Your baby will be able to sit up in the water with your help. If you would like your hands to be free, you could use a special support that allows him/her to remain upright. A rubber bath mat is always a good idea too, as it helps to stop your little one slipping around in the bath. Be prepared to get yourself a little wet because, as our baby grows, it will begin to splash a little more. The squeals of delight are more than enough to compensate for a damp mom or dad.
Here are a few helpful hints during bath time:
Warm water won’t be enough to clean your baby when they are a little older. You can use a gentle baby wash or even a moist facecloth.
Bubbles can be a great treat and a fascinating ‘bath toy’ for your little one.
Be careful about hot taps. When babies are a little more mobile, there’s a greater chance that they could touch the tap and hurt themselves. Remember to run cold water through the tap last to prevent scalding.
Has the bath gone cold? It’s safer to have a jug you can fill from the basin tap, and then pour into the bath. Remember to mix it with your hand as you do it.
A bath is a useful part of a regular evening routine for an older baby. It can help your baby wind down and can act as a marker to the end of the day, so try to have the bath at about the same time each evening. Follow the bath with the last milk feed and a cuddle.
