Is it ok to bathe a baby everyday
How often should you bathe your baby, from birth through early childhood? | Pediatrics | Your Pregnancy Matters
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Pediatrics; Your Pregnancy Matters
August 23, 2021
Pediatrics; Your Pregnancy Matters
Jessica Morse, M. D. Pediatrics
One of the most common questions new parents ask has recently become the focus of an ongoing social media debate among celebrity parents, including Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, and Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell: How often should I bathe my baby?
Some parents bathe their babies daily as part of a bedtime routine or due to regular baby messes, from extra spit-up to diaper blowouts. But for most families, bathing the baby two to three times a week is plenty after the first couple of weeks of life.
In fact, we recommend delaying your newborn’s first full bath for at least two weeks. Newborns shed about three layers of skin within their first week, which often surprises new parents.
Their skin is still adjusting to the dry air, so it’s perfectly normal. You can prevent further skin irritation by moisturizing your baby with chemical-free lotion and washing their clothes with a gentle, chemical-free detergent before dressing them.
After that first two-week period, it’s OK to bathe your baby a couple times a week. You can follow this schedule through your child’s elementary school years. Of course, you should modify the bath schedule based on your baby’s skin health and your family’s lifestyle.
3 benefits of delaying your newborn’s first bath
- Temperature regulation
During delivery, your baby experiences a sudden contrast in climate as they enter a dry environment from the fluid-filled amniotic sac. This causes their skin to easily dry out, crack, and peel – especially when babies are born further along in the gestation period.
- Prevent dry skin
Your baby will be born with a coating of vernix caseosa on their skin.
This creamy, waxy build-up consists mostly of water, lipids, and proteins and promotes better temperature regulation and softer skin after birth.
Frequent bathing results in drier skin at any age. So, to help prevent dry skin, we wait up to 24 hours before wiping off the vernix caseosa. However, if the mother has an infection that could be transmitted to the baby, such as HIV or herpes, we clean the newborn right away.
- Breastfeeding benefits
Studies have shown that delaying baby’s first bath can also lead to more success with breastfeeding, as it increases skin-to-skin contact between the baby and mother. And by staying warmer longer, babies are less tired and irritated when learning to latch.
Related reading: 5 tips for successful breastfeeding
Newborn bathing tips
During the first two weeks of life, we recommend giving your newborn sponge baths a couple of times a week using room-temperature water, a soft cloth, and a gentle baby soap free of dyes and scents.
Starting with the head and ending with their diaper area, you should lightly stroke their skin, paying close attention to creases, folds, elbows, knees, fingers, and toes.
Carefully avoid the umbilical cord. Keeping it dry will allow it to fall off and heal. If you immerse your baby in water before this happens, the umbilical cord will take longer to fall off or develop an infection called omphalitis, which can spread to surrounding tissues quickly and become dangerous. In rare instances, it can be life-threatening.
Baby bathing basics
After two weeks, you can submerge more of your baby’s body in water, but always keep two key factors in mind:
- Water depth: You only need a few inches of water for the first couple of years. A baby bath seat, while not necessary, can help keep your baby upright and steady. Most importantly, never leave your baby unattended in the bath, whether they’re in the kitchen sink or a full-size tub. They can slip under the water in seconds.
- Temperature: Babies’ skin is sensitive and can burn quickly. Check the water temperature before placing your baby in the bath; it should be 95-100 degrees Fahrenheit. We also recommend lowering your water heater temperature settings so if the tap is accidentally bumped or adjusted during the bath, it can’t get hot enough to harm the baby.
If traditional bathing methods prove frustrating for you and your baby, you can try a swaddle bath. Studies have shown it is less stressful for premature infants, and it can ease you into bathing. To perform a swaddle bath, wrap your baby loosely in a swaddling cloth and gently place them in the water, up to their shoulders. Uncover, wash, and rinse one body part at a time to help your baby stay warmer and calmer.
Whichever method you choose, the bath should only last five to 10 minutes. Apply a fragrance-free lotion afterward to help prevent dryness.
Clean and clear – special circumstances
When you’re bathing your baby two or three times a week, skin hygiene is critical:
- Stool can quickly irritate the skin, so change your baby’s diapers frequently, and wipe thoroughly – using a front-to-back motion for female babies.
