Not all babies like baths; some love them and some babies don’t. Mums and Dads can find bath times a bit nerve wracking too, but both parents and babies usually learn to love them. New babies have spent quite some time cocooned snuggly in their mother’s womb. A bath means being unwrapped with limbs free to kick, move and fling. For some babies, to begin with, this is scary, they startle and cry and unnerve their new parents. So here is a recipe for enjoying bath time.
Keep the pace slow and be patient: Invest in a baby bath. They are portable, so you can use them in any room, especially a room you can easily warm up. Some parents opt to use the floor, because it feels safest, but then you will need to take care to avoid straining your back. It is probably better to pick a level that is the most comfortable for you.
Get everything you need for the bath: you cannot leave a baby unattended for even a few seconds to fetch something you forgot. Undress your baby on a towel on your lap. Talk soothingly as you go. Test the water with your elbow. It should be warm. Wrap your little one firmly, tuck him under your arm and wash his hair by gently wetting with a gauze face flannel. Dry his hair carefully while still wrapped warmly in the towel. Keep her close to you. Let her look at the water and see you play in it first with your hand. Unwrap your baby and lower her into the water. Hold her with both hands first then when your baby has relaxed, you can hold her with just one hand. Babies respond to our calmness and rhythm. They like gentleness and they like confidence. They like having your face close to theirs – 30 cm’s apart is ideal. Keep it enjoyable Play music to keep a pleasant atmosphere and speak to your baby warmly to reassure him everything is okay.
Bathing with your baby can be a good way to introduce your little one to bathtime. Some parents find that it is soothing for a new baby and provides the closeness and skin contact they need. As baby adjusts – she can begin to have a bath on their own. Keep bathtime short but not rushed. If your baby only lasts a couple of minutes – that is fine. Take him out and dry him in a nice warm towel. Keep at it Babies learn to be confident by being part of a predictable routine. Don’t give up the bathing routine, even when your baby is not so sure she likes the bath. As babies develop, they begin to like to feel the water and use their legs and arms to splash. They like your facial expressions of delight and surprise. They love your sing-song voice and your actual singing.
Bath time for toddlers: Use the same recipe to keep bathtime a treasured routine for your emerging toddler A rubber mat A bath surface can be very slippery so ensure that you always place a rubber non-slip mat in the bath before your toddler gets in.
A Shrek bath A few drops of green food colouring in the bath is all you need to add some fun to bath time. Do a demonstration first if your child is on the nervy side. Some drops added to a bowl of water – and let them watch then mix! Add art brushes to the fun – every toddler loves to wield a brush around. Kitchen cupboard utensils There are wonderful containers within your kitchen cupboard that make great pourers and scoops. Your toddler will not tire from pouring, scooping, emptying, filling and repeating this exercise. Add a sieve, a funnel, a sponge and plastic spoons for stirring.
Special toys: A ‘wow’ toy may be worth the investment when you have a toddler who is struggling with bath time. A visit to your favourite plastic shop to purchase a spray bottle may do the trick. Fill it up with water and let the fascination of operating it distract them. Many young children drop their caution when they are focused on something so intriguing. Visual delights Toddlers love to paste animals and shapes around the bath. These are inexpensive and very appealing. Bubbles This has got to be one of the most enjoyable ways of getting clean. Your toddler will be fascinated with bubbles and this is often the highlight of bath time.
Bath time with Mum or Dad included! This is such a treat and should be enjoyed by your ‘aquaphobe’ as well as your water lover. A nervous infant loves the security of resting close to you and it is easy to distract them with some gentle water play. Your water lover will be keen to show you all the games they know and will thrive on this one-on-one time with you.
Getting out time – take out the protest! Offer a simple choice to an infant who doesn’t like to get out of the bath. It goes something like this “Are you going to pull the plug out or shall I? Or “Are you going to climb out on your own or shall I lift you?” A timer can also signal the end to a bath session and for some magical reason – most young children readily accept that the timer has gone off – so bath time is over! Maybe that’s because it is hard to argue with a timer.
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