When your baby's first bath is approaching, many new parents feel unsure: How warm should the water be? How can you bathe your baby as safely as possible? Should you use a baby bathtub or a bathing bucket? And when is the first contact with water even appropriate? In this article, we answer these and many other questions about bathing your baby.

However, don't hesitate to ask your midwife for help with the first bath. She can show you the proper holds and steps that are best suited for your baby. To put your mind at ease: most babies really enjoy being bathed, as the warm water reminds them of the environment in the womb. So, into the warm water with your little explorer!

When should you bathe your baby for the first time? What time of day is best?

Our midwife Sissi recommends waiting to give your baby their first bath at home until the umbilical cord stump has fallen off and the navel is fully healed. This helps ensure that no germs from the water enter the wound and cause an infection.

Whether you bathe your baby in the morning, at noon, or in the evening is entirely up to you. The only important thing is that your baby is awake and in a good mood. Your little explorer should also be full, but not overfed. This helps prevent the bath from putting too much strain on their circulation. The time immediately before or after a meal is therefore less suitable. Choose a time of day when you’re least likely to be disturbed, so you and your baby can enjoy the bath in peace.

Some parents like to incorporate bath time into their child's evening routine. The warm water relaxes many babies and makes them sleepy, so they often fall asleep especially well afterward. A positive side effect: a peaceful evening for you and your family. ;) In any case, pay attention to your baby's signals and don't force a bath if they don't want one. Bathing should be associated with positive feelings for your little one, and if in doubt, cleaning with a washcloth is perfectly sufficient.

In diesem Video zeigt Dir unsere LILLYDOO Hebamme Sissi ein paar Tipps und Tricks zum Baden Deines Babys

How often should you bathe your baby?

Babies don’t sweat much yet and generally don’t get as dirty as toddlers. Therefore, in the first few weeks of life, it’s perfectly sufficient to bathe your baby once or twice a week. You should also clean your little explorer’s face, hands, and bottom as needed with a warm, damp washcloth. From the first year of life—and if your child turns out to be a little water rat—you can bathe them more often. However, bathing too frequently or for too long can dry out your baby's skin, especially if you live in an area with very hard tap water.

What should you bathe your baby in?

Baby bathtub or bath bucket? The choice is yours—just try what works best for you. Bath buckets have the advantage of saving space and water, and babies often feel particularly comfortable in them because of the curled, womb-like position. Depending on the size of the bucket, however, they can quickly become too small, whereas a baby bathtub usually provides more space for your little explorer for a longer period. A household bucket, by the way, is not suitable as an alternative; it doesn’t offer a stable enough base, and your baby could hurt themselves on the sharp edges!

You can also use your sink as a baby bathtub. However, be careful that your baby doesn’t accidentally turn on the faucet and get scalded by hot water. It’s best to run cold water before starting the bath to reduce this risk. If your baby does manage to turn on the hot water, it will take longer for the water to become truly hot. This gives you more time to quickly turn off the faucet and protect your baby from burns.

In the first months, your own bathtub is less suitable for bathing your baby. Because of the high rim, you can’t hold your baby securely, and it’s likely uncomfortable for you as well.

No matter which option you choose, never leave your little water rat unattended in the water! If an interruption is unavoidable, wrap your baby in a warm towel and carry them in your arms.

How does the bathing process work?

Even if you feel a bit unsure the first few times, you’ll soon develop your own routine for bathing your baby. Our six steps for a calm, relaxed bathing experience can serve as a guide. You may also want to do the first baths with a second person who can lend a hand if needed.

1. The preparation

Before starting the actual bath, a few preparations are needed:

• The correct room temperature : Warm up the room where you’ll bathe your baby beforehand. It should be pleasantly warm (not below 22°C). Also, avoid drafts.

• Avoid temperature differences : Warm your baby’s towel on the radiator. If you have a heat lamp, you can also preheat the changing area. This helps prevent your baby from getting Cold and reduces sensitivity to larger temperature changes.

