The first few baths are relatively simple — you're just concentrating on keeping your baby warm, making him feel secure, and getting him clean. As he grows, of course, toys and boats and ducks will take up more room in the tub than he does. In the meantime, stock up on some simple, yet highly recommended, bath aids:

• Cotton balls (for cleaning eyes and ears).

• Plastic cup or spray bottle.

• Soft brush.

• Baby washcloths (lots, for washing, warmth, and play).

• Several towels.

• Giant bath sponge (for baby to lie on, or use another towel).

• Baby soap or no-tears shampoo (the two are pretty much interchangeable), or mild glycerin bar soap.

• Baby bathtub, dishpan, or clean sink.

• Foam pad to kneel on when you're bathing your baby in an adult tub (special pads are available for this purpose, or you can use kneelers designed for gardening).

• Non-skid mat (for use in the adult tub).

• Foam faucet cover (for adult tub).

The Sponge Bath

If you decide that your baby's first bath should be a sponge bath, give yourself plenty of time to figure out exactly where you're going to conduct this operation. You don't want to be running around the house with a naked baby trying to decide where to bathe him. Your best choice is a counter next to the sink if your counter is big enough. This has several advantages. Cleanup will be easy since it's waterproof, it's high enough to keep you from wrecking your back, it provides a ready source of warm water, and it makes it easier to rinse your baby's hair.

You'll need something soft to lay your baby on. A thick, folded bath towel is fine. If you have a baby bathtub that came with a thick contoured sponge, save the tub for later but place the sponge on the counter.

Make sure you have everything that you need within reach. You'll need several towels. In addition to the one on which your baby's lying, you'll need one to keep parts of him warm while you're bathing other parts, and another one to dry him. You'll also need:

• At least two washcloths (you don't want to wipe a spot of milk from his face with the same washcloth you just used to wipe his backside).

• Cotton balls or another clean washcloth for his eyes.

• Baby soap or mild bar soap (like Dove).

• A clean diaper.

• Clean clothes.

• Diaper rash ointment, if you're using it.

• A plastic cup.

Strip the baby down to his diaper and lay him on the towel. Cover him with the other towel; you'll uncover only the piece of baby you're washing at the moment.

Wipe inside the corners of his eyes, from inside out, using a clean cotton ball or different corner of the washcloth for each eye. You can use cotton balls to wipe his ear folds as well, but don't try to wash inside the ear canal, even if you see wax. The wax protects the inner ear. Then move on to washing his limbs and the front of his torso.

To wash his hair, wet it with the washcloth, add a dab of soap, and gently massage the entire scalp, including the soft spots. (You don't really need a special baby shampoo; liquid baby soap is an all-purpose cleaner at this stage.) Hold your baby so his head is being supported by one hand, and tip it slightly back over the sink. Using the plastic cup, pour warm water back over his head, avoiding his eyes. If some soap does get into his eyes, wipe them with plain, warm water; he'll open his eyes once the soap is gone.

Next, take off his diaper and wash his bottom and genitals. (If you're bathing a girl, remember to always wash from front to back.) Finish by sitting him up, leaning him forward on your hand as if you're going to burp him, and wash his back. Check to make sure all the soap is rinsed off, and dry him with a clean towel, again paying particular attention to the creases in his neck.