Baby's bath time

Don’t be afraid of bath time – here’s our guide to making it something to look forward to   

For something so tiny, your newborn can create a lot of mess! Bathing is a vital part of a baby’s routine but it can be daunting – wriggling, wet babies are hard to keep hold of! What if you drop him? What if the water’s too hot?

But with time and practice, bathtime can be a magical part of the day and a real chance for you and your baby to bond. With a little bit of confidence, you can make it something to look forward to and cherish. And surely just the thought of a clean, happy baby is enough to get you started!

Even though your baby doesn’t need a bath everyday, she does need a quick wash. A ‘top and tail’ is the quickest and simplest way to do this. By that we mean giving your little one’s face, ears, neck, hands and nappy area a wash with cooled boiled water and cotton wool. To avoid the spread infections, make sure you use a clean piece of cotton wool for each stroke when washing her ears and eyes.

Give your baby a proper bath. Her hair only needs to be washed once a week to begin with. Our top tip is to do this first, just before you put your baby in the bath. That way she won’t get too chilly!

What you’ll need

• Baby bath or bath support suitable from birth
• Clean towel
• Changing mat
• Tissues or cotton wool
• Clean nappy and sleepsuit for afterwards

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

Six steps to the perfect bathtime

1. Make sure the room is warm, then fill the bath to around 8cm deep with warm water – 36.8°C (98°F) is about right. You can test the temperature using the traditional method of dipping your elbow in, or use a bath thermometer. If you stand the bath on something around waist height, you won’t strain your back and you’ll find it easier to support your baby.

2. Before putting your baby in the bath, lie her down on her changing mat and undress her. Clean her bottom with cotton wool and cool water.

3. First, wash your baby’s hair. To do this with the minimum fuss, wrap her in a towel to stop any wriggling and, holding her securely in one arm, lower her head over the side of the baby bath. Scoop the water over her head, avoiding her eyes.

4. Take your baby out of the towel and hold her securely in one arm, keeping your hand under her bottom. Now, slowly and gently lower her into the water.

5. While your baby is in the bath, sing or chat to her to calm her nerves. If you appear happy and confident, your baby will feel the same way! Gently scoop water over your baby with your hand or a soft sponge.

6. When you’ve finished bathing her, carefully lift your baby out of the bath and wrap her in a warm, soft towel. Make sure that when you dry her, you take special care around the creases in her neck, arms, legs and bottom, and in between her fingers and toes. If these areas aren’t dried properly, she could get sore.

* Top tip

Don’t use soaps, shampoos or bubble bath at the early stages of bathing, as this can irritate your baby’s skin

Safety first

• Always stay with your baby while she’s in the bath, and never leave her unattended, even for a moment. If the phone or doorbell rings, either ignore it or wrap your baby up and take her with you.

• If your baby starts to shiver, or if her skin changes colour, she’s probably too cold. Wrap her up in a warm towel and change the water to make it warmer.

• Never add hot water while your baby’s in the bath – you won’t have control over the temperature and she may get burnt.

• If you are bathing your baby in your own bath, make sure she’s not in touching distance of the taps. Consider buying tap protectors to make it doubly safe.

• Never bathe your baby if you’ve been drinking alcohol, or if you feel very tired.

• If you drop your baby, react quickly and calmly by picking her up and reassuring her everything is okay. If you panic, your baby will sense it and feel panicked too. If you’re worried, contact your doctor.

Water worries

Although new babies are fairly happy in water, older children often go through a phase of hating bathtime. Instead of making every bathtime a battle, try these simple tips:

Have fun!

Using bath toys, songs and games can all help to make your baby feel better in the bath. Distracting her from the actual purpose of being in the water can be a big help!

Feel secure

If your baby’s a bit scared of the water, a non-slip bathmat or bathseat will make her feel more secure. Or if you can, get into the bath with her.

Mini-hair wash

Most babies go through a stage of not wanting to get their hair wet. Although you’ll need to wash her hair properly at some point, using a warm wet flannel on her hair between washes will help to keep it fresh.

Plug-hole happy

If your little one has a fear of falling down the plug-hole, show her that she’s too big by using her bath toys. They’re smaller than her, so if they can’t fall down it, then she certainly won’t!

Top tip

Introduce a bath as part of your little one’s bedtime routine. It’ll leave her warm and sleepy, and she’ll learn to associate it with going to bed.

Fun-time bathtime!

Here are some fun, simple ways of keeping your baby entertained in the tub. She’ll be having so much fun, she won’t want to come out!

1. Sing something fun or soothing, depending your baby’s mood. If she doesn’t want a bath, make it fun; if she’s scared or it’s just before bedtime, try singing or humming a lullaby.

2. Read a bathtime book. They’re fun and can take your little one’s mind off the important task of getting clean.

3. Play with a bath toy. One that actually uses the water will get your baby used to how it feels and make it less scary.

4. Tell a story. Turn bathtime into a fantasy experience by pretending your little one is a mermaid or a fish. Create little stories that can be carried on the next time you have a bath!