Download Article

Download Article

Bathing a baby may seem scary at first, but information technology tin exist a overnice bonding feel. Until your babe's umbilical cord falls off, you'll need to give them sponge baths. You might decide to stick to sponge baths for several weeks after your babe is built-in, especially if your babe is afraid of water. Before yous give your babe a bath, arrange your supplies around a flat, comfy surface. And then, wash your baby'southward face, hair, and body. After y'all dry them off, put on a fresh diaper and clothes. Additionally, use best practices to keep your baby safe during bath time.

  1. ane

    Choose a flat surface in a warm room. Give your baby a sponge bath on a flat, comfortable surface in a room that's 75 to eighty °F (24 to 27 °C). It's all-time to use a apartment surface so that your baby is less probable to slide off or go wedged in a crevice. Keep in mind that you won't be submerging the baby in h2o, and then yous'll bathe it on a towel or blanket instead. Some bang-up places to bathe your baby include:[1]

    • The kitchen counter
    • The bathroom counter
    • A house bed

  2. 2

    Spread a soft blanket or towel over the flat surface to cushion your baby. Choose a soft fabric that will go along your baby comfy. For instance, you might use a babe coating or a costly towel. If the surface you're using is hard, similar a countertop, you lot might fifty-fifty layer the towels and blankets so your baby is very comfortable.[2]

    • The towels and blankets will also help yous avoid making a mess while you're bathing your baby. They'll soak up whatever water that drips off of the baby or your washcloth.

    Advertisement

  3. 3

    Ready a towel, washcloth, babe shampoo, babe soap, diaper, and clothes nearby. Arrange all of the supplies you lot'll need to wash your baby where you tin easily reach them during the bath. One time you offset washing your baby, y'all cannot leave to retrieve an item, then collect any supplies you think you may need.[three]

    • Baby shampoo and baby soap are optional, simply you lot might decide to use them if y'all're worried that water alone won't go your baby clean. If you do make up one's mind to use them, choose a mild shampoo or soap that's clearly labeled for apply on babies.

  4. 4

    Fill a nearby sink or container with warm h2o. Since you lot're not putting your infant in the water, yous can any container that's clean for your warm water, or take it directly from the sink. If you're using a container, make sure it's inside arm's achieve of your bathing station. Before y'all bathe your babe, feel the water with your hand to make sure it'south warm just not hot.[iv]

    • For case, you might use a plastic bin, big mixing basin, or the kitchen sink.
    • If you lot accept a bath thermometer, check that the water is around 98.6 to 103.9 °F (37.0 to 39.ix °C).[5]

    Tip: During a sponge bath, you won't put your baby within the tub of water, so you don't need a baby bathtub. Yous tin can use whatever container is most convenient for you.

  5. 5

    Undress your infant and identify them onto the towel or blanket. Wait until you're ready to start the bath to undress your infant, as they may get chilled. Babies lose heat speedily and aren't able to regulate their temperature likewise. Immediately afterward you undress your baby, place them directly onto the towel or blanket, and brand sure they stay comfortable.[half dozen]

    • Rearrange the towel or blanket if you lot demand to so that your baby is more than comfortable.

  6. 6

    Wrap the towel or blanket around your baby to keep them warm. Your babe needs to exist wrapped at all times so that they don't go too cold. Every bit you lot bath your baby, only betrayal the area yous're washing. As presently as that expanse is washed, cover it support and so your baby stays warm.[7]

    • Don't cover your baby'due south face at any time during the bath.

    Advertisement

  1. ane

    Wet your washcloth, then wring out the excess water. Dip the washcloth into the bin of water, then squeeze it in your hand to wring out the excess water. You lot want the washcloth to be damp, but not dripping. This allows you to clean your baby without getting the towel or blankets wet.[8]

    • Using too much water to bathe your baby can actually dry out their skin, and then a damp rag is all-time.

    Tip: It's best to apply a washcloth that'southward merely used for washing your baby. Otherwise, make sure your rinse it well prior to your baby'due south sponge bath then that there'due south no soap balance from your regular soap.

