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Plenty of parents know: Kid bath time can be a hell of a hassle. After a long day, dragging a fussy, kicking kid into a tub to get cleaned up can feel pretty impossible. But it doesn’t have to be. And hey, if you play your cards right, bath time can be the best part of your family’s day — a time when everyone takes a collective breather and calmly transitions to bedtime.
Sure, some kids hate the bath. Some kids will scream right from the moment they’re first lowered into the tub as a baby and continue well into toddlerhood when they’re big enough to make a run for it (naked and trailing water all over the house). But chances are, it’s not bath time that they hate. More often than not, it’s something in particular that bothers them: the temperature of the water, the way it feels when water gets in their eyes, or bath time boredom because they’re not engaged and don’t have a toy within reach.
But no more: Here are some tips and tricks to make bath time great again, including some nifty gear that can make all the difference.
Safety first
Never turn your back on kiddo in the tub, and certainly don’t leave the room for any reason, even if your child is a older. Kids can drown in just a few inches of water, and you don’t want to take any chances.
Skip Hop Baby Bath Spout Cover
Line the tub with a mat that has grips to minimize slippage, and cover the spout with something fun (like this cute whale from Skip Hop) to protect your kid’s head from injury should a slip occur.
If you share a bathroom with your kids, be sure to remove all razors and other dangerous items from the tub. Take basic babyproofing precautions, such as locks on your cabinets if they contain cleaning products or other potentially toxic items (yes, hair spray counts).
Set the mood
Bright lights and loud noises will attract a higher energy level than you might want for bath time, so use dimmer lighting when possible (even switching off the hallway light can help!). Ambient sounds or music can also help set the mood for a more relaxing time in the tub, so don’t be afraid to bring their white noise machine into the bathroom.
Use a bath wash that has a calming scent such as lavender or chamomile in it, and take your time giving your child a soothing wash. Use a softer tone in your voice to indicate that this time is good for letting go of the day and getting ready for bed. You can even do deep breathing together; three deep breaths does wonders to relieve stress.
Bring the best toys
We all know babies and kids have relatively short attention spans. One toy in the tub may not cut it, and no toy at all is just asking for trouble. We are always on the lookout for the best bath toys and are currently loving Honeystick’s Ultimate Bath Fun Set.
Honeysticks Ultimate Bath Fun Set
This versatile set from Honeysticks — the New Zealand-based company that makes non-toxic coloring supplies from 100% New Zealand beeswax — includes bath crayons (perfect for coloring on the tub!) and bath drops which are basically bath bombs for kids that are perfect for encouraging kids to learn about mixing colors. What happens when you add a blue and a yellow drop to the water?!
Take advantage of that quiet bath time as an opportunity to teach your kid something (like color mixing!) or to tell a story. If they’re younger, use the time to learn new words, pointing out the toys and objects in and around the tub. If they’re older, it’s a great time to talk about their day or what might be on their mind that they weren’t ready to share at the dinner table.
And don’t forget: Babies and kids alike love singing, so go wild. Whose voice doesn’t sound just a little bit better in the tub?
Exit in style
A big, soft, cozy towel with a hood is a good way to get kids excited about leaving the tub, especially in winter. The hood is a great way to not only keep them warm, but to keep their wet hair out of their eyes. If you can snag one in their favorite color or with their favorite characters, even better!
Above all, remember that bath time is one of those special, intimate moments when you can truly bond with your child. Those little-kid days will be over in a flash, so make the most of them while you can.
A version of this story was published in 2020.
