HOW TO GIVE A HAPPIER SPONGE BATH IN 3 EASY STEPS

It’s true, most newborns don’t like sponge baths, but after giving hundreds of them over the years I’ve noticed that there’s certain things that you can do to help make it a more pleasant experience.

What are 3 easy steps you can do to help give your baby a happier sponge bath?

1.) Gather everything you need before you begin

2.) Keep your baby warm as you go

3.) Wash your baby’s hair under a sink faucet

How many times you’ll actually have to sponge bathe your baby will depend on how long it takes for their umbilical cord stump to fall off, or if your baby has been circumcised.

The umbilical cord stump usually takes about 1-2 weeks to fall off. You shouldn’t submerge your baby in a “real” bath before then because you want to keep the umbilical cord stump dry.

And if your baby boy has had a circumcision, you’ll also want to hold off on a “real” bath for at least 1 week while it heals. The reason? Warm water hitting a wound usually hurts.

It’s ok if you accidentally get the umbilical cord stump and circumcised penis a little wet during the sponge bath. Just gently pat the area dry.

How often should you sponge bathe your newborn? After your baby has had their first sponge bath, you’ll only need to give them a bath every 3-7 days. It’s really up to you how often you do it. Use your best judgement. If you notice that their neck is sticky from breast milk or formula, or if their hair (granted they have some!) looks greasy, or if they’ve had a huge poop blowout that went up their entire back, I’d say those are good indicators that it’s time.

If your baby doesn’t like sponge baths (and they most likely don’t!), it can be a stressful experience for both of you.

Read on to learn more about the three steps you can do to help give your newborn the happiest sponge bath possible.

1. HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Before you begin, decide where you’re going to bathe your baby.

They will be happiest if it’s on a soft surface like a bed, but you can still place them on a hard surface, like the kitchen counter, but make sure you have them lie on a folded blanket or towel for comfort.

It’s important to make sure you have everything you need right next to where you’ll be bathing your baby.

That way, you won’t have to leave your baby’s side. Leaving their side, even for a short time to go get something or even turning your back for a moment may result in your baby falling.

And surprisingly, your baby will be much happier (and safer!) if they don’t fall!

Having everything you need right next to you will also help make the bath go faster.

A faster sponge bath is usually a much happier one!

Washing you baby’s body should go pretty quickly. There really isn’t that much surface area there to clean!

You’ll need:

• 2 towels
• 2 washcloths
• Any kind of soap that is gentle or for sensitive skin
• A bowl of warm water
• A diaper
• Wet wipes just in case

You’ll also want to place these items next to the sink where you’ll be washing their hair:

• Baby shampoo
• A comb or brush
• A washcloth

In addition, you can set out the clothes that you’ll dress them in after the bath.

Ok, all set up?

Let’s do it!

2. KEEP YOUR BABY WARM AS YOU GO

Begin with your baby undressed, but still in their diaper, and wrap them up in a towel.

Place them on the soft area you have chosen.

The first area of your baby’s body that should be cleaned is their eyes, then the rest of their face.

The last area to be cleaned should be their bottom.

It’s very important to follow this order of starting at the cleanest area of their body and ending at the dirtiest.

If you did it the opposite way, your baby may end up with bacteria from their poop in their eyes.

Yuck and yikes!

So, be sure to start with the face first to help prevent infection.

So, gently wipe their eyes first, then the rest of their face. Pat dry with a clean washcloth or a towel.

If there’s one thing that babies hate it’s being unwrapped and wiped with a wet cloth.

If babies could join forces and protest about something I’m certain it would be against sponge baths.

That, and probably thermometer probes in their armpits.

Try singing or talking to your baby during their sponge bath. Even if singing or talking isn’t helping calm them, it may actually help you stay calm!

Try your best to limit the amount of time their wet skin is exposed to the air.

This is a new, unpleasant sensation to them.

Even if your washcloth is warm, immediately after you remove your washcloth, their wet skin exposed to the air feels cold.

I believe that this is probably the number one reason why babies cry during their sponge baths.

So, to help your baby stay warm and happy, pat them dry and cover them up as quickly as possible as you’re moving along.

For example, wash one area at a time, dry the area, and cover it back up. Then move on to the next area and do the same.

I usually start with the neck, arms and hands, then move down to the legs and feet.

Then, I quickly wash their back (just roll them onto their side).

Finally, open up their diaper and clean their genitals first, then their bottom.

If there’s poop, you can use the wet wipes to get the majority of the poop off first before you clean the area with a wet washcloth.

Put on a new diaper, then swaddle in a clean, dry towel. You can also wrap them in a blanket if you’re ok with it getting a little wet during the next step!

3. WASH THEIR HAIR UNDER A SINK FAUCET

Congratulations! Because the unhappiest part should be behind you!

Now it’s time to wash their hair in the sink, and that’s usually their favorite!

I’ve rarely had a baby cry while their hair is being washed under a running faucet.

The majority of newborns that have their hair washed under a faucet act like they’ve been working hard labor for the past year and they finally got a day off to use that spa gift certificate they got for their birthday.

There’s just something about the warmth and the flow of the water on their head that they love.

So, pick up your baby who’s wrapped in a towel or blanket, and take them to your kitchen sink, or any other sink that has a faucet high enough to comfortably fit their head underneath.

Turn on the faucet, and wait until it’s the perfect temperature: Nice and warm.

Test it with the inside of your wrist or forearm to make sure it’s not too hot. Your baby may cry if it’s too cool or too hot.

Also, make sure that the pressure and flow of the water is not too hard.

Then, hold your baby straight out in front of you with their feet placed on your belly and their head outwards towards the faucet.

This may be a little more challenging if your newborn is over 10 pounds! They get heavy quick!

Gently place their head (hair area only!) under the tap to get wet. Be careful not to get the water in their eyes or ears.

Once their hair is wet, support your baby with one arm, and use your other hand to pick up the baby shampoo and squeeze some onto their hair, then massage it in. See how this is done in the video I shared below.

If you can have someone there with you to help assist with this part it may help, but it can definitely be done alone.

If your baby still has dried blood in their hair from birth, use their brush or comb at this time to help get it out.

Also, if your baby has redness, bruising, or a cut on their head from birth, be extra gentle when rubbing and combing.

Be sure to check the water temperature again before you place your baby’s head back under the water to rinse out the shampoo. Some faucets can change temperature in a short amount of time.

Here’s a video of my co-worker giving my son, Michael his first hair washing under the sink faucet in the hospital. Before I took this video, she had given him a sponge bath on his body, and boy, he was not happy at all. But, you can definitely tell he likes THIS part, A LOT.

No complaints!

The first part of the sponge bath when you’re cleaning your baby’s body should be done quickly, since they usually don’t like it.

However, feel free to take your time washing their head under a warm faucet if they’re enjoying it!

When you’re all finished, pat their head dry with a washcloth or a towel.

And, you did it! All done!

SPONGE BATHS DON’T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE UNHAPPY

But…unfortunately, they usually are.

Some babies will never like them no matter what you do,

and that’s ok.

But just by trying these three easy steps of gathering everything you need before you begin, keeping them warm during the bath, and washing their hair under a faucet should definitely help your chances of your baby having a happier sponge bath.

Let me know down in the comments if you’ve found anything else in addition to these steps that helped your baby have a happier sponge bath!

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Disclaimer:
The content that I share on Purely Postpartum is not intended nor recommended as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. I encourage you to always seek the advice of your own physician or other qualified health care professional regarding any medical questions or conditions.