  2. 2

    Clean your babe's face with the washcloth and only water. Gently wipe your baby'southward face with the washcloth, making soft strokes. When you make clean your baby'south eyes, wipe from the inside corner to the exterior corner. Additionally, be sure to clean around and behind your infant's ears.[9]

    • It'due south best to clean your baby'south face with water alone. If you're being diligent near cleaning up spit up and drool, so their face shouldn't exist very dirty.
    • If you use lather on your baby'south face, it could dry their delicate skin or get into their eyes or mouth.

  3. 3

    Rub ane drop of infant shampoo into your babe'southward hair, if they have whatsoever. Moisture your baby's hair by wiping it with the washcloth. Then, put a tiny drop of mild baby shampoo onto your baby's scalp. Gently piece of work the shampoo into the hair and scalp using the pads of your fingers.[10]

    • It's okay to apply just water on your baby'southward hair and scalp, if yous adopt.
    • If you prefer to wash your baby's pilus, exercise it only once or twice a week.

  4. iv

    Use a wet washcloth to remove the shampoo from your babe's pilus. Utilise your damp washcloth to wipe away the shampoo. Make long, soft strokes that movement away from your infant'due south face. Rinse and wring out the washcloth as needed as you lot clean away the shampoo. If necessary, you tin clasp a few drops of h2o over the baby's scalp to help remove the shampoo, just make sure it doesn't get on your infant'south face.[eleven]

    • Exist conscientious that you lot don't get the shampoo in your baby's eyes. Control the water and the shampoo suds with your washcloth.

    Advertisement

  1. one

    Launder your babe's neck with mild soap and water. Dip your washcloth into the water, then add a drop of baby soap to the fabric. Wipe down your babe's neck using soft, gentle strokes. Make sure you clean the folds in their pare by gently wiping nether and between them with your washcloth. Rinse your fabric in the h2o, then use it to remove any soap residual.[12]

    • Don't leave the soapy water on your baby's skin, equally it could cause irritation.

  2. 2

    Expose and wash small areas, keeping your baby wrapped. Launder your baby's body from tiptop to lesser, working in small sections. When you're ready to launder an area, uncover information technology and wipe it downwardly with a soapy rag. Make soft, gentle strokes as you lot clean each area. Rinse the rag, then wipe down the area again to remove the soap. Finally, cover that surface area upward and move to the next spot.[13]

    • Your baby tin become very cold during a bath, and so don't exit their peel exposed for likewise long.

  3. 3

    Pay special attention to creases and between the fingers and toes. Gently work the washcloth into your baby'south creases, folds, and crevices. Wipe the skin in soft strokes to remove any grime that'due south nerveless there. These areas are more than likely to be muddy than the rest of your infant's body. Washing them thoroughly will assistance keep them clean and prevent infections.[xiv]

    • Brand sure you don't go out dried food, milk, or poop in whatever of your baby's folds or creases. If the pare remains dirty, your baby might develop an infection.

  4. 4

    Launder effectually your infant'due south umbilical cord stump, if they still have 1. It's of import to continue the skin around the umbilical cord stump clean and so your baby doesn't develop an infection. Notwithstanding, endeavour not to get the stump wet, as you lot want it to dry upwardly and autumn off. Use your washcloth to gently clean the base of the umbilical cord. As you make clean around the belly button, don't pull on the umbilical cord stump. It will fall off on its ain.[15]

    • If the stump gets wet, pat it dry with a towel, then fold the meridian of the baby's diaper down until it air dries.

  5. five

    Wash your baby's diaper surface area concluding because it'southward the dirtiest. The diaper area likely contains germs from your baby's poop, as well as possible stale-on waste. For this reason, it'south extra important to give this area a thorough cleaning. Utilise your washcloth to wipe around your baby's leg creases, genital area, and lesser. Brand certain you lot don't leave whatever dried on fecal matter, which tin sometimes become trapped. When you're washing the genital area, use these guidelines:[16]

    • For girls, wipe their vaginal area from front to dorsum.[17]
    • For an uncircumcised male child, don't push his foreskin back to clean his penis. Gently make clean around the area without moving the foreskin.
    • For a circumcised boy, don't clean the penis for three to 4 days after the circumcision. Later that, squeeze a sparse stream of warm water straight onto your infant's penis to make clean it. Don't utilise any soap unless your physician tells you to do then.[18]

    Advertisement

  1. one

    Pat your baby dry with your extra towel. Gently blot away any excess water on your baby'south skin using a soft, dry out towel. If you have a hooded towel, wrap the baby within information technology to keep their body warm as your dry out them.[19]

    • Don't rub your babe'southward peel, which can irritate it.

