Giving a newborn their first bath at home can be overwhelming. You might wonder what you should do when the right time is to bathe your baby and whose help you will need.
It’s also a good idea to know what items you’ll need on hand before you start bathing your baby.
This article explains how long it is advisable to wait before bathing a newborn, how to give them their first bath at home and when the time for full baths arrives.
When to give newborn a bath? The first bath should be given after the umbilical cord stump falls off and within 24 hours of being born. This is because as soon as you can wash/bathe your newborn, it will help prevent any infections from developing from bacteria present within urine or stool (which could cause an infection).
Bathing your baby can depend on various factors, such as whether or not your baby was born prematurely and how many weeks old they are at birth.
How Long To Wait Before First Bath?
You can bathe your newborn as soon as the cord falls off. This should occur within a week of birth, but some parents wait until after a pediatrician’s appointment or first doctor’s appointment to bathe their baby.
If you’re wondering when you should give your newborn their first bath, many different things could factor into this decision:
- When they come home from the hospital (your baby will most likely be given their first bath by one of our nurses)
- When they have an umbilical cord stump (it will fall off in 3-10 days)
- There is no set time frame for giving your baby its first bath, nor is there anything wrong with waiting until after you bring them home from either place. If you choose to wait until then, make sure that both events have happened before doing so.
When to give newborn a bath after hospital?
The first bath should be taken when the umbilical cord falls off. It’s important not to bathe your baby until after the cord is gone because water can become trapped under it and cause an infection.
The second bath should be taken when your newborn is dried and clean. This might happen at home or in the hospital, depending on where you give birth.
The third bath should be given after your baby has been sized up by a doctor and weighed so that they know how much fluid they’ve lost during labor (or if they’ve gained any).
If there were any bleeding during childbirth, it would also be measured at this point, so doctors know whether there’s been too much blood loss for the infant to survive outside of the mom’s body yet—they’ll probably want them back inside soon if that happens.
Finally: After this third bath has concluded successfully, congratulations. You’re ready for another one.
When to give newborn a bath at home?
The first time you bathe your baby should be after they have received all necessary shots and have been born vaginally, without any complications.
This is because as soon as the umbilical cord falls off and the skin has dried and is no longer shiny or moist, it’s safe to give them their first bath.
It’s important not to bathe your newborn if they have a fever, rash, or other signs of illness since this could make them more susceptible to infections while they’re in an immuno-compromised state.
It would be best if you also waited until their umbilical cord stump has dried up before giving them a full body wash (this will take around 10 – 14 days).
When to give bath a baby?
Most hospitals will let you bathe your baby immediately after birth. However, some hospitals prefer that you wait until the second day. If this is the case at your hospital, don’t worry. Your baby will still be fine.
The goal of bathing your newborn is to make sure they are clean and comfortable. It’s important not to feel pressured into using anything too special on their skin (like fancy lotions) since babies’ skin tends to be sensitive and can become irritated easily. After all, it’s just a bath—you’re not trying out for “America’s Got Talent.”
- Bathing should happen within 24 hours of birth: Studies show that bathing within 24 hours keeps babies cleaner and healthier than if they wait longer than that first day after birth.
-Parents should give their children baths: Parental involvement makes people feel more comfortable with what’s happening around them.
-Babies should be bathed in warm rooms – but not hot ones: The ideal temperature range for bathing newborns is between 68°F–72°F (20°C–22°C).
A little bit warmer than room temperature feels good on bare skin when you’re wet already because there isn’t much airflow around you; however, it can cause dehydration if it gets too high.
-Baths should be short and simple: Completing all tasks involved in planning a bath takes time away from other activities like sleeping or breastfeeding with mommy.
-Mild soap should be used during each wash
FAQs
How do you give a newborn their first bath? When it comes to bathing your newborn, there are a few things you need to have on hand.
- A sink or bathtub. If you’re using the sink, ensure the faucet can be turned off from the outside so your baby doesn’t get drenched with cold water when you rinse them off.
If you choose to use a bathtub instead of a sink, keep it filled with warm water at all times during your little one’s bath (and make sure they aren’t in any danger before doing so).
- A soft washcloth. You may want two or three of these on hand so that if one gets too wet while washing your newborn’s hair and body, it won’t cause any discomfort while they’re getting dried off.
- Baby shampoo and body wash if desired (or just plain ol’ soap). Most parents like using these because they feel like they’re cleaning their babies more thoroughly than water alone could do.
However, this should be decided between parents based on their preferences and how often they plan on giving their newborns baths—you don’t want them going overboard.
When should I first bathe my newborn? The first seven days are a time of adjustment for newborns, so it’s best to wait until after the first week to bathe your baby.
Your baby will be most comfortable with this schedule because they’ll have had time to adjust and get used to living in your home.
It’s also best to wait until after the umbilical cord stump falls off before bathing your newborn. This typically occurs around 10-14 days after birth, but it can take up to two weeks in some babies.
When to give newborn a bath? You should wait at least 12 hours after your baby is born before bathing your baby for the first time.
This gives the skin more time to adjust to life outside the womb. However, if your baby soils or is visibly dirty when the baby’s born, don’t worry about waiting this long.
If you have questions concerning when to bathe the newborn or how often newborns need baths, speak with your pediatrician.
I hope you found this article helpful, and I wish you all the best with caring for your newborn baby.