Is There an Easier Way to Give a Young Toddler a Bath?

that is way to much work. Put a no slip mat in the bottom of the tub put about 3 inches of water in the tub and sit her on the mat. Wash her body with water in the tub then run the faucet and use a cup to wet and rinse her hair. I have never gotten in the tub with my kids and always bathed them alone, that whole process you described just seems excessive

One thing that I did when kiddos were younger was replace shower heads with the ones that are removable and have a hose. That solved that for me!

I would put them on 'soak' in the tub for a bit of play in soapy water...Then have them stand...and hose them down!

I run a few inches of water in the bath tub with some baby bubble bath, put him in it in a sitting position, let him splash around, then I wash his hair and rinse him. I don't see a reason to introduce fresh water, the bath water is perfectly fine.

i'm with your husband.
even as a terrified new mom, i always managed to bathe my baby without help. so did my equally terrified husband.
if you're that squicked out by the bathwater (which i think is pretty silly) then have a pitcher of water standing nearby.
you SIT on the rim of the tub to bathe her.
there's only a couple of inches of water in the tub. you have her lie down, support her head, and pour the water.
don't make things more difficult than they need to be.
khairete
S.

Your H is right. It's rediculous to have two people give her a bath.

So from now on he can do it on his own.

I just use a little bubble bath and fill the tub. I don't do a whole lot of scrubbing. The soapy water does most of the work. They have toys, so I just watch over them, make sure they don't do anything dangerous or get water all over the place. After they've had a chance to play I make sure they are, in fact, clean and then wash their hair. I do use the bath water to rinse their hair most of the time. It's fine. There are some times when I know they were extra dirty, so i use other water. I usually just fill a cup with water from the faucet and rinse their hair. True I have to fill it several times and have to adjust the temperature, but it doesn't take too long.

When I rinse my hair in the shower I like to tilt my head back. I try to avoid getting water in my eyes. I do not like looking down and letting the water fall over me. It wouldn't occur to me to do that to my kids, but I'm guessing your husband rinses his hair that way. My kids are older now, and they tilt their head back when it's time to rinse. When they were younger, I told them to look at the ceiling. We sometimes still joke that Pablo from the Backyardigans is on the ceiling. "Look at Pablo!" When they were really little (and still had lots of hair), it was quite frustrating. I bought foam visors for them and put them on just before rinsing. The water went all around them but not in their eyes.

First, try to relax. Bath time is not just about getting clean. It's about allowing your daughter to splash and play and explore in the water. Most kids LOVE bath time. Definitely stay with her, but look at a magazine while she plays. Let the soapy water do most (not all) of the work, then do your part to make sure she's clean and wash her hair. Relax. She'll be fine.

At 13 months I think I still used the kitchen sink. Much easier on my back and knees😊.

I have to agree with hubby, it does seem like bathtime is a wee more complicated than it needs to be.

Why not just bring her in the shower with you? By six months of age, we did this with both our children.

Or fill the tub a few inches, and bathe her while you sit next to the tub. I don't see a reason to be in the water with her...unless you want to be. They make all kinds of bath rings to secure baby, if that's a concern. We used one for a while with our kidlets. If you don't want to use the tub water, fill a pitcher and use it to rinse.

To rinse hair, I simply squeaked a duckie in the air to make my kids look up. I then used a cup to rinse hair. It was never a big deal. Generally speaking, there isn't too much hair to wash and it's a pretty quick process. You might get a little soap or water in the eyes, but the no tear stuff is pretty tame. I just wiped with a dry wash cloth and told them they were ok. A little water on their faces wasn't a big deal.

When my boys were that age, I was a single parent. I had to do it alone.

I used a pitcher to rinse. We just kept it in the bathroom specifically for bath time. I never got in with them. Just sat next to the tub and washed them. Then I'd fill the pitcher, hold a washcloth on their forehead, and rinse the shampoo away by pouring the pitcher over their heads.

When they were older, I taught them to close their eyes and blow out of their noses while I poured the water over their heads.

I do suggest fixing your hot water problem. Eventually, your kids will be taking showers on their own.

At that age my kids just sat in the tub while I knelt next to the tub to lather them. I used a pitcher I filled at the faucet to rinse the soap from their hair while they held a facecloth over their eyes. Although she may not be able to walk, she should be able to sit.

I was a single parent who had no choice but to bathe my daughter alone.
I kept a parade cup on the side of the tub. I also bathed with my daughter when she was little.
I sat her between my legs, held her upright with one arm around her. With the other hand, I dipped water from the tub with the parade cup, wet her hair first, shampooed it, and used the parade cup to rinse it with water from the tub while it was still relatively clean. Then I bathed her.

If your kitchen sink is big enough,use that. I did that for years as a nanny... it's easier on your back, too.

