Bathing a Baby: When, How, and How Often
Should I request delayed bathing for the baby after birth?
Short answer: Yes, for at least 6 hours — ideally 24 hours.
In more detail:
Wipe the baby dry and clean and delay the first bath for at least 24 hours
from the website of the World Health Organization (WHO.int)
Baby’s first bath: why wait?
Here are some reasons why it is now recommended to delay baby’s first bath:
- Body temperature & blood sugar: Babies who get baths right away may be more likely to become cold and develop hypothermia. The minor stress of an early bath can also make some babies more likely to have a drop in blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
- Bonding & breastfeeding: Taking the baby away for a bath too soon can interrupt skin-to-skin care, mother-child bonding and early breastfeeding success. One study showed a 166% increase in hospital breastfeeding success after implementing a 12-hour delay in baby’s first bath compared to those bathed within the first couple hours.
- Dry skin: Vernix, a waxy white substance that coats a baby’s skin before birth, acts as a natural moisturizer and may have anti-bacterial properties. Learn more about vernix here. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises that it’s best to leave vernix on a newborns’ skin for a while to help prevent their delicate skin from drying out. This is especially important for preemies, as their skin is highly prone to injury.
from the website of the American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
How should I bathe a baby before the umbilical cord stump falls off?
Short answer: Sponge baths only, without submerging the baby in water (a bathtub bath).
In more detail:
Can my baby have a bath before the umbilical cord falls off?
Only give your newborn sponge baths until the stump of the umbilical cord falls off, which usually happens by about one or two weeks of age. If it remains beyond that time, there may be other issues at play; talk with your baby’s doctor. (Also see “Umbilical Cord Care in Newborns.”)”
from the website of the National Health Service (NHS.uk)
Дръжте пъпната връв суха и не нанасяйте нищо върху нея, като например мехлем.
from the website of the World Health Organization (WHO.int)
Should I bathe the baby every day (after the umbilical cord stump has fallen off and healed)?
Short answer: No. It is not necessary. It is also not recommended.
In more detail:
How often do babies need a bath once they are home?
Newborns don’t need a bath every day. They rarely sweat or get dirty enough to need a full bath that often. Three baths per week during baby’s first year may be enough. Bathing more frequently can dry out your baby’s skin.
from the website of the National Health Service (NHS.uk)
How often should I bathe my baby
You do not need to bathe your newborn every day – 2 or 3 times a week should be fine.
from the website of the National Health Service (NHS.uk)
When we took Tomi to a dermatologist because of dry skin, we were told not to bathe his whole body more than once a week and to keep his skin well moisturized with lotion every day.
* Most of these materials are sourced from original English-language sources. The translations were created with the help of Google Translate and ChatGPT. For the most complete and accurate information, please always refer to and verify the original source first. For the most complete and accurate information, please always refer to and verify the original source of the information.
Check the latest information on the topic yourself
Cited Sources
- Bathing Your Baby HealthyChildren.org
- Bathing your baby NHS.uk
- Caring for a newborn WHO.int
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