Sponge Bath 101

Washing your newborn is a great way for you to strengthen your bond with him. Soaping up his little feet, gently rubbing his head, patting him dry …you’ll get plenty of skin-to-skin contact. But your newborn’s not exactly playing in the mud yet, so you only need to bathe him a few times a week. In fact, you’ll want to stick to sponge baths until his umbilical cord falls off and his navel heals completely (as well as his circumcision, if he had one). You may feel a little anxious the first few times (he’s so small!), but before you know it, you’ll be a pro. Here’s everything you need to know.

Washing your newborn is a great way for you to strengthen your bond with him. Soaping up his little feet, gently rubbing his head, patting him dry …you’ll get plenty of skin-to-skin contact. But your newborn’s not exactly playing in the mud yet, so you only need to bathe him a few times a week. In fact, you’ll want to stick to sponge baths until his umbilical cord falls off and his navel heals completely (as well as his circumcision, if he had one). You may feel a little anxious the first few times (he’s so small!), but before you know it, you’ll be a pro. Here’s everything you need to know.

Getting Ready

Pick a warm room with a flat surface (like the bathroom floor or kitchen counter), and lay down a thick towel. Before you start, make sure you have the following supplies within arm’s reach:

• Baby wash
   
• Two cotton balls
   
• Two soft sponges or washcloths (one for soaping, the other for rinsing)
   
• Two bowls of warm water—not hot (one for soapy water, the other for plain water)
   
• Hooded towel

Bath Time

Now for the main event! Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting baby clean:

• Undress your newborn and wrap him in the towel so he doesn’t get cold. Leave his diaper on until the end of the bath.
   
• Start by wiping each of his eyelids with a wet cotton ball, moving from the inner corner outward. Use a fresh cotton ball for each eye.
   
• On to the rest of his face: Using a lightly soaped sponge or washcloth, clean his face, behind his ears, then around his neck. Rinse off the soap with another sponge or washcloth.
   
• Move on to baby’s chest, arms, hands, back, legs, and feet. Try to uncover only the area you’re cleaning at the time, and dry each area as you go (newborns get cold quickly!).
   
• Next, wash his hair: Supporting his head and shoulders, tip his head back a little and cup some water so you can gently drizzle it over his head. Be careful that the water doesn’t run into his eyes. You can skip the shampoo; water is all you need for now.
   
• Then, remove his diaper and wash his belly, bottom, and genitals. If he’s circumcised, don’t clean the end of the penis until it has healed. If he’s uncircumcised, you can wash him, but leave the foreskin alone. If your newborn’s a girl, wash her from front to back.
   
• You may have heard that you should clean the umbilical cord with an alcohol swab. However, experts no longer recommend this. If it seems dirty, you can simply rinse it off with some warm water.
   
• Gently pat your baby dry. Avoid rubbing him, which might irritate his skin.
   
• Remember: Always keep one hand on baby; never leave him alone near water or on a surface where he can roll off.

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