Sponge bathe a newborn
For the first week or so it s best to give your infant sponge baths with a warm, damp washcloth. Wash his face and hands frequently, and thoroughly clean his genital area after each diaper change.
Bathing a baby in a bath tub
After the umbilical cord stump dries up, falls off, and the area heals, you can start giving your newborn a tub bath every few days. It s easiest to use the kitchen sink or a small plastic baby tub filled with warm water instead of a standard tub.
Although some parents bathe their babies every day, until a baby is crawling around and getting into messes, a bath isn t really necessary more than three times a week during the first year. Bathing your baby too often can dry out her skin.