How Often to Give Baby A Bath?

How Often to Give Baby A Bath [Suggested by Baby pediatricians] 

Bathing a baby is totally a nervous and sensitive event to anyone.  

Does this sound like you? 

We think you would agree with us that bathing a baby is indeed a matter of nervousness, especially for first-time parents.  

Also, we wouldn’t feel hesitant to say that the new parents have less idea of how often they need to bathe their baby.    

Knowing the answer to the question “how often to give baby a bath” could be a great help to the new parents. 

So please stay with us and follow our guidelines to become perfect moms.  

So How often to give baby a bath? 

You may find some people who believe that a baby requires to be bathed daily. The belief without having daily bathing, you can never be too clean. Nevertheless, for a baby, this isn’t true by definition.  Indeed, there is no need to give your baby a daily bath.   

According to the expert’s thought, giving babies three times bathing in a week might be enough to keep them healthy and clean. Also, you can continue this suggestion until they become more mobile.  

Too much bathing is harmful to a baby because it removes the natural oil in human skin that prevents irritation and infection. On the other hand, not bathing a baby often enough can cause eczema or other infections.  

A chart of how often to give your baby a bath: 

Age (months)	How often to bath them?
1 - 3 months	1 to 2 times per week
3 - 6 months	1 to 2 times per week/if a child enjoys water, you can bath them more frequently
6 - 12 months	1 to 2 soapy baths weekly

  

Expert’s thought: How often do I need to bath my baby? 

According to Scott Grant, pediatrician of Michigan Hospital, giving a baby a bath is a subtle balance.  

However, you will find different thoughts from a different baby doctor on this matter. The newborn doesn’t need an actual bath for the 1st and 2nd weeks of life.  

However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reveals that within 24 hours (after birth), a newborn baby should get their 1st bath. 

According to the latest research, “delaying the 1st bath is advantageous for your baby, though there has been a long-time practice to give them a bath right after delivery.”    

Another study revealed that bathing a baby nearly 12 hours later after birth might help promote breastfeeding. Besides, some research found that bathing after 48 hours is good for skin development. 

When should you start bathing your baby every day?  

You can start bathing your baby at any time of the day. You may find some people who think that bathing a baby before bedtime is helpful to offer him a sound sleep.  

Now come to the point: when to start bathing baby daily. 

However, it is recommended to avoid baths just before or after a meal because handling a baby too often in that condition is harmful. 

How often should I bathe my 1-year-old? 

So, it is advisable to take time when it comes to bathing your baby. Don’t need to be hurried, and there is no chance to become unattended while bathing him.   

Also, during bath time, don’t attend any phone calls. Take the baby with you if you have an urgency to leave the room.  

Remember: The best time of day to bath baby is morning. 

How often should I bathe my 1-month-old baby & newborn?  

During the 1st month of your babies, it would be helpful to give them a bath 1 to 2 times per week. Pediatricians also recommend that bathing them one to two times per week is enough to keep them clean. To do this, you can go through the following ways.  

⦁ Fill a bathtub with 2 or 3 inches of lukewarm water for your baby, or give him a bath in the sink.  

⦁ Let them sit on the bathtub and gently bath your baby because they might sleep.   

⦁ Before moving down, start bathing with the face. You can use gentle baby soap while bathing.  

⦁ Use a damp washcloth to cover their body and keep them warm.   

Note: Of course, for babies 4 months above, they will need a bath after a messy day. 

Should I bathe my baby every day? 

It isn’t recommended to bathe your baby every day. Some parents may find it unusual to bathe their babies too often in a week. Nevertheless, you should not do so. Babies become less dirty than adults, so giving them a bath a few times a week is enough.  

Besides, the skin of the baby is more sensitive than adults, which is why bathing a little one too often isn’t recommended.  Bathing your sweet heart too often may result in opposite effects such as eczema, rashes, etc. 

How often should you bathe a 5-month-old? 

According to the experts’ thought, instead of bathing your little angel too often, you can wash their hands, neck, face, and bottom carefully. Often this is called topping and tailing, which is good for baby’s sound health.  

Watch this video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDNAUW52Xiw] to get practical tips on giving a healthy bathing experience for your loving sweat heart.  

Note: while bathing, don’t forget to use cotton wool and lukewarm water. For a newborn bath, 5 to 10 minutes is long enough. This is only applicable if your loving babies have sensitive or dry skin.  

Can I bathe my baby once a week? 

Bath-time can be great fun and a possibility for parents to bond with their newborn baby. Once your loving son or daughter is about a week old, you want to start bathing to keep them clean.  

Probably, bathing a baby once a week would be best until he or she is old enough to crawl independently. When your baby begins moving around, you need to bathe them more often because they will get more dirt.  

According to the professor in the Department of Pathology, & Department of Medicine at New York Medical College, if you bathe your babies less often than once a week, they may be affected by rashes, especially in the diaper area.    

Tip:  In the 1st or 2nd week of your baby's life, when he or she still comes with an umbilical cord stump, it would be recommended to give them a sponge bath (1 to 2 times per week).  

Is it better to bathe the baby before or after feeding?  

According to pediatricians, bathing your baby before the feed is better for his/her health. But remember, don’t bath your babies when they are too hungry.  

You can feed your baby a half before bathing if you feel that he or she is hungry and finish the rest feed after bathing. On the other hand, bathing a baby right after the feeding may make him or her uncomfortable.  

Another study reveals that bathing a baby straight after a feed can divert the blood flow, slowing down the digestion system.  Some experts suggest that bathing a baby at the end of the day is good for their health.  

Health & Safety tips During Bath Time: 

⦁ Babies lose heat too fast, ensuring the room is warm (24 C) enough before undressing them.  

⦁ Before allowing your baby to sit in the bathtub, check the temperature of the water. You can use your elbow or inside of the wrist to check the water.  

⦁ Don’t leave your baby in the bath, even for a few seconds. You bay can drown in only two inches of water.  

Final verdict: 

You will find no hard and quick directions as to how often to give the baby a bath. If your little love is clean, then giving a bath every other day is perfectly enough.  

While bathing your babies, keep in mind that their skin is delicate. Ensure that you measure the water by a water thermometer or by your elbow as you can understand that the water is ready for your baby to bath.  

You will also find some babies who enjoy their bathing time and are relaxed soothed after their bath time.  

However, for getting more special care, you should always take the advice of pediatricians. Hold your baby's tiny little body in the bath and give him or her a lovely day. 

Stay healthy ya’ll!