The first bath at home

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends waiting 24 hours after birth before the first bath, or at least six hours. The main reason is warmth: wet skin loses heat, and a newborn can’t yet make up for lost heat very well. Studies also found that babies were more likely to be exclusively breastfed when the first bath did not happen in the first six hours. So those first hours are best saved for skin-to-skin cuddles and the first latch.

At home, this matters most after a very early discharge or a home birth: the first bath should be no earlier than the next day. The whitish, creamy coating many babies are born with is called vernix. It isn’t dirt—it protects and cares for the skin, so just let it soak in.

Once you’re home, there’s nothing to “catch up” on. A newborn hardly gets dirty. Whether you bathe your newborn for the first time on day 3, day 10, or only at 10 weeks because you’ve only been doing sponge baths so far doesn’t matter. You haven’t missed anything, and you can start whenever you want.

Preemies and small babies: Babies born before 37 completed weeks are considered preterm. Babies born at 35 or 36 weeks, and babies with a low birth weight, also lose heat faster, and a bath can be stressful for them. For these babies: keep baths shorter, warm the room well, try a swaddled bath if you like (instructions below), and ask the NICU team or your pediatrician first.

In the US, most families don’t get home visits after the birth; your baby’s first checkup is usually at 3 to 5 days old at the pediatrician’s office. That doesn’t put you at a disadvantage: this article explains every step so clearly that you can do it on your own. If you have extra questions, these places can help:

• Pediatrician’s office: Bring your questions about bathing and the navel to the 3-to-5-day checkup or the 1-month checkup.

• Your OB-GYN or midwife: They’re there for questions about your own recovery; your postpartum care should wrap up with a full checkup by 12 weeks.

• Home visiting programs: If everything feels like too much, some communities offer free home visiting programs for new parents; your pediatrician or local health department can tell you what’s available.

• Classes: Many hospitals and community centers offer newborn-care classes that often show bathing on a doll.

Asking for support is still worth it even in week 10—but you don’t need anyone else in order to bathe your baby.

Short answer: both are okay. If sponge baths feel better to you, stick with them until the navel has healed. If the navel looks calm and not irritated and your baby enjoys the water, there’s little reason not to do a short bath. Different expert bodies weigh this a little differently:

• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): sponge baths only until the stump falls off, usually after one to two weeks.

• British health service (NHS): keep the navel clean and dry; some British hospitals allow a shallow bath with plain water even before the stump falls off.

• Some guidelines see it differently: if there are no signs of infection, bathing before the navel heals is also okay, but sponge baths are completely sufficient.

A small Canadian study from 2004 of 102 healthy full-term babies found no difference in cord healing between tub baths and sponge baths; the babies who were bathed even lost less heat. One older study doesn’t answer everything—but it does argue against the idea that a short bath harms a healthy navel. No matter which you choose, this is how to care for the cord area:

• Dry is best. Don’t put anything on it: no powder, no ointment, no bandage, no alcohol, no disinfectant spray—unless a clinician has prescribed it.

• Clean only if needed, for example if urine or poop gets on it: use a cotton pad and plain water, then pat dry with a fresh pad. No cotton swabs, no hair dryer.

• Fasten the diaper below the navel or fold the front edge down so air can get to it.

• Never pull on the stump, even if it’s hanging by just a thread. If it’s still attached after three weeks, mention it at your pediatrician’s office.

• A few drops of blood when it falls off are normal, and so is a little oozing for a few days. If the navel keeps oozing longer than that, or a small pink, moist lump remains, have it checked at the office. Redness, swelling, or odor are not normal—see the “Watch for these signs” box.

Go through the list before you turn on the faucet. Anything missing now would mean leaving to get it later—and once your baby is in the tub, that’s no longer an option.

• baby bathtub or bath bucket, set on a non-slip surface

• a bath thermometer

• two towels: one hooded towel for your baby, one dry towel as a base at the changing area; warming them up beforehand is fine—warm, not hot

• two washcloths or cotton pads, kept separate for the upper body and the diaper area

• a muslin cloth for grip in the water or for a swaddled bath

• a fresh diaper and clothes, already unfastened and laid out in the order you’ll need them

• if at all, and only after the first month: a mild, fragrance-free cleanser

And for you: wash your hands, take off rings, your watch, and bracelets, tie back long hair, keep fingernails short. Put your phone on silent, but keep it within reach—not to check messages, but so you can call 911 (or your local emergency number) without letting go of your baby in an emergency. If you have a cold sore, don’t touch it, wash your hands especially well, and don’t kiss your baby: herpes can be dangerous for newborns. If someone else can do bath time instead, even better.

