Some parents bathe their babies daily as part of a bedtime routine or due to regular baby messes, from extra spit-up to diaper blowouts. But for most families, bathing the baby two to three times a week is plenty after the first couple of weeks of life.
Generally, a bath 2-3 times per week is enough to keep your newborn baby's skin clean. If they like to be bathed, it's fine to bath them more frequently. Sometimes baths can dry your baby's skin so only use a small amount of soap or baby bath wash.
How often does my newborn need a bath? There's no need to give your newborn baby a bath every day. Three times a week might be enough until your baby becomes more mobile. Bathing your baby too much can dry out your baby's skin.
You don't need to bathe your baby every day, but if they really enjoy it, there's no reason why you shouldn't. It's best not to bathe your baby straight after a feed or when they're hungry or tired. Make sure the room you're bathing them in is warm.
The Bottom Line. To sum it up, you should bathe your newborn baby two to three times a week. Once they hit six months, you can start bathing them three to four times a week; you can also bathe them daily if your doctor gives you the go-ahead.
Newborns don't need a bath every day. They rarely sweat or get dirty enough to need a full bath that often. Three baths per week during baby's first year may be enough. Bathing more frequently can dry out your baby's skin.
Delayed first bath for at least 24 hours may reduce infant mortality and hypothermia. Delayed bath for at least 6 hours may prevent hypothermia and hypoglycaemia and improve EBF rates at discharge.
All of your baby's clothes should be washed before you use them. Babies, especially newborns, usually have sensitive skin, and washing removes residues and other irritants. Make sure to read the garment's care label when washing something for the first time.
Hand-washing your baby's clothes are highly recommended for fabric care since they are smaller and softer, compared to adult clothes that can withstand harsher methods of washing. For newly-bought baby clothes, you must wash them before putting them on for your child.
Wash baby's face gently with a wet washcloth. Use a wet cotton ball or washcloth (no soap) to clean your baby's eyes and face. Wipe from the inside of each eye to the outside. Make sure you get any dried secretions out of the nose and eyes.
Common bacterial infections for newborns include Group B Strep and E. Coli which can lead to pneumonia and meningitis. By delaying the first bath, you are allowing the vernix to continue working as a safety net for your little one's immune system.
Bath time might be part of your nightly ritual, but doctors actually don't recommend daily baths for babies. Excess exposure to water can zap their skin of moisture and worsen conditions like eczema. Then again, not bathing your baby often enough can also aggravate eczema, plus lead to other infections.
But for most families, bathing the baby two to three times a week is plenty after the first couple of weeks of life. In fact, we recommend delaying your newborn's first full bath for at least two weeks. Newborns shed about three layers of skin within their first week, which often surprises new parents.
Regular cotton muslins will have come into contact with pesticides and chemicals during their production. Whilst still not a requirement, it is probably best to pre-wash these to ensure no irritants are present.
You're probably wondering, “How many burp cloths do I really need?” It depends how often your little one spits up and how often you want to do laundry, but anywhere from eight to 14 burp cloths is a good basic range to aim for. But really, the more the better!
You want to wait as close to your due date as possible so that the washed clothes still feel fresh when your baby wears them. However, with the possibility of an early birth, it's best to wash your baby's clothes about 2-3 weeks before the due date.
Making time for cuddling and play time with your baby as part of your daily activities is important for your baby's growth and development. The key is to interact with your newborn, rather than giving them games and toys. Ideas for playing include: making eye contact, smiling, and talking.
Use the washcloth to gently wash your baby's face and scalp. Use baby shampoo once or twice a week to clean your baby's hair. Clean the rest of the body. Use the washcloth and baby soap to gently clean the rest of your baby's body.
The first 6 months of life
Most newborns sleep for about 18 hours each day. They are awake for short periods at least every 2 to 3 hours. When your newborn wakes up, they will usually be hungry and need to be fed. This pattern dominates your baby's first few weeks.
What is the Golden Hour After Birth? The Golden Hour is the time right after delivery where mom and baby have uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact for at least the first one to two hours. As long as mom and baby are well, immediate and continuous skin-to-skin contact is recommended.
Vernix caseosa is a white, creamy, naturally occurring biofilm covering the skin of the fetus during the last trimester of pregnancy. Vernix coating on the neonatal skin protects the newborn skin and facilitates extra-uterine adaptation of skin in the first postnatal week if not washed away after birth.
You can bath your newborn baby at any time of the day. It's a good idea to pick a time when you're relaxed and you won't be interrupted. And it's best to avoid bathing your baby when they're hungry or straight after a feed.
Hiccups are normal and usually don't hurt your baby. In younger babies, hiccups are usually a sign that they need to be seated upright during or after feeding, that feeding needs to be slower for them, or that they need more time before or after feeding to relax.