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What Do You Need to Bathe a Newborn Safely?
A newborn bath needs warm water, secure support and your full attention. Prepare a washcloth, a towel, clean clothes and a diaper before you begin. A few habits matter more than a crowded shelf of bath products.
When can a newborn have their first bath?
Follow your maternity team's instructions for the first bath, especially if your baby needs individual care. The Public Health Agency of Canada's guidelines state that newborns can be bathed with the umbilical cord intact, as long as the cord is dried thoroughly afterwards. INSPQ advises cleaning around the cord every day with a cotton swab soaked in warm water, without alcohol, and keeping it dry. Do not pull on it.
How often does a newborn need a bath?
There is no need to bathe your baby every day. INSPQ recommends washing the face and neck daily with a damp washcloth, and using a little mild, unscented soap only on the hands, genitals and bottom. Rinse well.
What water temperature is safe?
The water should be warm, at about body temperature: INSPQ gives 34 to 37 °C. Health Canada advises starting and ending with cold water when you run a bath, and testing the temperature with your elbow before putting your child in. A few centimetres of water are enough.
INSPQ explains that Quebec's Building Code requires water heaters to keep the tank at 60 °C or more, a temperature that can burn a child's skin in a second, and recommends a device that limits the bathing tap to 49 °C or less; ask a qualified plumber. Even 49 °C is far hotter than a baby's bath.
What do you actually need to buy?
INSPQ's list is short: a washcloth and a towel, mild unscented soap and baby shampoo, clean clothes, one or two diapers, cotton swabs for the belly button, small nail scissors or a clipper, zinc oxide ointment for the bottom, an unscented moisturizer for dry spots and a brush or comb. Bubble bath and bath oils are unnecessary and can cause irritation. Gather everything before you undress your baby.
Bamboo Muslin Washcloth Set (3 pack) - Monkey Print, Pear and Elephant Print
Which washcloths and towels can you find on our site?
In the bath collections on our site (checked on 1 October 2026), for example, Silkberry Baby's muslin washcloths are 29 cm squares of 100% bamboo rayon, sold in threes. Little & Lively's washcloths are 8 × 8 in knit squares of bamboo rayon, cotton and spandex, sold in fives. Bloom & Bounce offers organic cotton terry bath mitts with an elastic cuff, sold in pairs. The Jourès Raita hooded towel below is a 100 × 100 cm square of organic cotton terry.
Pick whatever you can handle easily with one hand, since the other one supports your baby.
Raita Hooded Towel - Caramel / Optic Blue
What is the one rule you can never break?
Never leave your baby alone in the bath, even for a second. INSPQ notes that a baby can drown in as little as 2.5 cm of water. If the phone or the doorbell rings, take your baby with you, or simply don't answer. Hold your newborn's head, supporting the neck with your forearm. Never rely on a bath seat (see the last question).
How should you care for your baby's skin after the bath?
Pat your baby dry without rubbing, especially the folds of the neck, armpits, thighs and bottom, and dry around the cord. INSPQ advises against powder, which can cause breathing problems. Use an unscented moisturizer on dry areas if needed. Ask a health professional about a rash, persistent irritation or any medicated cream. The Public Health Agency of Canada also says to contact your health care provider if your baby has a fever or if the cord shows redness, swelling, yellow or green pus, a smelly discharge or significant bleeding.
See also our guide to newborn clothes.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bathe my baby before the cord falls off?
Yes, unless your care team says otherwise, as long as the cord is dried thoroughly afterwards.
How hot should the bath water be?
Warm, at about body temperature: 34 to 37 °C according to INSPQ. Test it with your elbow before putting your baby in. The 49 °C limit at the tap is a ceiling to prevent burns, not a bath temperature.
Do I need baby soap?
A little mild, unscented soap on the hands, genitals and bottom is enough; the rest of the body doesn't need soap. INSPQ advises avoiding antibacterial soaps, which contain alcohol.
Is a bath seat safe for a newborn?
No. Health Canada says never to rely on one: drownings have occurred when babies slipped through the leg openings or the seat tipped over. Keep your baby in sight and within reach for the whole bath.
This article provides general information. Follow the individual guidance of your baby's doctor, midwife or nurse.