Should i bathe my newborn

Save Pin FB More. Comments 3. Sort by: Newest. Newest Oldest. Do not retract! No, no, no! Read More. Load More Comments. Close this dialog window Add a comment. Add your comment Cancel Submit. Close this dialog window Review for. Make sure the room is warm. Get everything ready beforehand. You'll need a bowl of warm water, a towel, cotton wool, a fresh nappy and, if necessary, clean clothes. You don't need to bathe your baby every day, but if they really enjoy it, there's no reason why you shouldn't.

It's best not to bathe your baby straight after a feed or when they're hungry or tired. Make sure the room you're bathing them in is warm. Have everything you need at hand: a baby bath or clean washing-up bowl filled with warm water, 2 towels, a clean nappy, clean clothes and cotton wool. Some babies are born with long nails and it's important to cut them in case they scratch themselves. You can buy special baby nail clippers or small, round-ended safety scissors.

Or you could try filing them down with a fine emery board instead. Page last reviewed: 15 September Next review due: 15 September Washing and bathing your baby.

Topping and tailing tips Hold your baby on your knee or lay them on a changing mat. Take off all their clothes, apart from their vest and nappy, and wrap them in a towel. Dip the cotton wool in the water make sure it doesn't get too wet and wipe gently around your baby's eyes from the nose outward, using a fresh piece of cotton wool for each eye.

This is so that you don't transfer any stickiness or infection from one eye to another. As your little one grows, you may want to change up their bath routine a little bit. At this age babies still only need a bath one to two times per week, but if they seem to enjoy the water or like splashing as they get clean, you can consider bathing them more frequently.

Many parents also take advantage of diaper and outfit changes to give their baby a quick wipe down and make sure that all their important parts are clean.

If you do choose to bathe your little one more than twice a week, consider using soap for only one or two of their baths to avoid drying out their skin. After bath time, you can moisturize baby with a gentle, fragrance- and dye-free lotion. Once baby becomes mobile and starts eating solids , you may decide you need to begin bathing them more frequently.

While they still only really need one to two soapy baths per week, you can either give them a sponge bath or put them in the tub to soak and rinse off more frequently as messes arise. You might also find that bath time is a pleasant way to calm baby down before bedtime. Frequent bathing can actually do more harm than good. When you get them out of the bath, pat them dry before applying a dye- and fragrance-free baby moisturizer and promptly dressing them.

If your little one has a known skin condition, consult their pediatrician to make a plan for exactly what products and routines you can follow to help them stay comfortable. Bathing a baby is a delicate process. Check out the tips below to make bathing an easier and more effective process:.