Part of your daily routine will be t keep your baby clean. Many new parents worry about handling a very small baby in the baby bath, but you will soon get used to bath times and look forward to it as an opportunity to have fun and play with your baby. Instead of feeling apprehensive, set aside half an hour, have everything you need around you, try to relax, and you will enjoy it.
A young baby doesn’t need bathing very often because only her bottom, face and neck, and skin creases get dirty, so you only have to bathe her every two or three days, and even then you can wash only the dirt-prone parts instead of putting her in the bath. This allows you to wash the parts that really need washing with the minimum of distress to her. Be sure the water you use is just warm to the touch. Avoid hot water, which could scald a baby’s delicate skin, and cold water, which may give the baby a chill. Do wash your baby’s hair fairly often; it gets dirty from sweat and other sources. A small squeeze of baby soap in the bath water will suffice for newborns; you don’t want to leave soap residue on the skin.
Babies don’t like having their skin exposed to the air, so you should keep your baby undressed for as short a time as possible. Warm a big, fluffy towel on a radiator (not too hot) and have it ready to wrap your baby in as soon as you are finished.
