In a tropical country like ours, should you give your newborn a bath every day? Read here to know how often to bathe a baby and other newborn bathing tips.
I remember the first time the nurse gave my newborn a bath. Yes, it was the nurse, because my baby had her bath the day after she was born. The nurse was such a pro, that my little one hardly cried and the whole thing was over in less than 10 minutes (even quicker than when I started changing my newborn’s diapers).
One of the most nerve-wracking parts of being a new parent is giving your newborn a bath. For one, it’s not as straightforward as we adults do it. Our elders even have rituals before it’s finally time to bathe the baby.
We have so many questions in our heads when it comes to bathing our little one – will she be comfortable with the water? Will she not feel cold?
And because we are living in a tropical country, it’s natural for us to feel uncomfortable when we get sweaty. This is why another burning question in this topic is how often to bathe a baby, and when to start bathing your baby daily.
When should I start giving the baby a bath?
Image from Unsplash
While they might have already been given a bath before being discharged from the hospital, it is okay to hold off on the full baths until the baby’s umbilical stump had fallen off, usually within the first two weeks after birth. It’s not advisable to wet the umbilical stump as it may cause an infection. So while the umbilical stump is still attached, stick to sponge baths for now.
A sponge bath has three main parts: first is washing baby’s hair with mild baby shampoo, a soft washcloth, and water, next is wiping baby’s limbs and chest area with a washcloth (and drying it right away) and finally, washing baby’s genitals using cotton balls and lukewarm water.
You can do this twice a day until your baby’s umbilical stump dries and falls off. Then it’s time to give baby a real bath.
How often to bathe baby
While in some countries, it’s common to not give babies a bath every day. However, because we live in a tropical country, it’s okay to bathe your baby every day, or twice a day even. In our case, I just give my baby a full bath in the morning and a sponge bath before “bedtime."
Some elders believe in skipping a day (for my mom, it was Friday) in giving a baby a bath, but it’s just old wives’ tale and has no scientific evidence to back it up.
What matters when it comes to a baby’s bathtime?
Is there a preferred time to bathe your baby? According to Dr. Jennifer Tiglao, a pediatrician from Makati Medical Center, there is no ideal time to give your baby a bath, although most parents prefer to do it in the morning as a way of establishing a routine.
So if it’s not the time, then is it the water? Does the water need to be at a specific temperature?
Because babies get cold easily, it’s best to use lukewarm water when giving them a bath. According to Mayo Clinic, 38 degrees Celsius is a good temperature, but it doesn’t have to be exactly that (no need to buy a bathtub thermometer either). Just use your elbow or the back of your hand to touch the water. It should feel warm, not hot.
So if it’s not the time and the temperature, then what is it? According to Dr. Tiglao, it’s how quickly you can bathe your newborn.
“What’s important is not the time of the day nor the water, it’s how fast you can do the bathing of your baby. At the same time, you should be able to dress him up immediately.
Because the sudden shift of temperature can cause problems in your newborn’s nervous system. From being warm to cold, then if you don’t dress him up right away, there’s a possibility that he would be sick," explained the pediatrician.
Tips on bathing your newborn
As a rule, it really depends on you as a parent when it comes to how often you want to bathe your baby. A lot of babies love baths, and bathtime is a fun bonding activity for both you and your baby.
However, there are some things to always keep in mind when it comes to keeping your baby clean.
1. Too much bathing can actually dry out your baby’s skin
While it’s up to you to decide how often you want to bathe your baby, keep in mind that bathing them too frequently can dry out their skin! Dry skin can lead to rashes, and you would not want that to happen to your baby!
On average, you can bathe your baby once a day, maybe twice if it’s a particularly hot day. However, to keep their skin from being dry, remember to use a gentle cleanser and shampoo that is good for a baby’s sensitive skin.
“If you feel that it’s too hot and you want to give baby a bath to prevent heat rash and itchiness, you can do so.
You can give them a bath, just make sure that the water is warm and you use a mild soap to prevent the skin from getting dry," said Dr. Tiglao.
Kung feel ninyo sobrang init at gusto ninyong paliguan ang baby ninyo kasi iyong baby nagkaka-rashes talaga, nangangati. You can give them a bath just make sure na warm bath at the same time milder soap
2. Sponge baths are good!
Sponge baths are an easy way to make sure that your baby stays clean. As mentioned earlier, doctors recommend sponge baths for newborns until their umbilical cord falls off. This usually takes a week or two.
