Sponge Bathing Your Baby

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

• Never leave your baby unattended during a bath.
• Put the baby on a towel.
• Use water that is warm to your skin, not hot.
• Wash the face first and the bottom area last.
• Use a wet washcloth with no soap to clean the baby's face. Rinse off the eyelids with fresh water. Wash the ears with a cloth. Do not put cotton swabs in the baby's ears. This will push the wax back into the ear. A mild shampoo may be used on the head.
• For boys, wash the bottom with a mild antibacterial soap or with plain water. Be sure to lift the scrotum and wash underneath it.
• For girls, wash the bottom with plain water. Wipe from front to back to keep from spreading germs from the rectum to other parts of the bottom.
• When you are finished bathing, make sure all the soap is rinsed off the baby's skin. Soap left on it can be irritating.
• You may apply lotion after the bath once the baby is 3 to 4 weeks old. Use only lotion suggested by your doctor. Lotion can be warmed by putting the container in warm water before the bath.
• Do not use baby powder because it contains talc and may irritate your baby's lungs. You may use cornstarch.

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