Here’s the bottom line: The first time you give you newborn baby a bath, you are going to
feel horrible. They are going to scream bloody murder and you are going to think that they are too hot, too cold, or in pain. You lose either way! E and I figured it out on our own. We didn’t read this article, and we didn’t ask for help. We should have. Below is some info on how to bathe your newborn. Long story short…WATCH the video HERE. Also feel free to read below and save yourself the headaches later. Like a fine wine, the baby baths will get better with age…we hope!
Sponge Baths
For the first week or so it’s best to give your baby sponge baths with a warm, damp washcloth. Wash his face and hands frequently, and thoroughly clean his genital area after each diaper change
Tub Baths
After the umbilical cord stump dries up, falls off, and the area heals, you can start giving your newborn tub baths. While a baby is tiny, it makes the most sense to use the kitchen sink or a small plastic baby tub instead of a standard tub.
Although some parents bathe their babies every day, until a baby is crawling around and getting into messes, a bath isn’t really necessary more than three times a week during the first year. Bathing your baby too often can dry out her skin.
Some babies find the warm water very soothing. If this is the case with your baby, it’s fine to let her linger. Others cry through the whole bath —that’s when you’ll want to get her in and out. Baths don’t need to take up a lot of time: Five minutes is long enough to get your baby clean before the water cools down too much.
When you do bathe your newborn, you may find it a little scary at first. Handling a wiggling, wet, and soapy little creature takes practice and confidence, so stay calm and maintain a good grip on her.
For more information on “bath safety” or a “step by step” list on how to correctly give your baby a bath, click HERE for the source of the info above from BabyCenter.com!
