You have so many firsts to look forward to when bringing baby home. Their first bath is one of the most special and terrifying for new parents! What’s the best way to go about it? What do you need? We’ve got you covered with these bathing safety tips and baby bath essentials.

Bathing Safety Tips

While you wouldn’t think bathing your little one would be so involved, there really are several objectives to keep in mind: keep them safe, get them clean, and make it a pleasant experience for baby. Here’s how:

1. Don’t bathe too early

As you’ll likely be instructed at the hospital before discharge, baby’s umbilical cord stump cannot be submerged in water. The cord needs to have fallen off and the area healed first, which could take up to a few weeks after birth. Until that time, clean baby by sponge bath only to reduce the risk of irritation in that area or infection. 

2. Never leave baby unattended

For even a second. Babies can drown in less than an inch of water so always keep one hand on them during the bath. If you’ve forgotten something or need to leave the bathroom, wrap them in a towel and bring baby with you.

3. Gather the supplies first

This makes it less likely that you’ll forget anything so gather soap, towel, diaper, clean clothes, etc. and get the tub ready beforehand. This will make the bathing process much quicker as well in case baby is not a fan of the water.

4. Keep baby warm

Babies get chilled easily so ideally, the bathroom should be around 75 degrees F. You’ll want to make sure the water is warm as well, but not too hot. Test it with your wrist first or use a bath thermometer, ideally, water should be about 90 degrees F. To be extra cautious you may want to make sure your water heater is set to 120 degrees to help ensure the bath never gets too hot.

5. Take care with the water

It’s not just the water temp you need to be particular with but also the amount of water in the tub. You really only need two to four inches of water. And wait until you’re finished filling the tub before adding baby for two reasons. One, the water temp could change while the water is running and two, the sound of rushing water may scare some babies.

6. Harsh soaps

Baby’s skin is delicate and it’s all too easy for it to dry out or for a rash to appear from harsh chemicals in regular soap. So, make sure to choose a mild soap and shampoo that’s designed for babies. And don’t let them sit too long in soapy water of any kind.

7. Don’t bathe too often

Along the same lines, even the mildest soap can dry out baby’s skin if used too often. Babies really only need two to three baths per week because you’re already cleaning their diaper area multiple times a day. The rest of them isn’t likely to be that dirty.

8. Consider what’s within grabbing reach

Whether you have baby in your actual tub or on the counter in their baby bath, make sure you pay attention to what may be within their reach. Ideally keep the area clear so nothing is accidentally knocked into the tub, particularly electric appliances like hair dryers and curling irons.

9. Add cushioning

If baby’s head will be near the water faucet or another hard surface consider adding a cushioned cover in case they knock against it.

10. Avoid Q-tips

It may be tempting to grab a cotton swab or Q-tip to clean baby’s ears or nose, but they are such squirmy little things the risk of injury just isn’t worth it. Use a warm rag instead.

Baby Bath Essentials

Now let’s talk supplies. As you’ve likely seen, there are a million a one products out there but we feel these are the baby bath essentials that will help you make the most of bath time.

• Baby bathtub
• Baby soap, shampoo, lotion
• Rinsing cup
• Soft washcloth
• Soft, hooded baby towel
• Bath thermometer 
• Bath toys
• Bath kneeler for you
• Storage caddy for all your supplies
• Clean diapers 
• Fresh clothes

And, for their first bath, bring in an extra set of hands to take photos so you can document the moment! 

For baby bath essentials and more, visit Bambinos online store today.