How To Give a Baby a Sponge Bath

Spread out one of the towel—not the hooded towel, if you’re using one—on the changing pad or bed.

Fill the bowl with warm water. Use the inside of your wrist or your elbow to test the temperature—it should feel warm, not hot.

Undress your baby down to her diaper and wrap her in the other towel. Place her face-up on the first towel. Talk to her as you go, describing what you’re doing, telling her what a good baby she is and how much better she’s going to feel being clean.

Wet the washcloth with the water in the bowl, then wring it out until it’s just damp.

With the cloth, gently clean your baby’s face. Wipe away any crustiness in the corner of her eyes or around her nose, and be sure to clean around her mouth and chin where milk may have dribbled. Use the washcloth to clean outside and behind her ears.

Re-wet the cloth and clean the rest of your baby’s body except her diaper area. Save that for last. Work the washcloth gently between each finger and toe, and into the adorable little folds of her chubby arms and legs. Keep her as covered as possible as you go. Turn her over to wash her back, or simply slip the washcloth under her.

Remove the baby’s diaper. Gently wash from front to back, being sure to clean all folds and crevices.

Use the towel to dry your baby thoroughly. Apply diaper cream if you’re using it and put on a fresh diaper before she has a chance to soil herself.

To clean the stump of your baby’s umbilical cord, dip a cotton swab in the alcohol and gently swab around its base.

If you want to wash your baby’s hair, hold her over the sink or bowl face up, with her body tucked under one arm and her head and neck supported with your hand. This is called the football hold. With your other hand, apply baby shampoo to her head, gently lather but don’t scrub, then rinse by pouring warm water over her head with a cup.

Finally, make sure your baby is dry all over, then get her dressed. As babies draw nearer to their third month, it’s good to get them into a bedtime routine. The warmth of the bath, followed by a change into cozy pajamas, naturally induces sleep, making a bath the logical first step. So don’t waste precious time cleaning up after the bath.