how to wash a baby
  • Baby & pregnancy

Baby’s first bath: When can you use baby products on a newborn?

How often should you bathe a baby? Which bath products are safe to use on newborn skin? We discuss the importance of protecting vernix and help you to choose bath products that best care for your baby’s delicate skin.

By Hannah Mepham

4 Minute read

Baby’s first bath is an important milestone. Read on to discover when you can start using bath products on your baby.

Knowing which products to use can be really tricky so we also recommend natural and organic baby bath products that are scent-free and ultra-gentle.

When should I bathe my baby for the first time?

The best time to give baby their first bath is when they are one month old.

Babies aged 4 weeks+ have absorbed their vernix, that’s the sticky white substance that protects infant skin from amniotic fluid in the womb. By 4 weeks, your baby will have also started to develop their skin’s acid mantle, a protective barrier that has an acidic pH.

Prior to this, newborns can be gently washed using the ‘top and tail’ method that is recommended by the NHS. This advocates using cotton wool and warm water to gently wipe your baby’s face, neck, hands and bottom.

Of course, all babies will develop at their own pace and, if your baby was born prematurely or you are unsure whether it is safe to bath them or not, it is best to check this with your health visitor.

When can I start using baby products on my newborn?

You can use our natural and organic baby bath products from 4+ weeks plus. All you need for baby’s first bath is a gentle baby wash, a soft towel and a soothing baby lotion.

It is best to initially use our ultra-gentle, scent free baby products for the gentlest possible newborn bath routine.

You can then start to introduce scented baby bath products once baby is 12 weeks+ and has developed a strong and effective skin barrier.

Best newborn baby bath wash

Newborn babies do not need a bath full of colourful bubbles or bath toys and the best bath wash for a newborn will be gentle, pH balanced and rich in natural ingredients that help to nurture a strong and healthy skin barrier.

If you are concerned about infant eczema, the best newborn baby wash to choose is our Organic Babies Scent Free Baby Wash & Shampoo.

A 2-in-1 newborn bath product, this gentle baby bath wash is eczema-friendly, free from SLS and artificial colours or fragrance. It is perfect for gently introducing baby to bath time.

customer review

Best newborn baby lotion

Water has a slightly higher pH than human skin so another newborn baby bath product to consider for your baby’s first bath is a pH-balanced baby lotion.

Once baby is clean and dry, simply smooth a little Softening Baby Lotion onto skin to rebalance baby’s pH whilst also keeping their skin soft and hydrated.

Rich in soothing actives, it can also be used to give a calming kiss of TLC to any areas of dry skin or redness.

It softens newborn skin with the nurturing goodness you can trust from Calendula, Shea Butter, Coco Butter and Aloe Vera.

customer review

Discover our newborn baby bath gift set

Be bathtime ready with our readymade bath routine for newborns.

Perfect for baby shower gifting, this beautifully boxed newborn bath set contains everything you need for baby’s bath routine and your changing bag.

Discover the entire Organic Babies collection.

Would you like help choosing gentle products for your baby’s first bath or more information about when you can use our bath products on your baby?

Our UK customer care team is available to help and can be contacted on 01403 740350 or at @GreenPeopleUK.

 

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