How to Wash an Infant

As soon as the umbilical cord and circumcision have healed, your baby is ready for a bath. Bathing your baby is not only easy, it can be fun for you both.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Baby Bathtubs
• Baby Hooded Towels
• Baby Washcloths
• Baby Shampoo
• Small Cups

1. Place an infant bathtub in the kitchen sink.
2. Fill it with lukewarm water. Test the water on the sensitive skin inside your wrist or elbow to make sure it's lukewarm, not hot.
3. Add a few squirts of baby wash.
4. Carefully place your baby in the tub, being careful to support his head and neck.
5. Wash the infant with a baby washcloth, patting and rubbing gently.
6. Gently dab your baby's face with the washcloth.
7. Pour warm water onto your baby's hair from a small plastic cup, shielding his eyes.
8. Apply a dime-size dollop of baby shampoo and wash the baby's head and scalp.
9. Shield the baby's eyes and rinse his head with lukewarm water, again using the cup and being careful to avoid the eyes.
10. Lift your baby out of the bath.
11. Wrap him in a soft, warm towel.

Tips & Warnings

• Never leave a baby unattended in the bath, even for a few seconds. Infants and toddlers can drown in very shallow water.