Osteopathy and childhood: what are the benefits to support your child's development?
5 July 2026
The early years of life are an extraordinary period of discovery, learning and change.
Giving a newborn a bath for the first time is often a stressful moment for new parents. What if the baby slips? What if the water is too hot? What if the umbilical cord hasn't fallen off yet? Don't panic: with the right actions and the right equipment, the newborn baby bath quickly becomes a moment of gentleness and shared closeness. 🛁
You can give your newborn their first bath in the very first days of life, provided that the umbilical cord is well dried. In French maternity units, it is generally recommended to wait until the cord falls off (between 7 and 15 days) before immersing the baby. In the meantime, a sponge bath That'll do nicely.
As soon as the umbilical cord has fallen off, you can move on to full baths. The WHO recommends not bathing newborns too often — 2 to 3 baths a week are enough for the first few weeks so as not to dry out their still delicate skin.
The ideal water temperature for the newborn baby bath is of 37°C — the same as your baby's body temperature. Always use a bath thermometer to check — never rely on your elbow or wrist, which can be misleading.
The room must be heated to at least 22-24°C to avoid thermal shock when coming out of the bath. Have the hooded towel ready to hand before you begin.
Slide your left hand behind the baby's neck, your thumb and index finger holding the outer shoulder. With your right hand, hold the bottom and thighs. This secure onboarding is the key — baby will feel held and will relax more easily.
Immediately wrap baby in their hooded towel, starting with the head. Pat gently — never rub — to dry all the folds. Apply an unscented moisturising lotion if the skin is dry.
Good equipment makes bathing a newborn much more relaxed. The essentials to have:
To turn bath time into a moment of pleasure, discover our full range of baby bath accessories — thermometers, animal capes, water toys — designed to make every bath enjoyable and safe.
The holding method described above is designed for that. You can also use a baby bath support or a bath hammock which keeps baby in a stable position while you have both hands free to wash them.
Common during the first few weeks — contact with water can come as a surprise. Talk to him softly, sing, lower him in very gradually. Check that the water is neither too hot nor too cold. With consistency, baby will end up loving the bath.
Just wait. A daily sponge bath is enough. Avoid getting the cord wet and let it air dry — it will fall off naturally.
2 to 3 times a week is enough for the first few weeks. A daily bath is not necessary and can dry out a newborn's delicate skin. Between baths, washing with a damp flannel on the sensitive areas (face, creases, bottom) is enough.
Wait at least 30 minutes after a breastfeed or a bottle feed to avoid regurgitation. A baby who is too full in a warm bath may feel unwell.
The evening is often recommended as the warm bath promotes relaxation and prepares for sleep — it can fit naturally into the bedtime routine. But if baby is unsettled in the evening, try the morning: some babies are more cooperative earlier in the day.
No — washing the scalp 1 to 2 times a week is enough. If the baby has cradle cap (seborrhoeic dermatitis), apply a little vegetable oil to the scalp a few hours before the bath to soften the scales.
Animal-themed bath capes, precision thermometers, water toys, soft washcloths: PetitMaxou offers everything you need to make bath time a fun experience right from the very first days. Free delivery throughout the EU, returns within 14 days.
→ See all PetitMaxou baby bath products
Beyond the technique, the atmosphere of the bath matters just as much as the actions. Here is how to turn bathtime into a moment of shared enjoyment:
To complete your bedtime routine, discover our selection of baby comforters — the ideal bath-time companion to prepare for sleep.
Current paediatric recommendations are clear: 2 to 3 baths a week are enough for a healthy infant. A daily bath provides no additional benefit and can even dry out the skin, which needs its natural protective film (sebum). Between baths, a targeted wash with a damp flannel — face, neck, creases, bottom — is perfectly sufficient. The ideal duration: 5 to 10 minutes for newborns, up to 15 to 20 minutes for older babies who are starting to enjoy bath time as a play session.
The early years of life are an extraordinary period of discovery, learning and change.
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