If you want to give your baby a sponge bath, make sure to place them on a clean and flat surface, and prepare some warm (not hot!) water, baby soap and shampoo, and towels to dry your baby.
3. Make sure to use mild soap.
As your baby’s skin is very sensitive, it’s best to use the mildest soap that you can find. It’s good to look for baby soaps that don’t have any additives or antibacterial ingredients. This is because based on studies, antibacterial ingredients don’t really kill more bacteria than regular soaps. Also, look for “fragrance-free" rather than unscented (there’s a difference!).
Image from Pexels
We have some expert and mom-trusted brands of baby wash and shampoo that you can buy online:
Mama’s Choice Baby Hair & Body Wash
Want to keep your baby’s hair and body squeaky clean and smelling fresh? Mama’s Choice Baby Hair and Body Wash is the answer!
First, it is infused with carefully selected & specially formulated natural ingredients.
Chamomile nourishes and protects your baby’s skin from irritation and gets rid of dead skin cells. It also has lavender which promotes healthy hair and provides a relaxation sensation. Lastly, sugar maple extract moisturizes the skin and maintains skin elasticity.
Features we love:
- Specially formulated for babies 0+ to toddlers.
- Made with natural ingredients.
- Nourishes and moisturizes.
- 2-in-1: hair and body wash.
Johnson’s Cottontouch Top-To-Toe Bath
Make your baby’s bath time your ultimate bonding experience with them together with Johnson’s Cottontouch top-to-toe bath for hair and body. This No More Tears gentle baby wash protects baby’s sensitive skin and leaves it soft and clean.
Features we love:
- Protects baby’s sensitive skin from allergens and rashes.
- Gentle and hypoallergenic.
- #TiwalaAngExperts because it is triple tested by dermatologists, pediatricians, and ophthalmologists.
Cetaphil Baby Shampoo
For parents, it is important to choose baby shampoo that promises to give extra care to your little one’s scalp. Having a healthy scalp is essential for hair growth. That is why we recommend this baby shampoo from Cetaphil.
Cetaphil Baby Shampoo has gentle caring composition that effectively cleanse hair and scalp. It also moisturizes the scalp to prevent dryness. It has tear-free formula at balanced pH level that is ideal for daily use. This product is tested by Dermatologists and Ophthalmologists, and Pediatrician-recommended.
Features we love:
- Promotes healthy scalp
- With gentle caring ingredients
- Expert tested and recommended
4. Prepare everything in advance.
To make it easier for you, make sure to prep everything in advance before you bathe your baby. That way, you can immediately get your baby dry and out of the water instead of spending more time looking for the things that you need.
Prepare their baby soap, baby shampoo, as well as towels to dry them. If you use baby powder or any special creams, then you should get those ready too. Make sure to dry your baby thoroughly after their bath, to keep them nice and comfy!
5. Never leave the baby unattended!
Babies are so fragile that you take your eyes off them for a split second, and something bad can happen. And there have been several cases reported of accidents that happened when the parent was giving their baby a bath. It is for this reason that it’s important to have everything you need for your baby’s bathtime within arm’s reach.
Also, make sure that you hold the baby properly so that he doesn’t swallow his bathwater. According to Dr. Tiglao, another problem that might occur when bathing your newborn is swallowing water, which may cause diarrhea in babies. So make sure you keep your eye on the baby at all times when giving him a bath.
6. Make it fun!
As with everything you do with your baby, you should make it fun! Bathing is a great bonding activity with your baby, and you can try and give them a baby massage during or after their bath. You can play fun music too! When they are much older, you can put some bath toys in the mix.
Babies also love playing with water, so it’s a good idea to let them splash around a bit! Though, make sure that they don’t soak themselves too much since they might get cold and their skin might get dried out, and they don’t drink their bath water!
If you’re not yet too comfortable giving the baby a bath by yourself, it’s okay to ask your husband or a relative to help you with it. Just remember, Mommy. It may seem daunting at first, but the more you do it, the easier it gets. If you have any questions on how often to bathe the baby or other concerns about giving him a bath, don’t hesitate to consult your child’s pediatrician.
Additional information by Camille Eusebio
Here at theAsianparent Philippines, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advise or medical treatment. TheAsianparent Philippines is not responsible to those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend to consult your doctor for clearer information.