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 How to Give Your Newborn Their First Bath

When you bring your newborn home from the hospital, one of the first things you’ll want to do is give them their first bath. While this may seem like an intimidating task, there are actually a few steps you can follow to make this process easier and ensure that your baby doesn’t get chilled in the process. In this article, we will walk you through these simple steps so that you can give your newborn their first bath in no time!

Bathtub Fill

Fill your bathtub with warm water, then test it on your wrist first to make sure it isn’t too hot. Add a few drops of baby wash or shampoo (or both), and swish it around. Gently place your newborn in the water, keeping his head tilted slightly back so he doesn’t swallow any water. 

You can also add some mild soap to create bubbles for him to play with. Use a soft washcloth or sponge to gently rub him down, starting from his head and working your way down toward his toes. 

Be sure not to get soap in his eyes; if you do, rinse them out immediately with cool water until they are clear again.

Lay Baby in Tub

Always make sure you have a clean and sanitized tub before bathing your newborn. Gently lay your baby in their bathtub. If you don’t have a special infant tub, any regular sized tub will do just fine.

Use lukewarm water and mild soap. The water should be warm enough that it feels comfortable on your wrist but not hot enough that it could burn or scald your baby. 

Let Baby Play: After you’ve gently laid them down, let them play for a few minutes with some toys or even by themselves!

 

This is an important part of learning how to bathe a newborn as they need time to adjust to being submerged in water. Be Patient: Patience is key when it comes to giving your newborn their first bath!

Apply Lotion

Keeping your baby’s skin soft and moisturized is important, but applying lotion daily can sometimes feel like a huge undertaking. If you’re concerned about keeping your baby clean and dry, talk with their pediatrician or ask a family member for advice—they can help you decide when it’s appropriate to give your newborn their first bath. Once you get that first bath out of the way, though, make it a priority to keep them clean with regular washes and moisturizing lotions!

  

Wash Baby’s Hair

It’s no secret that newborns are pretty dirty—and some would argue, smelly. However, because you don’t want your baby exposed to harmful bacteria and germs when they’re so young, it’s recommended that you bathe them as soon as possible. 

In most cases, a newborn should be bathed once every two or three days, or after they have a particularly dirty diaper or spit up milk. Bathing too often can dry out their skin, so just remember to go easy on them! 

When bathing your newborn for the first time, wash their hair first using a gentle shampoo and warm water. Apply shampoo from behind their ears down to their neck in small circles. Rinse thoroughly before moving on to other parts of their body. 

Remember: Don’t forget those little ears! Cleaning the inside of ears is an important part of keeping your baby healthy during bath time.

Clean Baby’s Face, Ears, Hands and Feet

When bathing your newborn for the first time, clean their face, ears, hands and feet. You can use baby soap or a washcloth that has been boiled in water for five minutes and cooled. 

Start with the baby's face and work your way down each limb. This can be tricky when washing a baby's face so keep a hand underneath them at all times in case they slip from your grip. Make sure you rinse off any soap thoroughly before moving on to another area of the baby's body. 

When you are done cleaning the baby's face, rinse off any remaining soap under running warm water. If you use warm or hot water when washing your newborn for the first time, make sure you quickly wrap them up in a towel and then place them back into their crib. 

The sudden change in temperature could cause chills which could lead to an illness such as pneumonia later on in life.

Prevention Tips

You’ve just gone through a long, exhausting labor, and you finally have your beautiful new baby in your arms. But now what? Should you bathe your newborn right away? 

In fact, many experts recommend that you wait several days before you give them their first bath. Here are some helpful tips for giving your newborn their first bath When should I bathe my newborn? Most doctors recommend waiting until at least day three or four to bathe your newborn. 

By then, they will have built up some of their own natural protective oils, which can help keep them clean and prevent rashes. If you’re really worried about keeping your baby clean, try using a little soap on a washcloth to gently cleanse her face while she is still in the hospital; otherwise, don’t worry about it!