As a first time mom, you’ll be thrown headfirst into newborn baby care.
In these early days after birth, you’ll also be dealing with postpartum body changes and trying to adjust to a newborn sleep schedule.
There’s a lot of new information to remember, and one of those things is how often to bathe your baby.
Here’s everything you need to know about newborn bath time and some tricks to make it easier!
How much is too much?
Babies only need to bathe 2 times a week to stay clean; 3 times at the most.
This is because their skin is really sensitive and delicate during the early months, and can easily get too dry from bathing.
Make sure to apply a gentle lotion after each bath time, and use wet wipes or water and a warm cloth to provide extra cleanings between baths if needed.
And remember that newborns should have a sponge bath until their umbilical stump falls off. This can be as simple as laying baby on a soft towel next to a sink or bathtub and using a warm washcloth with a little baby wash to clean their skin.
Once their umbilical stump has fallen off, you can move baby to a baby tub for their bath.
Newborn Bath Hacks
As a new mom, you’ll need all the smart newborn baby hacks you can find! Here are some tips to make bath time easier.
- Use lavender bath and lotion products. Lavender is calming to babies and will help soothe them to sleep if they’re taking a bath at night or before naptime.
- Make sure you have everything you need beforehand. You don’t want to go searching for bath items once baby’s in the tub!
- Wash baby’s head last. Babies lose most of their heat through their head so this will help keep them warmer, longer.
- Rinse a washcloth with warm water and lay it over baby to keep them warm while you wash their hair.
- Use a hooded towel for drying and to keep baby comfy once out of the tub.
- If you get their umbilical cord wet, gently pat dry with a clean towel.
Safety Tips
Always keep safety in mind when bathing your baby. Here are some things to keep in mind for every bath time:
- Even if you use a bath pillow or chair for baby, never leave them unattended. It only takes a little bit of water for baby to drown and it can happen fast!
- Ensure baby’s head is supported and cushioned throughout bath time.
- Use only the most gentle products that will be easy on baby’s skin.
Newborn bath time can be so much fun. I hope you’ll use these tips to make bathing your baby easier. And remember, with a newborn, sometimes less is more!
Here are even more new mom tips, including 3 Must Have Newborn Items, Important Things to Know About Breastfeeding, and the best ideas for Monthly Baby Photos!