Newborns do not need a daily bath. Two or three baths a week, with a gentle top-and-tail wash in between, keeps skin clean without stripping the natural barrier.
Keep water at about 37°C · warm to the inside of your wrist, never hot · and keep the bath itself short, five to ten minutes.
From around six months, when your baby can sit supported and enjoys splashing, a tear-free bubble bath makes the routine playful. Before that, stick to a plain head-to-toe wash.
Toddlers can move to a daily bath if they want one. Pat dry rather than rub, and put lotion on within three minutes of coming out, while skin is still slightly damp.
If skin looks dry or flaky, reduce bath frequency before you change products · over-washing is the most common cause.
This is general guidance, not medical advice. If something about your baby's skin worries you, speak to your pediatrician.
