Washing your brand new baby’s hair is one of the first challenges you will face as a new parent, and being able to keep water out of baby’s eyes is a great skill to master in order to keep your little one as comfortable as possible during the bathing process!

The first thing to accept, is that no matter how hard you try, sometimes a little water might end up in baby’s eyes, and that it’s not the end of the world. The easiest way to combat this if it happens is to simply make sure you have a clean, dry, cotton cloth to hand – you can then dab away any water from baby’s face and the eye area quickly before it has a chance to cause any irritation. 

You can also buy soft plastic jugs which mold to your baby’s head and stop any water running down into their face.

When it comes to actually washing your baby’s scalp and hair, there are a few different ways you can proceed, but it’s a good idea to remember that for newborn babies, it’s best to give their newborn hair a gentle brush before any water is introduced. When you are ready to get the hair wet, make sure you only have a couple of inches of water, and consider using the kitchen sink for the entire process. Have a warm towel ready for baby straight after the hair wash, this is a good way of ensuring they won’t get cold.

Usually, lukewarm water is all that you need to wash baby’s skin and hair, but if you want to use a product, make sure it’s as natural as possible so it will be gentle on baby’s skin. Products such as baby shampoo, baby body wash, baby hair wash, and baby bath are usually specially formulated to be used on very young babies, but always check the label. Avoid regular bubble bath and shampoo as these may contain harsher chemicals. 

There are different methods to try when you need to wash baby’s hair, but many new parents find that the easiest way is to use the sponge method. Run a bath of a few inches, and check the water temperature at the beginning of the bath, before you put baby in, to make sure the water isn’t too hot. 

Add baby into the bath, making sure they are fully supported, and soak a soft sponge or wash cloth in the water. Squeeze out excess moisture from the wet washcloth, and then carefully run it over baby’s head, making sure not to get too close to baby’s eyes and being careful around the soft spots on the head. This method of hair washing is effective on newborn babies and is the best way to ensure no water gets into the eyes. This method can also be used effectively with toddler hair if your toddler hates hair washing time or has a sensory processing disorder or sensory sensitivity.

As theyt get bigger and can sit up on their own, their are little bath seats you can buy which hold the baby up while keeping them warm inside the water.

While using the sponge method, it is fairly easy to make sure that baby’s ears and the rest of baby’s sensitive skin is clean by using the same sponge. As this method uses just a little water, and a lot less water than other different strategies, it’s easier to direct the water which will help to avoid eye irritation and ear infections.

Always check behind the ears as often they get a little crusty here from spilt milk and dribble!

Another great way of washing baby’s hair is to simply use a small cup or a rinse cup in the bath. Fill the cup with warm water and carefully rinse over baby’s head. This is another easy method of washing your toddler’s hair as it’s quick and easy. Try introducing bath toys to make sure your toddler has a really good time during the hair washing process, and to ensure they don’t associate having their hair washed with having a bad experience. Generally keeping them warm is the key to a good experience.