What Is The Best Routine For Bath Time Bonding?

The thought of bath-time brings to one’s mind a lot of bubbles, coupled with a good splash and laughter, however this is not always the case with all babies and toddlers and parents have to be creative in the bath routine to make it easy.

Each baby and mother could feel relaxed in a different bathing routine; some mothers may give their babies a bath daily, while others may do so 2 to 3 times in a week. Also while some may give their babies a bath in a big bath, others may want to wait a while before doing so.

The bath routine for a newborn to 1 year:

• The best time to give the baby a bath is when he/she is happy and awake and is neither hungry nor tired. It is best to give a newborn a bath during the day, while it could form a part of the bedtime routine once the baby grows older.

• Ensure that the room is nice and warm before getting together sponge, cotton wool, mild baby bath, clothes, warm towels and a clean napkin for the bath.

• Newborns can be easily given a bath in the kitchen sink or baby bath. The temperature of the water should be at 37 degrees C, nether too hot nor too cold; test the temperature on the elbow.  Ensure that you wash the face of the baby well before giving him/her a bath; remove the dirty nappy if any and clean the bottom of the baby.

• Let the baby settle in the tub with enough water covering his/her shoulder. Support the baby in the bath by using one arm to support his neck and head, and slipping your hand round to hold his arm. Use your other hand to support his/her bottom and gently splash water to clean. Limit the bath time of the baby thereby reducing the chances of getting too cold.

• Lastly lift the baby out of the bath, wrap in a warm towel and pat dry gently.

•  It would be a good idea for your partner or you to share a bath to experience the lovely skin-to-skin contact.

Bath-time routine for 1 year olds:

• It is a part of a relaxing bedtime routine to give the baby a bath at bedtime; it induces good sleep. Also ensure that a bath does not come as a surprise; give some warning.

• It would be best to ensure the water is waist high in sitting position; it would be great to involve the dad in bath time. If the baby does not like bath-time, it would be a good idea to make fun with games.

• As baby gets more confident about bath time, it would be a good idea to gently splash water over his/her body, start pouring water over him/her and move the baby gently through the water.

Toddler’s bath time routine:

• Some children enjoy bath-time, while others may resist it. It would be a good idea to bring fun to bath-time by introducing bath-time games. Bath-time could also be learning time when the children practice the alphabet and numbers and start to put some words together.

• It would also be a good idea to introduce toys that are age appropriate and encourage the children to wash themselves.  

All these tips make for great bath-time bonding with kids.