How do I bathe my baby before the umbilical stump falls off?

One of the first questions parents have about bathing their baby is, "How often do I need to do it?" And, at most, a newborn needs to be bathed just a couple of times a week with the exception of times when they have excessive spit-up or blow-outs and they need an urgent bath. The areas that get the dirtiest on a baby are their face, and the skin-folds (especially those under their neck), and also their diaper area. And really, you should be cleaning and assessing these on a regular basis throughout the day, and if you're doing this, then they don't need frequent baths.
Plan on sponge-bathing your baby for the first 1 to 2 weeks of life until the umbilical cord has fallen off. And then after that, you can get the baby's torso wet and bathe them in a sink or in the bathtub. The bath is going to require some prep work before you start. First, go turn the thermostat in your house up to about 74 to 75 degrees to keep your baby warm during the bath. Choose a location close to running water, if possible, so you can rinse your baby's head with ease. You can set up your bathing station on a counter, on furniture, or on the floor, but no matter what, never leave your baby unattended, and make sure you're holding them the whole time.
Next, gather all necessary supplies. 2 to 3 towels are helpful (and if possible, heat them with a dryer), 2 washcloths, a bin of warm water that has been tested by you to make sure that it's not too hot, and remember that a baby's skin is more sensitive than ours, so if it's too hot for you, it's definitely too hot for your baby. You can also grab some shampoo and soap (which can be added to the basin of warm water if desired, although it's not necessary), a scrubber or a soft-bristled comb, a new diaper, wipes, lotion if desired, and fresh, clean clothing.
Support your baby's neck and head throughout the bath, using your non-dominant hand to support your baby and your dominant hand to clean, or just employ the help of your partner - one to hold and one to clean. I actually recommend the two of you doing it together for the first few times until you get used to doing it on your own. Wrap your baby in a clean, warm towel and keep her fully covered throughout the bath, only exposing areas that your washing and being mindful to cover them up as soon as you're done.
Start with your baby's face. Dip the clean washcloth into the warm water and cleanse the eyes from the inside corner outward. Change the location on the washcloth before wiping the second eye. Be mindful of neck folds where milk might drip and get caught. Now take one arm out and clean the armpit and down to the fingers. Dip the washcloth as much as is needed to keep it warm so that your baby stays warm. Dry and cover the first arm up and do the same thing to the second arm. Next, move onto the trunk. Use this as an opportunity to examine your baby's skin. Look for irregularities or rashes that you may not have noticed before. Note them and talk with your pediatrician if you see or have any questions.
Wash your baby's chest and carefully wash around the umbilical cord, being careful to leave it dry throughout the entire bath. Now turn your baby over and gently wipe her back. The legs are next. Take one leg out and clean it, being especially vigilant about cleaning in those cute little leg-folds , especially behind the knees. Cover the first leg and proceed with the second. The diaper area is last since it's the dirtiest part of your baby. You might find it helpful to loosely wring the washcloth over the water basin and squeeze it over your baby's diaper area from front to back, then wipe as necessary to ensure it is clean.
Put your baby in a second warm, clean towel and make sure your baby is warmed and dried thoroughly. Apply lotion if desired, and also put a diaper on so that everything remains clean while you wash your baby's hair. If your baby has enough hair that it actually warrants washing, put a small amount of baby shampoo on your hands and rub it into your baby's scalp. Use gentle circular motions, and you can even use a soft-bristled brush if desired. Use this opportunity to also clean behind your baby's ears. Rinse by slightly tilting your baby's head back and running warm tap water (that you've already tested first) over your baby's head. This is usually the part of the bath that babies like the most.
Keep in mind that these tips and suggestions are just for bathing a baby during the first couple weeks of life until the umbilical cord stump has fallen off. If you would like to see tips and suggestions about how to bathe the baby after that, check out the link below. • Video . And if you have more questions in the future for me, feel free to ask them on our Facebook page at / intermountainmoms , and recommend us to your friends and family too.

[@stephanykishiora7500]

It is interesting to see how different people can do it. In Brazil babies are tub bathed since hospital, and twice a day.

[@samoah]

I'm sure they also have a big belly button also. This is the main reason why wipe bath is better. It's in my culture for the baby to have a full wash also. But now there is so much information out there and reason why we don't to do old methods anymore.