- While bathing a circumcised male baby, shake the water slightly so it runs over the penis. Do the same for an uncircumcised male, but gently retract the foreskin first – you won’t be able to pull it back very far, so don’t force it or worry you’re not being thorough.
- If your baby has cradle cap, a scalp condition that causes scaly patches to appear on the skin, you can wash the affected area with an anti-dandruff shampoo or gently rub it with a soft brush and baby oil. Use a gentle, circular motion to pull up the skin flakes; rubbing too hard can pull out hair and the underlying layers of skin.
Use the same brushing method for skin rashes, such as eczema or diaper dermatitis. Harsh soaps can cause rash flare-ups, which is another reason to use mild, chemical-free soaps and bathe your baby less often. After cleaning the affected areas, apply a thick layer of Vaseline or Aquaphor to moisturize the skin and protect it from further irritation. Use more than you think you need; most new parents don’t use enough.
Create your own routine
As your child gets older, their bathing cadence can continue to be around three times a week. The older they get, the more they tend to run around and get dirty or sweaty, so bathing frequency should vary based on their activity level.
Some families prefer to create a bedtime routine for their baby as soon as possible, and this typically includes a bath, followed by a feeding. For other families, bath time is a bonding experience or a fun way for their child to play. If daily baths (or showers for older children) work best for your child and lifestyle, be sure to sufficiently and consistently moisturize their skin.
One thing we always emphasize with new parents: Whether your child is 6 months or 16 years old, do what works best for you. What matters is that they’re safe and clean. Other than that, no two families’ bathing habits need to be the same.
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How Often Should You Bathe Your Baby?
Few things are more nerve-wracking than bathing a newborn. Not only can they feel impossibly fragile, you may worry about whether they’re warm or comfortable enough and if you’re doing a sufficiently thorough job.
Whether you’re bathing your first baby for the first time or are on baby number three, you may still have newborn bathing questions, the most pressing being, “How often should I bathe my baby?”
While longtime best practice has been to bathe baby right after delivery, newer research suggests that delaying the first bath may be beneficial.
A 2019 study including nearly 1,000 babies found that waiting at least 12 hours after birth may promote breastfeeding. Additionally, another 2019 study including 73 infants suggested that a bath after 48 hours helps keep newborns at a steady temperature and aids skin development.
At any rate, it’s likely that the nurses will give baby their first bath, but you can always watch what they do and ask for tips for bathing at home.
Once you get home, you’ll want to bathe your newborn one to two times per week until their umbilical stump falls off. Until this happens, don’t submerge their body in water. Instead, use a warm washcloth and give them a gentle sponge bath starting with their head and face and working your way downward.
If baby spits up or dribbles milk as they feed, you can wipe them down a little more frequently, taking particular care of their face and neck areas. If the mess is coming from the other end, you may need to give a bath to clean up diaper blowouts as well. But unless there is a mess, they really don’t need a daily bath at this age.
During the early months of your baby’s life, you’ll want to continue bathing them one to two times per week. Once they no longer have their umbilical stump, you can begin giving them more traditional baths.
To do this, fill a baby bathtub partway with warm water and let them sit and splash as you wash them all over with water and a gentle baby soap. You can use damp washcloths to cover them and keep them warm during the bath. Again, you can start with their face and head and work your way downward.
Another way to bathe baby at this age is to bring them into the bath or shower with you. If you choose to bathe or shower with your little one, it can help to have a set of hands to pass your baby to when you’re ready to get out of the tub. They can be very slippery, so it’s important to be extra cautious.
It’s also important to remember that adults generally prefer much warmer water than babies do. Aim to keep the temperature lukewarm, and your babe will likely be happy for the bath time cuddles.
As your little one grows, you may want to change up their bath routine a little bit. At this age babies still only need a bath one to two times per week, but if they seem to enjoy the water or like splashing as they get clean, you can consider bathing them more frequently.
Many parents also take advantage of diaper and outfit changes to give their baby a quick wipe down and make sure that all their important parts are clean. If you do choose to bathe your little one more than twice a week, consider using soap for only one or two of their baths to avoid drying out their skin. After bath time, you can moisturize baby with a gentle, fragrance- and dye-free lotion.
