Newborns should only be sponge bathed with plain warm water until her umbilical cord falls off, which usually happens within a week or two after birth. During this time, always keep the navel area dry to prevent infection.
- Wash your newborn baby's face, chest, arms and hands with plain warm water, particularly when dirt tends to collect, such as behind his ears and between the fingers.
- Wash your baby's back with a washcloth or towel using gentle patting motions to avoid skin abrasions. Gently pat dry the upper half of her body.
- Clean her genital area from front to back, then the legs and feet, especially between the toes. Gently pat dry her lower body.
- A newborn doesn't need a shampoo until she is a few months old. Until then, a bath wash will do the trick. Do not pour water over a baby's face; instead use one hand to wet the scalp.
- When done, dry your baby thoroughly with a towel and put on a fresh diaper and a change of clean clothes.
Until the umbilical cord falls off (which usually takes about 15 days after birth), you should clean the umbilical cord base daily with a cotton bud soaked in rubbing alcohol. Avoid covering the umbilical area with diapers or clothing as this can slow down healing.
