Washing Baby's Delicate Skin
For the first week to ten days after your baby is born, until his umbilical cord stump falls off and the area heals, it is best to stick to sponge baths using an organic washcloth that has been moistened in warm water. For these baths, concentrate on wiping down your baby's face and hands frequently and thoroughly cleaning his genital area.
Talcum powder can irritate a baby's lungs when inhaled, so don't use it anywhere near your baby. If diaper rash is a problem, try using a cornstarch-based powder. But keep a close eye on baby's bottom. Yeast, which sometimes causes diaper rash, can feed on cornstarch.
After his belly button heals, you can start giving your newborn tub baths. With tiny newborn babies, it may be easier to use the kitchen sink or a small plastic baby tub instead of a full-sized standard tub. Until your baby is crawling around and getting into messes, you probably don't really need to bathe him more than once a week. But if your baby enjoys taking a bath, and if he is not prone to sensitive skin, you may decide to bathe him every day for the sheer pleasure of it.
