Bathing your new baby

Time to get clean

You don't strictly need a baby bath to bath your baby in as you can bath your baby in an adult bath using a special bath seat if you want to have your hands free and want to build up your confidence. On the downside you have to reach over the sides of the tub, which can be uncomfortable, particularly if you're not using a bath seat.

You can also take the baby into the bath with you, which can be very intimate for both of you and reassuring for your baby. In the early weeks you can also use a basin or sink, but make sure it is scrubbed clean and the taps are covered with flannels to avoid burning or banging against them if the basin is small.

Obviously using a baby bath takes up a lot less water, so on environmental grounds you might want to only use the adult bath occasionally. If you bath your baby soon after eating he may regurgitate his feed, so a better time is before a feed but before he gets very hungry.

You don't need to bath your baby more than once or twice a week in the early weeks, on the days you don't bath him you can do the quicker top and tailing.

A great shaped sink for a baby bath. If taps may get in the way wrap flannels around them to prevent baby being banged or burned

Using a baby bath or adult bath
Make sure the room you are bathing your baby in is warm. You'll want to have everything you need for the bath - cotton wool, a flannel, two towels, a small bowl of boiled but cooled water, baby wash (if you use it), clean nappy and clothes - to hand before you start. If you wear a waterproof apron and a towel around your waist you'll be able to take your baby directly onto your knee afterwards for drying.

Put the baby bath where you plan to use it before you fill it then fill it first with some cold water and then with hot water to bring it to around 32 degrees. Test the temperature of the water with a bath thermometer or the inside of your wrist or your elbow to check it's warm but not hot.

Undress your baby and wipe the bottom area clean then, if you want to wash your baby's hair, swaddle him in a towel tucking his arms away and hold him firmly under one arm with your forearm supporting his back and your hand supporting his head. Tilt your baby's head down towards the bath to keep water out of his eyes and then scoop, pour or sponge water over his hair. You won't really need shampoo, but if you do want to use some then make sure it's a baby-friendly formula and use only the smallest amount.

Gently pat your baby's head dry and clean his eyes and face with cotton wool balls and the bowl of boiled (but cooled) water as per top and tailing before unswaddling him for his bath. Then, supporting his head and back with one forearm, taking his opposite shoulder in that hand and supporting his bottom half with the other, gently lower him into the bath. Keep supporting his head and upper back with one arm throughout the bath, with the other hand you can wash your baby taking care to clean:

Supporting your baby with one hand you can gently clean him with the other

• The genital areas
• Behind the ears
• The folds of skin at the neck, the back of the knees, the arms and the thighs
• The hands and feet and between the fingers and toes
• The armpits

You don't need to rub or scrub your baby, just gently sloshing the water over him is enough to get him clean. If you want to use baby wash (which isn't really necessary), then squeeze a small blob into the water to make suds before you put your baby into the bath - you don't want to be trying to juggle baby and bottle.

When your baby is clean lift him out and onto a towel and gently pat him dry, paying particular attention to the area around the chord stump and the stump itself. The most important thing to remember when bathing your baby is never to leave him unattended for even a moment: a baby can drown in only an inch of water and in less than thirty seconds.

Bathing with your baby
If you want to take your baby into the bath with you then make sure that the bath water is a comfortable temperature for your baby, around 32 degrees, which will be quite a bit cooler than the baths you would usually take. Place everything you'll need to clean your baby within easy reach and only use mild baby wash products so you don't dry out or irritate your baby's skin.

Place a towel double-folded at the side of the bath so you can later lie your baby on it. Undress yourself first and then undress the baby. It's easiest and safest if you have someone to hand the baby to you, but if not then hold him close to you as you step carefully into the bath (you should use a non-slip mat in the bath tub). Introduce your baby to the water slowly, reassuring him by holding him against your body until he feels relaxed in the water and then wash him as above.

Before getting out of the bath first place your baby on the towel you laid out by the bath earlier and then get your baby dried as soon as you can, taking particular care to dry the cord stump and around.