How to give a safe bath to your newborn

Bathing your newborn is one of the sweetest ways to bond with your little bundle of joy. The soothing feel of the water, the refreshing soap scent, your gentle cooing, as well as the mild touches and close contact—all of these new sensations during the newborn bathing not only help your baby to experience the real world, but to also build precious memories with mommy.

But as a first-time mom, you might be struggling with many questions when it comes to baby’s bathtime: how to hold your baby, how much water to put in the tub, what should the water temperature be, generally what safety precautions to be aware of.

Make bathtime a rewarding experience for both mommy and baby by following this step-by-step guide to bathing your little sweetheart:

1. Gather your bath essentials

As the first step, you will need to prepare these items: empty cup, mild soap, a few clean washcloths, another cup with clean water, hooded towel, diaper, clothes, and mild baby lotion/moisturizing cream.

Also, the bathroom (or bathing area) should be comfortably warm so that your baby does not feel too hot or too cold. If your baby has extra-sensitive skin, use fragrance-free baby wash such Baby Dove Sensitive Moisture Hair to Toe Baby Wash. As well as being fragrance-free, this baby body wash has a pH-neutral and hypoallergenic formula that is ophthalmologist, dermatologist and pediatrician-tested.

2. Prepare the bathtub for newborn bathing

Fill the bathtub with only about three inches of lukewarm water. Perform an elbow test: the water should be not too hot and not too cold to the touch. The ideal temperature is around 32 degrees Celsius. Once you are sure about the water temperature, you are all set for your newborn's bathing!

3. Place baby inside the tub

Undress your little one and bring her to the bathtub. Gently immerse her in the water, starting with her feet and eventually settling her down on her bum. Firmly support her head with your hand at the back of her neck.

4. Use a mild and moisturizing baby wash

Cradle your baby’s head and neck with one hand while using the other hand to wash her. Gently pour water over her body, and with your hand, gradually wet her scalp.

Use a mild soap or pour a few drops of Baby Dove Sensitive Moisture Hair to Toe Baby Wash (if your baby has a sensitive skin) onto a washcloth. Start cleansing your baby’s skin from top to bottom, and then from the front to the back. You can begin from the scalp area.

Use another clean, damp washcloth to gently wipe your baby’s face. At this stage, pay attention to the corners of the eyes and behind the ears.

Sometimes, you may see dried mucus around the corners of your baby's nostrils or eyes. Soften it by dabbing it several times before you wipe it out.

5. Rinse

Rinse the soap off the baby’s body with a few cups of clean, warm water, wiping her down with a clean washcloth. After this, gently and carefully lift her out of the tub (support her neck, head and bottom with your hands) and wrap her in a dry, hooded towel. Newborn bathing is a bit tricky: please remember that babies are slippery when wet.

6. Dry

Start with the scalp, gently rubbing it with the towel to remove excess water from the hair. Pat the rest of your baby’s body dry with gentle strokes.

7. Apply moisturizer

Baby skin is delicate and can lose moisture easily during bathtime. To help replenish this essential moisture, you can use Baby Dove Rich Moisture Nourishing Baby Lotion. Hypoallergenic and pH neutral, with a fragrance developed for delicate baby skin, it moisturizes baby’s skin for up to 24 hours.

8. Dress

Once you have applied moisturizer, you would feel that your little one's skin is soft, beautifully scented and ready for snuggles. Now diaper and clothe your baby, and voila! The newborn bathing ritual is done!

Go on, enjoy cooing with your little one and take in the sweet fragrance of your freshly bathed baby.

We understand that bathing a newborn might look daunting initially but with the right steps and the right bath essentials, you will grow in confidence in taking your bub to the tub.

Check out the full range of Baby Dove products here to provide the best care for your little one.