Bathing your newborn may seem a little bit scary at first but – with patience and a little practice, you’ll begin to feel more comfortable and confident at bath time.
Fully bathing your baby two or three times a week is plenty, with top and tails in between, until they begin to crawl.
A top and tail wash is a quick alternative to a full bath. Wash your hands and undress your baby leaving only his nappy on wrapped in a towel. Dip a cotton ball in water (making sure it doesn’t get too wet) and wipe gently around your baby’s eyes from the nose outward, using a fresh piece of cotton wool for each eye. This prevents transferring any stickiness or an eye infection from one eye to the other.
Using a fresh piece of cotton wool, clean around your baby’s ears but not inside them. Wash the rest of your baby’s face, neck and hands in the same way.
Lastly take off baby’s nappy and wash your baby’s bottom (genitals) with fresh cotton wool and warm water. (For girls wipe with a clean damp cloth front to back). Dry very carefully, including in between the skin folds and then pat dry. Put on a fresh nappy and dress your baby.