One of my favourite parts of the day with my young baby is bath time. She absolutely loves water so having a bath is her happy place…which then makes me happy. Here’s how to set up a baby bath routine that is both calming and healthy.

Create A Relaxing Baby Bath Zone

A bath is a wonderfully relaxing way to end the day and signal to your baby that their bedtime routine is beginning. I give my baby a bath every day at around about the same time each evening, as I find this creates an enjoyable and soothing routine from early on.

While your baby is small, it’s a good idea to use a baby bath such as a small plastic tub, which you can place into the bath or on top of a table. Some parents even use the kitchen sink if it’s easier and more convenient.

You can use a baby bath support that you can place in your bath, which can help create a comfortable experience for your baby by providing a safe resting place during bath time. However, only use a baby bath seat once your bub can sit properly.

To create a relaxing baby bath zone, make sure you remove distractions – switch your phone on silent and turn the TV off. Have all your baby bath accessories close at hand – such as a washcloth, specially-formulated baby wash, hooded towel, clean clothes, nappies and bath toys or books.

Temperature Tips

Fill the bath with about 5 cm of water for babies up to six months old. You can use jugs of warm water to fill up the bath, if you’re not close to a tap.

The ideal water temperature for a baby bath is around 37-38°C. Make sure you check the water temperature before you put your baby in. You can buy a baby bath thermometer, or you can use your elbow or wrist, where your skin is more sensitive, to test the temperature of the water. The water should be a comfortable warm temperature, but never hot.

Use The Best Baby Bath Products

It’s really important to use good quality specially formulated baby bath products as your bub’s skin is sensitive and could react to harsh ingredients. We love the AVEENO® Baby range as we can be confident that these will protect, nourish and give lasting comfort to baby’s sensitive skin.

Our pick of baby bath washes is the AVEENO® Baby Dermexa Wash. This has been developed with dermatologists and combines natural colloidal oatmeal and oat extract plus ceramides, working to gently cleanse without drying your baby’s delicate skin. This ultra-gentle wash soothes dry, irritated skin, and is clinically proven suitable for eczema-prone skin. This baby bath wash has no added parabens or phthalates and is free from soap, fragrance and dye.

To use the AVEENO® Baby Dermexa Wash, simply squeeze some wash onto your hands or a soft cloth. Apply to baby’s skin, lather gently and rinse.

How To Calm A Baby Who Doesn’t Like To Bath

It’s absolutely normal for some young babies to find bath time intimidating at first. But most newborns quickly start to enjoy their daily baby bath. If your baby is distressed, place your hand on their tummy. This should help calm your bub and help them to feel secure and safe within the water.

If your baby does not seem to enjoy baths, alternate a ‘cloth wash’ with a proper bath. By twelve weeks old, most infants look forward to baby bath time.

You could also try using a smaller, compact tub instead of the big bath or try using a bath support, to give baby more security. You could also try distracting them with songs, stories, cute and interactive bath toys or reading them a bath book.

After The Baby Bath

Once your baby is out the bath, wrap them up snuggly in a soft baby towel, preferably with a hood. Then it’s time for the post-bath baby massage.

Giving your baby a massage is such a special part of the bedtime routine. It’s a beautiful bonding activity, it improves the condition of your baby’s skin and boosts circulation. Massage also relaxes and soothes your baby to prepare them for a good night’s sleep.

My bub has dry, sensitive, eczema prone skin so we always use AVEENO® Baby Dermexa Moisturising Cream as our post-bath cream.

This unique lotion is formulated with naturally active Triple Oat Complex plus ceramides and it’s wonderful for soothing your baby’s dry, itchy skin, and is clinically proven suitable for eczema-prone skin. The advanced formulation helps to reduce the appearance of redness and scaling, helping to restore the skin’s natural moisture barrier and put dry, uncomfortable skin at ease. It’s the perfect cream to use after your baby’s bath.

Now your baby is beautifully clean with nourished skin and is relaxed and ready for bedtime.

The AVEENO® Baby Range is available at pharmacies such as Chemist Warehouse as well as Grocery stores such as Coles and Woolworths.

What are your tips for a relaxing baby bath routine? Tell us in the comments below.

The team at Mouths of Mums is working with AVEENO® to bring you this article. For more than 70 years, AVEENO® has pioneered innovation and leveraged science to deliver real skincare benefits. AVEENO® believes that skincare can play a bigger role in helping children living life to the fullest. AVEENO® products help to protect, nourish and give lasting comfort to baby’s sensitive skin, so they can happily experience the world around them. The AVEENO® portfolio offers solutions for every type of baby skin, even the most compromised one, and the Dermexa range is suitable for eczema prone skin.