A baby bath tub or the kitchen sink works best. A bath tub is very large and bending over might strain your back. I know my back was quite sore after giving birth. If you use the sink, you will need to support your baby's back and neck with one arm and wash him/her with your other hand.

Here are some tips that come from experience:

1. check the water before putting baby in, it should be warm, not hot and have everything ready, beside you (washcloth, soap, towel)

2. put a warm washcloth on your baby's belly. The nurse did this with my son in the hospital and he didn't cry. She said it was because it kept him warm since he wasn't fully immersed in the water. She said she uses this trick every time with newborns and it always works. It worked for me at home too.

3. Use a gentle baby soap. I would opt for something natural as many big commercial baby brands use a lot of chemicals. Skin deep is a great website to check out the ingredients of baby products and to find a safe, natural baby soap. Here's the link: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/index.php

4. wash the baby's face first, start with the eyes, around the mouth, then hair/head and work your way down

5. Have someone with you to take /video of your baby's first bath at home, you'll want to have a keepsake of this.

6. Try to be quick as the water will cool quickly and it won't be comfy for baby

7. Be prepared for tears, lots of newborns do not like baths. You may not enjoy the first few baths either. Most babies eventually love to have baths.

You do not need to bathe your baby every day, a couple times a week is enough. Or after a really bad dirty diaper- they do happen!! You can wash baby with a warm cloth in between baths (baby's skin folds in the neck, arm pits and back of knees, and his/her bottom).

The baby's first bath is entirely up to you, but there are a few things you should keep in mind. First off, the first baths should be sponge baths. You really don't want to immerse the healing "belly button" until it is actually healed. Instead, give a sponge bath and avoid using soap. Plain warm tapwater is fine. Do not rub the area around the healing stump that will soon be the belly button. Instead, gently pat around the area to clean it. If the child was circumsized, be sure to use the same technique on this area to avoid infection.

We Amreicans also tend to be obsessed with cleanliness when it comes to babies and this isn't an entirely healthy point of view. Do you want to keep your baby clean? Of course you do, but your babies body also needs to have a chance to develop an immune system that is up to par and it can never do that if it is never exposed to any germs. Now, this doesn't mean that you should let Aunt sue hack all over your child or that you should be letting everyone and their brother kiss all over your newborn baby. It does mean you don't actually need to bathe the baby daily.

Many people will question that because they think a baby needs a daily bath. Here are some thoughts to consider. Did your baby go out and work up a sweat today? Were they playing in the mud? Yes, they wear diapers, but hopefully you clean their bottom when you change the diaper.

Bathing a baby too frequently not only has the possible effect of hindering the immune system, but it also means there is the potential to dry out their skin. So, bathe your baby as frequently as you feel the need to, but at least put some moisturizing lotion on them afterwards and avoid using soap if possible. It dries out the skin and isn't really necessary.

Once the baby's umbilical cord has fallen off, the baby is ready for the first real bath and see the video for step-by-step instructions on giving a baby's 1st bath.

-quote-

"Once your baby's umbilical cord has fallen off, you can officially give him his first real baby bath. There could be cooing or crying, but no matter the temperament, grab your camera if it's the first baby bath. It's a momentous occasion that you'll enjoy looking at later."

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