Bath time: How to bathe your baby

Time for a bath! You just returned home with your newborn and it’s time to learn all you need to know about his bath! Bath time is going to be relaxing and rejuvenating for your baby, even if he does not look excited during the first few days.

The following advice will help you get familiar with your baby’s bathing routine, to make sure is full of fun and above all safety!

Choose the right time!

Any time which is convenient for you is the most suitable one. Usually, babies calm down and sleep after bathing. For this reason, a suitable time for bathing is nighttime. In this way, you will also have the chance to rest and sleep.

Gather everything you need before you start:

Baby bathtub

Baby shampoo and bath

Sponge

Towel

Cotton wool for eyes and face

Bathroom thermometer (optional)

Your baby’s clothes

Baby moisturizing oil for the end

Baby diaper care kit

Make sure you have the right room temperature. Ideally is should be 21- 23 degrees Celsius.

Make sure the bathtub is well supported and stable in order to avoid any accidents!

We use water in the bathtub up to 37 degrees Celsius. We do not fill the bathtub to the top!

The water level should be up to the point where only the body of the baby is sunk.

To check the water temperature, use the inside of your wrist to see if you can tolerate the temperature. Alternatively, you can use a special bath thermometer (it should indicate 32-37 ◦C).

Steps:

Undress and place your baby on a soft towel. Soak a small piece of cotton wool in lukewarm water and clean your baby’s eyes, moving from the inside corner to the outside. Repeat the same thing with a clean cotton wool on the other eye. Then, clean the whole face area by using a clean piece of cotton wool, starting from the center of the face and moving outwards.

Support your baby’s head and body with your forearm and gently place it in the water. Your baby’s head should be out of the water’s surface. Start getting wet your baby’s hair by using your free hand. Add a small amount of shampoo and scrub it gently into the hair with circular movements. Don’t forget the area behind the ears. Continue with the rest of the body, starting with the upper part and moving down, leaving the diaper area last. Special attention is needed for the skin folds around the neck and armpits.

Turn around your baby with care, while you support with your hand below his armpits, in order to wash the back and the buttocks.

When you remove all the lather, take your baby out of the bathtub carefully and wrap it quickly with a towel.

Before you get your baby dressed, do some massage with a special baby oil. This will help your baby to relax some more and at the same time it will moisturize the sensitive skin.