Bathing your newborn

What's the best way to keep my newborn clean?
Bathing is a good way to keep your newborn clean, but for the first week or so you may find it easier to do topping and tailing, which is something like a sponge bath. Topping and tailing means washing your baby from head to toe with a warm, damp sponge or small towel and pieces of moistened cotton wool.

Before you begin, make sure the room is warm and you have a clean diaper and clothes to hand. Fill a clean bowl, basin (palanggana) or sink with warm water. Then undress your baby and hold her on a clean towel so you’re ready to dry her quickly afterwards.

Topping means washing your baby’s face, neck and hands. Start by wiping each of your baby's eyes. Dip a clean piece of cotton wool in warm water and squeeze it out.

Then gently sweep it across your baby's eye, starting from the corner near her nose. Use a fresh piece of cotton wool for each wipe so that you don't spread any goo that you've removed.

Using fresh, damp cotton wool, wipe your baby's ears, without cleaning inside them. Then wipe behind your baby's ears using fresh, damp cotton wool. These areas can become milky and sweaty. Use fresh pieces of cotton wool to wipe your baby's face, neck creases and hands.

Tailing means thoroughly cleaning your baby's genitals and bottom as part of her wash and after each diaper change.

When you’ve washed your baby, gently dry her off, paying particular attention to her creases. You may want to smooth on a mild moisturizing lotion, oil or emollient if her skin is dry. These are best applied while skin is damp and then allowed to air dry. Wrap your baby in a towel after, and give her a cuddle to keep her warm.

When can my newborn have her first bath?
You can give your baby her first full bath as soon as you like. You don't need to wait for her umbilical cord stump to dry up and fall off or for the area to heal. A bath won't make an infection in the stump more likely or slow down healing. In our setting, where the weather is often hot and humid, it would perhaps be more apt to give your baby a full body bath (rather than a sponge bath) more often and still following the topping then tailing sequence. Long baths as well as the use of bubble baths or bath additives with dyes and perfumes should be avoided because these increase the skin pH and cause dryness and irritation.

When you do bathe your baby, you may find it a little scary the first few times. Try to stay calm and keep a firm hold of your baby when moving her in and out of the tub or basin. You may like to have someone with you the first few times to support you and to fetch any items you may have forgotten.

Handling a wriggling, wet and slippery baby takes practice and confidence, but you and your baby will get used to bath time and enjoy it. Most babies are soothed by warm water and a bath may help a fussy baby to relax and calm down.

Your newborn baby needs to be kept warm at bath time. You can do this by making sure the room and the water are warm, and by closing doors and windows to stop draughts.

During the first few weeks you may find it easier to bath your baby in the kitchen sink or a small plastic baby bath.

You could use an adult sized bathtub, but it can be awkward as you need to kneel or lean over the side. When you’ve just had a baby you need to be careful you don't hurt your back. If you do use your big bathtub, it may help to buy a bath support for your baby.

You may love to care for your baby by giving her a bath every day. But if you prefer to bath your baby once or twice a week, that's fine too. Between bath days, just top and tail when she needs it.

If you live in a hard water area, too much tap water during the first month or so may dry out and damage your baby's skin. You could add a little bath emollient to the water to protect your baby's skin. Be aware that the emollient will make your baby slippery to handle.

How do I give my newborn a bath?
Choose a time of day when you're not expecting any interruptions and have time to devote to your baby. It's best if your baby is awake and contented before you start, and in between feeds so she’s neither hungry nor full.

When your baby is newborn you may find that you bath her most often during the day. After a couple of months you could start to make a bath part of her bedtime routine.

Here's how to bath your baby:

Wash your hands. Then gather all the bath supplies that you're going to need. These may include a sponge or face towel, a cleanser, at least one clean towel, and a clean diaper and clothes.

Fill the bath with about 13cm (5in) of water, or enough to allow your baby to settle in the water with her shoulders well covered.

Make sure the water feels warm but not hot. If you have a baby thermometer, warm the water to about 37 degrees C. (If you don't have a thermometer, test the water yourself on your inner arm, not your hand.)

Bring your baby to the bath area and undress her down to her diaper. Wrap her in a towel, keeping her head exposed so you can wash her face and hair before you put her in the bath. This way, you can give her a quick dip in the bath if she isn't enjoying it or a bit longer if she loves it.

Wash your baby’s eyes, ears, face and neck as you would for topping and tailing.

Hold your baby so that her head is over the bath water and wash her scalp with a wet, soapy flannel or just water. Rinse her hair carefully and dry it.

Now take off your baby's diaper. If there's poo in the diaper, clean your baby's genitals and bottom before putting her in the bath.

Gradually slip your baby into the bath feet first, using one hand to support her neck and head. The water should be covering her shoulders so she doesn't get cold.

Wash your baby with a little mild, unperfumed soap or pH neutral liquid baby cleanser. Or you could add some bath emollient to the water, if her skin is dry.

If you prefer to bath your baby in just water it's still best to wash her diaper area with a cleanser or mild, moisturizing soap. Baby poo has a higher percentage of fats than adult poo. You may need to use a mild cleanser or soap to remove the fatty deposits from your baby's skin.

Use your hand, a small towel or a sponge to clean your baby from top to bottom, front and back.

Rinse your baby thoroughly, then lift her out of the bath. Lift her with one hand supporting her neck and head and your other hand under her bottom, with your thumb and forefinger around one thigh.

Wrap your baby in a hooded towel, pat her dry immediately then put her diaper on. Wrap her in a dry towel or blanket again, and give her a cozy cuddle for 10 minutes or so to keep her warm.
If your baby's skin tends to be dry, you may want to smooth on a mild baby moisturizer, oil or emollient.

Finally, dress your baby in clean clothes, wrap her in a dry, warm blanket, and give her a kiss on her sweet-smelling head.

Never leave your baby alone in the bath, not even for a few seconds. Read more about bathing your baby safely.