There are loads of benefits to time in the tub. While it’s important to keep kids clean (although 2 or 3 baths a week is enough to do that), bath time is a great place for your kids to play, learn and soak up some quality time with you. And after a bath filled with fun, they should be relaxed and ready for bed.
Or that’s the theory anyway. Parents know that the reality of bath times can sometimes be tantrums and tears before bedtime. So, the more enjoyable you can make bath time for your little ones, the more likely you’ll be to get some peace and quiet once they’re all tucked up.
Keep the bath temperature juuust right
If the bath is a good temperature, they’ll be happier to stay in for a splash. And while you might think your elbow is up to the job, it’s not exactly fool proof. Children’s skin is much thinner than ours, so they’re a lot more sensitive to hot temperatures.
Aim to keep the water between 37°C and 38°C. If the bath is too hot, you’ll not only see it on the Tommee Tippee Bath & Room Thermometer display, but you’ll also get a red warning light. Its starfish design fits in nicely with bath time fun, but it can also be dried off and used as a thermometer for their bedroom too.
Bath time toys
From sail boats to the humble rubber duckie, toys in the bath are obviously great fun. But you don’t want a tub too full of toys or you’ll never get them soaped and shampooed. With bath toys, less is more.
This V-tech splash and play elephant is a great bath time buddy. You can attach it to the side of the tub, fill it with water and it’ll squirt out of its trunk. This elephant has loads of interactive parts and knows several songs and melodies you can sing along with. It also can help teach letters and numbers. So, bath time can be maths time too.
A similar toy with a bath time theme is this V-tech splash time submarine. Fill it with water and its parts will start spinning. Great fun for bath time!
Bath time treats
And if the rest of these tips fail to keep them in the bath, you can always resort to good old-fashioned bribery. A nice ice pop will help establish the bath as a place for treats and fun, rather than just an inevitable part of their bedtime routine.
And although sugary treats before bed are probably not the best idea, we’ve got some healthy, fruity alternatives that are a cinch to make at home. The good thing about a bath ice pop is that sticky hands and mouths can be taken care of instantly.
Add some music
If you’ve ever spent time with parents of young kids, you may have noticed that they have a massive repertoire of children’s songs. Whether it’s classic nursery rhymes or The Wiggles greatest hits, there’s nothing like music with actions to keep kids entertained and relaxed. They can’t resist it.
That’s why adding music to bath time is always a good idea. We’d suggest never running a bath until you’ve got a splash proof Bluetooth speaker charged up and ready first. And this JBL Charge 5 Portable Bluetooth Speaker is up to the task. It’s got a great sound and will give you 20 hours’ playback on one charge.
Its IP67 water resistance may have been intended for wild pool parties or days at the beach. But it can adapt to baby’s bath time too. Just like parents.
Top 3 bathtub bangers
Learn these 3 classic songs, make up some actions and have them ready to keep the kids engaged throughout bath time.
Row, row, row your boat – rowing actions are easy. Throw in a friendly alligator toy for a fun finale.
Itsy, Bitsy, Spider – it’s easy to simulate rain and waterspouts in this song, so it’s a great one for bath time.
I’m a little tea pot – everybody knows these actions. You can end by pouring water over their heads. This is also an excellent way to give them a stealthy shampooing.
Need more inspiration?
Our tech experts aren’t armed with parenting tips but they really know their stuff when it comes to kids’ tech. So if you’d like some ideas on how to keep your kids learning and laughing, why not have chat to a Currys colleague on ShopLive?