  2. 2

    Apply a pea-size dot of unscented baby moisturizer if their peel feels dry. Nigh babies don't need moisturizer. Yet, you lot tin can apply a tiny amount of moisturizer to your baby if their peel feels dry. Rub the lotion onto your baby's skin to help it absorb, then wrap your baby in a towel or coating for a few minutes while the lotion absorbs.[xx]

    • If your baby's peel is dry often, you may be bathing them as well frequently. Bank check with your doc to make sure you lot don't need to change your routine.

  3. 3

    Put a clean diaper on your baby. Later on your baby is totally dry, put on a new diaper. Make sure the diaper doesn't get upwards over the umbilical cord stump, if they have one.[21]

    • If your son has been circumcised, you lot may need to put petroleum jelly in the diaper to keep the padding from sticking to your infant. Talk to your md to detect out if you lot need to practise this.

  4. four

    Clothes your babe in make clean clothes. Put fresh, clean dress on your baby, and so swaddle them in a blanket. Spend a few minutes cuddling your baby and so that they experience baths as a calm, comforting feel.[22]

    Advertisement

  1. 1

    Bathe your baby three times a week to go on them make clean. Your baby doesn't demand to exist bathed often until they start crawling effectually. In fact, washing them too oft tin irritate their peel. Stick to just 3 baths a week.[23]

    • If your infant gets very muddy later being sick or having a diaper blowout, it'south okay to give them an extra bathroom. However, yous might consider adjusting your baby'south bathing schedule if their next bathroom is coming up soon.

  2. ii

    Choose a bathing time when you're feeling unrushed and uninterrupted. Your baby will enjoy bath time more if y'all are at-home and in a good mood. Pick a fourth dimension of 24-hour interval that's convenient for you lot so that y'all tin go slow and requite your infant the best experience possible. This will help with bonding and set your babe up to enjoy baths in the future.[24]

    • Turn off your telephone ringer during bath time, and inquire other household members not to interrupt.

  3. 3

    Wait at least xxx minutes after a feeding before bathing your baby. Your infant'southward tummy needs fourth dimension to settle after a feeding, and so don't breast-stroke them correct afterward. Instead, look about half an hour.[25]

    • It'due south helpful to create a routine so that you're feeding your baby at a different fourth dimension from their bath.

  4. four

    Stay with your baby at all times during their bath. Although your infant won't be in the water, they still need to be watched and guarded. Your infant could roll off the flat surface or get tangled up in the towel or blanket. Make sure y'all're correct adjacent to your babe the entire time, and keep your manus on them as much equally possible.[26]

    • Try not to worry during the bathroom. Equally long as y'all are there, your baby volition be prophylactic.

  5. v

    Speak to your baby in a soothing vox throughout the bath. It's normal for babies to be afraid and uncomfortable when they first start getting baths. Sponge baths are ordinarily more comfy for them, but it'southward still a new feel. Give them calm encouragement and permit them know that everything is okay. This will assist your baby have a nice fourth dimension.[27]

    • Utilise a soft, upbeat vox, and smile a lot as you lot talk.

    Advert

Enquire a Question

200 characters left

Include your e-mail address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Things You lot'll Need

  • Flat surface
  • Towels
  • Washcloth
  • Balmy baby shampoo
  • Mild baby soap
  • Infant wipes
  • Diaper
  • Change of dress
  • Container, bowl, or sink
  • Warm water
  • Unscented baby balm (optional)

Cheers for submitting a tip for review!

  • Your infant can hands get chilled while they're wet. Be sure to go along them wrapped in a towel or blanket throughout the bathroom.

  • Don't use hot water to wash your baby, equally this might cause scalding. Make sure the h2o feels warm to the touch, but not likewise hot.

  • Bathing your baby too oftentimes can dry their skin, so only bathe your infant 3 days a calendar week.

Advertisement

References

About This Article

Thanks to all authors for creating a folio that has been read 6,667 times.

Did this commodity help you?