What to do with your child in the bathroom: 10 great ideas for a fun-filled bathing experience for 2-3 year olds

Bathroom games for children are not just entertainment (although, first of all, they are entertainment). But at the same time, such games can and should be given a different character - educational and training. While the child is in the bathroom, through the efforts of his parents, he can not only wash himself, but also acquire many practical and cognitive skills. Moreover, during the game, and, therefore, willingly. And this is an additional plus, since the knowledge and skills acquired by the baby, when he himself wants it and strives to obtain them, are easily consolidated and are retained for a long time.

There are also many advantages for parents. By bathing the baby and at the same time teaching him some skills, parents thus save a lot of time and effort. Well, besides, playing in the bath for a child has considerable educational value. By bathing the baby and at the same time playing with him, mother and child, so to speak, touch souls. In general, children's games in the bathroom have practically no disadvantages, but there are many advantages.

Contraindications to joint bathing

1. It is not advisable for a newborn, until his umbilical wound has healed, and this is the first 2 - 3 weeks, to swim with his parents. During this period, the child must be bathed in boiled water or with the addition of potassium permanganate.
2. Mom or dad should not have any infectious, contagious diseases - viral, bacterial, fungal (herpes, warts, streptoderma, candidiasis, etc.). Otherwise, some time after such a bath, you will find them in the baby.
3. Lack of personal hygiene. This rule is very important, and not all parents follow it.

Bathing together - are there any advantages?

It happens that children have a very negative attitude towards the bathing process.

And parents have no choice but to dive into the bath together with their baby. This way the child will feel your warmth and care, he will be more comfortable.

Sometimes babies like to bathe in their mother's arms in the shower. Which also has a beneficial effect on the psyche.

In the absence of mother during the day, swimming together can compensate for the lack of attention with the help of various water games.

Water itself has calming properties, develops the sense of touch and provides tactile stimulation, and relieves hypertonicity of the limbs. If you add the presence of your mother to this, then you can practice diving, if the bath allows.

Bathing conditions

It is important to follow the principles of joint bathing:

• Mom or dad should wash themselves before getting into the bath with the baby;
• It is better to swim in underwear;
• maintaining a water temperature of 36 - 37 degrees;
• you don’t need to bathe your baby every day, once a week is enough;
• If your child is not afraid of swimming and feels comfortable in the water, then swimming together is not for you.

Doctor Komarovsky E.O., pediatrician with 30 years of experience : “I am completely indifferent to swimming with my mother. I don’t find any particular disadvantages in this, but I don’t find any advantages either. If the parent has taken all the necessary hygiene measures, then why not. If we talk about germs, they surround the child everywhere. You can also go to bed with your baby, on the same sheet, where microorganisms also spend an active life. But sometimes bathing causes negativity in particularly excitable children, and here the mother comes to the rescue to calm the child. And if a child’s bathing with his parents makes him squeal with delight, then why not.”

Joint bathing and contraindications for infants

1. Unhealed umbilical remnant.
2. Pustular manifestations on the skin of the streptoderma type. You can worsen the baby's condition.
3. Age over 12 months. In order for a child to develop the “correct” childhood sexuality, it is better for mothers to bathe with their daughters, and for fathers with boys. It is better to practice joint bathing until one is a year old.
4. Child's reluctance. The idea of ​​taking a shared bath should be abandoned if your baby needs space and doesn’t like being in the water with you.

Experiments while swimming

• Properties of objects . Children love to watch how various objects change in the water - paper, a rag, a bag, etc.
• Squeeze out the sponge . In this way, children develop hand motor skills. And if you squeeze it into a separate container, and then put a sponge in it and watch the water disappear - for a child this is real magic. You can also invite your child to collect drops of water from the tiles or sides of the bathtub.
• We blow into a tube, a short hose, and watch how bubbles appear, and even with sound accompaniment.
• Place a bottle or other container in the water to create bubbles.
• Drowning - not drowning . We put objects in the water and see which ones sink and which ones don’t. And if you lower it to the bottom, which ones will float up.
• Checking which toy will jump out of the water higher.
• We shoot at a target (light toy, foam on the wall) from a water cannon, a water bottle with a hole in the lid, a syringe, a water pistol (My-shop).

