New to bath time? If you’re a new parent, you'll likely have a few questions...as well as some nerves. How often should you bathe your baby? What's the right water temperature? And what do you actually need to make it safe and soothing for your little one? Read on for some helpful hints for bub's first bath.
How often should you bathe your newborn?
There's no hard and fast rule here. You may like to bathe them every day (particularly if they enjoy it), but don't feel like you need to. Bathing your baby two to three times a week is perfectly fine—after all, newborns don’t really get dirty!
We love this little tip from the Raising Children Network: try alternating between a full bath one day and a ‘top and tail’ wash the next. ‘Topping and tailing’ means you concentrate on the areas that really need a wash (usually the face, hands and bottom), and your baby can stay warm in their clothes or wrapped in a towel while you do it.
What type of tub do you need?
Some parents like to use a plastic baby bath—a newborn bath seat in the main bathtub— while others simply line their sink with a clean towel. You can do whatever works for you and your little one. It's important to keep one hand on your baby at all times — they can be wriggly! Never leave them unsupervised in the tub, so if you forget something in the other room, always bring your baby with you.
How much water do I need?
A good rule of thumb is to fill the tub with about 5 centimeters (2 inches) of water—just enough to keep your little one warm and secure.
How can I hold my baby securely?
When bathing your little one, it's important to give them your undivided attention and keep a secure hold on them at all times. Using one hand, you can support your little one's head and shoulders—keeping their head clear of the water—while using the other hand to gently wash them.
What temperature should the water be?
When giving your baby a bath, keep the temperature about 37 degrees Celsius—if you’re nervous about getting this right, you can always use a bath thermometer.
How do you wash a baby's delicate skin?
After lowering your little one into the water, gently wipe your baby with a soft washcloth and some baby soap. Starting with the head, carefully wipe your baby’s scalp and neck—don’t forget those adorable creases in the neck. Use clean cotton pads dampened with water to gently wipe their eyes.
Because babies get cold easily, it's important to wrap them in a towel immediately after bathing. If their skin appears dry, you can apply some gentle baby lotion to those dry spots.
We know that bathing a newborn might seem scary, but soon enough, you’ll be an expert. We hope these tips were helpful, so be sure to let us know how your first bath time goes.
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LittleOak has been nourishing children for many years and feeds millions of infants and babies across the globe each and every day, in countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. In the US, we're proud to have our FDA compliant Toddler Milk available for families.
