Arrow backLanguage
0-6 months
Article

PLAYING: كيفية غسل وجه المولود ومؤخرته

Add this post to favorites

How to top and tail a newborn

Some babies love having a bath, while others need time to get used to it. For the first few weeks or so, you may want to top and tail baby instead. Our step-by-step guide to cleaning newborns starts at their head and ends at their bottom!

2 mins to read Mar 31, 2021
  • You don’t need to wash your baby every day—for the first few weeks it may be easier to top and tail instead.
  • Top and tailing is where you carefully wash the face, neck, hands and bottom.
  • You will need a bowl of cooled, boiled water, a bowl of warm water, cotton balls or cotton pads, a fresh diaper, clean clothes, and clean towels.  
  • Wash your hands thoroughly and remove any rings or bracelets.
  • Check the room is nice and warm—undress your baby and place them on a clean towel.
  • Topping means washing your baby’s face, neck and hands.
  • Babies’ eyes can be a little sticky after birth. Dip a cotton ball or a cotton pad in cool boiled water and gently wipe your baby's eyes from the nose outwards, using a new piece of cotton ball for each eye.
  • Use a fresh piece of cotton ball dipped in warm water to clean around your baby's ears, avoiding the inside.
  • Wash the rest of your baby's face, neck and hands in the same way.
  • If your baby still has vernix (the creamy white layer) in their creases, leave it there as it helps the skin barrier to develop. 
  • Keep your baby’s umbilical cord stump clean and dry to avoid infection—wipe it with a fresh cotton ball dipped in cooled, boiled water each day and gently pat it dry. 
  • The umbilical cord stump should drop off after about 10 days—if you have any concerns talk to your healthcare provider.
  • Tailing means cleaning your baby’s genitals and bottom. 
  • Remove diaper and wash baby’s bottom and genital area with a fresh cotton ball and warm water. 
  • If you prefer use baby wipes, but make sure they are unperfumed and suitable for newborns. 
  • Gently pat your baby dry paying particular attention to the skin folds, before putting on a clean diaper. 
  • Dress baby in clean clothes. Newborns loose heat quickly so you may also want to use a blanket. 
  • When you feel ready to move onto giving your baby a bath instead, read our checklist to find out how to do it. 
     
MVP Logo

Get full access to expert-backed nutrition support

  • newspaper icon

    My feed

    Curated content based on your preferences 

  • medical expert icon

    Feeding guidance

    Learn about various feeding options and what each means for you and your baby

  • corner border

    Tailored Practical Tools

    Try our tailored practical tools to guide you through the parenting journey.

  • letter icon

    My First 1000 Days club

    Customised notifications, reminders and newsletters

Search icon

Still haven't found what you are looking for?

Try our new smart question engine. We'll always have something for you.