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How Often Should You Bathe a Baby?

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Bath times should be fun, but they also bring a lot of questions. After all, there’s a lot going on for the both of you. You might have questions, principal amongst them being just how often should you bathe a baby? But by following our handy guide, you’ll soon be a bathroom whiz, and both of you will be looking forward to bathing together!

How often should you bathe a baby?

Like we always say, every baby is different, and bathing your baby could be something that you both love. After all, a lot of newborns love the water and really take to that connection that comes from bath time with mommy.

However, you don’t have to bathe a newborn this often. It’s recommended that you bathe your newborn two or three times a week because any more can actually be a little too much and dry out their sensitive skin.

This is enough to keep them clean, as long as you keep them clean and tidy between each bath, focusing on the main areas that get dirty, their face and between their legs.

How should I keep my baby clean between baths?

  • Wash their face regularly, with water and a soft and gentle cloth
  • Clean their genitals and bum every time you change their nappy
  • If they get dirty at all, wipe that area clean with baby wipes or a clean cloth
  • If clothes get dirty, wipe off everything you can and change them at the first opportunity

What’s the easiest way to bathe my baby

Use a secure hold that’s firm but not too hard. With your non-dominant hand, control your baby’s neck and head, then use the other to slowly lower your baby into the water, feet first, working up their body until you can lie them down.

Start by washing their face, then move downwards to areas that might be dirtier. This also helps areas that have been washed from getting soapy again.

If your baby has hair, use one drop of baby shampoo and gently rub it into their scalp. You can rinse with a cup of water or use a wet cloth, but you should make sure to cover your baby’s eyes with your other hand so nothing gets into their eyes.

It’s best to have everything to hand, so you can focus and get the whole thing done in one sitting, without having to call for help or take them out of the water. You might need:

  • A soft sponge or flannel
  • Cotton pads
  • A liquid baby cleanser or baby wash
  • A warm, dry towel. You can use specific hooded baby towels, but you don’t have to
  • A clean nappy and clothes
  • A bath thermometer, for checking the water temperature

How much water should I put in my baby bath?

The common recommendation is 2 inches of water, which is five centimeters, or round about the depth of your thumb.

The water should be warm. Not too cold, not too hot, and if you’re worried about baby being warm during the bath, then you can pour the water gently over them whilst you’re bathing them.

Once you get used to the process, you can up the water slightly, just enough to reach the tops of their shoulders. This is supposed to be more calming and help with keeping your baby warm and comfy during their bath, but as always, only do what you’re comfortable doing.

When should you start bathing your baby every day

The reason you don’t need to bath your baby every day is that they’re not getting that dirty, and any messes they do get into, you deal with quickly and on the spot.

This means that the best time to start bathing baby every day is when they start getting into more messes. For most parents, this means when they start crawling and getting into everything!

Is there a best time to bathe my baby?

We really do understand this question, especially when it’s the first couple of times you’re bathing them. It can be nerve-wracking. After all, they’re wriggly and oh so sensitive and vulnerable.

If you’re worried, have someone with you the first couple of times you bathe your baby. After you get used to the process, and they do too, it’ll be much easier to relax and enjoy it.

As for when to bathe baby, that’s entirely up to you.

Choose a time when you’re both relaxed and calm, and unlikely to be interrupted. If you’ve got time in the morning, then that’s a great time because the baby will be alert and sharing the whole experience with you.

If you prefer to do it in the evening instead, that’s also great.

The one thing to bear in mind with timing is after a feed. Don’t bathe right after a feed because it’s not good on their tummy. Give them a few minutes to relax first.

Things to consider

Baby skin is really soft and gentle, and can’t stand up to anything harsh or nasty. If you live in an area that you know has hard water, be careful how often you bath baby, because all that calcium can dry out and attack baby’s skin.

Never leave the baby alone in the bath, even for a second. It only takes a moment for them to turn and get into difficulty, which is why you should always bathe baby when you’ve got some free time for you both to focus.

So now you know how often should you bathe a baby. By following our tips, bathtime will quickly become one of your favorite times! We hope we’ve answered all of your questions, but if you’ve got anything else you need to know or any tips we’ve missed, be sure to let us know in the comments!

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