How to Give a Newborn Baby a Newborn Sponge Bath

Preferably start bathing a newborn baby about three weeks after birth, so that their skin has dried by then and their skin is soft and pliant. Be gentle in the beginning and do it slowly as your baby gets used to the process. Prepare the usual ingredients before bath time: small basin with lukewarm water, a soft, comfortable towel, or baby blanket (preferably one that absorbs water), a thermometer and not so hot or not so cold water. Before bathing the newborn, check the temperature of his/her body using a bathroom thermometer. If it is not correctly done, your baby could become too hot or too cold which is dangerous. You should also try to see if the towel absorbs any of the water before placing it on the baby.

While the newborn is at the bottom of the tub, begin washing him/her with a newborn baby bath sponge that is made of soft material. You can either wash this by hand, holding it over the sink while you scrub it out or with a baby bath sponge mitt which is usually made of rubber. When you are done washing, you can rinse the newborn with clean water from the top of the basin but only after gently rinsing the bottom so that there won't be any soap left on him/her.

When you are done washing the newborn, dry him in a towel in the same way that you cleaned him. After the newborn sponge bath, place him/her in a towel and apply a baby bath wrap or a towel that is warm but not hot. This wrapping will help prevent the sponge from melting and sticking to the newborn as he/she ages. Wrapping also prevents the toddler from getting his/her fingers sticky. When you are done, remove the towel and allow the child to dry himself in the sink.