How to Bathe a Baby: Tips for Newborn Bath Time

Giving your baby their first bath can be a bit nerve wracking! What’s the perfect baby bath temperature? Which products should I use? How long should the bath last? There are plenty of questions when it comes to bathing your newborn, but the most important thing is that you both enjoy the process. So, relax, unwind and have a read of our tips for bathing your newborn baby.

Bathing Frequency

It’s unlikely your baby will get very dirty, so there’s no need to bathe them everyday. However, if both you and your baby enjoy bath time, then it’s also okay to include bath time in your daily routine. Just be careful not to use harsh soaps as they can cause skin irritation and dryness, particularly if you’re using them everyday.

As a general rule, it is recommended that you bathe your baby about 2 to 3 times per week. To avoid skin irritation, we recommend using natural and gentle products during bath time, such as our Little Innoscents Hair and Body Wash. Made with certified organic and natural ingredients and bursting with heavenly essential oils of spearmint, lavender and sweet orange, our Hair and Body Wash is ideal for sensitive skin.

When to give newborns a bath

There’s no rules here; simply give your baby a bath at the time of day that best suits you both. Some parents find that incorporating bath time into their baby’s bedtime routine works best. For babies who enjoy bath time, it can be a soothing part of their bedtime routine. You might even like to add a calming massage after bath time using our Little Innoscents Nourishing Oil. Enriched with a natural combination of sunflower and jojoba oil and infused with the scents of spearmint, orange, lavender and lemongrass, our blend is perfect for a soothing moment between you and your little one.

Bath time supplies

Before giving your little one a bath, make sure you’ve got everything you’ll need at hand. Prepare by gathering together a towel, washcloth, Little Innoscents Hair and Body Wash, a fresh change of clothes and a new nappy.

Preparing the bath

Firstly, you’ll want to decide where to bath your baby. Many parents simply use the kitchen sink when their baby is very little. However, you might like to use a baby bath tub instead. You don’t necessarily need to bathe your baby in the bathroom, either. You can place the tub in whichever room feels most comfortable and warm.

If you’re using the kitchen sink, first make sure that the sink is clean and that there aren’t any dangerous items within reach of your little one. Then, fill the sink with about 5-10 cm of water (for babies up to six months old). The water should be between 37 and 38 degrees Celsius. If you don’t own a thermometer, you can dip your elbow in the water to test the temperature. If it feels warm but not hot to the touch, you’re good to go!

Supporting your baby during bath time

Babies can be quite slippery during bathtime! So it’s important to be cautious and ensure you’ve got a good grip on your little one while they’re in the tub. It’s very important that you never leave your baby unattended in the bathtub.

To properly support your baby during bathtime, cradle the back of their head and neck with one arm while supporting their body with your other arm. Gently lower your baby into the warm water, feet first. Be sure to keep your baby close at all times and never remove your hand from behind their neck.

It’s ideal to try and keep your baby’s bath relatively short to avoid the water getting cold. A baby bath should last somewhere between 5 and 10 minutes.

Washing baby’s face and body

Before placing baby in the bath, gently wipe their face using sterilised cotton wool. Be sure to use a separate piece of cotton wool to gently wipe each eyelid to prevent bacterial infection. Once you’ve done this, you can go ahead and gently lower your baby into the warm bathwater, holding your baby close. Use a soft washcloth and a small amount of our Little Innoscents Hair and Body Wash to gently wipe under their neck, between their fingers, in-between creases and, lastly, to wash their bottom.

After-bath care

Once you’ve bathed and dried your baby, there are a few extra steps you can take to ensure their skin stays hydrated, soothed, and to prevent common skin irritations like cradle cap or nappy rash. Take a look at our organic and soothing products for inspiration:

Our Little Innoscents Moisture Rich Body Lotion is the perfect addition to your baby bath time routine. Ideal for dry or sensitive skin, our moisturising lotion maintains and replenishes the skin’s much needed hydration levels and protects delicate newborn baby skin. With soothing aloe vera, nourishing avocado oil and creamy shea butter, this organic formulation is 100% safe, healthy, nourishing and makes for the perfect after-bath lotion.

Our gorgeous Little Innoscents Winter Blues Vapour Balm is perfect for little ones struggling with a cough or runny nose. Made from natural beeswax, certified organic shea butter and infused with essential oils of peppermint, lemon, eucalyptus and rosemary, this fresh and zesty balm is the perfect alternative to other vapour balms which may include harmful chemicals. Simply rub a little on the soles of your baby’s feet before bedtime to soothe them through the night.

Our Little Innoscents Intensive Soothing Cream is a calming blend of aloe vera, shea butter and avocado oil, enriched with the healing benefits of calendula and rosewood oil, to help stimulate and regenerate damaged skin cells. An incredibly versatile product, it can be used both as a nappy cream to refresh, calm and protect baby’s delicate skin but can also help relieve common childhood skin conditions, dry, itchy or sunburnt skin and minor cuts.

This article was written in collaboration with Babysits – Australia’s babysitting community. Babysits is a transparent and easy-to-use platform connecting trustworthy and reliable babysitters with parents in need. Find a babysitter or nanny using Babysits to search for local childminding services near you