How Often to Bathe Baby?

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Taking care of another tiny human can be scary. You have to make sure that she is well fed and properly clothed and that she has healthy bowel movements, enough sleep and play, and the best hygiene possible. Speaking of hygiene, do you have any idea about how often to bathe baby?

How Often Should You Bathe a Baby?

According to experts, parents are expected to consider a number of things before setting up a schedule for how often to give their child a bath in the first weeks. For a start, the World Health Organization recommends waiting for 24 hours before giving a newborn her first bath ever.

The professional recommendation is 2 to 3 times a week, but this may vary depending on a number of things.

  • Does your baby enjoy bathing? If yes, then you may want to let her experience it more frequently like once a day. This can help her relax when she is stressed out. If your little one is not so into it, you can stick to 2 to 3 sessions per week.
  • If your baby is prone to or suffers from a skin condition, it is best to bathe her sparingly. This is to avoid triggering the affected areas with soap. Many doctors recommend soaking your little one in lukewarm water for 5 to 10 minutes, patting her dry, and applying a gentle moisturizer to her skin, no soaps required.
  • What is your baby’s age? Expert opinion has it that bathing should increase in frequency as children get older. Toddlers and preschoolers are especially active and more often than not get dirty in the process. In such cases, a daily bath can suffice. If not, they will do just fine with 4 to 5 sessions per week.

Baby Bathing Tips

baby bathing tips - how often to bathe baby

You can now answer the question, “How often should you bathe a baby?” It is also important to know some tips that can help you get by and do the job perfectly well.

  • Make sure you have everything you need on hand before starting, and make sure you put every distraction aside including your phone.
  • Your bathing location should be warm, safe, and very clean. It can be a small plastic tub or in the kitchen sink.
  • Use only products that are verified as baby-friendly. You may avoid using soap altogether if your child is prone to skin issues. A gentle non-soap cleanser or a fragrance-free oil will do in this case.
  • Always check to make certain the temperature of the water is comfortably warm and not hot before putting your baby in.
  • Do not ever leave your newborn in the bath unattended.

Conclusion

Note that what works for your friend may not necessarily work for you. It takes some patience and consistent practice to make things work out perfectly fine. If you are a new mom, you may have to seek the help of an expert or a more experienced mom.

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