Bathing Baby

Head, shoulders, knees and toes...
They all need to be addressed, but not all at the same time. Keep baby's body covered by a dry towel.

That sweet little head...
Dip cotton balls in water, ring out, and prepare to wash baby's beautiful face. Use separate cotton balls for the area around each eye; swab from inner corner of eye, gently working toward outer edge of eye. You can use additional cotton balls to cleanse the rest of the face, neck and behind the ears. Never use soap on a newborn's face.

You may or may not wish to wash baby's hair at this point. No soap or shampoo necessary here either, but if you feel you must use something other than water on baby's hair, stick to cleansers made for babies. Many liquid baby cleansers are made to keep baby clean from head to toe, so a separate baby shampoo is not necessary. Some families prefer to wait until the end to wash hair in order to keep baby as warm as possible throughout the bath. If you wait, be sure to use a new washcloth for the hair, as you don't want to use the same one you used to wash baby's diaper area.

From the shoulders to the toes, but not everything in between.
Next step is baby's extremities, then the trunk (stomach and back). Fold towel back from the area you're about to wash. Don't forget to clean between those tiny fingers and toes. As you finish an area, recover it with the towel. A cleansing product may be used on the baby's tummy, back and legs, but is not necessary. Do not use a cleanser on baby's hands.

Save the diaper area (front and back) for the end of the bath. This area is cleaned more frequently than any other due to those 10 - 12 diaper changes a day, but needs attention at bath time, too. Watch for circumcision and umbilical cord areas. Clean them with even more of a gentle touch, using water. No cleanser. Wash genitals first, then baby's bottom.

Don't forget to take pictures.
You can't take pictures yourself, since you need to keep both hands on your little fish, so have a family "photographer" close by to take pictures of baby's first bath. If the star of the show makes his debut screaming, there's always the next bath to enjoy.

In a few weeks, once baby has a belly button rather than an umbilical stump, he may graduate to a bath where he is submerged in water.

Kitchen sink, plastic basin, baby tub, whatever you (and he) find most comfortable. Keep water warm, not hot. Test temperature on your wrist or inner arm. Only a few inches of water is necessary. Follow same cleansing routine as above. If you are able to drain baby's tub out via a plug at bottom of device, you may also want to keep a bowl of warm water within reach for rinsing. Keep one hand on baby at all times and never turn your back, even for a second.

Dry baby's clean body. Moisturize baby's skin with a lotion made for babies if you so desire, though it's not necessary. Comb out those little locks with a baby brush or comb to further extend the nurturing mood. Dress baby quickly but gently to maintain adequate body heat.

Many babies find bath time soothing, so while they're very tiny it's a good idea to reserve bath time for right before bedtime. Or should I say desired bedtime? Obviously, there are many sleeping periods for babies of this age. But, when you combine the soothing experience with a feeding and a trip to the Land of Nod, you are helping develop a bedtime routine.

How often does baby need a bath?
Talk to your pediatrician. Some recommend every two to three days, others recommend every evening as part of the evening ritual. Over-bathing, particularly if cleansing products are used, may lead to skin irritation. If you notice redness, dryness or baby acne, be sure to avoid using cleanser on the affected areas. Water and clean wash cloths are sufficient.