Bathing an Infant

These tips can help you prevent accidents in the bath:

• Stay close enough to children who are in the tub so that you can reach out and hold them if they slip or fall.
• Use non-skid decals or a mat inside the tub to prevent slipping.
• Use toys in the tub to keep your child busy and sitting down, and away from the faucet.
• Keep the temperature of your water heater below 120°F (48.9°C) to prevent burns.
• Keep all sharp objects, such as razors and scissors, out of your child’s reach.
• Unplug all electric items, such as hair dryers and radios.
• Empty the tub after bath time is over.
• Keep the floor and your child’s feet dry to prevent slipping.

You will need to be extra careful when bathing your newborn:

• Have a towel ready to wrap your newborn in to dry and keep warm right after the bath.
• Keep your baby’s umbilical cord dry.
• Use warm, not hot, water. Place your elbow under the water to check temperature.
• Wash your baby’s head last so that their head does not get too cold.
• Bathe your baby every 3 days.

Other tips that can protect your child in the bathroom are:

• Store medicines in the child-proof containers they came in. Keep the medicine cabinet locked.
• Keep cleaning products out of reach of children.
• Keep bathroom doors closed when they are not being used so your child cannot get in.
• Place a door knob cover over the outside door handle.
• Do not ever leave your child alone in the bathroom.
• Place a lid lock on the toilet seat to keep a curious toddler from drowning.

Contact your child’s health care provider if you have questions about the safety of your bathroom or your child’s bathing routine.

Bathing safety tips; Infant bathing; Newborn bathing; Bathing your newborn baby