You can start using a mild, fragrance-free baby soap or cleanser sparingly around 4-6 weeks or once the umbilical cord stump falls off, but for the first few weeks, plain water is often sufficient for cleaning newborns. Focus on gentle, unscented products and only use them on necessary areas, as newborns' skin is delicate and regular soaps can cause dryness or irritation.
Only use plain water for newborn babies. You can start using unperfumed baby bath from about 4 to 6 weeks, but be careful to only use a little so you don't damage your baby's skin. Babies with longer hair may need a drop of mild shampoo on wet hair, lathered and rinsed off.
We recommend bathing your baby 2-3 times per week and delaying the first bath until they more than 24 hours old, when a newborn can more easily regulate their temperature.
Until your baby is about 1 year old, use products designed for babies or very mild soap only on the parts of his body that really need it. (Once he's eating solid food, you may have a few more areas to clean.)
SIDS is less common after 8 months of age, but parents and caregivers should continue to follow safe sleep practices to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death until baby's first birthday. More than 90% of all SIDS deaths occur before 6 months of age.
The first three months with your baby often seem the hardest. Sleep-deprived parents can feel overwhelmed, but that is normal and you will quickly learn how to read your baby's cues and personality. Don't worry about “spoiling” your baby at this stage.
Basically, the point when you start to notice the baby shampoo not doing quite a good enough job keeping Baby's hair clean may be a good point to start thinking about making the switch.
You can wash your baby with just water if you want to. Some babies love being in warm water, and a bath can become an enjoyable ritual for you both. However, there's no need to give your baby a bath every day during the first month or so. In fact, doing so could dry out your baby's skin.
In fact, we recommend delaying your newborn's first full bath for at least two weeks. Newborns shed about three layers of skin within their first week, which often surprises new parents. Their skin is still adjusting to the dry air, so it's perfectly normal.
Here's the good news, Mama: you can start moisturizing your newborn's skin right after their first full bath! As you're working up to that moment, here are a few important things to keep in mind: Wait until after the umbilical cord stump falls off before fully submerging that area in water.
Wait until she's old enough.
Don't submerge your baby in water until her umbilical cord drops off and her navel has healed. Stick to sponge baths and turn to other bonding tactics, such as kangaroo care (holding your baby's bare body against your bare chest) until then.
Start washing baby's face first.
Use the dampened cloth to wash their face, being careful not to get water into their eyes or mouth. Then, dip it in the basin of water before washing the rest of their body and, finally, the diaper area.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, infants should generally not spend more than two hours in their car seat at a time.* Think about it. You probably get fidgety after sitting for 2 hours — and remember, as an adult your movement is less restricted when using a lap-and-shoulder seat belt.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends sponge baths until the umbilical cord stump falls off — which might take a week or two.
Avoid using soap because this will dry out your baby's skin. You can use a mild baby cleanser instead if needed. Position the bath somewhere stable and at a height where you can comfortably hold your baby, like on the kitchen table. Fill the bath with just enough warm water to wash your baby.
Cradle cap is harmless and usually clears within two weeks of treatment, but can last for months without treatment. Unless the cradle cap is bothersome to you, it is perfectly okay to leave it alone.
You can wash your baby with just water if you want to. Some babies love being in warm water, and a bath can be an enjoyable ritual for you both. But there's no need to give your baby a bath every day during the first few months.
The 5-3-3 rule is a loose guideline for structuring a baby's sleep schedule: 5 hours of wake time before the first nap, 3 hours of wake time before the second nap, and 3 hours before bedtime.