First Baby Bath in 5 Easy Steps

The smell of a freshly bathed baby is enough to melt any heart. You will want to wait to give the first baby bath until the umbilical cord falls off then you can freely bathe your baby.  These easy to follow steps will help guide your experience and you will be surprised how quick the first baby bath actually is!

Gather all your bath supplies before you start and fill a baby bath tub of warm water.  Double check the temperature with your wrist to be sure it’s safe for baby. Prepare yourself for a scream, a whimper, crying or wide eyes looking at you saying "WHY??". It is hard for new moms to hear the baby cry, but remember it will over quickly, you are not hurting them and the cuddles you get while drying baby will make you both coo.

Step 1: Swaddle wrap your baby in a towel and tuck her lower body/legs under one arm. With the same arm, hold her head over the bath tub while supporting her neck and head in your hand.

Step 2: Wet her head and apply a mild, tear free baby shampoo.  Gently rub the baby shampoo around the head keeping away from the forehead and eyes.  Rinse off the shampoo and place a small towel or dry wash cloth on their head as you lift baby to your shoulder.  Rub head to dry.

Step 3: Unwrap baby from towel and lower baby into bath. Continue to support head and neck with the back of your arm while holding the arm that is farthest from you between your fingers.  Prepare for your baby to give a little jolt or throw their arms/legs out when they start to touch the water.

Step 4: With the free hand that is not holding the baby’s head/neck wash under his arms and in all the folds and creases.  Start at your baby’s neck and work your way down the body saving the diaper area for last. Rinse all soap off baby and lift into a warm towel.

Step 5: Dry baby, pat on some baby powder or lotion then diaper and dress.

This is the simplified and easy bath time that lasts about 10 minutes.  As your baby becomes more comfortable in the bath time you can extend your bath time but for most new babies it can be an overwhelming experience so keep it short and simple.

How often you bathe your baby is your preference, some prefer every other day, others prefer a couple times a week. Just be cautious, bathing the baby too often can dry out their skin.

Kristen Arnold  is a mompreneur that invented the Tubby Bundle baby bath towel. She is the mother of three young children and lives in Massachusetts with her family and beloved animals. Known by family and friends as the Mother of Three- Goddess of Chaos, she recently started a blog that celebrates the imperfections of mother hood and the chaos and joy it holds. For more information on Kristen, the Tubby Bundle or article information please visit http://www.tubbybundle.com or email info@tubbybundle.com.