Don't worry so much about shampoo and don't over-bathe her. I did a lot of 'just water' baths with my son and sort of spot-cleaned him. If I had to rinse his hair, I held a folded washcloth over his eyes/shield his nose and then dumped the water (his head was down) and then dried his face immediately.

So, put everything ready to go by the sink before you start-- towels, any baby soap/shampoo, washclothes (two or three) and if you need to, use a folded hand towel at the bottom of the sink. It will be easier on your back, too! Water will also wash most things off her body and hair-- remember, too much soap will dry their skin out. Good luck!

I just let my kids sit in the bath themselves at that age. I didn't leave their side, but I didn't need any help rinsing their hair. You can just run some water from the tap and us a cup to pour it with one hand. My other hand held their head back and kind of shielded their forehead. They could both sit there just fine and had fun...I was careful to watch and pull them up if they were heading towards slipping down under water. I agree with your husband...you are making this too much of a production. You can buy a bath chair that holds them in place if you are too worried. It sounds like you are a worrier. Try it without your husband...you'll get the hang of it.

Your system is more complicated than it needs to be - there's nothing wrong with rinsing with bath water.

Put several inches of comfortably warm water in the tub.
When your daughter's sitting in the water, you sit on the edge of the tub with your feet in the water.
Have a plastic cup or pitcher within reach (kids love to play with them anyway) - I used a plastic mug that held 24 oz.
You only need a small amount of shampoo, just enough to make a little suds.
Just use the cup to pour bath water over her head (I went slowly and had him lay back in the water - with only a few inches of water it's not over his face) and avoiding getting water into her eyes.

When he was really young and not sitting on his own well, I use to wash him in the kitchen sink and I used the hand sprayer to rinse him off.
When he started reaching for the sprayer himself (and spraying ME with it), it was time to graduate to the big bath tub.

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/a552261/toddler-hair-washing

Bath time was always a fun time at our house and not a chore.

My hubby at the time was on the road most all week so it was up to me to figure out the best method.

My daughter loved bath time, playing with toys, bubbles, etc and then when rinse time came, I just used a large cup to rinse her hair while she was looking up. No biggie.

Bath time was a time of day we always looked forward to because of the bonding taking place.

I do suggest to get the water temp corrected... that is an accident waiting to happen.

I 100% with Felinestroller. I also use a showerhead that has a hose. The hose is anywhere from 3-4 feet long and boy, it makes bath time so much easier. It's also great for adults too because it makes cleaning those hard to reach places a heck of a lot easier than a regular showerhead. It's totally worth the investment:)

I used the blow ducky bath tub which went in the tub. My son sat in it fine. Then I got a cushy bath mat when he outgrew the duck and he sat in the tub himself with me at the side. Never crossed my mind to get in too!

I used a mild shampoo. I would use a little pitcher to rinse his head or a wet washcloth. I probably used the bath water or maybe fresh tap water--i dont recall. Bath time was always fun and relaxing for us. A lot of toys and playtime. Try to relax and enjoy.

Let Dad do the bath time alone with her! I'm not kidding. We implemented that when my oldest was 5 months, and 2 kids and 7 years later--it's everyone's favorite part of the day! It's great bonding time for the two of them, and a great break for you. I know it's hard, but don't complicate a simple daily ritual and definitely don't try to control everything about it (I'm a control freak, but it was liberating giving up control on this!)

Also, don't "protect" her face from the water. As long as you use tear free shampoo, just pour the water directly over her head (she might freak out at first because she's not used to it), but I've been told by multiple swimming instructors that is one of the best things you can do to help keep them from being afraid of the water. Kids will automatically close their eyes and they can breathe no problem as the water runs down their face. My husband has been doing this with them since they were both a few months old and they don't even flinch--they both LOVE the water.

She is old enough to sit up on her own, so let her play/soak in the tub--that alone will get her clean, then do a quick shampoo (not necessary every night), and a quick rinse--bath water or a pitcher of clean water. At her age /size, a juice pitcher is enough clean water to rinse her entire body--a separate basin is overdoing it! Sit or kneel by the bath when it's time to wash/rinse--and again, she's so small that takes 2 minutes tops!! As someone else said--the bath is for playing and relaxing..the cleaning part is the bonus!!

Wash her hair first with the clean bath water, then rinse, then wash her body. I think you're overthinking the cleanliness of the water. Honestly, unless she's out rolling in mud or poops in the water, she's not making the water that dirty so that it's not useful for rinsing. Now, if you have some OCD issues re. cleanliness, this might be challenging for you. That's a separate issue you'd have to work on.

When my little ones couldn't sit yet, I had a bath seat that I put them in. I got it off craigslist for like $5. I have a removable shower head on my shower, you know the kind with a hose and holder so you just take if off the holder and the shower water comes out. This is great for rinsing. If she is really not ok with getting water on her head/eyes, they usually don't mind at this age, then use a washcloth over her eyes. I also have a special hair washing picture that I got at walmart that has a soft section where the spout would be so that it conforms to the kids' head and then it won't go in the eyes.

