{"id":18145,"date":"2024-02-21T20:22:57","date_gmt":"2024-02-22T02:22:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=18145"},"modified":"2024-02-21T20:22:57","modified_gmt":"2024-02-22T02:22:57","slug":"everything-to-know-about-bathing-your-newborn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/everything-to-know-about-bathing-your-newborn\/","title":{"rendered":"How to bathe a newborn"},"content":{"rendered":"

Even though there\u2019s nothing quite like that freshly clean baby smell, there are other reasons why it\u2019s important to bathe your baby.<\/p>\n

Baby baths are important for psychological, emotional and practical reasons. Baths can be a soothing experience and can help calm a fussy baby. Bathing is also good bonding for you and your baby.<\/p>\n

But most importantly, babies need baths to keep their skin, body and hair clean.<\/p>\n

Luis Garcia, MD<\/a>, a pediatrician at OSF HealthCare, shared his tips to parents about bathing a newborn.<\/p>\n

When to start bathing your newborn<\/h2>\n

You can start bathing your newborn right away when you get home. The nurses at the hospital likely gave your baby their first bath at the hospital.<\/p>\n

For their first few baths for your newborn, give your baby sponge baths. Babies don\u2019t need to be submerged in a tub of water in the first few weeks.<\/p>\n

Once your baby is about six weeks old, you can start to bathe them in a baby bathtub.<\/p>\n

How often should you bathe a newborn<\/h2>\n

Baths help clean your baby\u2019s diaper area. Without regular baths, your baby is more likely to develop diaper rash<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But too many baths can dry out<\/a> your baby\u2019s skin.<\/p>\n

\u201cBabies don\u2019t need a bath every day throughout that whole first year,\u201d Dr. Garcia said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThree times a week is a good approach.\u201d<\/p>\n

You can bathe your baby more often if you need to. You should bathe your baby after a messy meal or a big blowout.<\/p>\n

If your baby is messy but they don\u2019t need a full bath, you can wipe them down with a damp washcloth. Using baby wipes on your baby\u2019s face is OK every now and then. Most baby wipes have alcohol in them, so they can dry out or irritate your baby\u2019s skin.<\/p>\n

Keeping your baby safe in the bath<\/h2>\n

When you start to bathe your baby in a baby bathtub, don\u2019t use too hot or too cold water. Use warm water. Babies\u2019 bodies heat up faster than adults\u2019 bodies. So, their little bodies are much more sensitive to hot water. A good rule is to use water that is just a little bit warmer than body temperature.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t fill baby bathtubs too high. Babies can drown in as little as 1 inch of water.<\/p>\n

Lastly, never leave your baby unattended in the tub ever.<\/p>\n

How to bathe a newborn<\/h2>\n

How to give your baby a sponge bath<\/h3>\n

Soak a soft washcloth with warm (not hot) water and a little bit of gentle baby soap. Don\u2019t let the washcloth get sudsy. Wipe your baby down from top to bottom, including their hair. Rinse the washcloth with new water and wipe your baby down again.<\/p>\n

How to give your baby a bath in a bathtub<\/h3>\n

After your baby is sitting up on their own \u2013 around 6 to 9 months \u2013 you can start to bathe them in the bathtub. Fill the tub with a couple of inches of water.<\/p>\n

Many babies like to play with toys in the tub. Make sure that whatever toys your baby plays with are safe.<\/p>\n

Just like when you sponge bathe your baby, use a soft washcloth to wash your baby from top to bottom. Dr. Garcia says any soap that is baby safe and hypoallergenic is good for babies one month and older. You can use a combination of baby shampoo and body wash. Or you can use two separate soaps. As long as everything is baby safe.<\/p>\n

However, too much soap can dry out<\/a> your baby\u2019s skin.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t need to use soap at every bath. Anything to avoid overexposure to chemicals is best,\u201d Dr. Garcia said.<\/p>\n

Be sure to get all your baby\u2019s cracks and crevices \u2013 behind their ears, between their toes and in their diaper area. Use a cup to rinse the suds away. Try to avoid getting water or soap in your baby\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n

Use a soft towel to dry your baby after a bath. Don\u2019t rub them with the towel. Pat them dry to avoid irritating the skin.<\/p>\n

After your baby\u2019s bath<\/h2>\n

Dr. Garcia shared some tips on your baby\u2019s skin care.<\/p>\n

Lotion:<\/strong> \u201cYou can use baby lotion after their bath to keep their skin soft and soothed,\u201d Dr. Garcia said. \u201cFor any products, read the ingredients. If you don\u2019t know, ask your baby\u2019s pediatrician.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eczema:<\/strong> For babies with very dry skin, they may have eczema. If your baby has eczema, you can try wet wrap therapy. To do wet wrap therapy, simply wet some towels with warm water. Wrap the affected area for a few minutes at a time.<\/p>\n

Baby powders:<\/strong> \u201cBaby powders are not safe due to some chemicals that are linked to developing cancer in the future. The risks outweigh the benefits,\u201d Dr. Garcia said.<\/p>\n

Nail care:<\/strong> \u201cAn easy way to cut newborn baby nails is to file them down to avoid that fear of cutting their nails too short and to take the edges off,\u201d Dr. Garcia said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Even though there\u2019s nothing quite like that freshly clean baby smell, there are other reasons why it\u2019s important to bathe your baby. Baby baths are important for psychological, emotional and practical reasons. Baths can be a soothing experience and can help calm a fussy baby. Bathing is also good bonding for you and your baby. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":122,"featured_media":18162,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","footnotes":""},"categories":[118,116],"tags":[1083,421,942],"coauthors":[1051],"class_list":["post-18145","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-birthing-center","category-pediatrics","tag-bathing","tag-infants","tag-newborns"],"yoast_head":"\nHow to bathe a newborn<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Babies don\u2019t need a bath every day. 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