Bathing a newborn or an infant can be tricky. They are quite slippery when wet and of course they need a lot of support since they cannot yet hold up their heads. Nowadays, many couples are on their own when it comes to babycare. Parents and in-laws might be living far away, or they may not be in good enough health to help with babycare. Hence, new mothers might be primarily responsible for their baby's bath.

Here are some helpful tips to make your baby's bath easier.
 

1. Before the bath, gather all the items you need (warm water, mild soap, and towel) so that you don't have to walk away from your baby to fetch anything. Put your phone on silent or keep it within arm's reach.
    
2. Use a bathtub designed for an infant. Lots of bathtubs are available in the market. Get one which has a slanted seat for baby to sit in a reclined position. Your baby will be secure and your hands will be free from holding her in place.
    
3. Place the bathtub up on a sturdy table so that the tub is waist high for you. This prevents you from having to squat or bend down in order to bathe your baby. Oftentimes we have the tub on the bathroom floor, which proves to be inconvenient.
    
4. Oil your baby before bath as this will protect baby's delicate skin.
    
5. Place a towel in the bathtub and lay the baby in the seat, supporting her head and neck while you do so. This creates a cushion so that your baby is not against hard plastic. It also makes things less slippery.
    
6. Wash her body first and head last. Babies lose heat fast and mostly through their heads. If you wash her head last, you can quickly get her out of the bath and avoid her wet head being exposed for long.
    
7. Wash the diaper area thoroughly.
    
8. Wash behind the ears. Oftentimes milk or drool runs across a sleeping baby's cheek and collects behind his ears. If there is dirt in the corner of the eyes, wipe it away gently with a soft cloth.
    
9. Once baby is washed, wrap her in a towel, preferably one with a hood to cover her head. Pat the baby dry. Patting is preferable to wiping as it is softer on delicate skin.
    
10. Newborns have lots of dead skin which keeps peeling off. It's nothing to worry about, it will fall off itself. You may put some mild lotion to moisturize your baby's skin.
     
11. Dress your baby and you're all done.

Important Note

Never leave your baby in the bath unattended. Baby can slide or topple sideways. If you get a phone call or someone is at the door, take the baby with you in a towel.