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13th November 2023
06:50pm GMT
It's just one of half a million questions that come with being a first-time parent as if you didn't have enough on your plate.
Thankfully in Ireland, a midwife or public health nurse will show you how to bathe your baby for the first time.
You can ask to see it done once or twice before you try but if you're home now and feeling overwhelmed, we've put together a bit of a fresher.
To make things just a touch less stressful, get everything you need organised before you start running the water.
Do not use any soap, shampoo or products when washing your newborn. Plain water is fine, and safer for your baby's skin.
Put the cold water in the basin or bath first. Then put the warm water in. Finally, put cold water in again to make sure the taps are cool and will not burn your baby if they touch them.
The temperature should be about 36 degrees Celsius and you can use a bath thermometer to test this.
Always check the temperature of the bathwater with your elbow as your hands are not sensitive enough. Mix the water well to ensure there are no 'hot spots'.
Never put your baby in the bath when the water is still running. The water temperature can change quickly.
The water level should be just high enough to cover your baby’s tummy when they are lying down while making sure to head their head well out.
Now that you have everything organised, it's bath time!
Now that your little one is all clean you can start drying them off while paying particular attention to their skin folds.
You can then massage some oil or cream into your baby’s skin. Do not use aqueous cream for dry skin conditions as it may cause damage to the skin.
Do not use any oils on your baby’s skin if they are under 1 month old especially anything that contains peanut oil, as some babies are allergic to it.
