How early to bathe a newborn?

[gm1031]

For newborns do you use a sponge or a wash cloth? How early do you wipe them down and how old to they have to be to put them in a bath tub sling? Or do i just wipe them down in the crib?? Im going to be a first time mom. So many questions! Lol

[mrssandefur]

Yeah I never filled the actual tub up until their umbilical cord came off I also never got it wet AT all. And after bath time I'd also spacious a.cotton ball.in alcohol and.squeeze it.out.over his belly button, naturally of course.to.help.it dry up.but also right after bath it'd get rid of any water that.may have gotten in it

[Soon2BeMommyOf2]

I always gave my son a sponge bath on his changing table. I just got a bowl if warm water and used 2 wash cloths to wipe him down. This was from the time he came home until his umbilical cord fell off. Once that happened we started giving him a bath in the baby bathtub sling. Also, it isn't necessary to bath your child with soap every day. If you do their skin gets really dry. Always make sure to clean the diaper area, creases, and behind  the ears every day with a wash cloth.

[Lesley27]

oh and i set up my area on the kitchen table....had the cloth, towel, diaper, sleeper, soap, ect all ready and easy to access.... i didnt have someone to help so i needed to be prepared

[Lesley27]

The main thing is to keep the cord dry so it depends on the baby tub, the first one i got my daughter bum would be in the water but nothing else and from there its basically the same thing as sponge bathing... cloth or sponge doesnt matter as long as you ring it out a bit and keep the cord from gettting wet...start at the cleanest parts and work your way back... around eyes and face first (dont use soap on face) and go from there.... bum and bottom last... i didnt bath my daughter everyday and i rarely used baby lotion on her either and she never had issues there (i have well water on a farm and i hate it) I know lots of moms that like to get the routine started right away and are shocked that i never bathed my daughter daily but she wasnt dirty... her hands, face and bottom are cleaned lots thru out the day... now that she is older i bath her a lot more... she is outside a lot and is a normal messy toddler :)

And at the hospital the nurse should walk you thru the first bath and show you how they would do it :) and your baby may cry... some dont like being naked.... it can be a little cold for them(same goes for diaper changes)

[mrssandefur]

I got a baby tub that has the netting in it for.tiny babies you know? Well I'd get a bowl of luke warm water put a little soap in it and dip.my baby wash cloth and just waipe.baby down from.head to.toe. the rinse out the rag and.bowl refill the bowl without soap and rinse them off. I'd only do it if they pee'd or pooped themselves through their diaper or spit up.on themselves or if I was like going to visit someone. Otherwise I'd only do it twice a week.assuming they didn't have an accident of some sort. Their skin is so delicate you don't wanna irritate it. I did that until their umbilical cord fell.off then I started giving them regular baby baths after.that and just used the same.rule.of thumb until they got big enough to lay in the floor.for tummy time. Even tho we kept the floor fairly clean it.just made.me.feel.better to give them a bath each evening.