Bathing a slippery baby might feel a little scary at first. But, with a little practice you will become a champ! You can take help from a family member or spouse in the beginning. Learn all the basics here to master this skill.
What do I need to bathe my newborn?
The two types of baby bath you can give your little one are sponge baths and tub baths.
What do you need for a newborn baby bath? Grab these supplies before you begin:
- You’re dealing with a slippery baby, lay down a cushiony towel or blanket underneath
- A bowl of water that is comfortable to the touch, not too hot or cold
- washcloth
- mild baby soap
- baby towel
How to give a sponge bath?
Once your supplies are ready, follow these steps:
- Before you begin, close all doors and windows to stop air flow. Try to make the room as warm as possible.
- Wrap your baby in a towel and only expose parts you’re washing.
- Lay your baby on a flat surface, the ground preferably, with the safety towels or blankets underneath.
- Use only water if this is your baby’s first bath.
- Dip the washcloth in warm water to clean the top of their head, eyes, ears, fat folds at the neck, etc.
- If your baby is a few months old, it is okay to mix a few drops of mild cleanser. Don’t put soap when you’re washing their head and face though.
- Use the soapy water to clean around the rest of the body and diaper area. Make sure to reach under the arms and around the genital area.
- Dry your baby off, including drying between skin folds.
- Wrap them in a towel.
- Use the hood in baby’s towel, if it has one, to cover their head or use another dry cloth.
Once you’re done bathing and drying your little one, put them in a diaper. A newborn? In a diaper!? Calm your inner Ekta Kapoor because with Snuggy it is possible. Snuggy is one of the best diapers for sensitive skin. Here’s why:
- Snuggy is extra soft and allows your baby to heal.
- Come with a susumeter to know when a change is due.
- Ultra-cushy against your baby’s soft skin
- Absorbs rapidly so your little one isn’t cranky because of a wet diaper.
Snuggy diapers, trusted by mothers for 35 years!
How to give your newborn a tub bath?
Follow these steps to bathe your baby in a bath tub after their umbilical cord has fallen off:
- Fill the tub with 2- 3 inches of water.
- Place your baby in water immediately after they’re undressed to prevent them from catching a cold.
- Support their head with one hand and use the other to submerge their body in water.
- For safety reasons, always keep their head above water.
- Gently splash or pour warm water over them.
- Use the washcloth to clean their head, face and other areas.
- Take them out of the bath and pat them dry. Remember to get the skin folds.
A word of caution: Never leave your baby in a bathtub filled with water even for a few seconds. They can drown or submerge in water very quickly.
How to choose the right products for your newborn’s sensitive skin?
You need just a few baby skin care products in baby’s initial months of growth. These include:
- Moisturizer – Your baby’s skin can often get dry. Use a gentle moisturizer recommended by your doctor.
- Gentle baby wash – Your baby doesn’t need to be washed with a cleanser at all during their first two months. Once they get a little older, use a gentle baby cleanser, free of harmful toxins and chemical to bathe them.
- Diaper rash cream – If your baby frequently suffers from diaper rashes, use a baby diaper cream. This cream will not only soothe and heal the existing rashes, but also create a barrier between the diaper and your baby’s sensitive skin.
We hope you now know how to give bath to a newborn baby and will soon be free of all your inhibitions. Need to learn or master any other new parent skill, but don’t know where to begin? Just write your queries in the comments section below and we’ll come up with a step-by-step DIY just for you!
