You should give your baby a bath preferably once a day to allow him/her to relax unless otherwise advised by a doctor.
You’ll need the following items before bathing your baby:
• a soft, clean washcloth
• mild, unscented baby soap and shampoo
• a soft brush to stimulate the baby’s scalp
• towels or blankets
• an infant basin with 2 to 3 inches of warm not hot water (to test the water temperature, feel the water with the inside of your elbow or wrist)
• a clean diaper
• clean clothes
• heater to warm the air around so that the baby does not catch a cold
Sponge baths
For a sponge bath, warm the room and a flat surface, such as a changing table, floor, or counter. Undress the baby. Wipe the infant’s eyes with a washcloth dampened with water only, starting with one eye and wiping from the inner corner to the outer corner. Use a clean corner of the washcloth to wash the other eye.
Clean your baby’s nose and ears with the washcloth. Then wet the cloth again, wash his or her face gently and pat it dry. Next, using baby shampoo or soap, create lather and gently wash your baby’s head and rinse. Using a wet cloth and soap, gently wash the rest of the baby, paying special attention to creases under the arms, behind the ears, around the neck and the genital area. Once you have washed those areas, make sure they are dry and then diaper and dress your baby.
Baths
First, undress your baby and wrap him in the towel. Clean the face first and then using the football hold, shampoo the baby’s head. Gently massage the baby’s scalp with the pads of your fingers or a soft baby hairbrush, including the area over the fontanelle (soft spot) on the top of the head. When you rinse the soap or shampoo from your baby’s head, cup your hand across the forehead so the suds run toward the sides and soap doesn’t get into the eyes.
The first baths should be gentle and brief. Remove the towel and then place him or her in the water immediately, in a warm room, to prevent chills. Make sure the water in the basin is no more than 3 inches deep. Use one of your hands to support the head and the other hand to guide the baby in, feet first. Speaking gently to your baby, slowly lower your baby up to the chest into the basin.
Wash the rest of your baby’s body with water and a small amount of soap. Throughout the bath, regularly pour water gently over your baby’s body so he or she doesn’t get cold. After the bath, wrap your baby in a towel immediately, making sure to cover his or her head. Baby towels with hoods are great for keeping a freshly washed baby warm. While bathing your infant, never leave the baby alone. If you need to leave the bathroom, wrap the baby in a towel and take him or her with you.
