Making Bathtime Fun for Babies

For many families, bathtime is an essential part of the daily bedtime routine- and you know how much importance I place on routine! When it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, you need to set your baby up for the process. A good bedtime routine is consistent, calming and complimentary to sleep. In my opinion, one of the best ways to prepare baby for sleep is with a nice warm bath, and as your baby gets older this can be a fantastic way to really focus on you child and spend quality time together. This week we’re looking at all the ways that you can make bathtime fun for babies, so that you can both end the day on a positive note.

Toys, toys, toys

From an early age, toys can play an integral role in your baby’s development and bathtime is a great opportunity to encourage positive play. Choose bath toys that are age appropriate and that are safe for use in water. Make sure you rinse the toys well after each use and allow them to dry fully to reduce the risk of mould forming.

As you baby gets older, you can engage in games at bathtime that will help to extend the learning- and the limits are endless. Sticky bath letters can help with letters and sound recognition. Bringing dolls into the bath can help teach independence and awareness of personal hygiene. Bath crayons can stimulate your child’s inner artist. Shop around for good quality toys that are likely to last a while, and invest in a good bath net to keep them in when they’re not in use.

More unusual toys

Children will play with anything, literally- and bathtime is no exception. You really don’t need to spend a fortune or make a special trip to the toy store for bath toys if you don’t want to, you just need to get a little creative. Many household items are great for playing with in the bath and your child really is not going to mind when you show them how much fun they can be.

Jugs, cups and bowls are great for pouring, measuring and transferring water. A whisk can make a bubbly bath super fun, and a sieve is a great way to create a mini water fountain at bathtime. Use your imagination and as long as it’s waterproof, it can go in.

As your child gets older you can start to investigate what sinks and what floats, which containers hold more water and which instruments make the biggest waves… just don’t worry about the mess. Water cleans up pretty well at the end of the day!Songs and music

Not all babies enjoy bathtime, and if that’s the case for you don’t panic. You don’t need to bathe your baby every day, and you can perform top & tail washes in-between bigger dips in the tub if you need to. That said, there are a few ways that you can make the experience a lot more enjoyable for you all

Lots of babies find music and singing a great way to relax, so if you can find a safe way to play music at bathtime I highly recommend it. Singing with your child is a great way to take their mind off the task in hand and it’s also a fantastic way to boost brain development and language skills too.

Have a happy hair wash

Hair wash night can be an emotional affair and if your child isn’t keen then tempers can fray easily. My top tips for having a happy hair wash:

• Bring a doll into the bath so that your child can practise washing their hair first
• Bring a plastic mirror into the bath so that your child can see what’s happening and you can pull funny faces to reassure!
• Use a shampoo shield to keep bubbles and water away from the face
• Get in with them and let them wash your hair too!

What are your top tips for making bathtime fun?