Reviews and discussions

There are many forums and discussions on this topic.
What do ordinary mothers think? Olga, Yekaterinburg, 22 years old : “I always bathe my 2-month-old daughter in an inflatable ring and sometimes I get into the bath with her.
It’s more convenient, you don’t have to lean over the side of the bathtub. All you have to do is sit and relax.” Anastasia, a young mother of two daughters : “For a long time we didn’t dare to do this type of bathing, because I watched a program that you can infect a child with your microflora. First I washed myself, put on my swimsuit and off I went. It was very positive."

Alexandra, Moscow : “What kind of microbes, what are you talking about? We also kiss the child, hold him close, put him on the bed - what now, disinfect the mouth or boil the bed? I have a very positive attitude towards this procedure and recommend it to everyone.”

Anna : “I wouldn’t, except in the pool. I think this is some kind of whim of the parents, a reluctance to let go of their baby, so to speak, to finally cut the umbilical cord.”

In general, there are many opinions, both positive and not so positive. Personally, I saw the only advantage in this: when a child cries in the water, the mother can swim with him in order to calm him down. But I didn’t notice any particular disadvantages. If swimming with the whole family gives you a lot of positive emotions, then why not. As long as it is comfortable for both mother and child.

Source

Simple games

In principle, very young children play them, but older ones too. So let them play: a child of any age will find their own “zest” in them. So:

• transfusion. The baby takes water into one container and pours it into another. There are probably no children who would not love this game. In addition to being exciting, this game also develops fine motor skills;
• catching fish. Of course, to start with, these fish (as well as other animals) need to be put into the bath. And the baby will catch them. With hands, a fishing rod, a net, a strainer - this is the job of the baby himself. Just don’t use your mouth, as there is soap scum in the water, and besides, the baby can also choke. Of course, the fish should be light and bright to attract the child’s attention;
• We collect Kinder Surprise eggs that have been spilled into the water. It’s also a fun activity that also develops children’s dexterity;
• We take out shells, pebbles and other objects from the bottom of the bathtub. Let the baby be a diver. The main thing is that he does not choke.

How to bathe a baby in a large bathtub

Some pediatricians do not recommend daily bathing of a baby if he has not yet learned to crawl. In their opinion, thorough washing is sufficient at every diaper change and after feeding. Others welcome water treatments every day. The main requirements here are not to harm your health and maintain complete safety.

Important ! Until the wound on the navel of the newborn has healed, he cannot bathe entirely in a bathtub in ordinary tap water.

You need to follow the rules:

1. Young children have poor thermoregulation. Mandatory monitoring of air temperature is required. The norm is +25 degrees Celsius.
2. If the room is warm enough, you can start undressing the baby.
3. Check if the water in the bath is hot. The best way is to lower the inside of your wrist or elbow. The water should be comfortable for swimming.

Note! The surface of the palm and elbow of an adult differs in sensitivity. If you test the water with your palm, you might make a mistake.

The retail chain offers thermometers for water monitoring. The safe interval is highlighted in color. You should aim for 36-37 degrees for baby baths. In a large bath, where there is room to move, the temperature may be two to three degrees lower (33-34C).

Important! You should not leave your child unattended in the water, even for a moment. A baby can drown in a matter of seconds in a depth of 2 inches (just over 5 cm). If you need to answer calls, you should take your phone into the bathroom.

