A winter bath routine for babies in Canada

A winter bath routine for babies in Canada

A winter bath routine comes down to a warm room, a short bath and a quick move from towel to moisturizer to clothes. The water is the same as in July, but a cool bathroom, dry furnace air and a trip into the cold afterward change how you set things up.

What changes in heating season

Once the furnace is running, indoor air is drier than it was in summer, and the bathroom can be one of the cooler rooms in the house, especially with an outside wall or a tile floor. A baby who has just been undressed feels that cool air right away, so the real goal is to shorten the time between undressing and being dressed again.

Three things are worth planning around:

  • A cool room. Warm water helps very little if the air and the surfaces around the tub are cold.
  • Dry indoor air. Skin can feel tight and look flaky sooner in heating season, so the steps after the bath matter as much as the bath.
  • The trip outside. Hair and skin should be fully dry, and the baby dressed, before any trip into the cold.

Warming the room, not just the water

Take the chill off the space first. Before you undress the baby:

  1. Close the bathroom door and any window, and keep the door shut while the tub fills so the room holds its warmth.
  2. Lay out everything within arm's reach: a towel, a clean diaper, clothes with the snaps already undone, and moisturizer or diaper cream if you use them. You should never need to step away, because a baby must not be left alone in or near water, even for a moment.
  3. Warm the towel for a few minutes in the dryer, then check that it feels warm, not hot.
  4. Test the bath water with your wrist or elbow, or use a bath thermometer. It should feel comfortably warm, not hot.

Keeping baths short and gentle

A short bath leaves less time for the baby to cool off. A common order is to wash the face first and the diaper area last. Keep one hand on the baby the whole time, because a wet baby is slippery.

  • Use only a small amount of a mild baby wash, if you use one, and follow the label for age and directions.
  • Some parents lay a warm, damp washcloth over the baby's chest and tummy during the bath so that skin stays covered.
  • Lift the baby out once the washing is done, and wrap the towel around them straight away.

Many families do not give a full bath every day in winter. On the days in between, some wash the face and hands with a soft damp cloth and clean the diaper area with wipes, and you can compare packs in our baby wipes collection. How often to bathe your own baby is a question for your doctor or public health nurse.

Moisturizer straight after the towel

Pat the skin dry rather than rubbing, and pay attention to the folds: neck, behind the ears, elbows, wrists, knees and between the toes. A common habit is to apply a baby moisturizer next, while the skin is still slightly damp. Warm your hands first and keep the towel over the part you are not working on, so the baby is not left uncovered for long.

  • If a doctor or nurse has given you a cream or a routine for your baby's skin, follow that instead of any general advice.
  • For the diaper area, follow the label of whichever diaper cream you use. The diaper rash creams and ointments collection shows what we carry.

Balm for cheeks before going outside

Cold wind, drool and frequent wiping can leave cheeks looking chapped. Some families put a thin layer of baby balm or ointment on the cheeks before heading out. Before you use one on the face, check the label for the age the product is made for and whether it is meant for the face, and ask a pharmacist if the label leaves you unsure. Keep it away from the eyes and mouth.

Put it on indoors before the snowsuit goes on, not at the front door.

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Dressing warmly after a bath

Dry the head and hair properly first, because a damp head feels cold fast. Then dress the baby on a flat, stable surface such as a changing pad or a folded towel.

  • Put on the diaper and an undershirt or onesie first, then the sleeper or outfit. Layers are easier to adjust than one thick garment.
  • Many parents feel the back of the baby's neck or the chest as a rough comfort check, then add or remove a layer.
  • Add a hat before going out, and wait a few minutes in a warm room rather than going straight from a steamy bathroom into the cold.
  • Heading to the car? Bulky layers can change how a harness fits, so follow your car seat manual on what the baby should wear.

When dry skin needs a professional's eye

A bath routine is about comfort and habit, and it cannot tell you what is behind dry skin. Check with a doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you see cracked, bleeding or weepy skin, very red skin, patches that spread, or dryness that is not improving with your routine. The same goes for a diaper-area rash that is not getting better. Follow the product label in the meantime.

Note when you first saw the change, and bring the products you use, or photos of their labels, to the appointment.

Common questions

What time of day works for a winter bath?

Whenever the house is warm and you are not about to head outside. Many families choose the evening so the baby stays indoors afterward.

Do I need a bath thermometer?

No, but it gives a second check beside your wrist or elbow. If you buy one, read the instructions that come with it.

Which moisturizer should I buy?

There is no single answer. Look for a product made for babies, read the age range, directions and ingredient list on the label, and ask a pharmacist if you have questions about an ingredient. Our guide to diaper cream vs baby lotion explains what each kind of product is for.

If you would like help choosing baby bath and skin care products, send us a note through the contact page. We reply within one business day.