Bathing a newborn

[Jpstar]

Hey! I’m due to have my first baby in the next few weeks, and can’t get my head around bathing as reading so many different things and becomes a bit overwhelming !

I’m fine with top and tailing, and that they won’t need a bath everyday. But just a few things I’m hoping somebody could please help with?

• When bathing the baby (after cord has come off) do you use flannel, sponge or hand to wash the baby with water in the bath?
• when do you start introducing products?
• when do you start washing their hair?

Hi there @Jpstar , congrats on your impending arrival! We've moved your thread over to our Parenting topic, where you will hopefully get some useful advice.

We have the nappy lady wipes for washing with one side is fleece and very soft the other side of towelling and goid for getting dirty marks off

No products for as long as possible, you might need a little soap once they start weaning or if there's a dirty patch. Use products a little as possible as they have sensitive skin

Hair as and when needed. I don't think we washed my daughters hair for about 9 months. She was a baldilocks and barely had any hair until 2 when she was being born she was so hairless the midwife thought for a second she was coming bumb first! She now gets it washed once a week and has leave in conditioner most days - curly hair that gets very dry so for her conditioner is more important than washing. She's nearly 3 and just about long enough to go into a pony tail. Her friend by contrast has had long hair since birth and obviously her hair needed washing much earlier than my daughters

I don't remember how often we bathe our newborn; but I think it was once a week or even once every two weeks. If they have a big exposure, you will need to wash they butt under the sink anyway.

You can give them a bath even before the cord comes off, but make sure the water doesn't reach the belly button.

Wash the face and hair with cotton wool balls - my daughter had a lot of dried blood on her head, and it was a bit difficult to get it out of her hair.

First month, no product, just water. I started to use an organic, non sentence soap after 2 months - only moved on fragranced ones when she was 18 months (but to be fair, she has sensitive skin)

I wouldn’t worry about bathing baby until you feel more confident. DD hated going in water so I topped and tailed and did the equivalent of a bed bath for quite a few months.

We bathe our 4 week old a couple of times a week. I don’t use any products, I’ve use a flannel and i wash all of him including his hair. Its so fluffy and cute after❤️

I think we didn't bath at all for the first month, then did another month or so of just water and then started using child's farm bubble bath and shampoo. Mine had loads of hair so it did need washing occasionally! We didn't bother with a flannel for months as it's a bit rough on delicate skin.