Parenthood How-to: Bathing Baby

Adding bath time to baby’s routine is something you can begin shortly after your baby is born. Some pediatricians recommend delaying a baby’s first bath until they are a few days old. That’s because after birth your baby is covered in vernix, which is a waxy substance on the skin that protects baby from germs in the environment.

If you have a hospital delivery, hospital nurses or staff will clean off the amniotic fluid and blood after your baby is born. But you’ll likely have the option to tell them to leave excess vernix if you choose. Once you bring your baby home, you can give them a sponge bath. You can clean their head, body, and diaper area. This is the safest way to bathe your baby until their umbilical cord falls off.

Watch this video to learn how to bathe your newborn baby.

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