Congratulations, new mom or mama to be! Welcome to the wonderful (but sometimes scary and overwhelming) world of motherhood. I know having a newborn can feel scary and overwhelming at times (Trust me, I’ve been there with Postpartum anxiety to boot!). Baby care, especially newborn bath time, can feel stressful, and a little scary, if you’ve never done it before. My husband was terrified of giving our newborn baby a bath, but I’m here to give you all the newborn baby bath tips so you can feel confident in bathing your new little one. [*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for items purchased through these links at no additional cost to you. Read the full disclosure here.]
Feel Confident In Your Baby Bathtime Skills!
Bathing your newborn can feel like navigating uncharted waters (pun intended), but bathtime doesn’t have to be stressful. Bathing your newborn is a wonderful bonding experience for you and your baby. So, grab your rubber ducky, and let’s dive into some newborn baby bath tips and tricks to make bath time easy, safe, and fun! Here’s all my simple tips to transforming bath time into a stress free, safe, bonding experience for you and your precious newborn.
Do These Newborn Baby Bath Tips FIRST!
The first thing you want to do before bathing your newborn is to gather all of your supplies. The last thing you want is to have a wet, slippery newborn in the tub and realize you forgot their towel in the bedroom. So before you get started, gather all of your bath time supplies. Here are all the baby bath essentials you’ll need for your newborn:
Newborn Baby Bath Essentials: Everything You’ll Need for Bathtime
Baby bathtub: A small, plastic tub or a sink insert specifically designed for infants.
Soft washcloths: These will be your best friends during bath time. Make sure to bring 3 washcloths with you wherever you plan on bathing your baby.
Fragrance Free, gentle baby wash and shampoo BUT you won’t need these until AFTER your baby is 4 to 6 weeks old. Opt for products that are gentle and free from harsh chemicals, added dyes, and fragrances.
Rinse Cup or rinse bottle: For gently rinsing off soap and shampoo.
Hooded towel: To wrap your little one up in and keep them warm and snuggly after the bath.
Fragrance free baby lotion BUT not until after your baby is 4 to 6 weeks old.
Clean diaper and clothes: Have your baby’s diaper and pajamas or clothes layed out and ready to go as soon as bathtime is over. Newborns hate to feel cold!
Looking for more Newborn essentials? Then read my first time mom baby registry must haves!
Preparing Your Baby’s Bath:
1. Fill the baby bathtub, or sink with infant bath insert, with about 2-3 inches of warm water.
** If your newborn’s umbilical cord stump has not fallen off yet, you will be doing a sponge bath only, do not submerge your baby in the water.**
The ideal temperature is 98.6 degrees fahrenheit. Test the water with your wrist or elbow—it should feel warm but not hot, and always test the water’s temperature BEFORE placing your baby in the tub. If you’re nervous about this then use a baby bath thermometer.
2. Make sure the room your bathing your baby in is warm and draft-free to keep your baby comfortable and avoid any chills. Close any windows or doors you have open and turn off any fans. We bathed our newborn in his baby bathtub but on top of our kitchen table. This was easiest for me because it was a better height for my back.
3. Make sure all of your supplies are within arm’s reach and NEVER leave your baby unattended in the bath, or any amount of water; not even for a second!
Now it’s time to give your baby a bath!
Newborn Baby Bath Tips for babies 1 to 2 weeks old:
For newborns 1 to 2 weeks old a sponge bath is the way to go until their umbilical cord stump falls off. You don’t want to submerge your newborn in water until the stump has fallen off.
How To Give A Newborn A Sponge Bath:
1. Undress your baby and wrap them in a towel.
2. Support your baby’s head and neck with one hand and have a warm, wet washcloth in the other hand. You can have baby on the changing table for their sponge bath, in the sink with an infant bath insert, or in an empty baby tub. Use whichever method is more comfortable for you.
3. Use the warm, wet washcloth with water only, to gently clean their face and neck. Make sure to start with their face first! A good rule of thumb is to work from top to bottom. Also be sure to clean behind baby’s ears and under their neck as this is where milk, spitup, and drool collect.
4. Now, gently clean your baby’s other body parts, saving the diaper area for last. Make sure to clean in all the folds and rolls, taking caution around the umbilical cord.
