Bath times

Bath time are usually one of two things either an end of the day nicety or they can be a nightly struggle. 

If it’s the latter than it can be quite a stressful experience to say the least. It would be more of a dreaded time rather than a time where you both can enjoy and wind down after what may have been an eventful day.

Bath times can be a great time to bond with your child.

Bath times can be a part of a relaxing night time routine.

But who do you do if your child doesn’t like bath time?

It is not essential that they have a bath every day. A baby or toddler doesn’t need to be bathed everyday unless they are dirty. A top and tail for the younger years is often sufficient.  A baby or young child only requires a full bath 3 times per week.

Establishing the reasons why your child doesn’t like a bath is key to addressing the struggle.

Is it too hot or cold? Are they scared of the water? Does water on their head send them into a tizzy? Does shampoo get in their eyes?

• Establish a routine: Having a nightly bath and bed routine will go a long way to making life less difficult. It not only allows the child to know and anticipate what is coming and expected through the consistency, it allows for a more peaceful end to the playing. It helps if you give them a warning to the end of what they are doing and inform then about what they are about to do.
• Be prepared before embarking on bath time: Have all your “ingredients” ready and at hand. Organizing things so they are easily accessed every night is great.
• Get them involved: By involving the child it gives them some feeling of “ownership” of the experience and allows their input so it may make for a smoother time. Involving them may help you not feel overwhelmed with tidying, preparing, etc and help give them input and ownership in the bath time.
• Be aware of the temperature of the water: Just like Goldilocks, not too hot or not too cold. Use your elbow or the inner part of your lower arm to test it.
• Slip and slide factor: Often the insecurity of stability in the bath with the slip and slide element can be off-putting for a child. Sometimes it is as easy as adding in a non-slip mat to the bath to alleviate this. Additionally, reducing the amount of water in the bath can help with the feeling of stability.
• Be safe: Babies don’t need any more than 5-8 cm of water in their bath. Toddlers no higher than waist height. A good idea is to have non-slip patches to help from them slipping in the bath and another idea is to perhaps cover over the taps. As kids can drown in only 3 cm of water NEVER leave them alone, not even for a second.
• Have toys: These can be commercial or simple homemade toys of things you have collected of made from around the house. Old cups, cooking utensils or containers are great.
• Make the water fun: You could add bubbles, etc. By mixing it up it adds a sense of fun and adventure.
• Play games: You can make some or buy commercial ones. Fishing games are great. To make some you could use household dish sponges and cut into shapes off fishes and use wire strainers to catch or fruit bag netting.
• Ice idea: Using ice moulds to make shapes and watch them melt. It’s time to hop out when they have melted.
• Art: You could decorate the tiles with water/bath applicable crayons, texta’s etc. Or you can make your own bath ‘paint’ using shampoo lathered or shaving cream with colouring.
• Rotate toys: That way it’s an adventure to see what toys are in the bath that night.
• Alphabet: Have a fun game using the alphabet or number and shape bath toys.

You may find that your little one loves bath time but absolutely hates having their hair washed. You are not alone.

Most kids at some time or another hate having their hair washed.

Generally, it’s considered that it is not necessary to wash your child’s hair more than once a week, so if they are having troubles then it can be reduced to one session of troubles per week.

Tips:

• If you must shampoo to clean your child’s hair perhaps you can substitute the shampoo by using a bath product that is already in the bath (like a good bubble bath) as it can clean their hair as well. This way they don’t feel like they are having their hair ‘washed’ when they have water poured on their head. It’s a good idea to develop a level of water awareness and their level of comfort at having their hair/head wet early or face splashed.
• Get them involved by getting them to help with the making of a ‘hair-do’. Have a mirror handy to show them their creation.
• Distract their attention.
• Get them to wash their doll’s hair or other toy at the same time.
• Have a mirror on the ceiling or up high for them to look at when rinse their hair.
• Use goggles or material headbands to keep the water and shampoo from getting in their eyes. You can also purchase commercial ones that are like a sun visor to do the same.