Obstetrics/Maternity: 

Bathing

For the first two weeks (until the umbilical cord  has fallen off and the area is completely healed), give the baby a sponge bath with a soft washcloth. Bathe the baby once a day or every other day. Any time of the day is fine, preferably before a feeding or one hour after a feeding to minimize spit up.

All babies cry during baths, but as they grow and develop, they will come to love bath time. After a nice bath and a good feeding, babies often will sleep very well, which is why parents may choose to bathe the baby at night, before bedtime. Try to establish consistency and a routine for the baby.

Tips to Keep in Mind:

• Choose a place that is safe, warm and free from drafts
• Gather all of the bathing supplies together including mild soap, diaper cloths, 70% rubbing alcohol, cotton balls, washcloth, brush, baby shampoo, circumcision dressing and Vaseline, if needed
• Bathe the baby every day or every other day
• Shampoo the hair two to four times a week. Comb and/or brush the hair several times a day to prevent the buildup of oils that can cause cradle cap
• Use warm water only to wash the face
• Use warm water and a mild soap to wash the body
• Do not use cotton-tipped swabs to clean baby’s ears. Cleaning with swabs may damage the ear canal. Simply use a finger in the corner of a washcloth to clean around the ears
• Wash the eyes gently from the inner to outer corner using warm water on a clean part of the washcloth or a separate cotton ball for each eye
• Lather hands or washcloth with mild soap and wash the baby’s body and extremities. Pay special attention to the skin folds and creases under the arms, on the legs, between fingers and toes and around the base of the neck
• Turn the baby onto their side to wash their back and buttocks
• Rinse soap off completely
• Apply circumcision dressing if indicated. Do not retract the foreskin of an uncircumcised male.
• Clean the umbilical cord with a cotton ball soaked in 70% rubbing alcohol
• Pat dry the baby’s skin with a soft towel then wrap the baby in the towel
• Hold baby in a football hold--support head with left hand while cradling their body under the left arm. This position leaves mom’s right hand free to wash the baby’s hair. Shampoo the scalp, including the fontanels. Massaging the scalp helps prevent the buildup of oils that can cause cradle cap
• Dry and brush hair
• Babies enjoy being rubbed and massaged after a bath, which helps remove dry skin, stimulate circulation and helps them feel warm, cuddled and loved
  

Tub baths can be started once the navel and circumcision site have completely healed.

Tips to Keep in Mind:

• Stay with the baby at all times during the bath. Never leave baby alone. Babies can drown in even two inches of water!
• Lay a towel or washcloth on the bottom of the tub to prevent baby from slipping
• Hold baby by supporting the neck and back. The baby’s neck will need support until he or she is around three months of age. At five to six months, baby will be able to sit up
• Fill the tub or basin with three inches of warm water
• Always turn off hot water faucet first, then the cold water, to prevent accidental burns or scalds
• Always test the temperature of the water before putting baby into the tub. If it feels hot to mom, it is too hot for baby. To protect baby from scalds, the American Academy of Pediatrics  recommends bath water temperature to be 120˚F