Newborn’s First Bath: The Benefits of Waiting

For years, newborn babies had their very first bath at the hospital within just hours of being born. After all, birth can be a little ... messy. And cleaning off the goo seemed like a good idea at the time.

But these days, hospitals around the U.S. are delaying the first newborn bath.

Why? Newborn nursing specialist and researcher Heather Condo DiCioccio, DNP, RN, led a study about delayed newborn baths, and we talked with her about the benefits.

When newborns should get their first bath

Studies have shown that holding off a newborn’s first bath can be beneficial in a number of ways.

And the World Health Organization (WHO) agrees. It recommends waiting 24 hours or more before giving newborns a bath, if possible.

In one survey, 87% of U.S. hospitals reported delaying newborn baths by at least six hours. 10% didn’t bathe babies before discharge at all.

Benefits of delaying newborn’s first bath

It wasn’t long ago that babies would get a bath within the first hour or two of life. So, why the change?

Turns out that waiting for bath time can have benefits, from better chances for breastfeeding success to increased bonding time and more.

DiCioccio shares some of the highlights.

Encourage breastfeeding

Giving baby time to acclimate to the world before their first scrub can help encourage breastfeeding success rates.

In DiCioccio’s study, the researchers found that pushing back bath time to at least 12 hours after birth increased rates of exclusive breastfeeding, particularly following vaginal birth. It also increased the likelihood that parents reported planning to continue breastfeeding after they went home.

The study analyzed data from nearly 1,000 healthy newborns. The results showed the rates of exclusive breastfeeding rose from 59.8% to 68.2% after implementing delayed bathing practice.

Why is that so important?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) encourages exclusive breastfeeding for baby’s first six months. The AAP also recommends providing breast milk for as long as parent and baby desire — through their second birthday and beyond.

“Breast milk provides a benefit for the baby that extends beyond the first hours or days of life,” DiCioccio shares. “Research has shown that it can benefit the health of both the breastfeeding mother and the child for years to come.”

Giving your baby breast milk has benefits for both your baby and you. It helps build a strong immune system for them. And it can lower your risk for postpartum depression and other health conditions later in life.

But what does bath time have to do with breastfeeding success?

It’s not entirely clear. But some of the other benefits of delayed newborn baths may play into it.

More skin-to-skin time

Skin-to-skin contact right after delivery makes a big difference for babies and caregivers.

“Human touch is vital to caregivers and babies,” DiCioccio explains. “You need to have that human touch. I think that by not washing the baby (so soon) and encouraging skin-to-skin contact, you’re improving that human touch in baby’s first moments. So, you’re now looking at a long-term health benefit.”

Kangaroo care (holding a diapered-up baby to your bare chest) helps caregivers and babies bond. It can help to stabilize your baby’s heart rate, support healthy sleep and help you feel more confident in caring for your baby.

By delaying a bath, you’re giving more time in those critical first hours of baby’s life to enjoy some skin-to-skin contact, establish connection and begin successful breastfeeding.

Familiar scents

There’s a similarity in smell between amniotic fluid and a lactating breast.

Researchers theorize that when you don’t wash away that familiar scent from baby’s body, it could help them to feel more like they’re in their comfort zone. That might help encourage them to latch for their first breastfeeding session.

Regulating body temperature

Newborns don’t have to worry about things like getting chilly when they’re in the womb. It’s a comfy temperature-controlled environment.

When they’re out in the world, the always-changing air temperature is a brand-new experience. Newborns can’t regulate their body temperatures very well. So, when they’re stripped down and either tub-bathed or wiped with a wet cloth, it can get cold fast.

Delaying newborn baths can help keep their temperature stable longer. That can help make them feel more secure as they attempt to try out breastfeeding early on.

And as DiCioccio points out, “Cold can make babies more tired. And a tired baby is less likely to nurse.”

Bottom line

Those first few hours with a brand-new baby are full of new experiences for you both. Their first cry, first snuggle, first kisses on the top of their sweet little noggin. Let the first bath wait.

And when you leave the hospital, don’t feel a rush to do your first bath at home either. In fact, newborns just need a light bath a couple times a week, especially when they still have their umbilical stump.

Hold them. Feed them. And when they do get that bath, take a good whiff of that clean-baby scent. Nothing can compare.