Once baby becomes mobile and starts eating solids, you may decide you need to begin bathing them more frequently. While they still only really need one to two soapy baths per week, you can either give them a sponge bath or put them in the tub to soak and rinse off more frequently as messes arise.
You might also find that bath time is a pleasant way to calm baby down before bedtime. If this works for you, it’s perfectly OK to make a bath part of your calming nighttime routine at this age.
While it may feel odd to bathe your baby so infrequently, babies simply don’t need to bathe as often as adults.
They don’t sweat or get dirty in the same way as older people, and their skin is much more sensitive than that of adults. Frequent bathing can actually do more harm than good.
To avoid drying out baby’s skin and worsening conditions like eczema, bathe your little one to two times per week and wash them with a mild, fragrance- and dye-free soap. When you get them out of the bath, pat them dry before applying a dye- and fragrance-free baby moisturizer and promptly dressing them.
If your little one has a known skin condition, consult their pediatrician to make a plan for exactly what products and routines you can follow to help them stay comfortable.
Bathing a baby is a delicate process. You want to be sure that your little one is getting squeaky clean, but you also need to be sure that you’re being gentle and that baby is comfortable. Check out the tips below to make bathing an easier and more effective process:
- Start at the top. Experts recommend starting any bath by gently washing your little one’s hair and face.
After that, use a washcloth to work your way downward, soaping and rinsing your baby as you go. - Focus on the folds. Most babies have rolls or folds along their thighs, neck, and wrists. These folds are adorable but can also trap bacteria, dead skin cells, and things like spit-up and dribbled milk. As you bathe your little one, focus on thoroughly washing and rinsing their folds and rolls.
- Don’t forget the hands and feet. Babies tend to suck on their fingers and toes, so it’s extra important to get these parts clean. Use a soapy washcloth and gently spread their fingers and toes to make sure you get their hands and feet as clean as possible.
- Try the sink. If you have a portable baby bathtub, chances are it fits neatly in your kitchen skin. Try giving your back a break by bathing your little one in the sink instead of the bathtub while they’re still young enough to be immobile. Once your little one can roll or scoot, it’s time to move baths into the tub to avoid any accidents.
- Give co-bathing a shot. There’s nothing sweeter than enjoying a nice warm bath with your little one. Once your babe is able to take a real bath, consider hopping in with them and washing and cleaning them from within the tub. If you don’t feel comfortable being nude with your little one, you can always hop into a swimsuit for the occasion.
- Be careful with siblings. If your baby has an older sibling, you may want to save time and energy by bathing them together. Once your little one can sit comfortably on their own, this is usually fine. Although, before your baby is able to sit on their own, you’ll want to skip sibling baths to avoid your baby being bumped, jostled, or splashed as they adjust to the water.
- Aim for mild products. When selecting the soap, shampoo, and lotion you’ll use for your baby, aim for products that are dye- and fragrance-free. While scented bubble bath products might be lots of fun for a toddler, they can dry out or irritate an infant’s skin and should be avoided.
Whatever you choose, be consistent and do your best to avoid trying out new products if the ones you have work well and don’t irritate your baby’s skin.
Remember to never leave baby in the bath untended, even briefly.
In the first year of your baby’s life, you really only need to bathe them once or twice per week.
Start with sponge baths until their umbilical stump falls off and then begin bathing them gently in the sink or tub. As they grow, babies may require more frequent baths as they get messier or start having fun in the tub.
As long as you use gentle products and don’t notice any issues with your baby’s skin, you can indulge their bath time joy as they grow!
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Should I bathe my baby every day
With the birth of a baby, new parents face a lot of questions. One of them - do you need to bathe the child every day? The question is really relevant, and the answer to it interests moms and dads for various reasons. Some are worried about the delicate skin of the baby, others are afraid of the ubiquitous bacteria, others simply do not want to spend their own time and effort on this procedure. So how to be - to bathe daily or not to bathe?
Bathing a newborn baby
Most pediatricians believe that it makes sense to bathe a newborn every day.
