Here are FamilyFriendly’s top tips for bathing your toddler in a safe and fun way :
- Be organised – gather everything you need in advance! Never, ever leave your toddler unsupervised even for a couple of seconds, children can drown in an inch of water. If you must leave the bath for whatever reason scoop up your child in a big towel and bring them with you.
- If your child is a handful in the bath, we advise you wait until you have another person with you. An extra pair of hands will make all the difference.
- Make the bath a place your child wants to go to – special bath toys, music or reading them a story should help them settle and relax.
- Run the bath ahead of time. Don’t put your toddler into the bath as the water is still running – the temperature of the bath water can change rapidly!
- Child proof your tub – bathtubs can be incredibly slippery so it is advisable to use a rubber mat to sit your toddler more securely. There are many safety features you can purchase to have your bath a more child friendly environment from spout covers to specifically created bath seats!
- The is nothing nicer than a hot bubbly bath but for your baby this isn’t the case! Toddlers generally prefer a much colder bath that what we would so make sure the temperature of the bath is warm but not too hot – a bath temperature around degrees is ideal!
- Don’t fill the tub to the top – toddlers and babies may not be able to prop themselves up! Fill the bath to just over waist high (when your child is seated)
- Sit your child in the bath from the very start – it will help prevent your child from getting into the habit of standing in the bath!
- Use soaps, shamppoos and bubble baths that have been specifically created for young children’s skin! Adult body washes etc. are far too harsh for their delicate skin.
- As mentioned soaps, shampoos and bubble baths can be very drying for a child’s skin which may lead to irritated skin and rashes so precaution is advised. Avoid having your toddler in sudsy water for too long by having play time first and wash and shampoo your child near the end. U
- Don’t allow your child to touch the tap handles. Even if he can’t move them now, he’ll be strong enough to do so eventually — and that could lead to serious injury. The tap handles are normally incredibly hot we advise putting your toddler in the tub with his back to the taps)
- Keep electric appliances (like hair dryers and curling irons) away from the tub.
