There’s no denying, the thought of bathing a newborn can be rather daunting... What if the water’s too hot? Or too cold? Or worse still, you drop them? Newborns are tiny, squirmy and quite slippery when wet, so it’s no wonder many parents worry about their baby’s first bath.
However, a little bit of prior knowledge (and planning) can make a big difference when the time comes to introduce your little one to the water for the first time. Here are some tips to help you get the hang of it – and put your mind at ease.
Their very first bath
Don’t worry, newborns aren’t usually bathed straight after the birth; it’s more important to keep them warm and, of course, welcome them to the world with a cuddle!
Delaying that first wash also gives the natural anti-germ barrier on their skin, called vernix, time to sink in. This helps to moisturise their delicate skin and protect them from bacterial infections. [1]
But sometime, during the first 24 hours or so, you’ll probably want to clean your little one up. And there are two ways to do this.