Are you a little unsure of how to best bathe your newborn? These tried and true newborn bath tips will get you scrub-dub-a-dubbin' in no time!
Bathing your newborn can be a daunting experience and if you're anything like me, you want to make it as enjoyable (and stress-free) as possible for both you and baby. As a two-time mama myself, I'm giving you all the best tips for bathing your newborn.
After learning these newborn bath tips you will be a bath-giving pro. Now, grab your rubber ducky, and let's dive in!
This post is all about newborn bath tips and what every parent needs to know for baby's best bath!
Must-try newborn bath tips
1. Prepare your space and turn up the heat!
Determine where you are going to bathe baby. This may sound silly—shouldn't the baby be bathed in the bathroom? Not necessarily. Yes, the bathroom is the most obvious place, but sometimes due to convenience or space limitations, you may choose to bathe your baby elsewhere—a kitchen sink, for example, or on the kitchen table. To be clear you will need an infant bathtub (more on that below!)
Once you decide where the bath is taking place, get your space ready.
Lay out your clean washcloths, baby towels, and soap so that everything is well within reach. Remember to never leave your baby unattended in the tub. Ever. You should have constant eyes on your baby and be actively monitoring them during their bath.
Twenty minutes to a half-hour before baby's bath, use a space heater to make the space nice and toasty! Newborn babies are just learning to regulate their body temperature and most will dislike the bath because it's cold. Imagine how you would feel being all snuggled up in your soft, cuddly, footed pajamas, wrapped in your mom's arms, only to be stripped down naked in a cold bathroom. No thank you.
If a space heater isn't available, turn the thermostat up a few degrees. It won't be as warm and will be a little more pricey to heat the whole house rather than a single room, but a little more heat is better than nothing.
2. Take a deep breath and stay calm. You got this!
Your space is prepared and you're physically prepared, but mentally you might be freaking out a little.
This is normal. You've never bathed another human before, especially not one this tiny and delicate.
Take a deep breath. Blow it out. And again.
You can do this?
Feel better? Good. keep reading!
3. Fill the baby tub (or sink) with a few inches of warm water
Now it's time to fill the baby bath (or sink) with warm water.
I absolutely loved this newborn to toddler bathtub and used it with both of my children. The newborn "hammock" insert is perfect for the first few months and unclips easily so it can be washed and dried. There are two additional positions for baby as he or she grows—reclining (infant) or fully seated (toddler). I adore this bathtub and it's the only one I recommend.
When my son was first born I did purchase the Blooming Lotus Bath Pad, mostly because it's so stinking cute! Unfortunately, for us, it didn't work well because we have a double bay kitchen sink so I never got the positioning quite right and the faucet placement was awkward. I found it much easier to bathe my babies in an infant tub in the actual bathtub. However, I will say the Blooming Lotus Bath Pad is exceptionally soft, easy to clean and dry, and very high-quality. I have had many friends who swear by it, so I wanted to mention it in case it may work for your house and lifestyle!
Ensure baby's bath water is at the right temperature.
Think Goldilocks and three bears: not too hot, not too cold, but just right.
According to experts, warm water (around 100 degrees Fahrenheit) is best. To take the guesswork out, use a baby bath thermometer. This classic rubber ducky can be set to display in degrees Celcius or Fahrenheit, has high and low-temperature alerts, and doubles as a clock!
4. Keep baby covered using a long washcloth.
Another newborn bath tip is to keep baby covered (chest and belly) with a long, baby washcloth during the bath. I used these and loved that their length covered the entire trunk and kept baby warm. All you need to do is dip the washcloth in the (clean) bathwater and gently drape it over baby. If at any point the washcloth turns cold, re-dunk and re-cover.
5. Use mild soap designed specifically for babies.
When bathing your newborn, you should use a soap specifically designed for newborn's sensitive skin.
There are many different soaps and washes available on the market. I prefer natural, unscented soaps and lotions so I use products from Tubby Todd Bath Co., Aveeno Baby, and CeraVe Baby.
Full disclosure: Aveeno Baby is lightly scented and I did not use it with my children until after 2 years of age. Tubby Todd products are slightly more difficult to find but are available via their website and select Target and Walmart stores.
6. Start with baby's face and work your way down.
Clean the diaper area last and never re-wipe other parts of baby's body with the same washcloth. If you forgot an area, no worries! Just be sure to grab a clean washcloth!
7. Remove baby from the tub and bundle in a soft, warm, hooded towel.
Baby is all cleaned up. Now it's time to gently and carefully remove baby from the bath.
Use extra care because baby will be very slippery—after all, their skin is silky smooth.
Wrap baby in a soft, plush towel, preferably one with a hood to keep them warm—approximately 85% of heat loss occurs via the skin.
Bonus: Have your partner toss the towel in the dryer for 5 minutes before taking to baby out of the bath so the towel will be nice and warm.
All done! Baby is washed, clean, and dry! Follow-up bath with your favorite baby lotion and give baby a nice, relaxing baby massage. Your baby will be well on his or her way to dreamland by the time you're done!
One final thought: How often to bathe your newborn?
This question boils down to personal preference. While it's true that a newborn's skin is very delicate, there is nothing inherently wrong with bathing your baby every day—assuming you use a mild soap (or no soap at all on alternate days) and moisturize baby's skin daily. Some families (and babies) use their bath time routine as part of the bedtime routine to help wind baby down.
That being said, newborns do not need to be bathed daily. In fact, most experts and pediatricians recommend bathing baby three times a week until baby becomes more mobile. Truthfully, this is what I have done with both of my children unless there was a crazy circumstance—a diaper blowout, they were sick, etc.
You will find a rhythm that works for you and have your newborn bathing schedule down in no time!
Now go pamper your little bundle of joy with that top 5-star spa service that he or she deserves!
