Baby's First Bath: Elisa All Schmitz & a Pediatrician Show You How to Give Your Newborn His First Bath! Baby
Back in the iParenting/Disney days, we got to shoot some wonderful videos for new parents. This one, with Dr. Anita Chandra-Puri, a pediatrician at Northwestern Medical Group, showed new moms and dads how to give their baby his or her first bath. Know that while Baby may fuss a little during her bath, overall it is a soothing experience for them. Here are some tips when preparing for Baby’s first bath from the video (watch the entire video here):
- Room temperature should be warm, around 72 degrees F, so when you take Baby out of the tub when he’s wet, he’ll stay warm.
- Have your supplies ready. You’ll need a baby bathtub in a big area for safety, washcloth, cotton balls to wash Baby’s eyes, a mild baby soap and a towel. (Never leave your baby unattended in a bathtub with water or on a high counter space!)
- Water temperature should be between 90 and 95 degrees F (lukewarm), and never higher than 100 degrees F for safety.
Here’s how to give your baby his first bath:
- Start washing Baby at the head and move to his toes to keep the cleanest areas washed first. Make sure to get all those grooves and crevices in Baby’s neck, where milk and drool can collect.
- Avoid the umbilical cord stump. Gently wash around the stump because that area should stay dry until it falls off.
- Open up Baby’s hands and wash gently between his fingers.
- To clean the diaper area, use a separate washcloth with mild baby soap and warm water.
- Moisten a cotton call with warm, clean water and use to gently wipe Baby’s eyes and face.
- Carefully remove Baby from the tub and wrap in a thick, hooded towel.
This video is longer than 30 seconds, but we think it's worth it. Watch the video!