I haven't been following this thread from the beginning so don't know if any
Aussies have replied.  Most Australian hospitals now only clean the clamped
cord with a cotton tipped applicator wet with water then dry it afterwards.
Clamps come off after 24 hrs (usually about day 3 though).  Same care
continues.  Babies are bathed as normal all the time.  Being a warm country
most hospitals encourage daily bathing, no soap (that's probably cost
cutting/infection control, more than consideration of the baby's skin
colonisation though).  We tell parents they can take the baby into the bath
with them or into the shower (though that's definitely not encouraged while
in hospital).  Some dads like the idea of showering with the baby (yes, just
a week or so old) then handing baby out to mum to dry.
Denise Fisher
Brisbane, Australia