Whereas doctors advise giving newborn and small babies an infant sponge bath during the initial weeks and months, once your baby gets a bit older you can give them a bath in a baby bath tub. Since babies easily get cold, and your baby’s safety during the bath is crucial, there’s alot to keep in mind while bathing your baby. Let’s take a look!

Best Room Temperature for Baby

Before bathing your baby, make sure your home thermometer is set to the correct temperature. Health authorities advise that the best temperature for babies is between 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit or 20 to 22 degrees Celsius. Keep rooms within this range so that your baby stays comfortably warm generally and does not get overly chilly during and after baths. Experts also advise bathing your baby in a smaller, enclosed space (such as the bathroom) versus an open kitchen and making sure windows and doors are shut to avoid drafts.

Safety Rules when Bathing a Baby

How do I bathe my baby safely? While bathing your baby, you cannot leave them for any reason, and you must keep one hand on the baby at all times. Do not answer the door nor your phone. If you have to go do something, take your baby out of the bath, wrap them in a towel, and take them with you. Regarding how much water can be placed in your baby bath tub, you can either place a small amount of water in the bottom, just a few inches, or you can leave the baby bath tub dry since it will inevitably fill up as you wash and rinse off your baby.

Baby’s Bath Temperature

What temp should a baby’s bath be? A baby’s bath temp should be set at 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.8 degrees Celsius. Many sources recommend setting the thermostat on your water heater to below 120 Fahrenheit (49 C) to prevent scalding hot water. To ensure the perfect temperature for a baby bath, most parents just sample the bath water with their fingers. Make sure to swirl the bath water around with your hands to make sure there are no hot patches. There are also some baby bath toys that conveniently include thermometers.

Where Should I Bathe My Baby?

Locate the baby bath tub in a safe place with you standing right by at all times, with one hand on your baby. The inside of your bathtub is not a great option at first since that means crouching over into the tub, which will strain your back. Try placing the baby bath tub on top of a towel on your bathroom floor.  If you choose to bathe your baby on the counter in your bathroom, you have to frame the baby with your body, pay careful attention, and not leave, pick up your phone, or respond to someone else. It’s hands on deck when you’re bathing your baby!

Best Time to Bathe a Baby

Bathe your baby when they seem comfortable – not when they are hungry, tired, full, or fussy. That said, for breastfeeding moms, the best time to bathe a baby generally is right before a breastfeeding session since that way they will be nice and alert and ready to nurse. Babies tend to fall asleep alot on the breast and bathing your baby first can help with this issue. 

Baby Bath Essentials

Now, with these baby safety guidelines behind me, what baby bath essentials do I need to bathe my baby? Remember that having these baby bath essentials within hands reach is part of your safety routine since this allows you to keep one hand on your baby.

Kitchen Bowl filled with Warm Water

Fill a kitchen bowl with warm, not hot, water. Any large bowl will do. Make sure that your water is the correct temperature. Aim for 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 Celsius) and test the water with your fingers. 

Cups for Rinsing Baby

You’ll need a few cups for rinsing your baby. You might want to have one with sudsy water and another with clean, warm water. Any type of cup will do. I use kitchen glasses.

Baby Soap

Baby skin is more prone to dryness and rashes than that of adults. The best baby soap’s are simple, free of fragrances, colors, sulfates, and preservatives, and gentle on baby’s skin. These ingredients can worsen dry skin and eczema and strip the skin of natural oils. Pay careful attention to ingredients and sample a few brands to see what you like the best. No matter which soap you opt for, after their bath your baby undoubtedly will have that lovely, new baby smell. It’s your baby’s trademark! (Smile).

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Baby Bath Towels

Opt for thick, plushy towels and, if your baby is small, place one right inside the baby bath tub. You might want to also put a thick towel down underneath the baby bath tub. Many parents like a hooded towel for after bath, which is a good way to keep your baby’s head warm. Hooded towels for babies come in cute designs (including with ears and horns) so check them out.

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How to Bathe a Baby Step-by-Step

So with all that said, here’s a step by step to bathing your baby in an infant bath tub. 