[@savagecabbage7781]

Ours is to not submerge them in water until the cord falls off and we are told not to bath the baby every day with soaps. You can give them a wipe down with water but only use the baby wash every couple of days so their skin doesn't dry out.

[@fabiana_barros]

Even in Brazil this recommendation no longer stands.

[@praisyliju6962]

👸🤴

[@henryjohnson.j4014]

Yeah I learn a lot from this video

[@kristybear100]

Thank you for this informative video. I don't see the video for bathing after the umbilical cord falls off. Will you please list the link? Thank you.

[@seethao7649]

Honestly, this was how I bathed my newborns too. They were both born premature and so fragile. They didn’t have a lot of fat on them like the full term babies would so I literally have to set the temp and make sure it was warm and ready. I wrap them up wash by sections. It gives both my baby and I a good experience.

[@malakfaraz513]

Very good......

[@natekrieger5741]

What Specific Brand of Diaper is Used on the Beautiful Baby?!

[@Marasaorykgsm]

We bathe them daily here. I mean is extremely hot weather so they get uncomfortable here. Different weather and situation

[@mechiecastillon6055]

Thank you for this information!

[@henryjohnson.j4014]

Yeah I learn a lot from this video

[@chinwenduchikezie951]

Oh wow! This is so complicated. In Nigeria where I come from your mother or an older Lady gives the baby baths for few weeks. Our babies are given normal baths except a baby with complications. She pours the baby water (warm) on the whole body in a warm environment. She even uses a towel to pour hot water (not the one that burn you) on the umbilical thingie saying it helps it fall off quickly. After everything she puts Vaseline and some ointment on the navel area and it's done and how babies live happily ever after no problems.

[@samoah]

It is in my culture to give babies full bath also. But with all the education available. We learn that full baths leads to big belly button! Therefore, doing bath wipes is not long. It's just for two weeks!

[@maggiepallier9420]

Sorry different countries different ways but if you want to dry something out faster deffinetly dont pour water on it its physics of life.

[@chinwenduchikezie951]

Yes, different countries, different ways. But in my country, we use a towel or napkin to pour hot water on the belly button during every bath and one day it falls off.

[@chinwenduchikezie951]

@@samoah well my dear, I don't know how it is done for the babies to have big belly buttons because in my place we give a full bathe and nothing of such happens

[@anamecalledname]

This seems like too much work. Just put the baby in a towel, hold them and clean them with a warm wash cloth. That's basically all they did anyway. If you want to wash their hair just get someone to help you gently wet their hair over a bowl.

[@jamiebaker5123]

Lpko ok i8ui8ijoiiiiooo Ljkkklll. Ooko

[@Atoviah]

If u think this is too much work don’t have kids🤣

[@adrisalas360]

@@Atoviah i think KR C means some things are complicated where they don’t need to be but this. Ideo is for beginners if you are not a beginner and a pro then that is awesome 👏

[@adrisalas360]

Video*

[@thats_moni825]

The fact u said to much work. I'll do whatever it takes to keep my baby healthy hard work or not. Your just lazy af

[@actualwakandangirl7121]

Interesting, I’m thinking of how babies are bathed daily in my culture, those women I grew up watching would do it fast and added some herbs so babies had shiny smooth skin.

[@leahallen2360]

Thank you so much

[@jenpiazza5836]

How is a baby getting clean i use a batheze its a mesh bed that lays in the bath water baby loves it i wash there whole and there hair

[@maggiepallier9420]

I dont think is good idea to use tap cos the water preassure and temperature on some taps changing very fast and you can burn the baby or pour cold water on their head. Just observation for people with temperamental water systems

[@gnanasughana1902]

Very useful video, thanks. Can you please provide the product link for the bathing tub and the mesh support? Thanks.

[@SailorLinx]

it looks like this one from amazon ' The First Years Sure Comfort Deluxe Newborn To Toddler Tub'

[@gnanasughana1902]

@@SailorLinx Thankyou very much

[@zainaboyinkansolaabiodunon9199]

Hola ne bebé me no under e teaaa

[@Florrrr..x]

Watching this made me just more nervous about bathing him 😕 I’m going to be a first time mom !