Warmth: warm the bathroom to at least 73.4 °F (23 °C), keep the window and door closed, and make sure no fan or air conditioning is blowing into the room. If you use a space heater, run it beforehand, then switch it off and take it out before you run the bath. A heat lamp above the changing area is fine if it’s permanently mounted, follows the manufacturer’s minimum distance, and is never above the tub.

The right spot: ideally, the tub and changing area are right next to each other, so you don’t have to carry a wet baby through the house.

• On a changing table attachment: easier on your back, but only with a secure support that the manufacturer has approved for a filled tub.

• Inside the full-size bathtub or shower tray: very stable, but you’ll be kneeling in front of it, ideally on a cushion.

• On the floor: on top of a towel, stable against tipping, especially good for a bath bucket.

• Don’t balance it on a washing machine, stool, or the edge of the tub. The sink isn’t ideal either—your baby can bump into the faucet.

While you’re getting things ready, your baby waits in their own crib, not on the changing table. Never carry a filled tub: drain it through the plug or scoop it out—after a C-section, ideally let someone else do it.

Not right after breastfeeding or a bottle, not hungry, and not when your baby is already tired and fussy—that’s the NHS advice too. For a newborn who feeds every two to three hours, that can sound like a tiny window. As a practical rule of thumb, about half an hour after a feed, at the start of an awake period, works well—when your baby looks content and has stopped spitting up.

Watch for early hunger cues: lip-smacking, rooting, sticking out the tongue, bringing a hand to the mouth. Crying is a late cue. If your baby is hungry, feeding comes first and the bath can wait. If hunger shows up halfway through the bath, you can stop anytime. After the bath, offer the breast or bottle right away if needed—skin to skin is lovely too, because it warms and calms your baby.

And if you’re exhausted yourself, bath time can happen tomorrow. Your baby won’t miss a thing.

Baby bath water should be 96.8 to 98.6 °F (36–37 °C), about body temperature—if you’re unsure, slightly too cool is better than too warm. Run cold water first, then hot, and mix it well so no hot spots remain. Then measure it, and check once more right before your baby goes in, because the water cools while you’re getting ready.

The feel test helps too—not with your fingertips, but with the thin skin at your elbow or the inside of your wrist. The water should feel pleasantly warm there, not prickly and not hot. If you don’t have the bath thermometer today, this test is the backup plan: a little too cool is better, and then keep the bath shorter.

Why be this exact? Baby skin scalds much faster than ours: water at 140 °F (60 °C) can cause second-degree burns after just three seconds.

How deep? For a baby tub, the AAP suggests around 2 inches (5 cm) of water—your baby should lie in the water, not float in it. But the water level is not what makes a bath safe, because just a couple of inches are enough for drowning. The only real safety is your hand.

Do not run more water while your baby is in the tub. The temperature from the faucet can change suddenly. If the water gets too cool, the bath is over—five minutes is enough anyway. Topping up is only an option if a second adult holds your baby, wrapped up warm, the whole time.

Before you bathe your baby: From this point on, keep one hand on your baby until they’re dressed again, and keep everything within reach—that’s what keeps them safe. The bath hold may feel awkward the first time, but after a few baths it will feel natural. Feel free to practice it dry first—with a doll or a rolled-up towel while your baby sleeps.

1. 1

   Face first, at the changing area: wash the eyes and face with fresh water as you would for a sponge bath (see below), while your baby is still dressed. In the tub, you’ll then wash only the body.

2. 2

   Undress: take the diaper off last. If the diaper area is dirty, clean it first so the bath water stays clear.

3. 3

   The hold (for right-handers; reverse if you’re left-handed): your left forearm goes under your baby’s neck and shoulders, with the head resting near your wrist. Your left hand holds your baby’s left upper arm—the arm farther away from you—with your thumb on top and your other fingers in the armpit. Your right hand supports the bottom and thighs. Never hold your baby by the hand or wrist—wet skin slips.

