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When Bath Time Goes from Chaos to Calm
Bath time should be this sweet, bonding moment with your baby, right? In reality, it’s often a juggling act—slippery limbs, forgotten towels, a screaming baby who’s suddenly freezing. Sound familiar?
Both of my babies have always loved the water, but they absolutely hate being cold and wet afterward. Over the past year, I’ve fine-tuned our routine and found a few baby bath essentials that turned newborn bath time from stressful to actually enjoyable. Here’s what’s worked for us—grab your coffee and let’s dive in.
Finding Our Bath Time Groove
Like most things with babies, I learned to tweak bath time until it worked perfectly for us. Both of my little ones loved the water from day one, but those moments right after—when they’re all wet and cold—were rough. The crying, the shivering, the chaos.
So I developed a method that makes baby bath time as pleasant as possible for everyone involved. Now it’s honestly one of my favorite parts of the day. Here’s the routine that changed everything (and the best baby bath products that made it possible).
My Complete Bath Time Routine with My 2-Month-Old
Since my daughter is combination fed (half breastfed, half bottle-fed with 100% my supply), she often leaves milk in her bottles. Right before bath time, I collect all that leftover milk in a bowl—it’s no longer good for drinking, but it’s amazing for baby’s skin in the bath.
Once I’ve got my milk collected, I grab the baby bathtub, the newborn net, and fill it with slightly warmer water (around 39.5°C). I toss in the bath thermometer and two washcloths to soak. Then I set up my entire station: cotton towel on the counter next to the bath, and the dressing station on my kitchen table with the soft towel opened up, coconut oil, fresh diaper, and pajamas all laid out.
Pro tip: Set up everything before you even start the water—towels, lotion, diaper, clothes. This one habit will save you so many meltdowns.
If she needs a bottle after her bath, I start warming it. If I’m breastfeeding her, I get my single pump ready (read about my pumping routine in this post).
Before the actual bath, I do about 10 minutes of playtime with her on the play mat—showing her images, rattles, and a mirror. Then I get her naked on a cotton blanket for tummy time (about 5 minutes). I’ve read that letting babies be naked is great for their motor development, and I think it’s even more important for cloth diaper babies like mine. Plus, if she poops during this time, we’re already set up for easy cleanup.
Pro tip: Do naked time right before bath time—if baby poops, you’re already prepped to clean them up without scrambling.
I flip her onto her back for another 5 minutes of naked play. If she starts crying at any point, I skip straight to the bath—it always calms her down.
By now, the water temperature has dropped to at least 38.5°C (perfect for newborn bath time). I add the breast milk to the bath, place her in using the newborn net, and cover her belly with one of the warm washcloths so she doesn’t get cold.
We play for a bit, and I let water run gently over her face—getting her used to having her face wet makes it easier when we eventually teach her to swim (and it’s a lifesaver if we ever need to pop her in a shower at the pool).
With the second washcloth, I gently clean her neck, face, ears (and behind them), then her private parts and bottom. I don’t use soap yet—at this age, I don’t find it necessary.
When she’s done, I wrap her up in the cotton towel and dry her as quickly as possible while she’s still in my arms. Then I swap to the soft, fluffy towel. Starting with her feet, I finish drying her while keeping her covered and warm. I rub coconut oil all over her body, then get her into her diaper and pajamas.
If she needs a bottle, daddy takes over while I clean up and store all the bath supplies. If I’m breastfeeding her, then daddy handles cleanup duty.
The Rolling Cart That Keeps Me Sane
If you’ve spent any time on Pinterest hunting for nursery organization hacks, you’ve definitely stumbled across the genius that is the rolling cart setup. .
But here’s the reality: with my babies being so close in age, I quickly learned that a toddler who doesn’t listen is a toddler who will empty that cart all over your house. Multiple times. Daily.
So I adapted. Now the rolling cart is my bedtime storage station for my little girl. I keep her pajamas, night diapers, all the bath essentials, coconut oil, towels—everything we need for the evening routine. During the day, I tuck it away (I’m not using any of it anyway), and once my toddler is in bed, I roll it out to the kitchen where we do bath time.
Pro tip: Store everything you need for bath time together in one spot—you’ll never forget something mid-routine again.
The Baby Bathtub That Changed Everything
This baby bathtub has been a total game-changer. It has a drain hole at the bottom, which means no more awkwardly lifting a heavy tub full of water and splashing everywhere.
If you have a dual kitchen sink, there’s a slot that lets you stabilize it between the two sinks for extra security. If you have a single sink, you don’t need that feature—the infant bathtub sits perfectly stable on both sides of the counter.
The newborn net it comes with is honestly genius. It keeps baby supported and secure during those early months, which means your back doesn’t have to do all the work. I used it until both babies had solid head and core control, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
The Cutest Bath Thermometer Ever
Our bath thermometer is shaped like a little seal (adorable), and it’s been one of those purchases I didn’t know I needed until I had it.
It displays the water temperature on a screen, a message shows up at the bottom when the water is too cold, and flashes a red light when it’s too hot. I toss it in as soon as I start filling the tub, and it gives me total peace of mind—no more second-guessing or sticking my elbow in like my mom taught me.
As baby gets older, this baby bath toy doubles as an actual toy during bath time. Win-win.
The Three-Towel System That Actually Works
I cannot rave enough about our baby towel set. Here’s how I use each piece:
Washcloth: Made from the same soft fabric as the plush towel, this sits on baby’s belly during the bath to keep them warm and calm. Such a simple trick, but it works.
Cotton towel: This one’s thin and lightweight—perfect for that first quick dry right out of the water. It soaks up the bulk of the moisture fast. Keep it close when baby is wrapped in the second towel to wipe your coconut oily hands.
Soft fluffy towel: The cozy one. I wrap baby in this while I do coconut oil massage, diaper, and pajamas. They stay warm and snuggly the whole time, which means fewer tears and a calmer baby.
Bonus hack: Throw the fluffy towel in the dryer for a minute before bath time. Instant spa vibes for your baby (and it feels fancy even when you’re exhausted).
Natural Baby Skincare: Soap and Lotion
If you’ve read any of my other posts, you know I’m not a fan of all the chemicals big corporations want us to slather on our babies (or ourselves, for that matter). That’s why I only use Honest soap for my little ones.
For lotion: I skip commercial baby lotion completely and just use coconut oil. It’s hydrating, natural, affordable, and I buy mine in bulk at Costco. I rub it all over baby after every bath, and their skin stays soft and moisturized. I don’t buy baby cream anymore.
Making Bath Time Your Happy Place
These baby bath products and little routine tweaks have completely transformed our evenings. The secure newborn net, the reliable temperature check, the warm towel wrap—every detail adds up to a calmer, cozier experience for both baby and me.
None of these are fancy or expensive, but together they’ve turned bath time from a dreaded chore into one of my favorite moments of the day.
If you’re in the thick of newborn bath time stress, try one of these products and see what clicks for you. And if you’ve found your own bath time hack, drop it in the comments—I’m always looking for ways to make this easier. Ready to transform your baby’s bath routine? You’ve got this, mama.
