Bath time can be such a sweet bonding time for parents and their children. It’s a fun way to sneak in some much needed one-on-one time with your baby. On the other hand, bath time can be nerve-wracking for new parents who want to make sure they’re bathing their child correctly. Below are some pointers for bath time with both babies and toddlers.
Baby’s bath time
Before you head home with your newborn, ask your nurse whether the hospital offers bath classes. We took a bath class with each of our children, and it was so helpful. The nurse walked us through our baby’s first bath, which left us feeling much more comfortable giving baths at home. It was even helpful with our second child to get a refresher course on anything that may have changed or that we had forgotten.
Babies only need a bath two or three times a week. More than that can dry out their skin. I suggest having another adult on hand to help with bath time until you feel comfortable. It’s important to choose a bath time when your baby is not too tired or too hungry. Before bath time, gather all the supplies you will need and place them in reach of the bath. For newborn babies, you will give sponge baths until their umbilical cord falls off. The water should be warm to the touch, never hot. You can use a bath thermometer, your elbow or wrist to test the temperature. We used a rubber duck that measured whether the water was too hot or too cold, which took the guessing out of it and was fun for Baby to play with. You will also want to make sure the room you’re bathing your child in is warm and doesn’t have a draft.
To wash your baby you will want to use a soft baby washcloth and mild baby wash with no perfume or dyes that can irritate sensitive skin. Then you will gently wash each area of their body. When bath time is over, drain the water completely and quickly wrap your baby in a soft, warm towel so they don’t lose too much body heat.
Once their umbilical cord falls off, they can move to the sink, bath tub or other baby bath. Your child’s bath time will probably evolve as they grow. We progressed from the Blooming Bath Lotus Bath in the sink to the Munchkin White Hot Inflatable Duck Safety Bath Tub and, finally, to the full-sized bath tub as she grew into a toddler. If a certain tub you have isn’t working, try something new. With our first child, we found what we thought would work best actually didn’t work for us at all.
Bath time is a very calming experience that can help your child relax before bedtime if you make it part of your routine. Usually a bath followed by a bottle and a story was exactly what our little one needed to calm down and get ready for a good night’s sleep.
Toddler Bath Time
Toddlers tend to need baths more often than babies, as they are more active, play outside and feed themselves. Bathing two or three times a week is still fine for a toddler, but if you have a toddler who enjoys playing in the dirt like mine does, you might find baths every night are necessary. Our family has found the best time for baths is right after dinner, as our daughter usually makes quite a mess while eating.
Bath time has several educational and developmental benefits. The bath routine provides structure, bath toys provide a unique play experience, and playing in the tub builds fine motor and sensory development, as well as early science and math learning.
Not only is bath time educational, but it is fun! We like to make bath time fun by incorporating bath toys. Some of our favorites are foam letters and numbers that stick to the tub, stacking cups with propellers that all strain the water differently and bath books. We also like to play her favorite music during bath time and let her splash around. Bath paint and bath crayons are great ways to let tots express their creativity. The best part is the paint rinses away in the tub, so no mess to clean up! Do your best to make sure your toddler stays seated in the bath, as it can be very slippery.
With all of the fun splashing around, your toddler might not want to get out of the bath. To keep your child from going into full meltdown mode, make sure you let them know what to expect. You can say, “At the end of this song, we will get out of the tub.” Another technique is to tell them you’re going to count to 10 and then it will be time to get out and dry off. We have started draining the water for our daughter and she waves and says, “Bye-bye, water.” It works like a charm.
Bath Safety Tips
- Never, under any circumstances, leave your baby alone in the water. If you forget the soap or towel, take the baby with you.
- When preparing the bath water, don’t place the baby in the bath until the water is finished running. The temperature can quickly change and become scalding hot.
- Set your water heater at 120 degrees to prevent scalding hot water or burns.
- Empty the bathtub completely after bath time.
- Add anti-slip strips or mats to the bottom of the tub.
- Use a spout cover so your child doesn’t hit their head on the water spout.
- Don’t use toys with holes in them like squirt toys. They are fun, but can quickly encourage bacteria, mold and fungus to grow.
Regan Lyons is a girl mom and freelance writer. She lives with her husband, Cale, and daughters, Atley, 8, and Ensley, 2, in St. Joseph, MO.
As always, please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns.