Baby Care

Bathing and Skin Care

Bathing

Never leave your baby alone in the bath.

You do not need to bathe your baby every day. Washing the face, neck, hands, and diaper area, in that order and with attention to skin folds, can be done daily. For the first bath, it helps to have someone with you who has done it before. Try to make bath time a relaxed, playful experience for your baby. Smile, make eye contact, sing, and talk with your baby.

General Tips for Bathing
  • To prevent burns, keep the temperature of your hot water tank
    below 49° C.
  • Have the room warm, about 22 to 27°C (72 to 80°F).
  • Remove jewellery that could scratch your baby.
  • Wash your hands.
  • A baby can have a bath in the sink, a basin, a baby bathtub, or in a bathtub with an adult.
  • Lay out a towel next to the sink, basin, or tub to lay your baby on after the bath.
  • Bath water should be lukewarm. Check the temperature on your wrist or elbow.
  • Have everything within easy reach before you start.
  • Always keep at least one hand on your baby.
  • Using oils in the bath can make your baby slippery. Apply any oils you may want to use after the bath.
  • When washing, think cleanest to dirtiest. Wash the eyes and face first and the diaper area last.
POINTS TO REMEMBER

Health Canada recommends that parents do not use bath seats or rings because of concerns with their safety. It is very easy for infants to tip over or slip underwater and drown. This can happen in less than a minute.

Bathing

Eyes and Face
  • Wash the face using warm water only. Soap is not needed on this area.
  • Wipe eyes from the inner corner to the outer corner.
  • Do not use cotton tipped applicators in your baby’s ears, nose, or eyes as they can harm the delicate tissues.
  • Use a soft washcloth, and only clean the outer part of the ear. Don’t dig into the ear canal.
  • Wipe your baby’s gums with a soft clean cloth every day.
Scalp and Hair
  • You can use a mild soap or baby shampoo. Lather up and rinse well with clear water.
  • Your baby’s scalp is normally mildly scaly. If the scalp is crusty you can rub in a small amount of non‑perfumed oil and then wash it off. Oil left on the scalp can cause a build‑up of oil and skin known as cradle cap.
Drying

After you have bathed your baby, place your baby on the towel and pat her or him dry, being sure to remember the skin folds. Your baby will cool down quickly when wet. Have clothes ready to dress your baby.

POINTS TO REMEMBER

Another way to bathe your baby is to have one adult sit in a bathtub while the other passes the baby in for a bath. When the bath is finished, the baby can be passed to the other adult. Your baby may feel more secure and cry less.

 

Skin and Nail Care

A newborn’s skin is normally soft and smooth but may be peeling or wrinkled in the first few days after birth.

Tiny Raised White Spots

You may find tiny raised spots on your newborn’s face. These spots are called milia. Your hormones before birth cause extra oil gland activity in your baby. Milia are caused by plugged oil glands and will usually clear within three to four weeks. Do not try to pop or remove these glands.

Newborn Rash

Newborn rash is common in the first few months after birth. This rash is blotchy with tiny pinpoints that can be found anywhere on the body. It’s normal and will pass on its own with no treatment.

POINTS TO REMEMBER

If a rash flares up and becomes red, itchy, and oozes fluid, call your health care provider. For more information on checking the seriousness of a rash and knowing when to call a health care provider, look in the BC HealthGuide handbook, available for free at your pharmacy. You can also visit the HealthLink BC website and search for “rashes.” Or you can call HealthLink BC at 8‑1‑1 for confidential help and advice.

Umbilical Cord
  • The umbilical cord stump with usually fall off in 5 to 15 days.
  • Keeping the cord clean and dry is important to prevent infection.
  • Use water on a cotton‑tipped applicator or washcloth to clean gently around the base of the cord. Wipe away any cord discharge.
  • Clean around the base of the cord after bathing and at diaper changes.
  • Fold the diaper below the cord to stop irritation and to keep it dry and exposed to air.
  • Continue to clean the belly button for a few days after the cord falls off.

The cord may be infected if the area around the cord becomes reddened, swollen, or has pus coming from it. Call your health care practitioner or public health nurse if you are concerned.

POINTS TO REMEMBER

Call your health care provider if:

  • The skin around your baby’s umbilical cord is warm, red, or swollen.
  • There is a bad‑smelling discharge from the cord.
  • The cord is very wet and will not dry with exposure to air.
Nails

Keep your baby’s nails trimmed to help prevent scratches.

  • Use blunt scissors or an emery board to cut or file your baby’s nails.
  • The best time to do your baby’s nails is when your baby is asleep or sleepy and his or her hands are open and still.