Your baby’s first baths
How to keep bath time calm, safe and gentle on brand-new skin.
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Get everything ready first
Towel, clean nappy, clothes and wash all within arm’s reach before baby goes in. Once baby is in the water, stay right there with a hand on them, every second.
Check the water
Run the cold first, then add warm, and test it with your wrist or elbow. It should feel comfortably warm, never hot. Keep the water shallow.
Hold securely, wash top to toe
Support baby’s head and neck with one arm and wash from the face down, leaving the nappy area for last. Keep it short and sweet; a long soak isn’t needed.
Did you know?
Go easy on soap
In the first few weeks you can use Baby Aqueous Cream instead of soap, so baby’s skin doesn’t dry out. The fragrance-free one is suitable from birth, and so is our fragrance-free Hair & Body Wash for when you’re ready.
Pat dry, then moisturise
Wrap baby straight into a warm towel and pat dry, especially the little creases under the chin, arms and legs. Then smooth on a moisturiser to keep skin soft and moist. Bath Drops dissolve in the water and leave baby’s skin soft and moist, too.
Be gentle around the cord
Until the cord stump falls off, keep it clean and dry, and follow your clinic’s advice on bathing and cord care.
Always check with your clinic sister, midwife or doctor if you’re worried.
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