Baby's bath: how to bath your baby?

Into the water! It's baby's bath time! A moment of relaxation but also of stress for parents, so here are all our tips for the perfect bath!

Where should you bathe baby?

In a baby bath:

It's probably the most practical and most economical way to give baby a bath.

Practical, because these baths are specially designed for baby's size. They're often slightly tilted so you can lay baby down safely.

And to avoid ending up on your knees every day, you can choose a baby bath with a stand. Raised up like this, you can bathe your baby while standing.

Also, make sure your baby bath has a small plug hole at the bottom. It will make it much easier to empty. For raised baby baths, choose ones fitted with a small drainage hose. You can point the hose straight into your bathtub, shower or washbasin and avoid having to empty it by hand (10 litres of water is heavy!)

The baby bath is also one of the most economical options, as you’ll use much less water than with a standard bath.

Price-wise, you can find them online from around €20.

On a bath seat:

Another alternative: the bath seat. It is used for babies from around 0 to 6 months. It is an inclined plastic board that sits on or attaches to the bottom of your bathtub. In terms of practicality, it offers the same advantages as a baby bath. Using it in your bathtub, you are likely to use a lot of water. There are bath reducers to cut down your water consumption. But this solution is often expenssive and not always effective.
Price-wise, you'll find baby bath seats online for around €15.

In a bath or a washbasin

While baby baths and bath seats are more comfortable and reassuring, especially for parents, they are not essential. A very clean washbasin or a large basin can also do the job perfectly well for newborns.

When should you bathe baby?

The best time to bathe baby is when they are calm and awake.
The time of day doesn’t really matter.

How do you prepare baby's bath?

Before you go and get baby for their bath, start by getting everything you need ready in advance:

My First Splashes Complete Pouch

Hooded towel or bath towel
Baby soap or body wash
Baby shampoo (unless your soap/body wash is 2-in-1)
Clean clothes (bodysuit and sleepsuit)
A nappy

While you're getting all their things ready, you can start running the bath.

No need for lots of water: for newborns, a few centimetres is enough.

The ideal bath temperature should be the same as baby's: 37°C.

It's also the temperature baby lived in for 9 months in mum's tummy.

Make sure you don’t bathe your baby in water that’s too cold or too hot. To do this, get a bath thermometer so you can easily adjust the water temperature. Opt for a digital thermometer that shows the temperature directly. It’s so much more practical day to day. Make sure the bath temperature is the same throughout by stirring the water a little before reading the temperature.

Feel free to read our article on newborn temperature for more details.

Remember to take off any rings or bracelets that could scratch your baby's skin.

It's bath time!

Newborn bath Everything's ready. You can now go and get baby.

Before putting baby in the water, clean their bottom well after taking off their nappy.

Never leave baby unattended and hold them throughout the bath. A baby can drown in less than 4 cm of water. So stay vigilant at all times! Hold your baby with one hand and keep everything you need within reach.

How to bath your baby

Hold your baby's bottom and one thigh in one hand. Then place your other hand under their armpit, with their neck and head resting on your wrist and forearm.

Until your baby can sit up on their own, always keep your hand under their armpit, behind their neck.

Once baby is in the water, you can free up the hand that was supporting their bottom so you can wash them.

We recommend using a mild soap and shampoo, organic if possible, to avoid any risk of allergic reaction.

Start by washing your baby's hair (two or three times a week is plenty). Never run water from the tap or shower while your baby is in the bath (risk of scalding): rinse your baby's hair by hand or with a small cup.

For the rest of the body, soap baby from the cleanest to the dirtiest areas: start with the head, then wash the body and finish with the genitals. Then, last of all, clean baby's bottom. Use the bath water to rinse your baby (by hand or with a small container).

Baby is all clean, so it's time to get out of the bath.

Dry your baby by wrapping them in a towel or a hooded towel. Keep baby well wrapped in their towel throughout drying. This prevents any heat loss and reassures baby.

premiers moments hooded towel To dry them properly, don't rub their skin with the towel, as this could irritate their delicate skin: gently pat their skin with the towel, all over their body.

To prevent redness, make sure every little fold of skin is completely dry. (neck, between the legs, thighs, arms…)

It's usually the perfect moment to interact with your baby. Make the most of it to talk to them, smile at them or smother them with kisses.

Finally, once your baby is completely dry, put their nappy on!

After 1 month (not before), if you need to cut your baby’s nails, just after the bath is the best time!

And why not make the most of after-bath time to give your baby a lovely massage with an oil or a moisturising cream? Babies adore it!

Should you bath your baby every day?

If you like, you can bath your little one every day, especially if they really enjoy it.

But bathing a newborn every two or three days is enough. Until they start walking, little ones sweat very little and don’t get very dirty (unless it’s very hot or they spit up, for example).
On days without a bath, a quick wash is still needed: clean baby’s face, neck and hands with cotton wool soaked in saline solution.

If the thought of the first bath makes you nervous, don't hesitate to ask for advice: family and friends who have been there will be delighted to help!

Dylan
Proud dad of three little ones and founder of Premiers Moments. Together with the whole team, I share our parenting tips here to support you, from pregnancy through your child's first years.