Having a new baby can turn even the most laid-back humans into neat freaks. That's especially true when it comes to keeping your baby clean. That's one of the reasons why, when it comes to how often you should bathe your baby, parents are torn.
You want to keep your baby clean, of course, but do you really need to bathe them every day? What about every other day?
Here's what parents and experts have to say:
Once a Day Is Best
"It’s best to bathe your baby once a day after the umbilical cord has fallen off and the stump has healed (at about 2 weeks of age for most newborns). To keep your baby’s skin well-hydrated, use a gentle, ceramide-rich cleanser like CeraVe Baby Wash and Shampoo, keep the water temperature moderately warm, and limit baths to 5 to 10 minutes in length. It’s also critical to seal in hydration after baths with a moisturizer designed specifically for babies’ sensitive skin."
– Whitney Casares, MD, MPH, FAAP, board-certified pediatrician, author, speaker and mom of 2
Every Day, For the Sake of Routine
"As newborns, we bathed almost every day as part of the rhythm of the evening before bedtime. It helped get them to sleep. As they grew bathing became less frequent… Now, with all of their outdoor play, at six and eight, we are back to about every day."
–Chris Brohawn, dad of two
Just Bring Them in the Shower
"Babies just don't get that gross … There were lots of times I just took her in the shower with me and gave her a quick scrub. It's a lot easier than a full bath."
–Frankie Hamilton, dad of one
Once a Week or Their Skin Will Get Dry
"Once a week. Their skin gets dry if you bathe them more than that, and it's really not necessary until puberty. Also, lets be real. Who has time to bathe them more?"
–Jenny Newberger, mom of two
It Really Depends on What Happens That Day
"When my son was in the NICU, they bathed him every day and his skin got so dry! I asked them to stop when I noticed it and asked them to order lotion. Since he's been home, it's once a week because he doesn't really get 'dirty' but that can change from week to week. One week, he got bathed three times because there was a blowout, and an appointment with ultrasound gel. You have to vary it by what's going on."
–Meghan Murphy, NICU warrior & mom of one
Twice a Week Is Perfect (as Long as You Clean Under Their Neck Daily)
"Once or twice a week is perfect. Baths helped my youngest daughter calm down but weren't a necessary part of keeping her clean. With regular diaper changes and a daily wipe around their neck rolls, once or twice a week was plenty."
–Jillian Pinkard, mom of two
Every Day For the Sake of Hair Care
"I bathed her every day, even as a baby. She has my thick curly hair and I knew that as she grew up taking care of it was gonna be a whole thing. I wanted to make sure she always at least washed her hair so we could comb it out wet."
–Lucas Herndon, dad of one
Don't Overthink It. Just Listen to Your Nose
"I think people tend to overthink bathtime … A clean baby smells and looks clean. Babies don’t have BO or sweat, and they’re not doing anything really dirty. They’re swaddled regularly in clean cloth which is constantly changed. If your baby doesn’t smell delicious and look shiny, it’s time for a bath, but this may be less often than you may prefer to bathe yourself."
–Mercedes Thomsen, mom of three
