When should I give my baby the first bath?
Usually your baby won’t be given a bath straight after she’s born because they will need to stay warm. Your midwife will usually just wipe and dry your baby using clean, warm towels. If you want to give your baby a bath, it should be safe to do so an hour or so after the birth. As long as your baby is healthy and full term, his body temperature is normal and the room is warm.
Studies have shown that it is best to leave your newborn baby in their natural oils for as long as possible. The white creamy coating on a baby’s skin (vernix) as well as the amniotic fluid are known to have similar immune-enhancing properties as breast milk. This is a great reason to try to prolong giving your baby a bath for 24 hours or even longer.