Bathing Baby: This is How It Works!

Bathing your baby is not only a means to an end to clean the little ones – it is also a wonderful experience and time spent together with your child. We give tips on what you need to pay attention to when bathing your baby.

When can I start bathing my baby?

• Babies should not be bathed immediately after birth! Before the first bath the navel must have fallen off and already healed well. Otherwise germs could get into the wound. In case of doubt, it is better to ask the paediatrician or midwife first!
• In the meantime, you wash the baby with a wet washcloth. Especially after every diaper change it is very important to clean the baby with water and possibly some care oil.

How often should babies be bathed?

Babies should not be bathed too often: From the age of six to eight weeks, bathing once or twice a week is enough for the baby. A bath of five to ten minutes is sufficient. The sensitive baby skin is thus protected. And small babies in particular could become hypothermic if they bathe for a long time.

Bathing baby: Which time is suitable?

• The baby likes the bath best when it is still quite lively, in a good mood and not tired. If he is just getting hungry, this is not a good time for a bath. But he should not take a bath directly after a meal either!
• Ideally, bathing takes place on fixed bathing days and is firmly integrated into the daily routine: this allows the baby to get more involved in the routine.
• Bathing the baby in the evening has the advantage that the baby is usually very tired and sleeps well afterwards.

Preparations for bathing

• For very small babies you can use the sink as a bathtub. Then there are special baby bathtubs or buckets for babies (do not use a household bucket!): they can be placed at a comfortable height so that parents can hold the baby all the time. If the babies are already a little bigger, the baby bathtub can also be placed in the large tub: This is especially recommended when the little ones are already playing with the water properly.
• In the beginning the baby should only be bathed in clear water: Otherwise soaps or bubble baths will dry out the sensitive baby skin! Only in the case of dry skin is a little breast milk with olive oil in the bath water recommended. Only after 6 to 8 weeks are washing lotions with a pH value of 5.5 to 6 or moisturising baby care oils recommended.

• Fill the tub up to halfway with water at body temperature (36 to 37 degrees Celsius). Caution: Never add hot water to the tub as there is a risk of scalding! It is best to test the water temperature with a thermometer! Babies’ perception of pain is delayed so that they cannot react immediately to too hot water.
• Also make sure that the room temperature is pleasantly warm and has at least 23 degrees Celsius. Avoid draughts! You can also preheat the nappy-changing area for later, for example with a heat lamp.
• Place a hooded bath towel to dry off and a nappy for later. Ideally you should warm up the towel a little on the radiator.

Bathing baby: Here’s how it goes

Cleaning

• Clean your baby in the nappy area before bathing, otherwise everything will be dispersed in the bath water! Often babies don’t like water on their face either: in this case you should clean their face with a damp washcloth.

Washing

• When you put your baby in the bath, you must hold him or her firmly at all times! Especially when the little ones are already getting a little bigger, they can sometimes be very agile. Always hold your baby firmly so that he or she does not sink under water with his or her head. Avoid hectic movements. Bathing is best done calmly and gently!
• The basic rule for bathing babies is: never leave your child unattended! This is why it is so important to prepare towels etc. in advance. If you have forgotten the towel, take your baby out of the bath and bring him or her to the towel. In the beginning it can be good if two people are present and support each other while bathing. Also make sure that the baby cannot accidentally reach the water lever. To be on the safe side, you can set the lever to cold.
• Your midwife will show you the handles for bathing babies. Remember that one arm always supports the head, shoulders and upper back. With the other hand you hold the baby’s buttocks. You can also bathe the baby in the prone position – take special care to keep the head above water at all times. Let the baby glide slowly into the water (feet first) so that he or she doesn’t get scared.
• Wash it gently with a washcloth all over your body and also between the skin folds, toes, fingers and behind the ears. Finally, cleanse the genital area.
• You should wash the head last, because otherwise the baby can quickly catch a cold with wet hair.

Tip: If the baby is insecure about the water or shows fear, it can help to sing something or tell a cheerful story.

Single out

• If you have added some oil to the bath water, remember that the skin can be a little slippery when you lift it out. When lifting the baby out, it is therefore important to support the head, neck and bottom of the baby and to hold the baby with your fingers on one arm and thigh.

Drying

• Wrap your baby in a large towel directly after the bath and pat it gently but thoroughly dry all over. Pay attention to all skin folds and the spaces between the toes and fingers as well as under the armpits and behind the ears.
• You can then care for the skin with some baby oil or a mild baby lotion.
• Afterwards, the winding is ready: Again, make sure the place is nice and warm so the baby doesn’t catch cold.