How To Shampoo Babies' Hair

In the early days, simply rinsing your baby’s hair in warm water should be sufficient, and newborns often hate being washed! However, as they get older, and their hair begins to grow, a little shampoo will help to cleanse more effectively. This can be used from around 4 weeks.

How to shampoo your baby's hair:

• Wet your baby’s hair thoroughly first; using a little plastic bowl or jug can be useful for this, as the noise and speed of a shower head can be overwhelming for a baby.
• Next, distribute a little shampoo between your hands and smooth over your baby’s hair and scalp. Your baby’s head is so small that you only need one hand to shampoo with.
• Gently lather the shampoo with a gentle motion, taking care around the soft fontanelle at the front. This is also a good opportunity to wash behind their ears! Support your baby leaning back whilst doing this, to avoid shampoo getting in their eyes.
• Rinse with fresh water from the tap, rather than the bath water, to ensure a thorough clean.

Baby towels often have an integral hood, this can be used to gently blot your baby’s hair. Do not rub, as their hair is fine and delicate, and vulnerable to damage. Never blow dry a baby’s hair, it will dry quickly anyway being so fine, and they could easily get burnt, as their skin is more sensitive than an adult’s.