Giving your baby its first bath is a wonderful bonding experience.
But it can also turn into quite a stress fest if you haven't prepared in advance!
While regular bathing is important to keep your baby clean and healthy, it's important not to bathe them too often in the first six weeks to preserve their skin's natural oils.
The first bath
Here are nine tips to ensure your baby's first bath is smooth sailing.
- Get the room ready before you start. It's important to ensure the room is warm as babies get cold quickly.
- Choose a time when your baby isn't too hungry or sleepy
- Have a clean towel, nappy, change of clothes and a hat on hand
- Ensure the water isn't too hot or too cold. Body temperature, 37C, is perfect
- Wash your baby's hair and face before putting them into the bath. Then dry them off, put on their little hat and sit them in the bath
- Use a baby sponge or cotton pads to wash your baby and make sure you get into all their little folds
- Warm water is enough for washing them for their first six weeks
- Keep talking to your baby to calm them as you wash them
- Wrap your baby in a hooded towel as soon as you've washed them and get them dried and dressed quickly.
When to bathe your baby
It’s up to you when to first bathe your newborn baby, but you might prefer to wait a few days.
Until then, it’s enough to carefully wash your newborn’s face, neck, hands and bottom with warm water once a day.
After that, two or three baths a week are enough for a young baby.
What to use
A special baby bath is good to use, or you can use a washing up bowl or even the sink.
Just make sure you support your baby in the water and never leave them unattended.