Quick answer

Bathe a newborn two to three times a week, not daily, and keep each bath to about five to ten minutes. Aim for a warm room and bath water around 100°F (37–38°C), measured with your wrist or a thermometer, and wash with a mild, fragrance-conscious product like a gentle bar soap. The routine only needs four moves: prep, wash, rinse, and wrap.

Set up before you undress your baby

Everything you need should be within arm's reach before the bath starts: a towel, a washcloth, a fresh diaper, clean clothes, and your soap or wash. Lay a towel flat beside the tub so you can wrap your baby the second you lift them out. If the room feels cool, warm it first — a newborn loses heat quickly once wet, and a cold room makes even a short bath miserable.

Get the water temperature right

Fill the tub with a few inches of water and mix it well so there are no hot pockets. Test with the inside of your wrist or elbow; it should feel comfortably warm, not hot. If you use a thermometer, target roughly 100°F (37–38°C). Keep the room warm and the water shallow, and never leave your baby alone in the tub for even a second — if you need something, wrap them in a towel and take them with you.

Wash from cleanest to dirtiest

Start with the face using plain water and a soft washcloth, wiping from the inner corner of each eye outward with a fresh corner of the cloth. Then wash the body, and save the diaper area for last so you are not spreading mess back up. A rich-lathering bar like Suds Stick, made with shea butter and sustainably sourced palm oil, works for hands, body, and face, which means one product instead of three on the edge of the tub. Use a small amount; a little lather goes a long way on a newborn.

Rinse, wrap, and moisturize fast

Rinse with clean, warm water from a cup or your hand, then lift your baby straight into the waiting towel and pat dry, paying attention to creases under the neck, arms, and legs. Newborn skin dries out quickly, so if you use a lotion or oil, apply it within a few minutes while the skin is still slightly damp. If your baby has dry patches, keep the bath short and the water warm rather than hot, since hot water strips more moisture.

Your 6-step newborn bath routine

  1. Prep the room and supplies: Set out a towel, washcloth, diaper, clothes, and soap within arm's reach, and warm the room before undressing your baby. Checkpoint: if you have to step away for anything, you are not ready to start.
  2. Fill and test the water: Add a few inches of water, mix it, and test with your wrist or elbow. Target about 100°F (37–38°C). Mistake to avoid: trusting the faucet temperature instead of testing the tub water.
  3. Wash the face first with plain water: Use a soft washcloth and wipe each eye from the inner corner outward with a clean section of cloth. Checkpoint: no soap on the face unless your pediatric provider says otherwise.
  4. Lather the body, diaper area last: Use a small amount of mild soap or a bar like Suds Stick, working from the neck down and saving the diaper area for the end. Mistake to avoid: over-soaping. A little lather is enough for a newborn.
  5. Rinse with clean warm water: Pour or cup clean water over your baby to remove soap residue, keeping one hand on them at all times. Checkpoint: no slippery film left on the skin.
  6. Wrap, dry, and moisturize: Lift your baby directly into the towel, pat dry including all creases, and apply lotion or oil within a few minutes if you use one. Next step: dress quickly and feed or cuddle to end the routine calmly.

Gentle products that fit this routine

  • Suds Stick: Suds Stick is a 5 oz bar soap made with moisturizing shea butter, glycerin, and olive fruit, and it creates a rich lather for hands, body, and face. One bar covers the whole bath, so you are not juggling multiple bottles while holding a slippery newborn.
  • Bubble Bath: Bubble Bath is dermatologist tested, hypoallergenic, and made with plant-based ingredients and natural extracts; the label suggests 2–3 pumps under running water. If your baby is older than newborn stage and you want bubbles, a hypoallergenic formula is the lower-risk choice for sensitive skin.
  • Hair Detangler: Hair Detangler is a lemon crème spray with baobab, coconut oil, and mango seed extract, meant to be sprayed on wet hair before combing. Once your baby has enough hair to tangle, spraying before combing reduces pulling and makes post-bath styling quicker.