Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP: After the first few weeks, you and your baby will be ready to graduate from sponge baths to the sink or a plastic tub. Now, the real fun begins, so let's go through the process, step by step.
Jennifer Shu, MD (cont.): First, gather all supplies so you can focus on baby during the bath. You will need a mild cleanser, a soft washcloth and a few inches of warm – not hot water in a sink or small, plastic tub.
Use your wrist or a tub thermometer to make sure the water is not too hot.
Don't forget a hooded bath towel, a clean diaper and fresh cloth.
Jennifer Shu, MD (cont.): Make sure the room is warm and undress the baby on a changing table or other flat surface.
Always support the head and gently guide the baby into the water.
Apply a few drops of cleanser to a wet washcloth and gently clean the baby's face, head and neck and don't forget behind the ears. To prevent chilling, keep pouring warm water over the exposed areas.
Jennifer Shu, MD (cont.): Continue to wash the remainder of the body – front to back, top to bottom – rinsing as you go.
Lift and separate to clean in the folds of the arms and legs.
By now, if your baby has hair, you can switch to a fresh washcloth adding a tad more body wash for the first shampoo!
Cup your hand over the face so that the suds run to the side. Towel dry the head and hair right away to prevent chilling.
Jennifer Shu, MD (cont.): Later, babies can transition to a regular tub, still using the baby tub for support, until they are able to sit up on their own.
With a little experience, most babies love bath time. So give them time to splash and play.
But never leave a baby unattended. If you have to leave for any reason, take your little one with you.
Since wet babies can be slippery – it's a good idea to have a towel over your shoulder when you're ready to wrap them up. For WebMD, I'm Dr. Jennifer Shu.
