When Should You Give a Newborn Their First Bath?

If you are wondering when your newborn should have their first proper bath, there is usually no need to rush. The World Health Organization recommends delaying the first bath of a healthy, full-term newborn for at least 24 hours after birth.

After that first day, the exact timing can be flexible. Your baby does not need to be bathed simply because 24 hours have passed. You can wait until you feel ready and your baby is settled, warm and well.

In the meantime, gentle cleaning is enough. Small areas can be wiped as needed, and once you are home, washing your baby’s face, neck, hands and bottom can keep them comfortable between baths.

Why is a newborn’s first bath delayed?

A newborn has spent months in a warm environment, and keeping them warm after birth is an important part of early care.

WHO guidance recommends delaying the first bath for at least 24 hours. Evidence reviewed for its postnatal care recommendations suggests that delayed bathing may reduce the risk of a newborn becoming too cold compared with earlier bathing.

Those first hours also give parents and babies time for close contact and feeding without needing to fit a bath into an already busy period.

You may notice a creamy white substance on your baby’s skin after birth. This is called vernix. There is no need to scrub it away during an early wash.

If your baby is premature, has a low birth weight, is unwell or has difficulty maintaining their temperature, their care may be different. The healthcare team looking after your baby should advise you about when bathing is appropriate.

Do you need to wait for the umbilical cord to fall off?

You may have heard that a baby cannot be washed at all while the umbilical cord stump is still attached. This does not mean you need to avoid cleaning your baby.

The cord itself should be kept clean and dry. WHO newborn-care guidance advises against submerging the umbilical area until the cord has detached.

Until then, you can wash your baby without immersing the cord area. Topping and tailing is also a simple option.

If the cord becomes soiled, follow the cord-care advice given by your midwife or health visitor. Do not pull at the stump, even if it looks as though it is nearly ready to come away.

What is topping and tailing?

Topping and tailing is simply washing the areas that need regular attention without giving your baby a full bath.

You can use warm water and cotton wool to gently clean your baby’s:

face
neck
hands
skin folds
nappy area

This can be particularly useful in the first days and weeks because newborns do not need a full bath every day.

Choose a warm room and have everything you need close by before you begin. Babies can lose heat quickly when they are undressed, so work gently and avoid leaving them uncovered for longer than necessary.

How to prepare for your baby’s first bath

The first bath can feel surprisingly nerve-racking. Babies are tiny, wriggly and slippery when wet, so preparation matters more than trying to make the bath perfect.

Before you start, gather everything you will need so you do not have to walk away once your baby is in the water.

You may want:

a baby bath or suitable clean bathing container
clean towels
a clean nappy
fresh clothes
cotton wool
anything else recommended by your midwife or health visitor

Make sure the room is comfortably warm.

Avoid bathing your baby when they are hungry, very tired or immediately after a feed. Choosing a calm moment can make the experience easier for both of you.

Most importantly, never leave a baby alone in or near bath water, even for a moment. If you realise you have forgotten something, take your baby with you rather than leaving them in the bath.

Keeping the first bath gentle

Your newborn does not need a complicated collection of bath products.

Handle your baby securely and keep the bath calm and unhurried. Support their head and neck throughout.

Wash gently rather than scrubbing the skin. Pay attention to areas where milk or moisture can collect, such as around the neck and skin folds.

Afterwards, lift your baby out carefully and wrap them in a clean towel. Pat their skin dry gently, including between skin folds, and dress them so they stay comfortably warm.

Some babies seem relaxed in water almost immediately. Others cry through their first few baths. Neither response means you are doing anything wrong.

If your baby becomes very upset, there is no need to force a long bath. A short wash is enough, and you can try again another day.

How often should you bathe a newborn?

A newborn does not need a full bath every day.

NHS children’s health guidance says babies do not need daily bathing, and regular gentle washing between baths is usually enough. Your baby’s face, neck, hands and nappy area are likely to need more frequent attention than the rest of their body.

Some families enjoy bath time and choose to include it regularly. Others bathe their newborn less often. Both can fit within sensible hygiene care.

What matters is keeping your baby comfortably clean without feeling that a full bath has to become another daily task.

As your baby grows, becomes more mobile and starts getting messier, bathing habits will naturally change.

What if your baby hates their first bath?

Crying during a first bath is common enough that it should not be treated as a sign that something has gone wrong.

The sensations are completely new. Your baby is being undressed, moved into water and handled differently from usual.

Try keeping the room warm, preparing everything beforehand and making the bath brief. Speaking softly and keeping your movements calm may help make the experience feel less abrupt.

You can also return to topping and tailing for a while and try another bath later.

There is no prize for getting your newborn happily into a bathing routine straight away. Clean, warm and cared for is enough.

When to get professional advice

Ask your midwife, health visitor, GP or another qualified healthcare professional for individual advice if your baby was born prematurely, has a low birth weight, is unwell, struggles to maintain their temperature or has another medical need that could affect bathing.

You should also seek advice if you notice concerning changes around the umbilical cord, including redness spreading onto the surrounding skin, discharge, an unpleasant smell or bleeding that concerns you.

If your baby seems unusually sleepy, is difficult to wake, is not feeding normally, has difficulty breathing, has a fever or feels unusually cold, seek medical advice promptly rather than focusing on bathing.

If you are still in hospital or under maternity care and are unsure whether your baby is ready for their first bath, ask your midwife. They can take your baby’s individual circumstances into account and can also show you how to handle and wash your newborn safely.