• Gather utensils : Keep everything you’ll need during or after the bath within reach so you won’t have to take your eyes off your baby later. During the bath, you’ll need a soft washcloth; afterward, a towel; and for babies with lots of hair, possibly a baby brush. Of course, don’t forget a fresh diaper and clean clothes.

• Add water : Fill the baby bathtub or bathing bucket with enough water to cover your baby’s shoulders. Even if it would feel too cool to you, the water temperature for your baby should be 37°C. You can easily check this with a bath thermometer. The correct water temperature is important because babies perceive pain with a delay, and they are more prone to burns than older children.

• Bath additives : In den ersten sechs bis acht Wochen reicht klares Wasser zum Baden Ihres Babys aus. Später können Sie bei Bedarf emulgierende Mittel zum Wasser hinzufügen, zum Beispiel almond oil . Even a splash of breast milk can serve as a nourishing bath additive.

• Clean the diaper area : If necessary, clean your baby’s bottom beforehand to prevent germs from spreading in the water. With the extra gentle LILLYDOO Wet Wipes with 99% Water it happens in seconds.

2. The right grip

It’s best to have your midwife show you how to hold your baby safely during the first bath. Your baby’s shoulder girdle rests on your left forearm, and with your left hand, you hold their left shoulder. This leaves your right hand free to support your little explorer’s bottom as they slide into the water. With that hand, you can then comfortably wash your baby. If you are left-handed, simply hold your baby with your right arm. Gently slide them into the water feet first and hold them in this position throughout the bath. If you are using a bathing bucket, only support your baby’s head gently.

3. Washing

Wash your baby gently with a washcloth or simply with your hands. Start at the shoulders and work your way down to the feet. First the front of the body, then you can turn your baby so their chest rests on your forearm and continue with the back. When washing, don’t forget the skin folds and less accessible areas, such as the armpits or behind the ears. To avoid spreading germs to areas where they don’t belong, clean the genitals and buttocks last. Babies are particularly prone to cooling off through the head, so wash the hair last. Five to ten minutes of bathing time is completely sufficient at the beginning; otherwise, your baby’s skin may dry out too much and they could get cold. When your baby gets a little older, a few more minutes are also fine. As a rule of thumb: five minutes longer per month of age. But it’s best to follow your child’s current condition. And at the latest, when the water cools down, it’s time to “get out of the tub”!

4. Remove the baby from the water

Wet baby skin can be quite slippery, especially if you’ve used oil as a bath additive. Hold your baby securely when lifting them out of the water.

5. Drying

Wrap your baby in the pre-warmed towel and bring them to the changing table. You may have already turned on a heat lamp there so your little explorer doesn’t get cold while drying. Pat them dry thoroughly but gently (do not rub!). Also, pay attention to skin folds and hard-to-reach areas to help prevent soreness and skin inflammation.

6. Apply moisturizer and optionally: baby massage

Afterward, you can gently moisturize your little explorer’s dry skin patches with a mild baby lotion or our . If you’ve already added oil to the bathwater, it’s enough to gently massage the excess oil into your baby’s skin. This can also be perfectly combined with a massage to end the bath ritual in a relaxed way for you and your baby. In our , we show you how to do it.

Think of bathing not only as a way to clean your baby, but also as a wonderful experience for both of you. A bath offers a great opportunity for touch and cuddles. After the first few months, you can also bathe together in a large bathtub (the same rules for water temperature and water level apply as for the baby bath). Enjoy the physical contact, which is naturally especially intense during a shared bath and strengthens the bond between you and your baby. Dads, in particular, often see bathing as a lovely “task” that lets them be very close to their little explorer. To capture the first bath and other unforgettable first moments forever, we have a milestone card set for you: Simply download, print, take a photo in the tub, and enjoy! :)

We wish you and your little water rat lots of fun splashing around!