How to bathe a newborn baby: your step-by-step guide

Bathing your baby can be a really special time, but it’s also completely normal to feel a little nervous or unsure about how to bath a newborn safely, especially at first.

You don’t need to worry, though. With a bit of help from us, you’ll soon get the hang of your bathtime routine, and it won’t be long before you’re a baby bath pro! We’ve got all the information you need to feel comfortable and confident about your infant’s first bath, including when to bathe your newborn for the first time, the things you need, and how to keep your baby safe during bathtime.

To begin with, keep things simple. Use plain water for your baby’s bath, or simply ‘top and tail’ (more on this bathing technique below), at least until your baby’s umbilical cord has come away.

When to bathe a newborn baby is a common question for new parents. Once your baby is born, you might think a nice, warm bath is the perfect way to get them fresh and clean. However, experts recommend waiting at least 24 hours after birth before giving your baby their first bath¹. This short delay can have all sorts of benefits, from helping you bond with your little one to preventing hypothermia.

Another reason to put off bathing for newborns is to allow their skin to absorb its layer of vernix. Vernix is a white, sticky substance that your baby developed inside the womb as a ‘waterproof’ layer to protect their skin from amniotic fluid as they grew².

Vernix acts as a natural moisturiser in the first few days after your baby’s birth, protecting their delicate skin from germs and infections, so it’s important not to try to wash or wipe it away. Once its job’s done, vernix is naturally absorbed into your baby’s skin.

You might have heard people talking about ‘topping and tailing’ before your infant’s first bath. This is a technique some parents use to wash their babies in those first few days. It involves using a bowl of water and cotton wool to bathe your baby from top to toe instead of putting them in the bath³.

Topping and tailing is a great way to keep your baby fresh and clean until their umbilical cord comes away, and it can help build your confidence before you take the plunge and give your baby their first bath!⁴.

Top and tail bathing for newborns³:

1. Prepare a bowl of warm water, cotton wool, a soft towel, a clean nappy, and a clean set of clothes.
2. Lay your baby on a changing mat wrapped in a towel.
3. Dip some cotton wool in the water and wring out the excess.
4. Wipe gently around your baby’s eyes from near their nose to towards their ears. Use a new piece of cotton wool for each eye to avoid spreading any stickiness.
5. If you’re wondering how to clean your baby’s ears, use new pieces of cotton wool to wipe around your baby’s ears (not inside them). Then wipe their face, neck, and hands.
6. Gently dry your baby with a towel.
7. Remove your baby’s nappy and use a fresh piece of cotton wool to clean their bottom and around their genitals.
8. You’ll only need to clean around your baby’s umbilical cord if there’s wee or poo around it (you’d be surprised where it can end up!).⁵
9. Dry your baby carefully, taking special care around any skin folds.

Before you give your baby their first bath, you’ll need to gather a few things to have within easy reach.

You’ll need³:

• A plastic baby bath or a clean washing-up bowl
• A couple of soft, warm towels
• Cotton wool
• A clean nappy
• Clean clothes or pyjamas

Your baby’s delicate skin won’t need soap or a cleanser for the first month or so – plain water will work just fine³.

• Find a nice warm, draught-free room for your baby’s bath – they can get cold quickly⁴.
• Fill your baby’s bath to around 12-13cm so that their shoulders are covered, but you can easily keep their head and face above the water¹.
• Fill the bath with cold water first, then add hot water. Mix the water well so there are no hot spots¹.
• Test the temperature with a thermometer or by dipping your elbow in the water. The bath water should be around 37-38°C – warm, but not hot¹.

1. Before putting your baby in the bath, hold them on your knee to clean their face using warm water and cotton wool.
2. If you’d like to wash their hair, hold them over the bath wrapped in a towel and gently rinse their hair with water, being careful not to get any over their face.
3. Carefully dry their hair with a towel.
4. Take off your baby’s nappy, wiping away any mess, and lower their body gently into the bath, using one hand to hold their upper arm and to support their head and shoulders.
5. Carefully swish the water over your baby without splashing (there’ll be plenty of time for making a splash as your baby grows!), keeping their head clear of the water.
6. Once you’re done, lift your baby from the bath (careful – they might be slippery!).

Once your baby is out of the bath, gently pat them dry with a nice soft towel. Pay special attention to drying under any skin folds around your baby’s neck, arms and legs to help reduce irritation⁵.

If the room is warm and your baby seems happy, now’s a great time to treat your baby to a massage. Baby massages can⁶:

• Soothe your baby and improve sleep
• Support physical development
• Reduce tummy troubles like trapped wind and constipation
• Help you connect with your baby

Wait until your baby’s at least a month old before using any lotions or oils³. Whilst there are lots of baby moisturisers available to buy, your baby doesn’t need them.

After you’ve dried (and massaged) your baby, pop on a fresh nappy and some nice clean clothes or pyjamas.

When your baby is first born, it can take a week for their umbilical cord to dry out and come away from your little one’s belly button². Until then, it’s important to keep the area clean and dry to prevent any complications. That’s why many parents stick to topping and tailing until their baby is at least a week old.

When putting a fresh nappy on your baby, fold it down so that the top sits under the umbilical cord. This will help it to stay dry and protected from the contents of your baby’s nappy⁷.

You can give your newborn a bath 2 or 3 times a week – they won’t need a bath every day for now³. But if you and your baby both enjoy bathtime, there’s no reason why you can’t bath them every day if you’d like to. 

You can give your baby a bath at any time of the day. When you’re thinking about when to bathe your newborn, try to choose a time when they’re awake and happy and avoid times when they’re hungry, tired, or have just had a feed⁴.

Babies love routine, so it’s not a bad idea to keep to roughly the same time of day for each bath. Lots of parents include bathtime in their baby’s bedtime routine to help them settle down for the night.

You can use cotton wool and warm water to gently clean around your baby’s eyes and ears³. When you’re cleaning their eyes, wipe gently from the inside corner to the outside. Never use cotton wool or cotton buds inside your baby’s ears, as this can damage their little eardrums.