4. 4

   Lowering in: slowly lower your baby into the water, feet and bottom first, with the head slightly higher than the body. Many babies startle if they feel themselves sinking backward without support, so go slowly—placing a muslin cloth over the chest and belly can help. Mouth, nose, and eyes always stay above water; the back of the head and the ears can get wet.

5. 5

   Washing: once the bottom is resting on the base of the tub, your right hand is free. Wash from top to bottom: neck and skin folds, arms and hands, belly and legs. The diaper area comes last—right below this list you’ll see how.

6. 6

   Keeping warm: whatever sticks out of the water cools down quickly. So keep pouring warm water over the chest and belly.

7. 7

   Back: you don’t need to turn your baby over for this. Just slide the washcloth under the back and bottom while your baby stays on their back—that stays the easiest option later on too.

8. 8

   Hair, if needed: tip the head slightly back on your forearm and use the wet washcloth to wipe water from the forehead toward the back of the head, so nothing runs into the eyes. You can wash the fontanel, the soft spot on the head, completely normally and gently; just don’t press on it.

9. 9

   Lifting out: the hooded towel is already spread out on the changing area, hood at the top. Using the same hold again, with your right hand back under the bottom, lift your baby close to your body straight into it. Hood up—a wet head loses heat fast.

10. 10

    Drying: pat, don’t rub, and be thorough in every fold: neck, behind the ears, armpits, groin, between fingers and toes. Dry the ears only on the outside, never with cotton swabs. The navel last.

11. 11

    Getting dressed: fasten the diaper below the navel, get dressed, and take the hood off once the hair is dry. If you need to turn away, take your baby with you or put your baby on the floor.

12. 12

    Draining the water: only once your baby is safely in the crib or with another person.

Genital care—here’s how: For girls, always wash from front to back, from the vagina toward the bottom, so bowel bacteria don’t get pushed forward. Clean the labia only on the outside, and gently. A little whitish discharge or a little blood from the vagina is normal in newborn girls. For boys, never pull back the foreskin, because in the first years it is normally still attached to the glans. Wash only the outside, plus the scrotum and the fold underneath, and dry everything well.

Bathing with two adults: if a second adult is there the first time—your partner, a grandparent, a friend, or a neighbor you trust—one person holds your baby with both hands at the head and bottom while the other washes. Next bath, switch.

Bathing alone is the norm in many families and works fine with these instructions: keep everything within reach without taking a step, don’t answer the phone, and if the water gets cool, end the bath instead of topping it up.

Never leave your baby alone in the water, not even for a few seconds. Not for the towel, not for the phone, not for the door. Drowning happens quickly and silently, without splashing and without crying—and just an inch or two of water is enough, the amount that’s in every baby tub.

If the doorbell rings, you have only two options: don’t answer it, or wrap your baby in the towel and take your baby with you. Also:

• Bath aids do not replace a hand on your baby. Bath seats and bath rings can tip, and the AAP advises against bath seats. Reclined supports, mesh slings, and newborn inserts save your back, but they tempt you to take both hands off for a second.

• Don’t use neck float rings at all. They’re marketed even for babies just a few weeks old; in 2022, the FDA explicitly warned against them after a death.

• Siblings are not supervision, not even older ones and not even for a moment. An older child may watch, but hot water stays out of their reach.

• Keep electricity and water apart: hair dryers, space heaters, and other electrical devices do not belong near the tub.

• One hand stays on your baby at the changing table too. Falls from changing tables are among the common accidents in the first year of life, and even newborns can push off surprisingly hard.

The short answer: Bathe your baby 1–3 times a week for 5–10 minutes each time. On the other days, a sponge bath is enough, because more frequent bathing can dry out delicate skin. For the very first bath, even 2 or 3 minutes is plenty.

And every day? It isn’t necessary, but it’s fine if your baby loves the water and the skin stays soft—for example as part of the bedtime routine. Just keep it short: no more than five minutes. If the skin looks dry or flaky, go back to bathing less often.

That’s also the general view of the AAP and the NHS—with small differences in the number, not in the principle.

A sponge bath keeps your baby clean between baths. You’ll need two bowls of tap water at body temperature, checked with your elbow—one for the upper body and one for the diaper area—plus soft cotton pads or two washcloths, a towel, and a fresh diaper. Lay your baby on the changing mat in a warm room and cover them with the towel. Only uncover the area you’re washing so the rest stays warm. And here too, keep one hand on your baby at all times.

