Take a few minutes to talk to your baby about her day as you prepare for the transition to bathtime. Leaving her diaper on, undress her, gently rub JOHNSON’S^® baby oil onto her skin to warm her up, then swaddle her in a soft towel or blanket.

The Eyes

Holding your baby's head, gently cleanse around each eye with a cotton round or cotton square dampened with warm water. Cotton rounds or squares are good to use because they don't shed pieces of lint.

Use a new cotton round or square for each eye and always wipe from the inside corner of the eye, outward. If there is no crust (dried mucus), there is no need to wash the eye area. Do not wash the eye itself.

The Rest of the Face

Using a soft washcloth, wipe around your baby's mouth, nose and whole face, working from the middle outward, using only plain water. Pay special attention to behind the ears, under the chin and creases in the neck. Remember: Never put anything into the ear canal or nose. Gently pat dry.

Next, wash your baby's body using a gentle, trusted, soap-free baby cleanser that will help protect her skin’s natural moisture. JOHNSON'S® baby top-to-toeTM wash is mild enough for your newborn's hair and skin.

Keeping her head covered with the corner of the towel, unwrap your baby and remove her diaper. Wet and lather your hand or washcloth and begin to wash the rest of your baby's body. Wash the neck to her waist, including her arms and hands, and thoroughly rinse and pat dry. Cover her upper body with a towel to keep her warm and move down to her legs, feet and toes.

Remember to rinse and dry well in all the creases, because excessive moisture can lead to skin irritation. Wash the diaper area last using clean warm water: for a baby girl, just wipe the area gently from front to back. For a baby boy, also wipe from front to back. For uncircumcised boys, gently wash the penis and genital area, avoiding pulling back the foreskin.

Before cleaning your baby's umbilical cord, you can put her shirt and diaper on to keep her warm. Remember to avoid covering the cord with the diaper, because the cord area should be kept dry and clean at all times.

Clean around and in the base of the cord with a cotton round or square. Do not be afraid to clean the cord; the quicker the base dries, the sooner the cord will fall off.

Moisturizing your baby is an essential part of her skincare regime. Use gentle products such as JOHNSON’S® baby lotion to help keep baby’s skin strong and healthy.

Make sure your baby is fully dry before dressing. To protect her from irritation-causing wetness and make her feel even more comfortable, apply JOHNSON'S® baby powder which is allergy tested and mild enough for baby skin.

Now dress your baby and wrap her in a receiving blanket to keep her warm. Hold your baby close and enjoy your time together.