Does your child hate to take baths? It’s not uncommon for young children to resist taking baths, but it doesn’t have to be difficult—a tub full of warm water is a great place to play and have fun. Here are a few ways you can encourage your child to take baths willingly—and even make bathtime a fun and enjoyable experience for both parents and kids.
Make bathtime playtime. Kids don’t like baths when they’re all washing up and no play. Spend some time with your child in the bath. Provide plenty of fun, safe bathroom toys and let your child choose a few each night to play with. Put some bubble bath in the water and have fun building bubble castles and popping bubbles with your child. Put food colouring in the water to make water rainbows. Build boats out of popsicle sticks outside of the bath and try them out at bathtime. Introduce bath crayons and bath paint, or teach your kids songs to sing in the bathtub. There are plenty of ways you can make bathtime a treat for your child—limited only by your imagination and theirs.
Don’t rush. It’s no fun to rush through bathtime with no time for play. Take your time in the bath. After washing with shampoo and soap, give your child some time to play. Even if it’s just a few minutes, it will make bathtime more fun and less of a chore. Plan ahead and give your child approximately half an hour to forty-five minutes in the tub.
Give rewards. Positive reinforcement works with kids. If your child is good when it’s time for the bath, give a reward—whether it’s cookies, candy, ice cream or time to watch a favourite television show before bed. This is sure to make bathtime something your child looks forward to without fuss.
Make sure your soap is gentle. A young child’s skin is very sensitive, and when you’re washing their hair, it’s possible to get some soap in your child’s eyes by mistake. Even a little pain or irritation can make kids apprehensive about taking a bath. To prevent this, be sure all the soaps and shampoos you use are very mild and designed to be used on children. This will keep the sting out of bathtime. Be consistent. Kids love routine. If you give your child a bath at the same time every night, it should become a fun ritual they expect—and they won’t be upset when you pull them unexpectedly from another enjoyable activity to go take a bath. Proper planning is key—make sure you plan your child’s bath at a consistent time each day. Make your child feel like a grown-up. Some kids don’t like to be washed—they might be afraid the soap will get in their eyes, or maybe they don’t like getting water on their face. This isn’t uncommon. Instead of washing your child yourself every time, teach them how to shampoo their own hair and let them do it. Young children love opportunities to do things independently and feel grown-up, and if they feel like big kids in the bath, they’re likely to enjoy it much more.Safety first. Never leave a young child alone in the bathtub. While it can be good to let children wash themselves when they’re old enough, don’t let your child control the tapwater. Fill the bathtub first and test it to be sure it’s the right temperature. Make sure razors and adult shampoos and soaps are out of reach, and get a non-slip bath mat to make getting in and out of the tub safer and easier.
Bathtime should be fun and enjoyable for children and parents alike. Plan ahead to make sure you have enough time to play games with your child; teach them to wash themselves to feel more grown up; and make bathtime a routine your child expects at the same time each day. Always be safety conscious and don’t leave your child alone even for a minute or two, and be sure the soaps and shampoos you use are gentle enough for children. Follow these tips, and you shouldn’t have any trouble getting your child into the tub.