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Did you know you can shower a baby?! I didn’t until I hear my mom say she used to do it with her kids. Take a look below for some helpful tips to shower a baby!

One of my absolute favorite parts of the newborn stage is bathing with my baby as a new mom. Warm baths, low lights & music, and nursing- how relaxing!

But what about those days that you just want to get in and get it done without the hassle of getting out the baby bath, or the long process of taking a bath with your baby?

I’ve had many, many more of these nights with my second rather than my first. With my first child, I was consistent with baths every night or every other night. Now with a toddler and a newborn, sometimes I go “Oh shit, I guess it’s been like a week and a half since we bathed you” (with regular wipe downs, of course. C’mmon, infants don’t get that dirty).

When those night come around, it is so easy for my husband or me to just hop in the shower with him! And it may be an easier process than you think. 

Can you shower a baby?

YES! As long as you are careful, you can absolutely shower a baby. In fact, it may end up being your preferred method for months or years to come.

Your first time, or maybe even the first few times, may be a little difficult and even super scary. But since newborns and infants don’t truly need to be scrubbed, you don’t need to worry about getting every nook and cranny. Just let the water pour over you both, and clean the important parts like their neck folds and diaper areas.

Is it safe to shower a baby?

A bit more of a subjective area- this depends on how you shower your baby. Obviously, you need to make sure the temperature is safe for your little one, that you aren’t spraying water in their face, you’re careful not to drop them, and make sure to always fully support their head and neck. 

I also wouldn’t use heavily scented soaps or bath products while showering with them since the scent can circulate around them in the air. 

But overall, it is just as safe to shower your baby as it is to hold them throughout the day, give them a bath, or anything else you do!

Here are some tips to make it even safer to shower a baby:

• Get a bath mat

  • Likely, the biggest obstacle will be YOU slipping. I mean, a couple times a year I nearly, or DO, slip in the shower. A textured bath mat for the shower floor can help avoid that risk all together. 

• Wrap the baby in a towel or light blanket

  • Swaddling or wrapping your baby in a blanket before hand will do a few things. It will first keep them calmer and less wriggly during the shower process. But it will also provide more traction for you to hold onto them while showering together. When they are in the earliest months, they don’t need to be lathered head to toe, so no worries if they are just getting rinsed!

• Don’t use soaps or products

  • This one probably speaks for itself: soap=slippery. If you have a particularly young or wriggly baby, or you are nervous- just skip the soap! Your baby doesn’t need it, and your skin contact will create a fairly “grippy” surface for your little one. 

• If you do use soap, get pump bottles

  • Ever tried to do everything with one hand? Of course you have, you’re a parent! Have you ever tried to squeeze out soap using both hands while holding your baby in the shower? Hopefully not! Getting pump bottles for baby soap is an excellent idea- it makes the task one handed and also controls how much ends up coming out. 

• Keep the temperature lukewarm to warm

  • Love scalding hot showers? Me too! But it’s probably not the best environment for your little bundle though. It can burn your baby or end up making them overheat. Make sure you are using a true lukewarm-warm temperature, and ask your partner to confirm if you are conditioned to taking very hot showers or baths. 

• Use a bathing sling

  • Basically, a mesh baby carrier for the shower or any other water play! This is a great option for those earliest months when you don’t truly need to scrub your little one down. It is generally best to keep them in the sling, and not take them in and out while in the shower. 

What is the easiest way to shower a baby?

The easiest way to have a little baby shower is to make sure you are comfortable, and that you aren’t in a rush or distracted. This way you are in tune with every wriggle and need of your baby!

I recommend either holding your baby in a cradle position, or upright with their head on your shoulder. In both of these positions, you are able to either see or know that water isn’t splashing on their face, you can have a good grip, and it allows for the most skin to skin contact which can be soothing while you shower a baby. 

Getting out of the shower can be the trickiest part for many people. Thankfully we have a joining bathroom and bedroom, so if I am by myself I just own a brief nude walk. Lay a towel out on your bed (or wherever), and walk with your baby over to the bed and lay them down directly onto the towel and snuggle them up. 

This is MUCH easier than trying to finagle a towel around them while they are likely wriggling and possibly crying at this point. Also, after showering together, I love to just snuggle on my bed with lots of skin to skin and get a good nursing session in.  

Partner method to shower a baby:

Okay, I lied before. THIS is the easiest way to shower a baby, but may not be an option for everyone, or every time. It doesn’t even need to be your spouse or partner, just anyone you’re cool with seeing you naked like a sister, friend, or your mom. 

My favorite form of a partner method is getting into the shower by myself, taking a few decompressing breaths and find the right temperature for baby. when I am ready, I just shout for my husband to bring the baby in undressed and ready to go. 

I will bathe the baby, and shout for him to come back when the baby is washed up or starting to get fussy. Then, I can immediately place him into the towel he is holding out. This way, there is always a safe transition and the baby goes from one snuggly place to the next. 

Another option, is a family shower! If you are blessed with a large enough shower, this is a great option. 

One of you will bring the baby in and hold them. Then your partner can lather them up and interact all while still having a good, firm grip on your little one. It is also more convenient for towel situations since again, one person can leave, grab their towel, and also grab on for the baby. 

The less unnecessary movement with the baby, the better in my books!

Can I take a bath with my baby instead?

Definitely! It can make your baby’s first bath an easier transition for you both. Just make sure you follow a lot of the same tools as above. Using the correct water temperature and making sure the water isn’t too hot is the main concern, as well as avoiding any bath products you may typically use like bubbles, bath bombs, or epsom salts.

Also, if your newborn baby still has an umbilical cord stump, be sure not to submerge them in the water until the umbilical cord falls off (you may want to stick with sponge baths until it falls of and heals completely)!

Baths are a perfect option, and can even be a bit more soothing for your little one. Light candles, and have some soft music playing, and you have a little oasis! 

I recommend taking a large cloth or even a swaddle blanket in with you to keep over baby since it can get chilly quickly outside of the water. You can use your hands or a cup to continue pouring warm water over their body, or keep dipping the cloth into the water and bringing it back up over them. 

Nursing during bath time can also be extremely relaxing and even easier for mother and baby. The warm water and air allows milk to circulate better and letdowns can come a little easier. I did this often when I was having trouble with my milk supply- baths together are also a great addition to nursing vacations.

This kind of a bath routine can also help baby sleep much better during the night. Warm snuggles and a full belly? Even adults can’t stay awake after that!

When they get a little older, you can bring in bubbles and bath toys for some super fun interactive play. And you’ll love when they start to splash around with you. 

Just like with a shower, bathing with your baby is much, much easier of you ave someone with you to be able to help you get the baby in and out of the bath. Trust me, I tried to get out a few weeks postpartum with a wiggly newborn and had to give up pretty quickly. 

Another option that I’ve used is to have a baby bouncer or basket next to the tub lined with blankets and a towel. You can easily “plop” the baby next to you, swaddle them up, and you’re free to get out by yourself, dry off, and take your time getting out of the bathroom. 

Bathing with babies and children is a natural thing and has been around for hundreds of years. It can be done both easily and safely, so whether you’re looking for bonding time, or just ease of life, give it a try!