wet and wild early days? Have your partner, a friend or a relative prepare with the camera, especially if it's baby's very first bathroom.
• Keep information technology toasty. Babies lose trunk heat very speedily — particularly when they're naked — so make certain the bathing room is warm enough, aiming for a room temperature of about 75 to 80 degrees. (A bath can be quickly warmed up with shower steam if necessary.) Y'all tin put a warm washcloth on your baby's exposed parts similar her breadbasket to continue her from getting cold. Whether you're using an infant tub or a sink, fill it first with just enough water to cover the lesser of her body, near 2 inches of water. Never put a baby in the tub while the h2o is even so running. The h2o temperature should be warm (non hot), and so test it with your elbow or the inside of your wrist, since those areas are more than sensitive than your fingertips. Plough the cold water on first and turn information technology off last to avoid burning your child.
• Get a grip. Gently slide your baby into the tub, feet first, property her deeply with i of your arms under her head (use your hand to grasp her underarm farthest abroad from you) and the other supporting her bottom. She may be every bit slippery as a fish, simply y'all'll shortly get the hang of how to hang on to her. Once she'southward in, avoid letting her sit for too long in water — it can irritate baby's pare, plus she might become dank.
• Soap up sparingly. Yup, you do use soap for a newborn sponge bath, but pick a mild i and focus on her hands and diaper surface area when y'all're bathing. You can just use water on the residue of her body most days, unless she'southward really dirty.
• Focus on the face offset.Dip a corner of a washcloth or cotton ball in the warm water, and gently wipe 1 middle from the inner corner outward and then use a different corner or a clean cotton ball for the other eye. Wet the washcloth entirely and wash her face (a bit of soap is fine hither), particularly around the mouth and under the chin where milk and drool can pool, and inside and behind her ears. (Never use a cotton swab to clean inside your infant's ears.)
• Wash your baby's body. Dip the washcloth in warm h2o and launder your little one'due south neck and torso. Maneuver carefully around the umbilical cord if there'southward even so a stump; it's okay to gently wipe away any crustiness around it. Next, clean under her artillery and between her fingers. Be sure to go into those footling creases and skin folds.
• Go easy on private parts. Employ a soft, make clean fabric, gentle soap, and lukewarm water to clean your baby's genitals. Have a girl? Wash the surface area from front end to dorsum, and don't forget to gently wipe between skin folds. If you have a baby male child who's been circumcised, wipe his penis clean; if your baby male child is uncircumcised, no need to pull back his foreskin. Next upwards: that tiny lilliputian bottom (employ a little lather).
• Utilize a tear-costless infant shampoo. If, of course, she has any hair. If she doesn't, wipe her caput with a washcloth. Using water and a tiny bit of shampoo, soap your baby's scalp. Massage it with the pads of your fingers, including the expanse over the fontanelles (soft spots) on the top of the head. Don't worry — you lot won't poke through — just be gentle and it'll exist fine. If your babe develops cradle cap, talk to your pediatrician, who may recommend rubbing a little mineral oil on baby'southward head before bathtime (to help lift the crusts and loosen any scales) and then gently wiping it off with a soft washcloth.
• Don't forcefulness it. If your infant absolutely hates beingness bathed in the tub, get back to sponge baths for a few days, then endeavour again. She'll get the hang of it somewhen.
• Stay safe. Never exit a baby alone in or near the tub, and always go along at least one manus on her trunk at all times. If you've forgotten something, you lot'll need to take your baby with yous to get it or ask your partner, sitter or family fellow member to deliver whatever you're missing.

How to dry out a newborn after a bath

Hither'southward how to wrap upwards your baby's bath, including a bit about rinsing, drying and using lotion:

• Rinse well. Employ clean, warm h2o for that final rinse cycle, holding your little ane football-mode, with the back of his caput cradled in 1 hand, his body draped along your arm, and his caput over the basin. Fill the cup with h2o and gently pour it over your baby's head and then the body parts.
• Dry her gently. Next up, pat (don't rub) your babe's pare with a soft dry towel. Be certain to thoroughly dry her lesser and whatever other areas where there are folds of peel. Stubby babies have lots of those!
• Get easy on the baby lotion. That beautiful and ultra-sensitive skin doesn't need much, if any, in the style of lotions, oils or creams, though a little infant-safe balm is okay. Just avoid baby powders, which can irritate an infant's breathing passages. If your practitioner recommends it (i.east. your babe has dry or eczema-prone skin), massage a hypoallergenic lotion into her skin after warming information technology in your palms.
• Diaper and dress. Slip on a fresh diaper and dress your infant in some clean wearing apparel. If she needs a little soothing after the sponge bath, swaddle her upwards in a coating, then get settled in for a snuggle with your clean, sweet-smelling baby.

First Bathroom In iii Words

Why is it important to bathe a newborn baby?

The benefits of bathtime go way beyond a basic cleanup! Hither's why baths are good for babies:

• They boost bonding. Bathtime chop-chop becomes a highlight of the day because it'southward all about time spent together. Taking care of your baby lets her know you intendance, so gaze into her eyes, buss that yummy baby abdomen, count those tiny toes and sing silly songs every bit you lot wash. Feeling your gentle touch and hearing your voice will let your niggling one know how much she's loved.

• There's so much learning.Yup, there's plenty to learn in the tub. Tickle your fiddling one's senses by trickling water gently onto her tummy or teach a lesson in cause-and-event by showing how to kick the water and create a splash. And don't forget a play-by-play as you wash — name her picayune body parts as you bathe — and she'll be learning a tub-full of words!

• They can be soothing.You probably already know this from your own bathing experience, only zippo's more calming and comforting than a soak in a tub after a long day. Upwards the relaxation even more than by trying your hand at babe massage afterwards. While most picayune ones love it, if your babe balks (she fusses or turns her head), don't sweat information technology — just cuddle instead.

• They may induce sleep. There'south fifty-fifty more reason to love bathing your baby, specially if you add it to her bedtime routine. The warm water, warm room and warm feeling of being condom, secure and loved work magic and will put your infant in the mood to snooze.

Bathtime is fun time for babies and their new parents! If yours seems less than thrilled, brand the effect short and sweet. Soon enough, your infant will squeal with delight when you plow on the tap.

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author ofWhat to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses but credible sources, such equally peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Acquire how nosotros continue our content accurate and upward-to-date past reading our medical review and editorial policy.

• What to Expect the Starting time Year, 3rd edition, Heidi Murkoff.
• WhatToExpect.com, Benefits of Baby Massage, Dec 2020.
• WhatToExpect.com, How to Establish a Bedtime Routine for Your Baby, May 2020.
• WhatToExpect.com, Bathing With Your Baby, June 2021.
• WhatToExpect.com, Best Baby Bathtubs, June 2021.
• WhatToExpect.com, Cradle Cap (Seborrheic Dermatitis) in Babies, December 2020.
• WhatToExpect.com, Skin Rashes in Babies and Toddlers, June 2020.
• WhatToExpect.com, When Your Baby's Umbilical Cord Will Autumn Off and What to Do, July 2021.
• WhatToExpect.com, What to Know About Newborn Circumcision, Baronial 2021.
• American University of Pediatrics, Bathing Your Baby, March 2020.
• American Academy of Pediatrics, Infant H2o Safety: Protect Your New Baby from Drowning, Nov 2019.
• Mayo Clinic, Baby Bath Basics: A Parent's Guide, September 2019.

What Is the Rule of Thumb for Baths After Having a Baby

Source: https://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/first-bath/