Bath Time

Parenting Resources and Community Outreach

Sponge bathe baby daily until the cord has fallen off and the navel has healed (usually after the first two weeks). After that, only three or four baths a week are necessary, since frequent baths may dry his skin.

Baby’s bath time should be a pleasant experience for both of you. Bath water should be lukewarm, never hot, and the room free from drafts. Choose a mild soap (such as Dove or Johnson’s Baby Bath). Use only a small amount of warm water in a sink or baby bath vessel. Always test the water before putting baby in and never leave baby unattended in or near water. Remember, a baby can drown in as little as 2 inches of water.

Hold your baby securely during bathing. Wash gently; never scrub harshly. Pay attention to skin creases, especially around the neck, underarms and diaper area. For baby girls, always wash the genital area by wiping gently from front to back.

Shampoo hair and scalp with a soft baby brush. Rinse your baby thoroughly. It’s a good idea to have two towels ready – one to dry her and one to bundle her in to keep baby warm before you dress her.

Use baby nail clippers or scissors to trim your baby’s nails occasionally after bathing, when the nails are especially soft, or while she is sleeping. Filing nails with an emery board is a good alternative to clipping.

Genitalia Care

If your baby boy was circumcised, clean the penis with warm water and carefully dry it with each diaper change during the first few days. Do not use soap or alcohol. Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to keep the penis from sticking to the diaper. Later, once the circumcision is healed, routine cleaning at bath time is all that is necessary.

For girls, a white discharge from the vagina is normal. Occasionally the discharge may be blood tinged like a “period,” a normal result of your higher hormone levels during pregnancy. This will soon stop. Clean by gently wiping from front to back at diaper changes and bath time.

Cord and Navel Care

It is important to keep the navel clean and dry until the cord has fallen off and the belly button has healed. This generally occurs by 2 weeks of age.

Always keep the baby’s diapers secured below the belly button and cord to allow the cord to dry and prevent infection. A small amount of bleeding as the cord separates is normal. Contact your pediatrician if you notice continuous bleeding, oozing, foul-smelling discharge or redness.