Bathtime with your baby can be a sweet bonding experience, but it can be nerve-wracking (especially for new parents!). Here are six essential tips to make bathtime safe, fun and stress-free for both you and your little one.
Is there any sweeter time in the day than bathtime with your baby? Provided they like it, that is (they get cold, you know!). Newborns don’t even need to be bathed that often for the sake of cleanliness, but the experience can be such a lovely way to bond with your little one. Not sure how to build a bathtime routine you’ll both love? We’ve got you. Keep reading for ParentsCanada- and Munchkin-approved tips for keeping bathtime safe and fun for everyone.
Safety first
Before we get to the fun stuff, there are some bathtime rules to live by: Never ever leave your baby alone in any amount of water, even for a minute. Whether you’re bathing them in the sink or a plastic tub, or a grown-up sized model (hop in there too!), you should have one hand on your baby at all times; they’re slippery at the best of times and even more slippery when wet. Get the water ready before you put your baby in and ensure it’s no hotter than 38°C (100°F). This may be lukewarm to you, but babies are more sensitive to temperature than older children and adults. Consider purchasing a bathtub temperature reader, like the Munchkin White Hot Safety Bath Ducky, to make sure the water is just right.
Adjust the atmosphere
Remember that water (and, um, most everything else) is an all-new experience that can be scary for a newborn. Just like you, they’ll enjoy a bathroom with nice lighting, soft sounds and a parent who’s calm and happy rather than nervous and frantic. So keep smiling and talking to them in soothing tones, and remind them that the bath is so good and feels so nice. Forget the mess and encourage them to kick and splash—remember that almost all baths at this age are just practice (unless you’re dealing with a diaper blowout!), and your real goal is to get them loving the water. Don’t forget to add toys to the mix early, too, like the Munchkin Float & Play Bubbles. They are perfect for tiny hands to shake, rattle and spin.
Gather your supplies in advance
Since you can’t be running to grab things as you go, make sure everything you need is within arm’s reach. Consider assembling a portable bath station stocked with washcloths, a fluffy towel, baby soap and shampoo, a cup for rinsing and clean diapers. Munchkin is making bathtub organization easy, too, with the High'n Dry™ Corner Bath Organizer. This corner basket suctions to the walls of the bathtub so you can keep toys, washcloths, etc. out of the way, and the mesh material is breathable for easier drying to keep bacteria at bay.
Toys, toys, toys
At first, the water itself will be tons of fun and sufficiently stimulating. But the older they get, and especially when they can sit, the real fun begins. Endless varieties of baby bath toys exist for your kiddo’s imaginative pleasure. Check out Munchkin’s Float & Play Bubbles, Bath Bobbers, Connect-A-Cup, Wild Squirts, Farm Squirts and Lake Squirts to stock the tub! If minimalism is your style, there are many fun foaming bath bombs or coloured bath drops that will turn the water any colour of the rainbow (just be sure to check the ingredients to make sure they’re all safe for little ones). Another fabulously fun pick for kids big and small is bath crayons for writing on the tub or wall (yup, thankfully it wipes right off).
Choose your timing wisely
There are a few times to avoid when it comes to running the tub: If they’re hungry, tired or already fussy, you’ll already be fighting an uphill bathtime battle. For us, a bath’s a great remedy for a long day or a low mood, but this isn’t the case for your little, who is learning to like water and doesn’t need negative associations to complicate the process. Different times work best for different babies, but whether you’ve got an early, midday or bedtime bather, pick a time they’re usually well-rested and well-fed. Remember they’re not stressed-out adults who’ll linger for an hour; five to ten minutes in the tub is probably long enough.
(Mostly) skip the soap
Your baby isn’t usually sweaty and stinky, and soap can dry out or aggravate sensitive baby skin. So, unless your baby is a mess (which can happen for myriad reasons!), consider most baths a rinse and skip the soap. The exception is hair-washing, which you’ll want to do two or three times a week, and here’s why: Regardless of whether you’re breastfeeding or formula feeding, milk and spit-up is often spilling and dripping around your baby's head, face and neck folds. Get rid of the gross stuff via a mild, natural and neutral-pH baby soap. Since many babies won’t like the hair rinse, best to save this part for last and then scoop ‘em up in a warm fluffy towel.
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