Babies are a school for mothers to learn everything from the beginning. Giving your baby a bath is one of the important learning steps and it should be done very carefully. It means more than just cleaning the body. This at the same time can be a delightful way to strengthen your bond with your family’s newest member.

For the first weeks, you may find it easier to top and tail. Topping and tailing means washing your baby from head to toe with a warm washcloth, and pieces of moistened cotton wool. Wipe your baby's eyes, face and neck using cotton wool and warm water, and use washcloth to wipe and clean your baby’s bottom.

Once your baby’s umbilical cord has fallen off, he/she will be ready for a baby bathtub. When you are buying a baby bathtub, choose the one that has a contoured design or has an internal sling to prevent the baby from sliding.

Here are some tips to help you bath your baby:

Your baby doesn’t need a bath every day as long as you are keeping your baby clean by cleaning his/her face, neck, hands and diaper area. It is usually enough to bath your baby twice or thrice a week.

Bath Time – When your baby is a newborn, it is better to bath during the day. After a couple of months, you can start to include bath to his/her bedtime routine.

Temperature – Fill the bathtub with a couple of inches of lukewarm water. Check the temperature of the water by dipping your finger in the water. The water should be warm but not hot. You should keep testing the temperature of the water throughout the time you are giving bath to your baby and add warm water when necessary to prevent the water from getting cold.

Soap and Shampoo – Mild baby soaps and shampoos with chamomile extract are best for bathing babies. When you are buying a baby soap, look for one that is dermatologically tested and doesn’t contain paraben or alcohol. If you are buying a baby shampoo, go for the one that has a gentle tear-free formula and doesn’t contain paraben, alcohol, soap or SLS. If your baby has developed a cradle cap which appears as a scaly patch on the scalp, loosen the scales by using a gentle tear-free shampoo with the help of a soft bristle baby brush.

Keep things within reach – Keep everything in close while bathing your baby, for example, washcloth, soap, shampoo, cotton, etc. Before you start bathing your baby, keep one hand on your baby at all times and have someone to support you, if necessary.

After bath – As soon as you are done with bathing your baby, wrap him/her quickly in a towel to prevent your baby from losing too much of his body heat. Dry your baby thoroughly before diapering and dressing him/her.

Safety – Never ever leave your baby alone in the bathtub or in the care of another child. Not even for a second. Place a non-skid mat beneath your baby’s tub to prevent it from slipping. Empty the tub immediately and completely after each use.