A privileged moment in the baby’s life, the bath is generally very popular with the little ones. Reminding them of the soft feeling of envelopment experienced in utero, the child calms down and relaxes. As for the parents, they also appreciate these moments of exchange and sharing.

No doubt you were able to bathe during your stay in the maternity hospital, but at home, these first manipulations can seem stressful to you. Rest assured, bathing is a very enjoyable time for infants, and soon will be for you too. To reassure you and make your job easier:

• Remember to prepare all the necessary equipment before starting to bathe baby and place it near you;
• Bring your partner with you if you can, so you can feel supported. You can also count on additional support for all the small tasks that seem complicated at first;
• Fill the tub very little and check that the temperature does not exceed 37 °. As for the temperature of the room, it must be at least 22 ° so that baby feels good;
• Soap baby outside of the water if you are uncomfortable handling him. You can soap it outside of the water, on its changing table, not to immerse it in water until rinsing and after removing all the soap from your hands. After a few baths, your apprehensions will disappear and it will be easier for you to hold the child firmly to wash him in the water.

There is no right time to bathe your baby. Morning or evening, it’s up to you to find the moment that suits you, depending on your days and your daily rhythm. But if your child is tense at the end of the day, bathing can be a great way to soothe and relax them.

As far as its duration is concerned, there is also no absolute rule. On the other hand, during the first days of the baby’s life, it is better to avoid leaving it too long in the water as it may get cold. If it also presents skin concerns or fragility, it is better not to drag it out.

Now that all the ideal conditions are met for baby’s bath, it’s time to wash it off:

• Always start with her head and face, before washing the rest of her body. Use a washcloth to make it easier, but there’s nothing to stop you then, when you feel more comfortable, from using your hands. Indeed, baby appreciates the contact with your skin more. If your baby is still covered with a whitish paste (the vernix) which has the role of protecting his skin when bathed in the amniotic fluid, do not rub it, it will eventually come off on its own after a few days ;
• After having soaped it from head to toe, immerse it gently in its bathtub, not without having checked the water temperature with your elbow. To bathe it, lift the child up by passing your arm under his neck and placing your hand under his armpit. Then rinse it off using your other hand. Do not hesitate to talk to him or to hum to make this bath a moment of exchange and create a bond with baby. Be careful not to forget to support the head of the newborn during the entire bath;
• Finally, place it on a terry towel and dry it carefully, patting it lightly so as not to irritate its fragile skin. It is important to dry each fold of his body: under the arms, under his head, those of the groin, thighs, knees, as well as his toes.

To finish his toilet, clean his ears and nose. To do this, roll small pieces of cotton between your fingers and clean the external part of the ears (never the internal part) then do the same for each nostril, after putting a few drops of physiological serum in them.

The bath is good for the child. In addition to relaxing and reassuring him, it’s a great way to check that everything is okay and that he isn’t showing any suspicious redness or swelling. So, make it a pleasant date for everyone.