1. 1

   Eyes: use a damp pad to gently wipe over the closed eye; use a fresh pad for each eye and for each wipe. Different guidance describes wiping from inner to outer or the other way around; what matters is the fresh pad.

2. 2

   Face and ears: pat the face clean, and clean the ears only on the outside and behind them. Cotton swabs do not belong in the ear.

3. 3

   Neck: milk tends to collect in the neck folds. Lift the chin gently and wipe out the folds.

4. 4

   Hands and armpits: many newborns keep their fists tightly closed. Gently open the fingers and wash the palms and armpit folds.

5. 5

   Navel: while the stump is still attached, clean only if dirty, using plain water, then pat dry.

6. 6

   Diaper area last: use the second bowl and fresh pads; for girls, wipe front to back, and for boys, do not retract the foreskin.

7. 7

   Pat dry: be especially thorough in all skin folds, then get dressed again right away.

It takes barely five minutes and is gentle on the skin. On hectic days, face, neck, hands, and bottom are enough too.

Plain water is enough for baby skin in the first month. The NHS advises avoiding bath additives, lotions, and wipes with added ingredients during this time—meaning scented wipes, alcohol-based wipes, or wipes coated with lotion. At home, water and a washcloth are the gentlest option; use wipes only when you’re out, and choose fragrance-free ones.

Later on, if anything at all, a mild fragrance-free cleanser is enough, used sparingly and only where it’s needed, such as the diaper area. Bubble baths dry out delicate skin.

Two clear no’s: no cold-relief or herbal baths, and nothing with essential oils such as camphor, eucalyptus, menthol, or peppermint. German risk assessment experts warn that even small amounts can trigger a life-threatening spasm of the voice box with breathing stopping in babies. And no baby powder: if inhaled, it harms the airways.

If the skin peels in the first weeks, that usually isn’t a cause for concern—especially in babies born after their due date. In them, the protective vernix has mostly disappeared before birth. If the skin stays very dry, ask at your pediatrician’s office. If you use an oil bath or moisturizing additive, it goes into the water last; it makes your baby slippery, so hold on tighter. Olive oil is not a good choice; the NHS advises against it.

Yellowish, greasy scales on the scalp (cradle cap) are harmless. Don’t pick them off: soften them with a little fragrance-free cream, then gently loosen them with a soft baby brush. If the patches are red, swollen, or oozing, show them at your pediatrician’s office.

After the bath: healthy baby skin does not need lotion. Fingernails are easiest to trim now, softened by the water, with rounded baby scissors following the curve of the nail. If you like, you can follow with a little massage: use warm hands to stroke the belly in calm circles and gently smooth along the arms and legs—in the first month, without oil.

Do I need a baby bathtub at all? No. It’s practical because your baby can lie in it and you can easily reach every area. But you can also bathe your baby in the full-size tub with just a couple of inches of water while you kneel in front of it—the bathing hold is the same. If you buy one, look for a non-slip base, a drain plug, and a size that fits your space.

The bath bucket: your baby sits upright and curled up in it, almost like in the womb, surrounded by warm water up to the shoulders. Some newborns visibly relax in it; others don’t like it at all. Here’s how to use it safely:

1. 1

   Set the bucket on the floor or inside the empty full-size tub, never on the changing table or washing machine—it’s tall and narrow and tips easily.

2. 2

   Fill it so the water reaches your baby’s shoulders when seated, and measure 96.8–98.6 °F (36–37 °C).

3. 3

   Using the bathing hold, lower your baby in slowly, bottom first, legs bent.

4. 4

   Then one hand supports the chin, with thumb and index finger along the lower jaw and no pressure on the neck. The other hand rests at the back of the head and neck. The head stays above water, and you do not let go.

5. 5

   A bucket is more for relaxing than for washing. To lift your baby out, put one hand under the armpits and the other under the bottom, straight into the towel.

6. 6

   Once your baby no longer sits comfortably in it, it’s time for the tub.

If the bucket makes you feel unsure, just stick with the tub.

