How To: Bath a Newborn 101

With people getting out of hospital as quickly as they can due to COVID, there are a few things that could easily be missed in those early days.

It seems weird to have a post about bathing a newborn… but my bro and sister in law found themselves needing some tips… so here it is!

24 hours after your baby is born, you may want to give it a bath. Sounds simple enough!? 

It can be a little daunting, so after doing it 4 times back to back (initially at a hospital that provided wonderful classes in bathing babies), we thought we’d put together a little video/explanation to help get you sorted!

What you will need:

• Baby bath or sink (a bath tub is also fine but huge for a newborn)

• 2 towels

• Small handful of cotton balls

• Some cotton tips/ear buds

• Olive oil BP and or baby soap

• Washer

• Clean nappy

• Singlet

• Onesie/clothes

• A warm room - this will make the transition out of the bath/getting dressed less of a shock!

Notes: Babies do better in their first bath if they have just been fed - they will be most relaxed. There are no rules around the time of the day that babies have to be bathed - do it whenever suits you… preferably when you have another set of hands, at least initially!

Method

1. ‘Set the scene’ - Get everything ready. 

- Choose a flat surface - this is where you will end up drying and dressing baby, so not somewhere they can easily roll off

- Place 2 clean towels on top of each other on the chosen surface/spot. One will stay there to lay baby on post-bath and the other is for wrapping baby in. Place 2 or more clean cotton tips nearby, as well as a nappy, singlet and the clothes to be changed into

- Within reach of the bath, place you small handful of cotton balls

- Fill the bath or sink with warm water. 

Note: The best test for this is the underside of your wrist. If it feels too hot or cold, your baby will feel the same! It should be a comfortable temperature. Fill the bath/sink enough so that your baby’s whole body (not their head, obviously) will be able to be submerged in the water - you want them to feel super comfortable and relaxed in there!

Ok! The scene is set!

2. Preparing the baby.

• After a feed, lay your baby down on the double towel layer. 

• Undress baby, leaving nappy ON, and wrap them in the top towel. 

Note: Newborns are notorious for weeing as soon as their nappy is off, so keep it on til the last moment! 

3. First things first - baby’s eyes and face

BEFORE any soap or oil are added to the water, use the cotton buds to clean babie’s eyes. Newborn eyes get gunky, so this is important. ONLY USE A COTTON BALL ONCE IN ONE DIRECTION. You don’t want to spread or rub anything into thier eyes, so in one motion, from the inner part of the eye to the outer, gently clean their closed eye with a wet cotton ball, from the clean bath water. Discard after each swipe (you made need a few per eye)

You can also gently clean the rest of baby’s face with a cotton ball.

4. Baby’s head

Still with nappy on and baby wrapped (nice and snug), use a washer, in the clean water, to wash baby’s head, which will probably be pretty gunky. 

A baby’s scalp needs to be stimulated in order to prevent cradle cap, so make sure you give it a good rub/scrub (gently of course). 

Note for the days to come: It’s really important that even if your baby has no hair, that the scalp is stimulated often (even with a soft bristled baby brush) to stop cradle cap occurring. 

5. Now for the rest of the baby

Add some oil or baby soap eg QV baby wash to the bath water.

It’s finally time to take off that nappy and unwrap the baby for the bath.

Note: It’s helpful if you can put the towel back down in its spot if its close by, or have it over your shoulder/your partner holding it for an easy re-wrap post bath.

Babies can be very slippery little things once wet, so lower baby into the water with your arm under baby’s back and holding onto their arm furthest from you. That way their neck is supported and you won’t lose your grip. 

Make sure baby is submerged in the water, basically up to their chin. Remember, you are ALWAYS holding them and making sure they have their head above the water. Using the wash cloth, give baby a wash, ensuring you unclench their little fists and give them a good wash, as well as behind their ears and under their chin (otherwise they end up really smelly - trust me)

The other place to wash in future baths is behind their ears, that can also get crusty from sicking up after milk feeds when they are lying on their backs. 

Let them have a bit of time in there, if they are enjoying it. It’s the most womb-like environment they will know post exiting!

As for washing baby’s genitals, they will be swollen post birth (totally normal).

Be gentle and above all else, especially for girls, DO NOT DIG. They have a protective mucus coating that is MEANT to be there. Just leave it and give them a general swish around in the water using the soft washer.

6. The Exit

This is where being swift to re-wrap baby in the towel is key, so they continue to feel warm, snug and safe.

Wrap baby back up and set down on the second towel that is prepared and waiting. We loved using the baby hooded towels as it gave that extra snug feeling around their head, particularly if its a colder month. 

7. Drying/cleaning

Pat baby dry, ensuring creases are dried too. 

Use the cotton tips to dab around the umbilical cord, ensuring it is clean and dry. This is all you have to do for it, until it falls off. 

Note: In days to come, if baby’s skin is dry, use a natural product such as olive oil BP to massage into their skin. 

Get that nappy back on - you may want to fold down the front of it initially if it seems like it’s rubbing on the umbilical cord, but as it approaches day 4 you may want to cover it as it will fall off into the nappy. 

8. Dressing

To get the singlet on, give the neck a stretch each time (they spring back into shape with each wash) to make it easier to get onto baby and follow with the onsie.

Well done! 

You now have a lovely, fresh baby… until some sort of explosion or spew. 

And just in case you’re a visual learner… here’s the video I made for my bro and his wife. Sorry about my voice in advance!