BACK
TO
TOP
Browse A-Z

 
E-mail Form
Email Results

 
 
Print-Friendly
Bookmarks
bookmarks-menu

Bathing an infant

Bathing safety tips; Infant bathing; Newborn bathing; Bathing your newborn baby

Bath time can be fun, but you need to be very careful with your child around water. Most drowning deaths in children happen at home, often when a child is left alone in the bathroom. Do not leave your child alone around water, not even for a few seconds.

Ways to Prevent Bathing Accidents

These tips can help you prevent accidents in the bath:

  • Stay close enough to children who are in the tub so that you can reach out and hold them if they slip or fall.
  • Use non-skid decals or a mat inside the tub to prevent slipping.
  • Use toys in the tub to keep your child busy and sitting down, and away from the faucet.
  • Keep the temperature of your water heater below 120°F (48.9°C) to prevent burns.
  • Keep all sharp objects, such as razors and scissors, out of your child's reach.
  • Unplug all electric items, such as hair dryers and radios.
  • Empty the tub after bath time is over.
  • Keep the floor and your child's feet dry to prevent slipping.

Extra Tips for Newborns

You will need to be extra careful when bathing your newborn:

  • Have a towel ready to wrap your newborn in to dry and keep warm right after the bath.
  • Keep your baby's umbilical cord dry.
  • Use warm, not hot, water. Place your elbow under the water to check temperature.
  • Wash your baby's head last so that their head does not get too cold.
  • Bathe your baby every 3 days.

Bathroom Safety

Other tips that can protect your child in the bathroom are:

  • Store medicines in the child-proof containers they came in. Keep the medicine cabinet locked.
  • Keep cleaning products out of reach of children.
  • Keep bathroom doors closed when they are not being used so your child cannot get in.
  • Place a door knob cover over the outside door handle.
  • Do not ever leave your child alone in the bathroom.
  • Place a lid lock on the toilet seat to keep a curious toddler from drowning.

When to Call the Doctor

Talk with your child's health care provider if you have questions about the safety of your bathroom or your child's bathing routine.

References

American Academy of Pediatrics, American Public Health Association, National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education. Standard 2.2.0.4: Supervision near bodies of water. Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards; Guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs. 4th ed. Itasca, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2019. nrckids.org/files/CFOC4%20pdf-%20FINAL.pdf. Accessed November 8, 2023.

Denny SA, Quan L, Gilchrist J, et al. Prevention of drowning. Pediatrics. 2019;143(5):e20190850. PMID: 30877146 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30877146/.

Wesley SE, Allen E, Bartsch H. Care of the newborn. In: Rakel RE, Rakel DP, eds. Textbook of Family Medicine. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 21.

  • Bathing a child - illustration

    Do not leave your child alone around water, not even for a few seconds.

    Bathing a child

    illustration

  • Bathing a child - illustration

    Do not leave your child alone around water, not even for a few seconds.

    Bathing a child

    illustration

Self Care

 
 

Review Date: 6/7/2022

Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
© 1997- adam.comAll rights reserved.

 
 
 

 

 

A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.