Washing and bathing

Washing

You don’t need to bath your baby every day but you should wash your baby’s face, neck, hands and bottom carefully each day. You can do this on your lap or on a changing mat. Choose a time when your baby is awake and contented and make sure the room is warm. You’ll need a bowl of warm water, some cotton wool, a towel and a fresh nappy.

• Take off your baby’s clothes except for the vest and nappy. Wrap the baby in a towel.

• Gently wipe round each eye, from the nose side outwards, using a fresh piece of cotton wool for each eye.

• Using fresh, moist cotton wool again, wipe out each ear but don’t clean inside the ears.

• Wash the rest of your baby’s face and neck with moist cotton wool and gently dry. Wash and dry your baby’s hands in the same way.

• Take off the nappy and wash your baby’s genitals, again with cotton wool and warm water. Dry very carefully and put on a fresh nappy.  In the first week or so, you should also clean round the navel each day. Your midwife will show you how.

Bathing

• Bath your baby two or three times a week, or more often if your baby enjoys it. Don’t bath straight after a feed or when your baby is hungry or sleepy. Make sure the room is warm and that you have everything you need ready in advance.

• Check that the water is not too hot, just comfortably warm to your wrist or elbow.