All About Your Baby's First Bath. Here Is What New Parents Must Know

Bathing Babies

Baby’s first bath is a special event and so get the camera ready like all the firsts to come. For bonding with your newborn, every bath time can be a special time. Your baby loves the sound of your voice and thrives on your soft touch be it cooing, singing, or talking. 

Baby Bath: Getting Ready

A sponge bath will be the first bath. Similar to a bathroom or kitchen counter, a changing table, or a bed, pick a warm room with a flat surface. As babies chill easily, make sure the room temperature is at least 75 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Including the following, assemble all of the baby bath products you require: 

Baby bath sponge or clean washcloth (double-rinsed)

As a hooded one, a clean blanket or bath towel helps

Clean diaper

Clean clothes

In the case of a circumcised boy, Vaseline, and gauze

Warm water (not hot)

An important note is to never leave the baby alone in a bath not even for a moment thereby. Take baby with you if you must get to the phone, the stove, or whatever. 

Baby Bath: Time For A Sponge Bath

It is important that until the umbilical cord falls off, for the first few days, or the circumcision heals, and the naval heals completely, using gentle sponge baths are perfect. 

Here are the basics when it comes to bathing a baby:

Cradling the head with one hand, firstly undress the baby. To wash that area last, leave the diaper on. Exposing only those areas that you are washing, wrap baby in a towel. 

Cleanse one area at a time, using a baby bath sponge or washcloth. In this process, you can start from behind the ears, then moving to the neck, elbows, knees between fingers and toes. Behind the ears, around the neck, pay attention to creases under the arms. 

So that baby doesn’t get cold, the hair comes toward the end of bath time. You can sponge the few wisps that are there while new-borns don’t have much hair. Tip the head back a little to avoid getting eyes wet. Just use water as there’s no need for shampoo. 

Finally, the time is here to remove the diaper thereby sponging the baby’s belly, bottom, and genitals. 

With little girls, wash from front to back. Don’t worry and don’t try to wipe it all away if there’s a little vaginal discharge. Leave the foreskin alone if a little boy is uncircumcised. Don’t wash the head of the penis until it's healed if circumcised. 

After that gently pat the baby dry. Irritating the skin is when it is rubbed. 

Thereby here is your fresh baby all ready for the clean diaper and the clothes as now bath time is over. 

Baby Bath: Tub Time

In this context, the time has come to try a tub bath just once the umbilical cord falls off and the circumcision and the naval are completely healed. If your baby gets fussy, go back to sponge baths for a week or so and then try again as not all babies like the transition. An adjustment for both baby and parent, bathing a baby is a process. 

To prepare:

Which is the right size for your baby, find a baby bathtub made of thick plastic. To keep the baby’s head out of the water, and insert for young babies is ideal. Keeping it from moving during 

bath time is a slip-resistant backing on the tub. 

Avoid using bath seats or bath rings. Not for new-borns, these are for older babies who can sit up on their own. 

Bathing A Baby: The First Tub Bath

The first tub baths should be made sure that they are quick ones. Not hot water, but fill the tub with only 2 or 3 inches of warm water. Slowly lower them using one hand to support the baby’s head. 

Wash the face and hair using a washcloth or baby bath sponge. Protect eyes with your hand across the forehead when rinsing. With water and a small amount of soap gently wash the rest of your baby. 

Designed for babies, use water or a cleanser. Try gentle baby shampoo as hair grows. 

Cup your hands to let handfuls of water wash over baby’s chest to keep baby warm during the bath. 

Pat dry the baby gently. To seal in moisture, apply baby lotion all over. 

Finally, here is the time for a fresh diaper. To protect against irritation, apply diaper ointment. 

Wrap baby in a towel right away covering baby’s head for warmth when bath time is over. Hereafter, congratulations on a successful bath.