In the beginning, most babies do not like being undressed and will often start crying as soon as you take their clothes off. This can make bathing an anxious and difficult experience (for you both). You may also feel nervous about handling your slippery little newborn. You're not alone! Most new parents will feel nervous, to some degree, about bathing their baby in the early days or weeks.
Be patient with yourself and your baby. Their behaviour will usually improve once they become accustomed to being undressed and feeling the extra 'space' around them. Remember, your baby has been cocooned in a relatively small area for a considerable period of time! As you get more practice, you too will gain confidence. Before you know it both of you will settle down to this new ritual and hopefully enjoy bath time!
If doing a 'formal' baby bath each day, it may take a while to work out when you and your baby prefer to have bath time. This may relate to the time of the day (which may vary depending on your baby's eating and sleeping cycles) or whether it is before or after a feed.
Timing the bath with the feed usually is associated with your baby's personality and their age. In the early days most newborns are pre-occupied with feeding and may not appreciate being placed in a bath when they are hungry. If your baby is unhappy, then neither of you will enjoy the bathing experience.