• Prepare baby bath tub and place towel inside 
• Place baby bathing essentials within hands reach 
• Fill kitchen mixing bowl with warm water (test with your hands)
• Place cups around bowl – fill one with warm, sudsy water 
• Fetch your baby and undress them (make sure they do not pee on you!)
• Tighten the belt of the baby bath tub insert to make sure your baby does not slide around
• Wash the front side of your baby, including their neck, fingers and toes, behind the knees, ankles, and private parts, carefully going between all the folds. Avoid the face for now.
• Rinse your baby’s front, making sure to get all the soap off, by gently pouring warm water on them.
• Now, with your baby’s front nice and clean, it’s time to wash your baby’s back. Gently lift your baby up to access their back. Try holding your baby with your arm across their front and your hand under one arm pit. Lather up the back, under the arms, and the neck area.
• Rinse your baby’s back
• Place your baby back on their back, and later up their head and hair
• Rinse while holding your hand across the top of your baby’s forehead so that water does not fall into the face
• Wipe down your baby’s face with your fingertips and water or a washcloth 
• Place a towel over one shoulder, hold your baby securely, and place them front towards you on the towel, wrap the towel around them 
• Bring baby to changing table and dry and dress baby in a onesie, pajama, or other clothes 

Baby Bathing Questions

So now that we’re experts, what other things should you keep in mind while bathing your baby? 

How to Keep Baby Warm while Bathing

To keep your baby warm while you give the bath, maintain your house at a comfortable warm temperature and try to bathe your baby in a small, enclosed space versus in an open kitchen. If you find your baby getting particularly chilly during baths, you can cover them with a towel as you go along. For example, wash and rinse the legs, and then cover the legs with a towel.

How Often to Bathe a 3-Month-Old Baby

For those asking how often should I bathe my 3 month old baby, the answer is that this is largely a matter of personal choice. You don’t need to bathe your baby more than 2-3 times a week, and should not bathe your baby frequently if your baby is prone to dry skin or eczema. Rather than doing a full-on bath in the baby bath tub or sponge bath, you can wipe down your baby’s neck, hands, and face, and of course, clean the diaper area carefully during changes using wipes.

How Often to Bathe a 4-Month-Old Baby

The same holds true when it comes to bathing a 4 month old. Babies this age are not generally getting dirty, so you can bathe them 2-3 times a week and rely on wiping them down with a baby washcloth on a daily basis.

How Often to Bathe a 5-Month-Old Baby

Likewise, when it comes to how often to bathe a 5-month-old, 2-3 times a week with more regular wipe downs or partial sponge baths should do the trick.

Best Baby Washcloths

The best baby washcloths are made of durable, cotton and are soft on baby’s skin. Opt for quality and for sets that will last through countless baths and clean ups. Washcloths can be used to wipe your baby down when you are not bathing them. You also can freeze washcloths and use them for teething. 

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How Often to Bathe a 6-Month-Old Baby

With 6 months olds, many parents begin to ask “Do I need to bathe my baby daily?” You’ll likely want to think about bathing your 6-month-old baby more often, every other day or even every day. That said, you can still bathe just 2-3 times a week and wipe down your baby’s neck, hands, face, and of course clean their diaper area well. Tummy time and rolling over, as well as cruising and crawling for some, mean that your baby is exposed to more dirt, so do make sure to clean their hands and face well.

Benefits of Daily Bath for Babies

With all that said, are there benefits to bathing your baby every day? Although doctors generally suggest bathing young babies 2-3 times a week in order to avoid over drying the skin, some parents do prefer to give a daily bath. A bath certainly cleans your baby more thoroughly. Some parents give a bath after a big diaper explosion or “explosive poop.” You can do a full-on bath in the baby bath tub in such event, or give a partial sponge bath. I did begin bathing my babies daily when they were a few weeks old because this helped me keep them awake while breastfeeding. So I spent more time bathing them, but less time trying to keep them awake to get a full feed while breastfeeding. Try this and see what works for you.

How to Wash Baby’s Hair

To wash your baby’s hair, apply gentle baby liquid soap, lather, and rinse while cupping your hand across the top of their forehead so that soap and water do not go into your baby’s eyes. You can buy baby shampoo but you don’t need it until your baby is older. A gently baby soap that is free of preservatives, chemicals, colors and fragrance will do just fine.

Hope this article and video helped and check back into Cloudmom.com for more how to guides.