Sponge Bath Basics
Assemble all your supplies ahead of time, as you never want to leave your baby unattended. You'll need sterile cotton balls; a hooded towel; a clean, soft washcloth; mild soap; a bowl of clean, warm water; a fresh diaper; and a change of clothes.

1. In a warm room, with your baby in your arms or lying on a padded surface, undress him, leaving his diaper on, and wrap him in the towel. Keep a steadying arm around him at all times.

2. Dip a cotton ball in water and gently wipe around his eyes, starting at the inside corner and wiping outward. Use another damp cotton ball to clean around his nose, mouth, and chin.

3. Move down his body, unwrapping and washing one area at a time with a wet washcloth and small amount of soap: neck, chest, back, arms, hands, legs, and feet. Finish by rinsing each area with a washcloth dipped in clean water and then gently pat him dry with the towel.

4. Leave the diaper area for last. Take your baby's diaper off and gently wash the genitals (for a boy, keep soap off the circumcision wound until it heals) before moving to his bottom. Clean, wiping from front to back, rinse, pat dry, then put on a fresh diaper.

On to the Baby Tub
Many babies love the bath-time ritual, and it often helps them relax before bed. Until your baby can sit up on his own, it's easiest and safest to bathe him in a plastic baby tub.

1. After gathering your supplies (cotton balls, a small bowl of clean water, mild soap, baby shampoo, a soft wash-cloth, and a hooded towel), fill the tub with two to three inches of warm water. Gently lay your baby in the tub, being sure to support his head and neck with one hand and his bottom with the other.

2. Dip a cotton ball in water, and gently wipe around his eyes, starting at the inside corner and wiping outward. Use another damp cotton ball to clean around his nose, mouth, and chin.Then dampen your baby's hair with a wet washcloth, being careful not to let the water run into his eyes. Squeeze a small amount of baby shampoo onto your fingertips and gently lather his scalp. Rinse with a cupful of clean water, again avoiding his eyes. To clean your baby's back, gently lean him for-ward in the tub, supporting his head and upper body with one hand while you use the other hand to wash him. Rinse with clean water. Wash your baby's body from top to bottom, saving the diaper area for last. Be sure to clean carefully between the folds of the skin. Rinse with clean water.

3. Gently lift your baby out of the tub by sliding one hand behind his head and shoulders and the other beneath his bottom, with your fingers circling his thigh to prevent slipping. Quickly wrap him in the towel.

Umbilical Stump Care
Most stumps fall off 10 to 21 days after delivery. Don't immerse your newborn in a tub until his navel is healed (usually a week or so after the stump falls off). Be sure to fold down the front of his diaper so the stump is exposed to air and doesn't come into contact with urine.

Ask your baby's doctor about cleaning the umbilical stump. Swabbing it with rubbing alcohol is no longer recommended by all doctors and nurses. Alcohol may actually prolong healing time. If your baby's doctor prefers cleaning with alcohol, dab the base of the stump (making sure to get in between crevices) and the area around it twice a day with a cotton ball dipped in rubbing alcohol, then gently pat the area dry. If she recommends using just water or soap and water, be sure to dry the area after washing. Once the stump falls off, use soap and water until the navel is completely healed.

Call the doctor right away if you notice any signs of infection: fever; a red, swollen navel; or bleeding or pus coming from the stump.

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