Baby Bathing

How many of you have seen that adorable viral video of an infant getting her hair washed? Over a million people can agree that the overwhelming cuteness witnessed is enough to give anyone baby fever! Shortly after my daughter’s birth, I was way too excited to create and participate in my very own ovary aww moment.  

As I watched the nurse prepare my bundle of joy for her first bathing experience, I had questions after a minor flash forward to me having to do this independently. To start why in the world are you washing my child in a blanket? What temperature should the water be? What products should I be using? How often should I be bathing my infant? If these are your bath time concerns, have no fear because this blog is here to answer your questions!​

Tips for Bathing Your Infant

Infants aren’t ready for in tub bathing until their umbilical cord has fallen off. Umbilical cords are what transport a mother’s nutrients and oxygen to a baby. An umbilical cord will generally fall off between 10 days and three weeks after birth, after which you can submerge their bodies in water. 
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Another consideration is a baby's soft spot typically found at the top of the head. The soft spots are the areas of the scalp that provided a child to easily adapt to the birthing canal. Bather’s want to be aware and extremely gentle during contact of that area. 

For male infants, parents should be careful that circumcision incisions are healed. In the interim, you can cleanse infants by sponge bathing. If you are uncertain of how to properly give your child a sponge bath, please review the created steps following.

Instead of a traditional bath, The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends sponge baths until the umbilical cord stump falls off and circumcisions are healed. If you’re not familiar with sponge bathing, you can follow my process below.

Sponge & Bath Preparation 

(What you need click on links to purchase products)

• Infant Tub
• Bath Tub Thermometer 
• Organic Grade Sponge
• Wash Cloth
• Cotton gauze

•   Bathing Rising Cup
• Thin cotton receiving blanket
• Hooded Bath Towel
• Organic Baby Bath Soap
• Organic Baby Lotion

Bathing Steps

​Step 1: Check the water temperature. Make sure the temperature is just slightly above 100 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid scalding but just warm enough to prevent chilling.  
Step 2: Fill up basin or tub to a level where your child’s navel is not submerged. Keep in mind if you are bathing a male, do not permit for the water to touch his private part.
Step 3: Loosely wrap your child in the receiving blanket leaving the front open.
Step 4: Place your slightly wrapped child into the tub.
Step 5: Moisten sponge and lather. 
Step 6: Support your child’s head and bathe.

• Open the front of the receiving blanket to expose the chest area and using the damp sponge wipe down the chest and belly area staying away from the umbilical cord. 
• Proceed to sponge down the remaining parts of their body. Make sure to get under the neck, behind the ears, under their arms, and slightly pass over private parts. 

As you are wiping down your infant, you can be sure to cover exposed areas that are not being cleansed with the receiving blanket. ​This will keep them warm.

Step 7: Use the cotton gauze to wipe your child’s eye areas with water gently. 
Step 8: Gently rise using the sponge and not drenching the child. 
Step 9: Gently wash baby’s hair being cautious of soft spots.  
Step 10: Rise 
Step 11: ​Dry 

For older baby's and toddlers, simply increase water level.

*Never leave your child unattended. 

How Often

You should not bathe your infant every day. According to The Mayo Clinic, you should only wash a baby three times a week because bathing a child more than the mentioned may dry out their skin. You can increase the amount of bathing as a child starts to crawl and explore.  ​​