5. Wrap your baby in a warm hooded towel and put on a new diaper and clothes.
Newborn Baby Bath Tips for After the Umbilical Cord Falls Off:
Now that everything is prepped and ready, it’s time to give your baby a bath!
Bathing Your Newborn:
- Gently undress your baby and have a warm towel waiting nearby.
- Support your baby’s head and neck with one hand as you gently lower them feet first into the warm water. You want to do feet first so your baby doesn’t feel like they’re falling. Also, talk softly and reassuringly to your little one and narrate what you’re doing.
- Keep your baby warm while In the bath. Swaddle them and wrap them in a towel, or place a warm washcloth over their body. My son hated swaddles with a passion so I used a large, soft warm washcloth and kept it on his body while I washed his hair.
- If your newborn has a full head of hair, like mine did, I reccommend washing their hair first because to me, I was getting the hard part over with. I found it much easier to wash my baby’s hair first. Keep them covered with the towel or washcloth while you do this.
- Using a washcloth or your hand, gently wet your baby’s hair. Use a small dollop of fragrance free baby wash and gently lather those locks.
- If your baby is under 4 to 6 weeks old, only use water.
- Now use a rinse cup or rinse pitcher to slowly rinse your baby’s hair and be careful not to pour water over baby’s face. If a little water does go over their face, it’s OK! They just might cry. Gently talk them through it and dry their little face.
- Now it’s time to wash baby’s body. Wet your washcloth with water and add a little fragrance free baby wash. Only add the baby wash if your baby is older than 4 to 6 weeks.
- Use the washcloth to gently clean your baby’s face and neck, and make sure to start with their face first! Wash their diaper area last. A good rule of thumb is to work from top to bottom. Also be sure to clean really well in all of your baby’s folds, behind baby’s ears, and under their neck as this is where milk, spitup, and drool collect.
- Use your rinse cup or hand to gently give your baby’s body one last rinse with clean water.
- Take your baby out of the bathtub and promptly wrap them in a hooded towel. Yay! You did it!
- Moisturize your newborn’s skin with a fragrance free baby lotion and be sure to get in those folds and rolls. If your baby is under 4 weeks old avoid lotions and creams. If your baby has really dry skin or any baby rashes, ask the doctor if you can start using baby lotion.
- Put a new diaper on your newborn baby and dress them in some soft, cozy pjs.
How often should you bathe your newborn baby?
Newborn babies should only be bathed 1 to 2 times a week for the first 6 weeks. After 6 weeks you can bathe your baby 1 to 3 times a week but, bathing your newborn any more than this will overdry their delicate skin.
Bonus Newborn Baby Bath Tips:
Sing a Song: Babies love the sound of your voice. Sing a lullaby or a silly song to make bath time fun and to keep baby calm.
Narrate Everything: Talk to your a baby in a calming voice and explain what you’re doing. Make sure to smile and stay calm so your baby feels safe. Narrating every step is also a great way to help build language development. For more language building activities, read this!
Bath Toys: Introduce bath toys as your baby grows. Rubber duckies and baby stacking water cups are always good options!
Safety First: NEVER Leave your baby unattended in the bath! I cannot stress this enough. Always keep one hand on your baby, keep their head and face above the water, and never leave them alone in the bath, even for a moment! Always prepare everything you need first, and keep everything within arm’s reach.
Stay Warm: Make sure to keep the room warm and draft free, and wrap your baby immediately after the bath in a hooded towel.
Check Water Temperature: Always test the water before placing your baby in the tub! Water should feel warm but NOT hot. If you’re nervous about this you can use a baby bath thermometer to check the temperature.
Wash Top To Bottom: Clean your baby’s head, face, and neck first, working your way down. Wash their diaper area last.
Ask for help: Bath time is a team effort, so don’t hesitate to enlist the help of your partner or a trusted friend for those first baths. Having a second set of hands makes the process easier and helps you feel more secure.
Remember This:
Bathing your newborn is more than just a cleaning routine. It’s a wonderful way to bond with your baby and create lasting memories. With preparation and patience bath time can become one of your favorite parts of the week. With a little practice, you will feel more confident and soon you’ll be a pro at bathtime! Embrace the splashes, cherish the giggles, and make bath time a joyful bonding experience for you and your baby.
Looking for more newborn essentials and baby items? Read my baby registry checklist for baby items you’ll actually use, and my baby beach essentials checklist for baby’s first beach day!