[@bitemycookie6227]

girl, same, I'm terrified xD

[@Florrrr..x]

@Molly Dolly Im 19 🤦🏽‍♀️ and even though I have 5 weeks to go I’m still terrified of him slipping in the tub

[@Florrrr..x]

@Molly Dolly awe thanks 😊 I say the same thing to you ! God bless you and you baby :)

[@julietteguardado5080]

@Molly Dolly I’m 16 had my first a week ago

[@claudiavega3381]

Awww that is a cute baby ❤

[@commentterry2672]

We wash our newborn babies daily. We scrub them like chickens. Lol. We don't cover each section we just wash them well and quickly. They get mad but they're clean and sleep more soundly. Different cultures...fascinating.

[@gatorsinger]

Thank you! This video is ridiculous.

[@vexedmoth5330]

✍️ get ✍️ it ✍️ over ✍️ with.. ok thanks makes a lot more sense this video takes forever 😂

[@actualwakandangirl7121]

Exactly lol!

[@adrisalas360]

Do you use a bath wash ? Or just water?

[@commentterry2672]

@@adrisalas360 Gentle bath wash. Just a little. They get slippery. 😂

[@267praveen]

74 to 75 degrees? 🤯 It's farnheights and not Celsius for people from countries where celsius is used a unit.

[@siriusshin5929]

I've never seen Fahrenheit written so wrong 😂

[@AnjaliDandriyal]

@@siriusshin5929 😂😂

[@ChrissysWorld]

The umbilical cord falls in 7 days just wait till it falls off! Take some warm water a cash clothe and wash them on a towel only private parts!

[@anyonepajac]

Mine fell off after 6 weeks. You just have to dry it up

[@henryjohnson.j4014]

Yeah I learn a lot from this video

[@waynekasokeo5012]

Let me guess?mmm will water work 💪?

[@patricadacre5968]

In 1983 we were instructed to have alcohol on cotton ball and squeeze on umbilical cord. Do they still do that? My daughter's cord came off and I couldn't find it. .about week later I found it shriveled up under the bassinet pad. Eeeeww 🤣😵

[@ZuzuLudgate]

Not anymore. It’s recommended not to touch it or wet it with anything, including alcohol as that could delay it in drying off and could get infected.

[@KatMTeach]

Yeah they don’t do that anymore but I vividly remember my mom doing that with my baby brother when I was 5! I think that’s the first “how to take care of baby” memory I have

[@henryjohnson.j4014]

Yeah I learn a lot from this video

[@janoahmallory3754]

Did they use any soap or just water to actually wash the baby ?

[@adrisalas360]

I want to know too I feel like water isn’t enough to get the stinky out lol

[@destinya5627]

Bathing is different in every country because of the weather differences. In the U.S. it gets very cold during the autumn and winter and babies are susceptible to getting sick from the mix of cold air in the house and the water on them. This is why they stay covered during the bath.

[@claudiapastorahdez6177]

Same in FL where we use air conditioning year-round so it's dry inside and cold.

[@cherrychan4795]

Its so complicated haha

[@Denis-iy8nw]

This will take forever 😅😅😅

[@P010010010100101]

This is so extra.

[@21350ctw]

Lol exactly

[@carolineherring5922]

yeah❤️

[@ahd1042]

W video

[@evelyngonzalez5775]

No soap?

[@blendrangtewel6515]

No...

[@user-bd1kv1hb6b]

سبحانك ربي غير بشويه عندهم بهداوه احنا الغوات وبيبي كيغوت داكشي علاش دراري صغر كيكرهو التدواش

[@msbellesegotlhelo2728]

What happened if I happen to wet the umbilical cord nd it's not yet fallen?

[@Messy579]

Ms Belle I’d say just gently dry it off

[@sarwatshah4655]

The baby can get infection on umbilical cord

[@masalakulwa7601]

Smell very bad

[@plantscat7605]

I don't see the point of holding the baby in the tub if there's no water in it? So much easier to just clean the baby while laying on the counter top

[@kaykayree1]

Big belly buttons? I’ve never heard of such. What is that? An outy or something more?