Bathing together in the full-size tub can be lovely, especially for babies who cry in the small tub. The NHS explicitly suggests it when a baby is afraid of bathing. Here’s how to make it safe:

• The temperature is set for your baby: 96.8 to 98.6 °F (36–37 °C), even if that feels cool to you.

• Bend your knees and lay your baby on their back along your thighs, head toward your knees, so you can look at each other. Use only enough water for the body to lie in the water while the mouth and nose stay clear.

• Use a non-slip mat in the tub, and no bath oil or foam—both make things slippery.

• Only if you’re alert and unimpaired: not overtired, not after alcohol, and not after medication that makes you sleepy. If you feel dizzy, end the bath.

• With two adults: get into the tub first by yourself, then have your baby handed to you; before you get out, hand your baby back.

• Alone: lay your baby, wrapped in a towel, on a blanket on the floor right next to the tub, get in, then pick your baby up to you. To get out, put your baby back there first. If that feels too wobbly, only do shared baths when someone else is there.

Whether you yourself should get into a tub bath yet depends on your birth. Many midwives advise waiting until the postpartum bleeding has stopped—usually after six to eight weeks—and a C-section wound has healed. If you’re unsure, ask your OB-GYN or midwife, for example at your postpartum checkup.

And showering? We’d skip it with a newborn in your arms: you’re both slippery, you don’t have a free hand, and the spray hits the face. If you only have a shower, put the baby tub in the shower tray.

Looking ahead: your baby should sit alone in the full-size tub only once they can sit steadily without support—and even then, never unsupervised. Bath seats remain off-limits.

Some babies love water from day one, others protest loudly. Both are normal. Your baby doesn’t need to learn how to bathe; your baby is allowed to get used to it at your baby’s own pace. Often there’s something simple behind it: it’s too cool, hunger is kicking in, sleepiness is already there—or after months in a snug womb, all that water suddenly feels endless. What can help:

• Check the warmth: is the room warm enough, is there a draft somewhere, has the water already cooled down?

• Give more security: lay a muslin cloth loosely over the chest and belly, or try a swaddled bath.

• Make it shorter: two or three minutes in the water count too.

• Take a break: do only sponge baths for a few days, then try again—maybe in the bucket or together with you in the full-size tub.

The swaddled bath, step by step: hospitals use it especially with preemies because the gentle boundary feels secure. You can do it on your own too:

1. 1

   Spread out a thin, large muslin or cotton cloth and lay your undressed baby on it.

2. 2

   Place the arms bent over the chest and wrap the cloth loosely around them. The legs stay bent and able to move, which is good for the hips.

3. 3

   Using the bathing hold through the cloth, slowly lower your baby into the water. The fabric soaks up water and keeps your baby warm; hold just as firmly as you normally would.

4. 4

   To wash, unwrap only one arm or leg at a time, wash it, then fold the cloth back over it.

5. 5

   At the end, open the wet cloth and lift your baby straight into the dry towel.

If your baby cries only after the bath, they’re often cold during drying and dressing, or hungry. Then this helps: wrap up quickly, offer the breast or bottle, cuddle skin to skin.

Is your baby warm enough? Feel at the back of the neck or between the shoulder blades: warm and dry is right, sweaty means too warm. Cool hands and feet on their own are normal. If your baby gets restless in the water, the skin feels cool, or the lips turn pale, end the bath. To warm up, place your baby skin to skin on your chest and cover both of you. Never use a hot-water bottle, heating pad, electric blanket, or microwavable heat pack—there’s a risk of burns or overheating.

In the first few weeks, it doesn’t matter whether you bathe your baby in the morning or evening. Newborns don’t yet know the difference between day and night; a rhythm usually starts to show at around 8 weeks and becomes more established over the months that follow. Just pick a calm awake window when you both have time.

After that, bath time can become one part of the evening: bath, cuddles or a short massage, breast or bottle, sleep sack, a quiet song, lights out. Repeating the same sequence gives babies orientation. In one study of children 7 to 36 months old, children with a consistent bedtime routine fell asleep faster and woke less often—but the study was funded by a baby skincare manufacturer, and it looked at the whole routine, not the bath on its own.

For a baby under 3 months, that means: you can try an evening routine, but you don’t have to. Some babies perk up in water instead of getting sleepy. If that’s your baby, bathe in the morning and use a different cue in the evening: putting on the sleep sack, dimming the lights, the same song every time. A routine works without water too.