Congratulations on entering parenthood. Just like your childhood, teenage and adulthood, parenthood is also a learning experience. So, don’t worry if you don’t know all about it. It is alright to be blank about it. A newborn, however, doesn’t need a bath as many times as a grown-up. Starting off on a bath until the umbilical cord heals is a sponge bath followed by a baby tub bath and eventually a tub bath when the baby can sit up on her own. Let’s have a closer look at how to bathe a newborn baby.


Image Source: Shutterstock

Tips for Bathe Your Baby:

Bathing a baby can be a delightful bonding experience for both parents and their little ones. However, it can also be a bit daunting, especially for new parents. To ensure that bath time is safe, enjoyable, and stress-free for both you and your baby, here are some essential tips to consider.

1. Sponge Bath:

Newborns are given a sponge bath till their umbilical cord stump heals and also not plunged into the water directly since they need time to adjust as well. If you are wondering how to bathe a newborn baby with a sponge, well you have nothing to worry about.

It is the simplest form of bath one can give. Before giving a bath to your baby you need to ensure that you have all the essentials you need right beside you. It is very important not to leave him/her unattended. Hence, ensure that you have all that you need right beside you and then only start giving a bath otherwise you may return and find a few of the bath essentials missing and that is never a good sign.

See More: Massaging Baby

Firstly, make sure you have warm water in a bucket beside you and a clean and soft sponge. Now you can try and add a few drops of a soap solution which is sensitive enough for babies. Once you are done, plunge the sponge into the water and squeeze it out on your other palm to check if the water is not too hot or not too cold.

Once you have ensured it is in the right zone of temperature, plunge it into the water and squeeze all the water out and then rub it gently over the baby’s body. Take a small sponge to make it easier to wipe your baby’s tiny feet and hands. Cover the whole body in intervals and then wipe him/her with a soft cloth and put the clothes back on.

2. Frequency:

Wondering how often to bathe a baby? Well, you have nothing to worry about till they start crawling and making messes all over. That is when they need regular baths. But if they are yet to start messing themselves up, you can restrict it to maybe a few times a week. However, most houses follow this system of timing the bedtime with a bath. You can try that too if it works and if your baby is well adjusted to that pattern.

3. Tub Bath:

Now that you know how often to bathe a baby let us have a look at how to bathe a baby when they have crossed the sponge bath phase. Keep in mind that the bath time you have with your baby can be made quite a special one. So, make sure you do it all right and here’s what you need to know.


Image Source: Shutterstock

Step One:

Make sure the room temperature is warm enough for the baby so that it does not make her uncomfortable.

Step Two:

Collect all the bath essentials and lay them out in the order that you need to go so that you do not miss out on any step. Right from the soap to the towel and diapers.

Step Three:

Fill the tub with water up to a few inches and make sure it feels warm on your palm or on the inside of your wrist and not too hot. Try and maintain a temperature of about 32 degrees Celsius.

Step Four:

Get your baby close to the tub and undress her. Make sure you have everything you need right before that since you cannot afford to leave her unattended.

Step Five:

Slowly and carefully slip your baby into the tub putting her feet in first and make sure you support the neck and head. Make sure you keep pouring cups of water over her all through the bath to ensure she doesn’t get cold at any time.

See More: How To Burp A Baby Fast

Step Six:

Use some soap and keep in mind to use a mild one. Wash her with your hand from front to back and top to bottom as well. Starting from the scalp, proceed to her eyes and face and do not forget a regular wash of the genital area.

Step Seven:

Pour cups of water on your baby wash away the soap and then wipe her with a clean cloth.

Step Eight:

Once you are done wiping, wrap her up cosy in a hooded towel and dry. If you find the skin to be too dry or if you find any rashes in the diaper range, a little lotion will help.

Step Nine:

Put on a fresh diaper on your baby as soon as you are done and make sure she enjoyed her bath.

Now if you have any doubts pertaining to how to bathe a baby, you need to get them clarified with the experts or even your mother can play the role of an expert. She practically brought you up as well, didn’t she?


Image Source: Shutterstock

The concept of how to give a baby a bath is not so difficult. What you need to take care of, is the comfort of your baby. If he/she doesn’t look too comfortable playing in the water, then prolong the sponge bath time a little more and then come to the tub bath stage. While giving a bath is more than just about cleanliness, it also develops a parent-baby bond. Within no time, both of you will be looking forward to the bath time and will start to enjoy it more than you know to make sure to sing and talk and express all your love to your little one.

See More: Baby Hair Wash

Bath time can also be a learning experience for both of you. You will be able to know his/her ticklish areas and your baby can see you splashing the water and try and imitate the same. Overall, make sure you have all the safety essentials and cherish your time with your newfound love.

Yashasvi

About Yashasvi

Yashasvi developed a deep passion for writing ever since she was completed her Master’s in Mass Communication and Journalism from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam and has chosen a career that is driven by creativity. A Parenting expert who believes in communicating effectively with a personal touch, she writes about pregnancy, baby care, lifestyle, and just about anything else.
ADVERTISEMENT