Baby's first bath time
Bathing your baby for the first time is an exciting experience. Some babies love to take a bath, whilst others don't like it so much.
2 min read
Make sure your baby is full and in a good mood before you start, to maximize the chances of a positive first bathing experience. It's not the end of the world if it doesn't go well; just wait a few days and try again!
1-2 baths a week is enough for infants. They rarely get dirty and water dries out their skin. The water temperature should be body temperature, 37 degrees. You can test if the water is at the right temperature by dipping your elbow in the water. If you don't notice a temperature difference, it's a good temperature for a baby bath. If you are unsure, the easiest thing to do is to use a bath thermometer.
You can bathe your baby during its first week of life, even if the umbilical stump is still there. Be careful to dry off the baby very well (even in all the folds of skin!) with a soft terrycloth towel.
Make sure you have everything within arm's reach before you get started. Good things to have on hand:
- A bathtub. For some bathtubs, there is accompanying bath support you can buy so that the baby can lie more stably in the tub (however, you must never leave your baby unattended). It works just as well to give your baby a bath in the sink, but make sure you have cleaned it thoroughly before giving the bath.
- It works very well to clean your baby with only your hands, or by using a soft washcloth.
- Use a little oil in the water to moisturize the skin (but make sure to use a proper grip, as your baby will be very slippery!) You can use olive oil, coconut oil, or baby oil.
- A soft, fluffy terrycloth towel so you can quickly wrap up and dry off your baby when the bath is over.
Preggers
More from Preggers
Read popular and relevant articles.
Breastfeeding the very first time
Straight after birth, the newborn baby tends to be awake and alert for about two hours, which is when the baby breastfeeds for the first time.
Getting the baby to latch on to the breast
It is important that the baby can latch on to the breast properly as this will reduce the risk of sore nipples, uncomfortable breastfeeding, engorgement, insufficient amounts of milk and slow weight gain in the baby.
The first days of breastfeeding
The breastfeeding pattern differs from child to child. Some babies sleep almost the entire first day after birth, while others want to feed straight away and often. Although your priority is not on yourself, make sure to sleep when the opportunity presents itself, eat well, and ensure that you get enough fluids.
Post-birth contractions
The uterus will shrink back down to its normal size after delivery. The contractions are called postpartum pains, or simply afterpains, and are similar to period pain.