If you are a new mum reading this you will know what a minefield bath time is!!! Not only are you terrified you will dunk your baby while trying to wash their hair you are also unsure what products to use to clean them, how to hold them, how often to bath them and what products to buy to keep them amused and/or safe in the bath!!! As with most baby related issues – the choices are endless and usually overwhelming too!!!

Having had two babies who both adore their baths I find that they really are a very important way to end the day and signal a beginning of wind down time/bed time.  You will continually hear and read about routine but it really is true and really does work!!

I have a set bath time of 6pm when both children go up for a bath together.  This is a lovely time for playing and bonding for them in the bath and a chance for a natter with my older child before bedtime! Obviously not all children will want a bath together but for younger ones I think this really works.

When they are tiny babies it is usually better to use a baby bath for the early days – it gives them a feeling of security rather than being in a huge adult size bath and the amount of water is much less, so there is less chance to water getting into their ears or splashing their face too much which may upset for their first few baths.  Like any first experiences they must be pleasant ones for the activity to be accepted by the baby and seen as an enjoyable experience.  Many items on the market now help you do this and really make bath time as stress free and fun as possible.

Aside from the original baby bath, there are other designs on the market now which hold the baby up for you in a sitting position which are a great idea – the main thing is your baby feeling as secure as possible and you feeling confident when handling them in the bath. The same applies for getting them in and out – there is a great towl on the market which I spotted on Dragons Den – it means you have both your hands free when taking your baby out of the bath as it hangs around your neck, which is so important to ensure they are not dropped when slippy and wet and to be able to really cuddle them close and tight as soon as they get out of the warm water. CUDDLEDRY

It is not advised to bath them every day when they are very young babies as there is little point when they are not getting dirty – laying asleep for most of the day and drinking of odd bottle of milk doesn’t tend to get a small baby that filthy!!!  Every other day is fine as this also lets their skin retain essential oils which is great as most little babies can have dry/flaky skin to begin with.  If they do you can also buy oils for a lovely massage after the bath which really relaxes them and gives very special mum/baby contact.  If unsure of how to massage a baby you can attend baby massage courses which are available in most areas – ask your midwife or look online.

Once your baby is a little older you can buy bubble bath which has lavender in it and is great for a relaxing, delicious smelling end to the day for little ones. However my youngest had very sensitive skin for a while and I had to swap the scented bubble bath for sensitive skin one (your GP can precribe one for you if you think you’re baby has excema) – this is always advisable for any children who have skin prone to reactions or if you child has very sensitive skin don’t use any bubble bath at all.

There are loads of brilliant bath toys you can buy to make bath time more interesting and fun as they get a little older too – my two boys have all sorts of wierd and wonderful things to entertain them in the bath – from bath basketball to squirty toys and a selection of Nemo characters which seem to keep them amused for ages!!  It is best to give all bath toys a good clean every few days as they get grotty very quickly and fill with gunge which then fills your childs bath when they squirt them – not pleasant!!! BOON BATH TOYS

Two of the best items I’ve found for older children are the bath crayons which are great fun and also helps your child to spell in a fun and interactive way.  They wipe off the side of the bath really easily (promise!!) and come in a selection of colours – such a great idea for pre school children learning their first words/letters/numbers etc. The other item is the foam letters which you can stick to the bath to create any words you like – again great fun for learning and just as much fun for little brothers and sisters who can chuck them around and stick them on the bath themselves – and in my case unwittingly spelling the word POO which my 6 year old son thought was hilarious!!! Boon Bug Pod

My final thought is how precious bath time is for children – as an mum who appreciates baths as part of my down time I think the same applies for little people! At the end of a busy day full of sticky hands, dirty faces, hair full of food and bottoms stuck in a nappy all day there is nothing better to settle and relax them ready for bed than a warm bath to freshen up, a little play time, close contact with mummy and a snuggle in a towl afterwards.  It is the perfect way to end the day and let them know bedtime is close!!