A newborn bath doesn’t need to be complicated, but having a clear routine in mind makes those first few weeks much less stressful. Here’s a simple, practical order to follow.
1. Get everything ready first
Before undressing your baby, have your towel, fresh nappy, clean clothes and wash within arm’s reach. Newborns lose heat quickly, so you want the actual bath itself to be quick once it starts.
2. Check the water temperature
Warm, not hot — around body temperature is the general guideline. Test it with the inside of your wrist or elbow before placing baby in, and fill the bath only a few centimetres deep for a newborn.
3. Undress and lower baby in gently
Support the head and neck the whole time. Many parents find it easier with one hand supporting baby’s head and shoulders while the other does the washing.
4. Wash gently, working top to bottom
Start with the face using plain water, then move to the body using a gentle, tear-free wash like our Goat’s Milk Baby Soft Bath. Pay extra attention to skin folds at the neck, underarms and nappy area, where moisture and residue tend to collect.
5. Rinse thoroughly
Make sure no product is left on the skin, particularly in folds — this is one of the more common causes of mild irritation after a bath.
6. Wrap and pat dry
Pat rather than rub, and dry skin folds carefully. A hooded towel makes it easy to keep baby’s head warm straight away.
7. Moisturise if needed, then dress
Not every baby needs a moisturiser after every bath, but if skin tends to feel dry, a light layer afterwards can help.
Make it part of a bigger routine
If bath time happens in the evening, it can double as the first step of a calming wind-down before bed — our Happy Bedtime Bath was formulated with exactly this in mind, with a light, natural aroma rather than anything overpowering.
