Bathing your newborn

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What you need to know

When babies don’t like baths
Many newborn babies show signs of distress when being bathed, perhaps because they feel unsafe and exposed when naked. Parents can also be worried about losing hold of a slippery baby!

Don’t worry – this is normal. If your baby doesn’t like baths, give baby a ‘top and tail’ bath one day, and a proper bath the next.

When babies do like baths
If your baby likes a bath and it seems relaxing, you can use bathing as a strategy to help settle baby in the evening. Some babies sleep longer after an evening bath. You can also try singing, smiling or gently talking to your baby during the bath to help you both relax.

How to prepare a bath

You can bath your newborn in a small plastic tub or even in the kitchen sink (but watch out for the hot tap). A plastic baby bath is probably the best option once your baby gets bigger.

You can bath your baby in any room that is warm, safe and clean – it doesn’t have to be a bathroom. The bath should be positioned somewhere stable at a height where you can comfortably hold your baby (a table is often best).

• Before you start to get the bath ready, make sure your baby is somewhere safe (such as the bassinette).
• Get all the items you will need, and put them within arm’s reach of the bath. Items might include cotton wool, washcloth, towels, rubber duck and lotion if you are using this. Also organise a nappy and clean clothes and put them wherever it’s easiest for you to dry and dress your baby.
• Take off your wristwatch if you’re wearing one.
• Fill the bath with about 5 cm of water for children up to six months old. Use only a small amount of water until you get used to holding your baby. You can use 10-13 cm for older children. If you’re planning to bath baby on a table far from the tap, it can be easier to fill the bath with jugs of water rather than carrying a full bath from sink to table. Try not to add extra water once your baby is in the bath.
• You can make a bath less slippery and safer if you line it with a clean cloth nappy or towel.
• Test the water temperature with your elbow or wrist. The recommended bath temperature is about 36°C.
• To avoid overdrying skin, try adding bath oil (unperfumed is better) to the water. Avoid bubble baths – they remove natural oils from the skin. Moisturisers such as sorbolene and aqueous creams are good for preventing the drying out of newborn skin. Newborn babies do not need shampoo for their hair.

How to give a newborn a bath

• Gently support your baby at all times while baby is having a bath.
• Choose a bath time when there will be minimal interruption (from phone calls or visitors).
• Before undressing your baby, wipe baby’s eyelids (from inner eye to outer eye) with cotton wool dipped in lukewarm water, using a different piece of cotton wool for each eye. Then wash the whole face. Be careful not to insert anything into baby’s ears or nose. See more on ear, nose and eye care.
• Undress your baby, taking nappy off last. 
• Cradle baby’s head with one arm, supporting head and neck with the other arm, then gently lower baby into the bath, feet first, keeping a close hold at all times.
• Supporting the head, lay your baby down in the bath so that the back of baby’s head is submerged. Gently splash some water onto baby’s head.
• Wash your baby’s hair once or twice a week. Shampoo is not required for newborn hair.
• Gently wash your baby’s genitals and bottom last, using water only (though oil in the bath is fine too).
• Never leave your baby in the bath unattended. Babies can drown very quickly and completely silently.
• Supporting your baby’s head and neck, lift baby out of the bath and place baby on back on a clean dry soft towel.
• Wrap your baby in the towel and pat dry, paying attention to skin creases including armpits, groin, under the chin, around the neck and behind the ears.
• If baby’s skin is dry, or if baby has nappy rash, you might want to apply a mild lotion such as white soft paraffin, or zinc and castor oil.
• Dress your baby, putting nappy on first.
• Place your baby in a safe place, such as a bassinette.
• Empty the bath water.

How many baths?

Some babies really like baths and find them relaxing. If your baby is like this, you might be tempted to give two baths a day. But two baths a day is generally not recommended for the following reasons:

• Babies don’t generally have dirty skin.
• Many newborns already have dry, flaky skin. Having two baths a day will dry out the natural oils in their skin even more.

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