toddler’s 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

Bath Safety Tips

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.

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, Missouri.

As always, please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns.

n Never, under any circumstances, leave your baby alone in the water. If you forget the soap or towel, take the baby with you.

n 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.

n Set your water heater at 120 degrees to prevent scalding hot water or burns.

n Empty the bathtub completely after bath time.

n Add anti-slip strips or mats to the bottom of the tub.

n Use a spout cover so your child doesn’t hit their head on the water spout.

n Don’t use toys with holes in them like squirt toys. They are fun, but can quickly encourage bacteria, mold and fungus to grow.