And this is needed not so much for hygiene as for hardening. Thanks to water procedures, the child’s immunity is strengthened, muscles develop, and the respiratory organs are cleansed (due to moist air). In addition, a child who has bathed enough will relax, eat more densely, and fall asleep faster. It is advisable to bathe the baby before going to bed - about an hour before bedtime. If this procedure is repeated daily, then it will become a kind of ritual, a habit of the child. He will understand that bathing is followed by bedtime, and the baby will fall asleep more quickly and willingly.
As for bathing water, for children of the first month of life, it is necessary to prepare a bath exclusively with boiled water, cooled to 36 degrees. This is necessary to prevent infection of the umbilical wound. To accurately determine the temperature of the water, use a thermometer (water or non-contact). If you want to use a bathing product or add herbs to the water, then it is better to consult a pediatrician on this issue.
Pay attention not only to the temperature of the water, but also to the comfort of the air. The room should not be too hot or cold: the baby should not experience a sharp temperature drop after taking him out of the bath. If bathing takes place in winter and the room is not warm enough, use a heater.
Wash the lower part of the body before placing the child in the tub. This is useful from a hygiene point of view.
Pay attention to the baby's behavior during the procedure. If he cries, then perhaps the temperature of the water or air should be changed. You can also try to carry out the procedure using a slide for swimming. This device will help hold the head, upper body of the child. After the procedure, wrap the child in a towel, blot all parts of the body, including the folds. Use powder. After that, you can put on a clean diaper, swaddle in a fresh diaper, or dress your baby.
Please note that bathing is only beneficial for healthy babies. If the child is ill or has been vaccinated, the evening bath should be discarded that day.
If the baby has a post-vaccination reaction in the form of an increase in body temperature, you should not bathe him until the symptoms disappear.
Bathing children under 3 years old
Babies up to 3 years old can also be bathed daily. If the child enjoys water procedures, then organize them for him. Water for bathing children after the first month of life may not be boiled if the umbilical wound has already healed and there are no other damage to the skin. Babies over the age of a month can wear a special circle around their neck to hold the head on the surface of the water. Such a procedure will be similar to swimming and will be a good prevention of ailments of the musculoskeletal system.
Babies who have already learned to sit up especially like bathing. Indeed, in the company of boats, ducks and rubber dolphins, a new world opens up. The child is spacious in a large bath, he has the conditions for an unusual game. This time can be used for the development of the baby.
Say the names of toys, tell us what sounds aquatic animals make, how they “talk”, how they move. You can read special oilcloth books designed for reading while swimming. The child will be interested, and he will look forward to the next water procedure.
Please note that no matter how busy the baby is playing while bathing and no matter how independent you may think, you cannot leave him alone for a minute.
Bathing children after 3 years
Children aged 3-11 may not bathe every day. However, 1-2 times a week is a must. Water procedures at this age can also occur as needed: after visiting the pool, the beach, after physical exertion. If the child is dirty, sweaty, then taking a shower or bath is necessary to remove harmful bacteria from the body. If we are talking only about dirty hands, then it is enough to wash them under running water for 20 seconds with baby soap.
With the onset of adolescence, daily water procedures should be resumed. Showering 1-2 times a day should become the norm for children after 11 years.
During puberty, the skin begins to work actively, releasing sweat and sebum, and adolescents themselves will feel the need for more frequent washing.
Summary
So, bathing is the most useful water procedure in terms of both hygiene and hardening. Daily bathing is indicated for healthy children. Babies with high body temperature should not take a bath. After 3 years, there is no urgent need for daily bathing. It occurs only with the onset of puberty.
Information about higher organizations
Ministry of Health of the Russian FederationOfficial portal of the Mayor and the Government of MoscowDepartment of labor and social protection of the population of the city of Moscow: on Mondays from 15.00 to 18.00Department of health of MoscowRosZdravNadzor Administration for the city of Moscow and the Moscow region: Mon - Thu: 9:00 - 17:45, Fri: 9:00 - 16:30, Sat - Sun: days off Office of Rospotrebnadzor for the city of MoscowFKU Main Bureau of Medical and Social Expertise for the city of Moscow: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday from 8.
