Many parents find the first bath at home a little nerve-racking. How warm should the water be, how much water do you use and how do you hold your baby securely? A baby bath thermometer takes away at least one worry: you can see straight away whether the water is at the right temperature. In this article you can read how to prepare the bath calmly and what to look out for.
The right bath temperature for your baby
For a baby, a bath temperature of around 37 °C is recommended. That is lukewarm, quite a bit cooler than many adults are used to. So always measure the water with a thermometer and then check it with the inside of your wrist or elbow: that skin is more sensitive than your hand. Stir the water well so there are no warm and cold patches.
Why use a baby bath thermometer?
Your hand is a poor thermometer. After washing up or on a cold day, water feels very different from what it really is. A bath thermometer gives you a fixed reference, every time. In the bathing collection you will find, among others:
- the Giraffe bath thermometer: floating, mercury-free and suitable from 0 months;
- a floating bath thermometer with an animal figure, also mercury-free.
Because they float, you can keep an eye on the temperature during the bath. For slightly older babies they are also something nice to look at.
Get everything ready before you start
A bath goes most calmly when you don't have to fetch anything. Make sure the bathroom is nice and warm and keep everything within reach: a towel or hooded towel, a clean nappy, clean clothes and perhaps a washcloth. A hooded towel is handy because you can cover your baby's head straight away. The most important point: never leave your baby alone in the bath, not even for a moment. If the doorbell or phone rings, wrap your baby in a towel and take them with you.
How to bath your baby
For a newborn baby, a few centimetres of water is enough. Lower your baby gently into the water and support the head and neck with one hand. With the other hand you can scoop water over their body or wash the skin folds with a washcloth. A bath doesn't need to last long: a few minutes is fine for a small baby. Then lift your baby straight into the hooded towel and pat the skin dry, especially in the folds of the neck, armpits and groin.
After the bath, nails are softer, which many parents find a good moment to trim them. You will find baby scissors and nail clippers under nail care.
How often should your baby have a bath?
A newborn baby doesn't need a bath every day. Two to three times a week is enough, which is the advice parents are usually given. In between, you can clean the face, skin folds and nappy area with a washcloth and lukewarm water. If you have questions about your baby's skin, for example about dryness or redness, ask your health visitor or GP. You will find more products for everyday care under care and safety.
A bath set as a baby gift
Looking for a practical present for new parents? A bath set really gets used, almost every week. The Badset Compleet contains a bamboo hooded towel, a washcloth and a bath thermometer, for babies from 0 months, in a gift box. The Badset consists of a bamboo hooded towel and a bath thermometer, also from 0 months. You will find more ideas under baby gifts for the newborn.
You will find the bath thermometers, hooded towels and washcloths together in the bathing collection.