When it comes to bathing newborn babies, it can be an experience that both new parents and babies both come to dislike. Parents can feel like they do not know what they are doing and that babies are so small that they can injure them and babies get cold easily and do not enjoy the feeling of their limbs free-floating in the temperate water. Because of this, babies may cry the entire bath, which raises the stress levels for parents and changes what could be a bonding experience into that of disdain for bath time. But there is a way to bathe babies in a stress-free manner and all it entails is mastering the art of the swaddle bath.

There is nothing better than the smell of a freshly washed baby. However, the process of taking a bath is not necessarily fun for babies or for their parents. And because of this, parents may find themselves drawing straws to see who will be in charge of bathing. Or, the whole bathing process may be so rushed because parents are trying to keep their babies warm that there is nothing relaxing about it for babies whatsoever. That is why finding an option for bath time that works for all involved is key to a happy bath experience.

RELATED: The Number Of Times You Should Bathe Your Infants Depending On Age

Here is how to master the art of the swaddle bath.

What Is A Swaddle Bath?

According to UCHealth, a swaddle bath entails loosely wrapping babies in a swaddle blanket and bathing them with the blanket still on. By bathing in this manner, babies are not sitting in the cool air and feeling exposed while being bathed via the traditional method of sponge bathing. Instead, they are relaxed and calm while being cleaned.

Swaddle baths were originally created to help premature babies have their baths without dropping their core temperature too drastically. However, after multiple studies, including one study from 2014 showed that premature babies' temperature dropped significantly less in a swaddle bath than a conventional one, researchers realized that this would be a better way to bathe the little ones. And an added bonus was the fact that babies cried significantly less with the swaddle baths than they did with the conventional ones as well.

Because of this, swaddle baths became an option among many hospitals for full-term newborns as well. And after seeing how easy it was to do and how much less stress it put the babies under, the method was used once babies were taken home as well.

Swaddle Bath Benefits

Where a traditional sponge or baby bathtub bath can cause babies distress while being bathed, swaddle baths produce a soothing effect on the little ones, along with several other benefits as well.

Keeps body temperature more consistent: According to Johns Hopkins Medicine Newsroom, babies remain much warmer when they are given a swaddle bath versus a sponge bath or one where their bodies are in a shallow pool of temperate water.

This is important because babies lose heat at a much faster rate than adults do. As a result, babies' core temperature can drop two to three degrees after taking traditional baths, according to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, which would explain why they are so unhappy taking a bath.

When the temperatures of babies were taken in the 2014 study, those who were given a traditional bath versus a swaddle bath lost six times as much body heat. And because babies do not have the ability to regulate their body temperatures, this can cause infants to be cold for long periods without assistance to warm up.

Is faster than other methods of bathing: While babies need to be supported while taking a swaddle bath, they do not need to be held or manipulated in the same manner that they do with sponge or shallow water baths. Because of this, baths that could easily take 10 minutes or more, can be cut down dramatically with a swaddle bath, according to UCHealth.

This does not mean that baths need to be rushed through. If babies seem to be enjoying themselves in the swaddle while being bathed then more time can be taken. However, when it comes to things like winter or just wanting to bathe the little ones because of diaper accidents, knowing that bathing is not a long and drawn-out process makes for an easier bath time for parents and babies alike.

Keep glucose levels stable: Because the rate at which babies suffer from hypoglycemia is fairly low, at one to three out of 1,000 births, according to MedlinePlus, not many parents think about keeping glucose levels constant after babies are born. But one way to help keep glucose levels level, according to Banner Health, is to give babies swaddle baths.

Babies that would benefit most from swaddle baths to keep their glucose levels in check, according to MedlinePlus include:

• Babies born prematurely
• Mother had gestational diabetes
• Babies were small for their size when born
• Babies did not track developmentally while in utero

When these babies are given swaddle baths, they have fewer problems with their glucose dipping, keeping them healthier overall.

There is much less crying during bath time: Babies who do not face huge swings in body temperatures while bathing and can remain relaxed will cry less during bath time.

According to UCHealth, babies who were given a traditional bath cried 93 percent of the time. In comparison to those who were given a swaddle bath only crying 38 percent of the time, the numbers show that babies enjoy being given a swaddle bath over a traditional one significantly more.

How To Swaddle Bathe A Baby

The hardest thing about giving a swaddle bath is knowing how to swaddle. Fortunately, the swaddle is supposed to be loose, which is how most new parents swaddle when they are still learning to master the swaddling technique.

An easy way to swaddle a baby, according to Pregnant Chicken includes:

1. After the baby bath is filled and the baby shampoo and washcloth are brought into the bathroom, the baby's clothes and diaper should be removed.
2. The baby is then loosely wrapped in a swaddle blanket loosely.
3. The baby's head should be supported in the tub and the water should reach the little one's shoulders.
4. To wash the baby, one limb should be removed from the swaddle at a time to keep the baby warm. And when each limb is clean, it is put back in the swaddle.

It is important to remember to ALWAYS remain in the bathroom with the baby. It is too simple for tragedy to strike when babies are left unsupervised in the bathtub.

How Often To Give Swaddle Baths

Just like with traditional baths, babies who receive swaddle baths do not need to be bathed more than two to three times per week, according to UCHealth. This will ensure that babies' skin does not dry out and they do not become uncomfortable as a result.

For those who want to bathe their newborns via a swaddle bath, you are encouraged to speak with your healthcare professional as to their advice about whether it is safe to do until the umbilical cord falls off. Some state it is fine while others encourage sponge baths until the cord is gone.

Source: UCHealth, Journal of Caring Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medicine Newsroom, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, MedlinePlus, Banner Health, Pregnant Chicken