Before you can give your baby their first bath, you may want to try a top and tail bath at home to keep your little one clean and get used to bathing them. When you’re holding this precious, squirming baby the bathtime experience can feel a bit overwhelming, so a top and tail bath is a great place to start for both you and your baby. To learn how to bathe them this way, keep reading.
What is a top and tail bath?
A top and tail bath is a simple term to explain how to clean the ‘top’ of your baby - their arms, face and neck - and their ‘tail’ i.e their bottom. When your baby is a newborn, they don’t need bathing regularly - but it's important to introduce it from the beginning so they can get used to the sensation. Before your baby’s umbilical cord falls off, a top and tail bath is a great way to do this.
How to top and tail bath your newborn
Step 1: Make sure they’re awake and content
The easiest way to bathe your baby is by ensuring they are awake and are generally content. Avoid trying to bath your baby when they have just been fed, are hungry or are falling asleep. An alert baby will feel more comfortable and open to this new experience!
Step 2: Prepare your bathing set up
When bathing your baby, it is vital that they are never left alone - not even for a moment. For this reason it's incredibly important that you have everything you need to hand. When topping and tailing, you don’t require a bath tub / don’t need to be within the bathroom space - you can top and tail from anywhere! Here’s what you’ll need;
-
A bowl of warm water or our Top n Tail bowl
-
A towel
-
Cotton wool
-
Fresh nappy
-
Clean clothes
Step 3: Check the water temperature
Warm water will instantly help your baby feel at ease - to achieve this - follow these steps.
-
Fill two bowls of cold water and then add hot. One will be for ‘top’ and one will be for ‘tail’. If using our Top n Tail bowl, it is sectioned to ensure no cross contamination between top and tail when cleaning your baby. The water for your baby should feel warm - but not hot.
-
Stick your elbow in the water to check this - swirling the water around to remove any hot spots or alternatively use a bath thermometer.
Step 4: It’s top and tail time!
Now that your bathing station is prepared and the water is warm, it’s time to top and tail your baby!
Start by undressing them down to their nappy and wrap them in a towel to keep them snug. You can hold them on your knee, or prop them up on your changing mat. Dip the cotton wool in the warm water, and clean their eyes - using one clean cotton wool per eye to prevent any infection. Use another fresh piece of cotton wool to clean around their ears (there’s no need to clean inside them). Gently wash their face and neck, using a fresh piece of cotton wool for each area.
Next, take off their nappy and wash their bottom making sure you get into any folds. For baby girls, wipe front to back to avoid possible infection. To finish off, pop them in a clean nappy.
Top tip: Talk to your baby while you're bathing them - it’s the one sound they know best in the world - and can offer them comfort.
How long should I top and tail bathe my baby for?
Top and tail baths can be used in the newborn stages when your baby’s umbilical cord hasn’t fallen off yet and when you’re getting used to holding them. As your baby grows, top and tail baths won’t be as effective and a more thorough bath will be required. When it comes to bathing your newborn, we have two options you can use; our Newborn Bath Support cradles your baby in the bath, allowing you to have your hands free to bathe them and is ideal for for those first few weeks all the way up to 6 months. Alternatively, our Baby Bath can also be used from the newborn stages up to 12 months. It features an innovative bum bump that supports your baby, stopping them from sliding in the water and making it easier for you to support their head and neck. Due to its compact size, it stays nice and warm for your little one to create an enjoyable bath time.
All parents find bathing their newborn difficult, but with time and experience it can be an incredible bonding experience for you and your baby - so be patient with yourself! To find out more tips on bathing your baby - check out our articles below.
