How To Best Bathe Your Baby

A nice warm bath can always wash away our troubles. A few minutes in the shower or tub usually helps us clear our heads after a long day of work or school. Taking a warm bath or shower can also soothe aching muscles when we’re struggling with exhaustion or illness.

Giving your baby a nice warm bath doesn’t have to be too scary or difficult. In fact, it can be a great way to bond with your precious little darling. Though a lot of products out there claim that they can make bath time an easier experience for your baby, there’s no need to stock up your bathroom with too much. All you need to give your baby a nice warm bath is a little love, patience, and presence of mind.

How Often Should I Bathe My Baby?

There’s no need to bathe a newborn every day. 2-3 baths a week is already enough to keep them clean and healthy. Since most newborns don’t really do much except cry, sleep, and bond with their caretakers, they don’t really become dirty or sweaty enough to need constant baths. Once your baby is a year old, you can give them a brief yet satisfying bath every day.

When it’s bath time for your newborn baby, make sure you don’t bathe them for longer than 10 minutes. Bathing your baby too long and too often can dry out their sensitive skin and even make them prone to illness. Even if your baby has already become accustomed to daily baths, it’s still best not to leave them in the tub for way too long.

Try A Nice Sponge Bath

It’s perfectly fine to give your baby a nice sponge bath if they aren’t ready to bathe yet. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics even recommends giving sponge baths while the umbilical cord stump is still intact. All you need to give your little one a satisfying sponge bath is a warm surface, clean towels, and a safe bar of baby soap.

You’ll need to first wrap your baby in a towel then lay them on a nice flat surface. Your own bed, the bathroom or kitchen counter, and even a table and floor will work just fine. Once you’ve laid your baby on their back, you can gently clean their face with a damp washcloth. After that, you can wash your baby’s body with another washcloth or gentle sponge, as well as soap.

Bathing your baby this way can help alleviate any anxiety they have with water or cloth. By the time they’re a year old, they’ll definitely be ready for bath time in the tub.

Use A Safe Baby Tub (Or Sink)

A durable, comfortable, and safe baby tub is an absolute must for any parent. Of course, you’re also free to bathe your little one in a sink or normal tub so long as you can keep them safe. Babies who are too excited can bump into faucets and handles, so do find a way to secure or cover them during bath time. You can also use baby bath mats to keep your little tyke from slipping if they’re standing in the tub.

Sloped baby tubs are a great option to consider since they can safely secure your baby while they’re lying down. Other tubs with textured surfaces or slings are also great to use since they can keep your baby from slipping during bath time. Sinks and regular-sized tubs should be lined with towels first in order to keep the baby warm and secure. Avoid using baby seats if your little one is less than a year old since they can tip over and become unsafe.

Check The Temperature First

We’re all pretty familiar with the discomfort of a shower that’s too hot or too cold. While we adults have enough endurance to withstand an ice-cold or scorching bath, babies can’t survive bathing this way. It’s always best to stick to lukewarm water to avoid freezing or scalding your baby’s sensitive skin. If you need to rely on a faucet, make sure the water temperature is no more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

You won’t be able to test the water temperature with just your fingers since they aren’t very sensitive to heat. Instead, it’s much better to use your elbows and wrists. If the water feels too hot or cold to be safe, do make adjustments as needed. It’s far better to throw out a little bathwater than to risk injuring your baby’s delicate skin.

Don’t Fill The Tub Too Much

Your babies will better appreciate lots of water when they’re old enough to avoid drowning. For now, it’s best to fill the tub or sink with no more than 2 inches of bathwater. Filling the tub too much will only put your baby at risk of drowning since they don’t have the strength to move or raise their necks. Using just enough water will also keep your baby safe from scalding or freezing since the ratio of hot-to-cold water won’t pose a risk to their health.