Baby’s First Bath – How to Bathe Your Baby

Bathtime is one of the best opportunities for bonding with your baby, as you focus your attention on engaging with your little one while shampooing his hair or washing his arms.

Although your baby (or you) may enjoy bathtime, how often should you bathe your baby?

For newborns, we recommend two to three baths a week, and no more than one bath a day for babies four months or older. This is because excessive washing may dry out his skin or decrease the natural bacteria count on his skin, increasing the risk of eczema^[1].

Now that you know how often to bathe your baby, here’s some tips for you if you’re a new mom or mom-to-be.

How to Bathe Your Baby

1. Fill a basin or tub with a few inches of warm water (between 32 to 38°C). Test the water temperature with the inside of your wrist to make sure it is not too hot.
2. Place your baby in the basin/tub, making sure to support his back, head and neck as you begin bathing him. Use gentle cleansers and shampoos that are specially formulated for babies, and make sure to use a cotton ball when cleaning his face. Dodie’s 3-in-1 Cleansing Gel uses a soap-free base to allow for gentle washing that does not irritate your baby’s skin or eyes.
3. You can pour cupfuls of water over his body while bathing him to keep him warm.
4. After a bath, wrap your baby quickly in a towel, and dry him thoroughly.
5. Before dressing your baby, apply a thin layer of mild moisturiser to hydrate his skin. Dodie’s 3-in-1 Moisturising Cream helps to nourish and protect your baby’s skin without leaving a sticky or greasy texture.

Bathtime doesn’t have to be a boring routine – you can turn it into a special ritual for playing and bonding with your baby in three easy ways:

How to Bond with Your Baby During Bathtime

• Playing with bubbles and splashing water: Bubbles can encourage your baby’s sense of touch and help develop his hand-eye coordination, while splashing water in the bathtub can help him to understand cause and effect.
• Playing music during bathtime and talking to your baby: Although he may be too young to understand what you are saying, listening to music and conversation can help to develop his hearing and language development.
• After-bath massage: As you’re applying moisturiser on your baby after his bath, take this time to give him a gentle massage with your hands, forming a special bond with him through your touch^[2]. We promise both you and your baby will love it!

Conclusion

Baths are a great time to bond with your baby and teach him new things. It can be a relaxing and enjoyable time of the day for both you and your baby, as you clean his face while watching him catch soap bubbles.

As your baby grows older, you might consider making bathtime part of their bedtime routine. A bath can help to calm and soothe your baby, putting him in a more relaxed mode to help him sleep better.

^[1] https://mtalvernia.sg/maternity/education/bathing-babies/

^[2] https://sg.theasianparent.com/babys-bath-time-a-moment-of-bonding-play-and-learning