Note: NEVER leave your baby unattended while giving him a bath.

Bathing your baby is a wonderful experience but it can also be a nerve-wracking experience, especially for first-time parents. Here are some guidelines to help you give your baby comfortable tub bath sucessfully.

How Often Should a Baby Have a Bath?

Newborns can get by with one or two baths per week, or every three to four days. Your main issue with a newborn will be spitting up. If it’s warm out, baby may get sweaty, and a bath may be required.

Older babies, six months and up, should be bathed two to three times per week during winter and five to seven times a week during summer. They sit up, and start eating some solid foods at this age, so their potential for messiness is a bit higher. Once they’re up and walking around, you’ll have to use your best judgment.

Issues With Bathing Too Frequently

Baby’s skin is very sensitive, and it’s prone to drying out much easier than adult skin. Frequent use of soaps can dry and irritate sensitive skin. In addition, sitting in soapy water can cause urinary tract infections in girls.

Where to Bathe Baby

The place where you give your baby a tub bath should be comfort and safe. The place should be free from any sharp objects and bathing supplies should be within arm's reach so that your one hand should always be holding the baby. Also it should be a comfortable place providing enough space for you and the baby.

1. Bathroom: Of course, the bathtub is the natural spot to bathe older children. But babies, whether newborn or old are small enough for a tub, have more options. Sometimes the bathroom floor is the perfect place to give baby a sponge bath or a quick soak in the baby tub. You have all of the essentials nearby, from water to towels, and you can keep the after bath stuff in one room. You can also place the baby tub directly in the bathtub, making access to water even easier.

2. Kitchen: Another place with ready access to water is the kitchen. The kitchen sink has been a ready standby for parents for a long time. It’s the perfect size to bathe a baby in, and it’s at a comfortable height for mom or dad to work.

Basic Supplies

1. Baby bathtub
2. Baby washcloths (preferably one for rinsing and one for soaping)
3. Towel
4. Baby soap and shampoo, if you are using them
5. Clean diaper
6. Clean clothes or pajamas

How to Give a Tub Bath

1. Start with only a few inches of warm (not hot) water - the ideal water temperature is 90 degree F to 100 degree F. Swirl water with your hand to make sure there are no hot spots, and always double check the water temperature using the inside of your wrist before you place your baby in the water.
2. Using one arm to gently support your baby's back, head and neck, gently place her in the baby tub. Continue to support her with one arm while bathing her with the other.
3. Start by gently washing your baby's eyes with a cotton round dampened with clean, warm water. Use a new cotton round for each eye and always wipe from the inside corner of the eye outward. Then, using a soft washcloth, wipe around your baby's mouth, nose and whole face, working from the middle outward. Wipe the creases in her neck and don't forget behind her ears!
4. You can use cotton swabs to clean hard-to-reach places, but always use safety swabs especially designed for babies. They are specifically designed to prevent you from pushing the cotton tip too deeply into your baby's ear canal or nose. Clean only what you can see - never put anything deep into your baby's ear canal or nose.
5. For younger babies, wet a baby washcloth with warm water and use a gentle cleanser formulated for babies. If your baby has more hair, you may need to use a gentle shampoo. To wash your baby's hair, wet the washcloth and apply a small amount of baby shampoo. Massage over your baby's entire head. Do not be afraid to gently wash the soft spots (called fontanels) on your baby's head. Rinse the cloth well with warm water. Add more water to the washcloth and use it to remove the shampoo from your baby's head.
6. Wash the diaper area last. For a baby girl, cleanse the genital area washing from front to back. For an uncircumcised boy, gently wash the penis and genital area, also washing from front to back, and dry thoroughly. Avoid pulling back the foreskin.
7. Now let your baby take a few moments in the tub to enjoy the warm water. Generally, newborns love this moment. Pour cupfuls of water over your baby's body to keep her warm. Don't run water directly from the faucet as water temperature can change suddenly.
8. Be careful lifting your baby out of the tub. Wrap both hands around your baby's chest under her arms, and taking care to support your baby's head, lift her out of the tub and quickly wrap her in a towel. Take a moment to cuddle with her. This is another nice moment for your baby: she'll feel warm, protected and cozy wrapped in the towel.

After the Bath

Dry your baby well in all the creases, as excessive moisture may lead to skin irritation. Before dressing her, apply a gentle baby moisturizer for healthy and comfortable feeling skin. Take a moment to massage the lotion or oil into your baby's limbs back and tummy, to help her relax. It's also important to keep your hands baby soft and smooth by remembering to moisturize them after washing your baby.

Apply a thin film of diaper ointment onto your baby's bottom to protect her skin. A diaper ointment helps prevent and treat diaper rash by sealing out wetness.

Wrap your baby in a receiving blanket to keep her warm. Fold it up over her feet and across her middle. Now you can brush her hair with a soft brush. If your baby has flakes on her scalp, she may have cradle cap. Learn more about it here.

A bath is a perfect way to create a separation between "busy time" and "bedtime", while giving you the chance to bond with your baby. And now your beautiful clean baby is snug and cozy, wrapped in her blanket. Just in time for a lullaby.

Bath Time Safety

Safety is key when it comes to bath time. Here are some pointers:

Be sure the water is not too hot. You can use the inside of your wrist, as described above, to test the water, or you can purchase a bath thermometer from most department stores.

Set your water heater at 120 degrees. This will prevent accidents from scalding.

Never leave a baby unattended near water.

If you are bathing the baby on a table, countertop, or changing table, be sure to keep one hand on the baby at all times to prevent the baby from rolling or falling off of a high surface.