I've been reading a lot of baby books and they all have different advice. When can you bathe a newborn? Some say do a sponge bath first and after a week or so,you can give proper bath. Other say you can do it from the start,so who should I follow? any advice or experience?

I'd ask your midwife. I know that my hospital show people before they leave.

Midwife here told me that if it is a natural birth then they recommend not to bath them for the first 4 days. Although everyday they should be wiped head to toe before bed with water and flannel and only bathed 1-2 times a week for a few months.

I had a natural birth and the midwives bathed her the next day in just water. Since we got home we have been bathing her every second day in water and top n tailing the other day

Smartie - thats seems like a good idea! will try that one myself when bump arrives = ]

My midwife and the hospital here(south uk) recommend you dont bath baby in the first week, just do a good job top and tailing etc with cotton and water. Reason being that they want the stump to dry out well and more moisture is an increased risk of infection etc.
My mum said in the "olden days" you could bath a baby straight away as the hospital gave you a medicated powder to sprinkle on the stump after bath times. You dont get that now and i guess this is how they try to minimise infections etc.
In the hospital here they will not show you how to bath baby,they will let your midwife show you the following week at home.

We get taught about bathing the baby in antenatal classes here. Not sure if thats the same everywhere though.

xxx