How to Get Your Newborn to Enjoy Bath Time
Does your newborn cry in the bath? Bathing a newborn can be nerve-wracking for new moms and dads, but there’s an easy tip that can help: gently pour water over your baby's head during bath time. This helps your newborn get used to the sensation of getting their face wet so they learn to enjoy baths as baby gets older.
Why This Works:
Familiarity: Pouring water over their head helps babies get used to feeling of their head and face getting wet, making them more comfortable with bath time. Bath time becomes an increasingly important step in many babies’ bedtime routines as they get older, so setting baby up for success with bath time is worthwhile!
Swim Instructors’ Technique: Infant swim instructors use this method in the pool to acclimate babies to water, helping reduce any fear of getting their face wet later in life. Small buckets or cups with holes in them or fun squirty bath toys make it easy to sprinkle water gently over their heads.
Additional Tips
Water Temperature: The ideal temperature for your baby’s bath is warm not hot — around 98-100°F (37-38°C). Use a thermometer to check the water temperature and soon enough you’ll be able to gauge baby’s ideal bathwater temperature without one. Water that is too hot can scald your baby’s delicate skin, while water that is too cold can be uncomfortable.
Water Depth: How deep should baby’s bath be? Start with max 2-3 inches deep. Babies can drown in as little as 1-2 inches of water, so always supervise bath time closely. We like to always keep one hand on baby at all times when they’re in the bath.
Support: Always support your baby’s head and neck. Many infant tubs come with a hammock or a seat to keep your baby from slipping down into the tub, providing additional safety and comfort.
More Parenting Tips
Now that you know how bathe your newborn so they don’t fuss in the bath, check out these other how-to guides to help make baby care easier:
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