Scientific interview -
frequently asked questions at the dermatology clinic

How often should I bathe my baby? Is water enough or should I use bath additives too?

Recommendations regarding bathing and washing practices for babies vary greatly from country to country. In France, for example, recommendations suggest bathing babies every day is regarded as good practice.

A recent study compared the effects of bathing babies in clear water to washing them with a washcloth and clear water¹. The study subjects of both groups were between 7 days and 4 weeks of age. Results revealed only minor differences, although the skin’s barrier function in the nappy area of bathed babies proved to be slightly better.

Based on this, we recommend bathing your baby twice a week.

Before you bathe your baby, however, it is important to check that the water and room temperatures are just right. The water should be between 36°C and 38°C (body temperature) and the room a pleasant 23-25°C. During the first few months, babies should not bathe for more than 5-7 minutes. When bathing newborns, you should also keep in mind that their belly button is still healing. If in doubt, please consult your midwife.

Using bath additives can help to gently cleanse your baby’s skin or to soothe skin irritations. Bear in mind that the skin barrier can also be affected by bathing with clear water, at least temporarily. Ideally, wash gels and bath additives for children should cleanse their skin very gently and be pH-neutral to slightly acidic in order to preserve the skin’s acid mantle. Additionally, they should be gentle on their eyes and not irritate them².

An 8-week-long study showed that the appropriate use of suitable bath products had no negative impact on the skin function. In some areas, the test group had even better results than the control group, consisting of children who were only bathed in clear water³.

We therefore recommend using a suitable bath product.

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1) Garcia Bartels N, Mleczko A, Schink T et al. Influence of bathing or washing on skin barrier function in newborns during the first four weeks of life. Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2009; 22:248-57.

2) Blume-Peytavi U, Cork MJ, Faergemann J et al. Bathing and cleansing in newborns from day 1 to first year of life: recommendations from a European round table meeting. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2009; 23:751-9.

3) Garcia Bartels N, Scheufele R, Prosch F et al. Effect of standardized skincare regimens on neonatal skin barrier function in different body areas. Pediatr Dermatol 2010; 27:1-8.