Bathing can be a moment of concern for some first-time moms. Usually, a newborn’s bath can be given by a more experienced family member, like a grandmother, for example. But how do you prepare for such a beautiful moment with your baby? I learned how to bathe a newborn when my oldest daughter arrived, and of course, I learned from my mother since I had never ventured into this area before.

Bath time can come as a surprise—some babies enjoy it, while others are scared and may cry a lot. The important thing is to stay calm and know that crying is part of the ritual. If you pay attention, you might notice that when you undress the baby and put them in the tub, they may stretch out their arms and shiver. This reflex is natural and very healthy for the baby, a sign that their reflexes are working well. But if your baby doesn’t seem scared, don’t worry—they might just feel secure. To learn how to bathe a newborn, we should be aware that there are many ways to do so, and techniques can vary from one maternity hospital to another, and even from one state or country to another. For example, I’ve seen videos where nurses didn’t cover the baby’s ears in the hospital, while in others, the priority was to protect the ears with your fingers. There is also variation in the way the head is washed. In some places, they wash the head and body together during the bath, and in others, they wash the head first and then the rest of the body.

The most important thing is to have everything you need within reach before the bath: set aside the clothes, supplies you’ll use like soap, towel, cotton swabs, cotton, diapers, alcohol, and anything else. This makes things easier and can help prevent accidents.

Here are 3 videos with different techniques for bathing a newborn. You can try them out until you find one that works best for you and your baby’s temperament. It’s totally valid to adapt and try different methods to find what fits you best.

1- Prenatal Course

2- Raquel’s Newborn Spa Bath

3- Arthur Still in the Maternity Ward

I found this video and was delighted—I also think this kind of affection is super valid, so I’m including it in this post. Imagine experiencing a sensation similar to being back in the womb? It must be very comforting and super relaxing.

Relaxing Bath

See also: How to Lower a Child’s Fever

Photo: BrownZelip