How to Wash Your Newborn’s Hair (Tips from a Mom)

You’ve just brought your bundle of joy home from the hospital and are excited to give them their first bath. While they do not need a bath for the first week home from the hospital, you begin wondering how to wash their hair. Your baby is so small and unable to hold their head up, so you think it may be difficult to wash their hair. I’m here to tell you that’s not the case! 

I’ve had two children of my own, and both times I was worried about how to wash their hair. I was wondering if I should wash my newborn's hair right away. I wanted to avoid causing them discomfort, but they do eventually need their luscious locks washed!

Continue reading to learn some helpful tips I found along the way to make hair washing a breeze. 

Wash Every Few Days

As I mentioned previously, your little cherub doesn’t need to hop in the bath as soon as they arrive home! A bath every few days is actually the best thing for your baby’s health, skin, and hair. Too many baths can not only irritate your baby but dry out their skin and hair. 

That being said, your baby can get dirty, even if they aren’t up and walking yet. During feeding time, they can accidentally spill milk, and this can get into their folds. In between bath days, use a warm washcloth to clean their milky folds. 

Use Warm Water

Who doesn’t love a hot shower after a long day?

You might, but your baby… not so much! Your baby will much prefer a bath of water that is warm, not hot to the touch. To check the temperature of the water, throw in your elbow or inner wrist to see if it's safe.

Place a Warm Washcloth Over Your Baby

While this tip doesn’t have to do with washing your baby’s hair, it has everything to do with keeping them calm! Placing a warm washcloth gives your baby comfort that allows them to relax while they are getting washed up. This trick is something that I used with my second baby, and it made a world of difference during bath time! 

Cover Your Baby’s Eyes

Just like anyone else, your baby does not want the soap to get in their eyes. With their lack of neck control, it can be hard to tip their head back, let alone keep it in one place. When you are washing your little one's hair, be sure to shield your baby’s eyes with your hand to avoid water and soap dripping down. 

Another option is to buy a cup with a fitted suction around the edge or a bath brim specifically designed to keep water out of their eyes! 

Try Washing in the Sink

If your baby doesn’t take to any of the other tricks, you actually don’t have to wash their hair in the bath since they are so little! The benefit of them being so small is that you can wash their body in the bath and then finish their hair in the sink. 

Washing their hair in the sink allows you to swaddle your baby up in a warm towel and then dip their head under warm running water. You can then massage their scalp with a low-pH shampoo and rinse it out with ease. This is a great way for your baby to stay close to you while still getting clean! 

Save it for Last

If your baby is anything like mine, washing their hair was their least favorite part of bath time. You may want to get it out of the way first, but try saving it until last!

Once you have washed their body, you can wash their hair and immediately get them out of the bath to enjoy some warm snuggles. After getting squeaky clean in the bath, you can begin to put your newborn to sleep. 

Check Your Shampoo

A question on many parents’ minds is, “What can I use to wash my newborn's hair?” You may be tempted to choose the first baby shampoo you see, but the ingredients can truly make a difference in caring for your baby’s hair. 

A low pH is the best thing for your baby’s hair. A high pH can make your baby’s hair feel coarse and become tangled. Look for shampoos with a range of 4.5-6 pH to keep your baby’s hair smooth and silky.

Use Special Shampoo for Cradle Cap

Some babies experience cradle cap. If you’ve never heard of this term, it refers to dry, scaly patches on the top of newborns’ heads.

There is special shampoo that can be used to help loosen these flakes, along with specific brushes. This condition doesn’t typically bother the baby and can resolve on its own. Keep in mind that if there is redness or swelling, your baby will need to be seen by a medical professional. 

Let it Air-Dry

Once your baby’s hair is washed and they are out of the bath, you can dry it gently with their towel.

After this, leave their hair to air-dry as a blow-dryer can remove the moisture from their head. While their hair is air drying, be sure to keep them nice and warm! 

Track Your Baby’s Baths with Baby Connect

In the early stages of parenthood, it's easy to get caught up in the whirlwind that is your baby. Days can blend together, and you can forget when their last bath was. “I just gave them last night! Or was that two nights ago?” We’ve all been there. 

You want to stay on top of bath night to make sure your baby is clean and happy. Baby Connect is an app designed for parents and caregivers to keep track of everything their baby does. It can track not only bath nights but also their feeding schedule, sleep schedule, and even bowel movements. This app is a one-stop shop to keep track of your baby’s daily routine!