How to Give an Infant a Bath

If your newborn’s umbilical cord has fallen off, and his circumcision site is fully healed, he is ready to be transitioned from sponge baths to tub baths. The idea of bathing a newborn in a tub can be nerve-racking, especially for first-time parents. However, if you prepare carefully, the experience can be a pleasant one for both baby and parent.

Things You'll Need

• An infant tub or clean kitchen sink
• A soft towel
• Baby wash
• One or more soft washcloths
• Clean diaper
• Clothing

Instructions

1. Fill the infant tub or kitchen sink with 2 or 3 inches of warm water. The water temperature should be between 92º F and 100º F. Be certain to swirl or mix the water to eliminate hot spots and then test the water temperature with the inside of your wrist.

2. Place your infant in the water, being careful to support your baby’s head and neck. Use your free hand to wet a washcloth with clean, warm water, and wash your baby’s eyes from the inside corner to the outside corner.

3. Apply a small amount of baby wash to the washcloth and clean your baby from his head downward. Begin with the head and neck, move down over the rest of the body, and finish with the diaper area. This helps prevent the spread of bacteria from one area of the body to another. The diaper area should always be washed from front to back for the same reason.

4. Gently wash your baby’s scalp, and rinse well to remove any remaining soap. Avoid rinsing your baby’s scalp by pouring water over his head. Instead, gently wash the soap away with a clean, wet washcloth. If your baby suffers from cradle cap, your doctor will have given you instructions on the best way to scrub the scalp in order to loosen the scales associated with that condition.

5. Rinse your infant with several small cupfuls of warm water. It is important to use the water in the tub, as the water temperature from the faucet can vary from minute to minute.

6. Carefully lift your baby out of the tub, and place him on a warm, dry towel. Proceed to dry, diaper and dress him.

Tips & Warnings

• Bath time can be a wonderful time to bond with your infant.

• Make certain your air conditioning vent or ceiling fan is not blowing directly on your baby during the bath.

• Be very careful when testing the water temperature in your infant tub in order to avoid potentially serious burns.