[@gbpstudios5344]

Lol this so complex.. wen my son was newborn I bathed him with only water added alcohol, n a light disinfectant. He had his cord on still it didn’t matter if it got wet r not… I did it quick n all

[@sandrajones7614]

Hey we in the Caribbean we bath our baby from day one not no wipe off then u dry the baby clean the cord dress the baby and u good to go not all that I see you all doing not bathing baby for so long nah

[@zubeidakhan3124]

We I am from we bath baby everyday. We put them in a bath with water. No problems with umbilical cord whatsoever. When we finish bathing baby we wipe the umbilical cord and clean it with surgical spirits. Not painful for baby and it disinfects and dries it up very quickly. My best friend is a pediatric dermatologist with PhD from Oxford UK. She says this method is fine to do. I am not sure why some people dont bath the baby for days even weeks. The babies even smell sour from rotten milk. It seems very unhygienic and disgusting to me. I live in a place where the people have to most beautiful, softest and healthy skin. And we wash our babies everyday. I guess we are all different. What works for some may not work for others.

[@yesseniarodriguez7044]

True! I'm from Puerto Rico, and I used to bathe my son when he was a baby every day, just making sure the umbilical cord was very dry afterwards. Never has any issue

[@elizabethcaraballo3012]

Yup, from PR too and with my first born we took him a bath everyday and dry and desinfect the umbilical area but this time I am in NY and kind of worried about the cold wheather, my baby will be born in january

[@yesseniarodriguez7044]

@@elizabethcaraballo3012 same here, having a boy in february and it's deffinetly different 😅. Congrats btw

[@prettykayy8327]

@@yesseniarodriguez7044 did you have baby yet

[@Kriistall7]

Or you could just wait until they really need one which my kids didn't until like week 3 or 4

[@kattwin1]

I haven't officially bathed my baby yet and he's almost 4 weeks...I was feeling like a terrible mother; thank you for your comment. 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@malakfaraz513]

Are you muslime?

[@roshiniroshini5836]

😍😘😍💘❤️❤️🙏

[@andreapatane4204]

It isn’t easy to bathe a 👶🏻 these days, especially in times of when their umbilical stumps fall off in 2️⃣-3️⃣ weeks. 👍🏻 if you agree.

[@lindastamp5982]

I just do not get it? The umbilical is going to fall off regardless of a few baths during this time. I bathed my baby in a "normal" baby bath, the 1st bath in icu was "normal", warm, relaxing, easy. These video's of babies being bathed out of water just looks like torture. They are cold, shivering, and screaming! Just dunk em, soap em, dry em, done.

[@joslynharden5292]

I don’t see the baby crying or shivering? Baby seems pretty calm. Doctors say not to wet the umbilical cord or it can get gooey infected and stinky, but as all medical advice what works for some may not work for others so some people wet the cord anyway and it’s fine. She said to warm the towels in the dryer and keep them in the towel so they won’t be cold. I think it depends on the technique and the baby but I wouldn’t call it torture. I’ve known people to just take a rag and wipe the baby down without putting them in a towel at all, which I think would be more uncomfortable for them.

[@Messy579]

She also said turn up the heat in the house so it’s not cold

[@nkeemahdarrah8782]

if you dunk them straight in the bath while they still have the umbilical cord it can cause an infection you are not supposed to soak it

[@janicecooper875]

Yes, l agree. These days l think they can get too fancy. Dont worry bout umbillical cord. Plenty of metho on that and it dries up if it gets wet.

[@janicecooper875]

I mean l agree with Linda Stamp for my previous comment.

[@gatorsinger]

Absurd, all this bs is not necessary. Turn up the thermostat?? You’re kidding! Get real just bath the kid and put a bottle in its mouth

[@valerieteti1755]

LOL you’re right

[@j-jfad6239]

Ewwwww I hope you didn’t reproduce anything

[@cookiecoucou5006]

What the hell did u do to your eyebrows like that? I think u will look way more beautiful with ur natural brows. Thanks for the video though 💟💟💟

[@OzzyBourne99]

Really though. I can't take her seriously with those brows.

[@torimadden8790]

Lmfao

[@lilinkate3013]

😂

[@lawreenmkado8307]

Hahaha that is funny!!