How to safely bathe your newborn baby

Anna Martin

How do you bathe your newborn baby?

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.

What do you need?

To make things just a touch less stressful, get everything you need organised before you start running the water.

a baby bath or basin with warm water – plain water with no soap is best for babies under 1 month
a clean nappy
clean clothes
towels
some cotton wool

Do not use any soap, shampoo or products when washing your newborn. Plain water is fine, and safer for your baby’s skin.

What temperature?

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.

How much water?

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.

Getting started

Now that you have everything organised, it’s bath time!

Lower your baby slowly into the water so they do not feel as though they are falling.
Lift your baby into the water with one arm behind their shoulders and neck, holding their outside arm with your hand.
Place your other hand under their bottom.
When their bottom is resting on the floor of the basin or bath, you can free that hand to wash them. Use your other hand to keep your baby’s head out of the water.
After you’ve bathed them, slip your free arm back under their bottom.
Hold their legs with that arm as they will now be slippery, then lift them out onto the towel.

Drying off

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.