Make bath time safe, stress-free and fun.

One of the first things that actually freaked me out when I was a new mom was giving my newborn a bath. Scary. But after some experience, it wasn’t so bad. Eventually, bath time became something to look forward to. If you’re still trying to get the hang of it, or you’re still not doing baths out of fear, read our Bath Time 101 to turn yourself into a pro.

Stick to sponge baths until your baby’s umbilical cord has fallen off. If your baby was circumcised, you should also wait for that wound to heal. These tiny angels aren’t that dirty anyway, they can stand a few days without a full-fledged bath.

Tub

Once you can get your baby in a tub of water, make sure you have a good contoured bath tub on hand. Tubs with internal slings that stop baby from sliding are also a good option. I would avoid bath seats as these can tip over when the suction cups loose their suction power.

Temperature

When you put water in the tub, fill it up to only a few inches. Make sure the water is lukewarm — just enough to get the water’s chill out. Test the water and feel it yourself. Don’t assume the temperature is right by how much you turned the hot and cold faucets.

Time

When and how often to bathe? It’s up to you. Some babies are stimulated by a bath so a good time for them to splash around would be in the morning. Other babies find baths calming so a pre-bedtime bath may be good for them. Your baby can bathe everyday. But doctors say, they only really need a bath about three times a week or every other day. What’s important is their face, neck, hands and diaper area are cleaned daily.

Soap and Shampoo

Baby’s skin is sensitive so use a mild baby wash, preferably the kind with no perfumes or dyes. I liked using unscented Dove soap or Cetaphil soap. I have used baby washes on my daughter that actually caused some irritation. Baby-soap doesn’t always mean mild enough for your baby! As for shampoo, look for a tear-free formula that agrees with your child’s skin. In my experience though, Dove soap worked great for my babies heads.

Safety

Make sure everything you need is within arm’s reach — soap, washcloth, towel, diaper, change of clothes — so you can keep one hand on your baby at all times. When you’re done bathing her, quickly wrap her up in the towel so she doesn’t lose too much body heat. Dry her thoroughly, make sure to get into the creases, before you diaper and dress her. Also, don’t forget:

• Empty the tub completely immediately after each use — a baby can drown in as little as one inch of water.
• Learn infant CPR. And never leave your baby alone in a bathtub or in the care of another child, even for half a minute.
• Keep the toilet seat and bathroom doors closed after you leave.
• Use a spout cover so she doesn’t hit her head on the faucet.
• Place a nonskid mat beneath your baby tub to prevent it from slipping.
• Set your water heater to 120 degrees F. so your baby won’t get scalded if she accidentally turns on the faucet.

Finally, make bath time fun by engaging your baby. Make it a time to sing songs or talk to her about toes, feet, legs and other body parts as you suds her up. Enjoy! Bath time is also great bonding time.

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