Your first at-home bath

Wait until the umbilical stump falls off (usually 1–2 weeks) before a full submerged bath. In the meantime, sponge baths keep baby clean without soaking the stump. Once ready, use a small baby tub with just 2–3 inches of water. Water should be 37°C (98.6°F) — warm to your inner wrist. A bath thermometer removes the guesswork. Prepare everything beforehand (towel, clothes, diaper, lotion) so you never have to step away. Support the head and neck at all times with your dominant hand, and never leave your baby alone in water — not to grab a towel, not to answer the door. Drownings happen in inches of water in the time it takes to blink.