When I take or took a bath with the little ones, I would get all the water ready, then get the little one ready and then get naked and get in with him/her in my arms as I sit down. Daddy would only help at the end and take baby with a towel so that I could stand up and not have to worry about the wet slippery baby at the same time.

Also, Daddy liked to take baths with them as well and he did the same thing, and I took the baby. Every once in a while I would get in and then ask him to bring me a naked baby, but that was usually when I actually has a bath first.

I rinse with bath water always have no need to b in tub either. Just sit beside and wash her off n wash her hair n rinse. Easy.

Get a toddler bath seat or tub insert. Fill a few big cups of warm water to rinse over if you want soap free for the hair rinse.

Just put the kid in the tub and dump water on them.

By about that age, we filled the bathtub with a little bit of water, sat kiddo down in the tub, and then migrated the bath to a shower. He loved playing in the "rain". Still do his nightly bath this way and he's 2.5.

Prep before the bath. They also make rinsing pitchers that have soft fronts that you can rest right against the little one's forehead while you pour slowly.

A little water in the face won't hurt and if you are using tear free then it shouldn't be too big an issue if she's not tilted back enough.

I always just washed/rinsed my DD in the bath water, then rinsed her with fresh water before pulling her out.

If you are uneasy about letting her sit on her own, there are MANY products you can buy. My DD's infant bathtub had a baby seat that was laid back, and a toddler seat for sitting up. Or there are those rings that hook on the side of the tub, and support baby. Heck, I know SEVERAL moms who use laundry baskets. Lol.

For rinsing her hair, you can get a water bonnet at keeps the water from running into her face. I always just got my DD to look up, then was careful about pouring the water. I never really supported her head, because I needed both hands to rinse her. Lol.

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I always just washed/rinsed my DD in the bath water, then rinsed her with fresh water before pulling her out.

If you are uneasy about letting her sit on her own, there are MANY products you can buy. My DD's infant bathtub had a baby seat that was laid back, and a toddler seat for sitting up. Or there are those rings that hook on the side of the tub, and support baby. Heck, I know SEVERAL moms who use laundry baskets. Lol.

For rinsing her hair, you can get a water bonnet at keeps the water from running into her face. I always just got my DD to look up, then was careful about pouring the water. I never really supported her head, because I needed both hands to rinse her. Lol.

At this age we had one of those bath seats. It suctions to the tub.

I used to run some clear water to rinse her head. I used a wash cloth to cover her face while I slightly tilted her head back.. As she got older SHE held the cloth and tilted her head back. while I poured the water on her hair.

You can do this on your own, sure you may get some water in her face, just stay calm and say "blink, blink".. while you blink your own eyes. The secret is not to let them see YOU freak out when these things happen.

My husband does bath time. He fills the tub just a little. Washes hair and body, then starts the water again. Fills a pitcher with the fresh water and dumps it over their heads while they are sitting. Turns the water and they can play for a little while.

Take her in the shower with you.

Bathe her in the kitchen sink. Much easier. Not too old for this. I bathe my granddaughter who ism15 months a bath in the kitchen sink. Two people to bathe one 13 month old is crazy.

If you want to have clean water, you should fill the container first and keep it nearby. We use an ordinary (clean) sand pail. Or run the water when you are ready to rinse her hair and then fill the bucket. A toddler shouldn't need a lot of water. You can buy these little scoop things that have a rubber part to put next to her head so you don't have to put her head under the faucet or hold it in your hands. You can also get her a visor made to keep the water out of her face. With a little practice, it shouldn't take two of you to rinse her head.

You might also consider getting a detachable shower head where you can bring it down (with warm water running) at the right time.

At 13 months, she should also be able to sit in the tub with you on the outside if the whole being in the tub at the same time hinders your ability to rinse her off.

You can also see if she plain old likes showers. My DD did not, at that age, but does now.

I am like you...I always used running clean water to rinse my son off because even that small he was always covered in dirt, fish guts, worm guts, dog poop he thought was playdoh etc etc and it would have killed the whole purpose of giving him a bath if I didn't let him rinse in clean water.

I guess for you guys, use a plastic pitcher, fill it with water from the bath faucet (so you don't have to travel with a container of water). that way you can test it if its too cold or hot and make the necessary adjustments. They also have swivel bath seats that keeps the kids upright and has suction cups on the bottom to avoid tipping over.

Install a hand-held shower head with a long hose. Or, buy one actually designed for pets that attaches to the faucett ( Bed Bath & Beyond carries one, and I'm sure many other stores do too).

At that age we had this blow up ducky tub (I think you can find one at Walmart for like ten bucks). I think we used the removeable showerhead for rinsing hair. Once they were standing we gave them showers.