Show Your baby's first bath is an exciting milestone, but handling a tiny slippery-when-wet body in water can be a little nerve-wracking. Still, giving your newborn baby that first bath is actually a joy — and in the early days and weeks, you don’t really dunk your infant into much water at all (phew!). For some newborn bath pointers, as well as how often you should bathe your baby and the benefits you’ll both reap when you suds her up, read on. When should baby's first bath be and when should you bathe your newborn?Wondering what’s a good time to give your newborn a bath and when baby's first bath should be? The scheduling of this event is entirely up to you as long as you pick a moment when you won’t be interrupted or tempted to hurry through the bath. You should probably plan for baby's first bath within a week after birth. Just avoid bathing your newborn right after a feeding (it’s best to let her food settle a bit first) or when she's overtired. Babies tend to be more alert in the morning, which is appealing to some, though others may slate it in the early evening as part of her goodnight activities. When it’s time to wind down, make her bathtime part of a relaxing bedtime routine that also includes a final bottle or nursing session, a book and a little song. Keep in mind, however, that newborns don’t need a lot of washing (two or three times a week at most is fine) and at first, you’ll just be giving her a quick a sponge bath until her umbilical cord stump falls off, which usually happens about one to three weeks after birth. How often should you bathe your newborn?Until a baby starts getting down and dirty on the ground, a daily bath isn't needed (babies aren’t mobile, so they can’t really pick up a lot of dirt). Your baby only needs a bath two or three times a week and in fact too much bathing can dry out your infant’s delicate skin. Newborns should only have sponge baths until their umbilical cords dry up and fall off. If your baby's umbilical cord stump is still intact or if a circumcised newborn's penis hasn't healed, avoid tub baths altogether and just use your hands or a baby washcloth for cleanups. When your baby is ready to give it a go, find a flat surface — bathroom or kitchen counter, bed, even the floor — and keep washing up with the sponge gently and briefly until she gets used to it. When you’re ready to graduate from a sponge bath, move the fun to a baby bathtub and eventually the big tub when your baby can sit up on her own and outgrows the infant tub. There's nothing cuter than seeing a baby splashing in the bath, soapy suds dotting those chubby folds and dimples — but always keep safety in mind. Never leave your baby alone in the bath water — even for a second. What's a good baby bath temperature?Your baby's bath water should be comfortably warm, never hot, when you dip your wrist or elbow into it for a temperature check. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that the hottest temperature at the faucet should be no more than 120 Fahrenheit to avoid scalding your baby. How to bathe a newbornOnce you’ve picked a place and time to give your newborn her baths, read over this list of tips that’ll make the whole process a little easier and safer:
How to dry a newborn after a bathHere’s how to wrap up your baby’s bath, including a bit about rinsing, drying and using lotion:
Why is it important to bathe a newborn baby?The benefits of bathtime go way beyond a basic cleanup! Here’s why baths are good for babies:
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