This is what a newborn's bath should be like 2026

When a child comes into the world, one of the main responsibilities that parents have is to take care of their personal hygiene, which is a real challenge especially for first-timers. And, although it is always necessary to maintain good hygiene for the child, before the umbilical cord falls off, it will require a series of more special care when bathing it.

The main objective is to keep the cord as dry as possible so that it heals correctly and thus avoids unwanted infections. For this reason it is not advisable to submerge the child in water, so we will avoid washing the child by immersion.

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This is how we should bathe the baby

The first thing is to prepare a small bathtub, it must be cleaned and cured, so nothing happens if something gets wet if we dry it properly afterwards. What is not necessary is to specifically focus on it.

However, for some experts, it is not inadvisable to immerse the baby in water as long as it is a short bath and we thoroughly dry the umbilical cord. In any case, this type of bath, once the cord has fallen off (it is normal for it to come off between the first and second week of life), can be postponed until two or three days, when there is no longer any bleeding or discharge and there is no longer a risk of any type of infection.

On the other hand, there are people who are more inclined to bathe the baby “dry”. This technique is known as “cat washing” and consists of cleaning the baby on a dry surface such as a changing table or bed. From there, using a slightly damp cloth or a sponge that is not very soaked, you clean the little one.

Recommendations for baby bathing

If there is good organization and peace is maintained, the insecurity that new parents may have will begin to disappear. Therefore, to make it a moment of calm for both the little one and the older one, we can follow these tips:

• The bathtub should not be filled excessively, about 15-20 centimeters is correct.
• The best temperature is between 34-37 degrees. To make sure it doesn't burn, if we don't have a bath thermometer we can insert our wrist, the back of the hand or the elbow. Remember that baby's skin is much more sensitive to any change in temperature.
• Before starting to bathe the baby, we must clean the diaper area.
• Use a neutral soap and in small quantities, as well as a specific sponge for babies. It is not good to use too many chemical products that may cause some irritation.
• The duration of the bath should be a few minutes, we will prevent the water from getting cold and the child too. In addition, it is advisable that the room be at about 22-25ºC so that the child is not cold when leaving the water, as well as that there are no drafts.

• Have everything you will need prepared and at hand (such as towels, clothes, diapers...) to NEVER leave the child alone.
• Place the baby in an appropriate and firm position, watching his neck and head to prevent him from slipping. It is best to support his back with one arm, so that he rests his head on your forearm and support him by the armpit and shoulder.
• Pay attention to your navel during the first baths, sooner rather than later you will get used to it.