children in the bathroom

The baby played all day, explored the world, and, of course, received new impressions. How to make him sleep long and soundly at night? Soothing baths will help! This is not only pleasant, but also very useful: after all, herbal baths have not only a calming, but also a healing effect. Soothing baths for children are best done before bedtime. Collections intended for soothing baths for children are sold at any pharmacy. For example, a collection of motherwort herb, lemon balm leaves, valerian root, and string herb. In addition, this infusion disinfects and has a multifaceted effect on the skin and the entire body as a whole. Stimulates the release of substances, toxins and other substances harmful to the body through the skin during various allergic diseases in children, in particular with diathesis. Such baby baths can be prepared from different herbs, which can be used either separately or together. And then the procedure will simultaneously have a calming, antiseptic, antiallergic and restorative effect. However, it is worth noting that such a magical effect can only happen if the baths are done in a course and not once. Soothing baths for children include pine, pine-salt baths, baths with herbs: valerian root, sage, motherwort, mint, nettle. They have a good calming effect and improve sleep. Their total temperature is no more than 36.5 C. Recipes for soothing baths for children ————————— Soothing herbal bath for children. In proportions 1:1:1, mix motherwort, knotweed, sedative collection No. 2 (sold in pharmacies). 3 tbsp. the mixture of these herbs should be poured with a glass of boiling water (0.5 liters is possible), let it brew for 30-40 minutes and then strain. Dilute in 10 liters of water. The child should lie in the bath for 10-15 minutes. Repeat the procedure 12-15 times, every other day. A soothing bath for children with poor sleep and irritability. If the baby is nervous and reacts sharply to everything, you can give him a soothing bath with a decoction of real bedstraw - 5 tbsp. of this plant per 1 liter of boiling water. Leave for 30 minutes, dilute in 10 liters of water. Time spent in the bath is 10 minutes. Soothing bath for children with poor sleep. You need 50 g of calendula, oregano and mint flowers, infuse in 3 liters of boiling water, then strain. The infusion is ready. All that remains is to add it to 10 liters of water. You should take this bath before bed for 10 minutes 3 times a week, for a total of 5-7 procedures. Also, a warm bath always has a beneficial effect on cramps and colic. The baby relaxes and calms down. And if you also add a decoction of bearberry, hop cones or motherwort to it, the effect will be more noticeable. Of course, a bath will not relieve colic completely, but it will significantly alleviate the child’s condition. Swim to your health!

Pros and cons of an adult bath

For a little person, bathing is not only hygienic manipulation. This is a real opportunity for adaptation in a world without water. Warm bath:

• relaxes;
• gives positive emotions;
• Reminiscent of the prenatal period.

Many people remember special baths for bathing infants. You can bring them to the baby's room, fill them with water, bathe them and put them straight into the crib. Recently, procedures in a large (adult) bath have become popular.

So, the advantages of large volume:

• you can teach your child to swim and dive;
• no extra costs, saving space for storage;
• more possibilities for hardening;
• Bathing with mom psychologically supports the baby.

Now about the cons:

• Big water can be scary. The period of getting used to the new world lasts about 3 months.
• If you need to bathe in herbal infusions (chamomile, chamomile) in a large bath, this is more difficult to do.
• Standing on an incline for 20 minutes or more while supporting a child is difficult. Especially for those mothers who have back problems. In this situation, the acquisition of special baths for the baby are absolutely justified.

The benefits of swimming in an adult tank

When bathing a newborn in a large bathtub, having extra space allows you to maneuver more freely. He has the opportunity:

• push off with your feet from the sides;
• when belaying an adult, roll over;
• keep your legs and arms completely free and straight;
• dive, just as it was before he was born.

The bathroom always has special cabinets, shelves, hangers to place the necessary things, towels, shampoo. This is a significant advantage. Bathing and hygiene procedures are not identical concepts. In water, the baby receives maximum useful emotions and sensations:

• psychological comfort and pleasure;
• gentle physical activity;
• development of communication and tactile skills;
• stimulation of appetite (consumes a lot of energy);
• After bathing, the child usually falls asleep easily.

When babies are bathed in a large bath from an early age, this guarantees hardening and prevention of ARVI. In a large bath, the water cools more slowly; the duration of water procedures can be increased to half an hour. It has been noticed that in water the same amount of effort is expended for inhalation and exhalation; there is a peculiarity in the opening of the lungs - they accommodate more oxygen when inhaling. This helps the baby’s uniform growth and development of the body.

Story games

You can perform entire performances while bathing in the bathtub! For example:

• together with your child, come up with and perform a small performance with the participation of the same fish, pebbles and other objects. And, of course, the baby himself;
• wash the doll. Any girl will not refuse this pleasure;
• wash the doll’s clothes - why not? Again, this will be both pleasant and useful for the baby girl. In this way she will acquire primary skills in real washing;
• As for the boy, then, of course, he will especially eagerly want to wash his car in the bathtub, and even, most likely, not just one, but his entire “garage”;
• transporting passengers on a boat from one end of the bath to the other is another favorite game for kids. Of course, there should be a boat and the “passengers” themselves (small toys), which the mother must take care of in advance;
• and from here comes another exciting game - shipwreck. Mom creates “waves” in the bath that sink the boat along with the passengers, and the baby bravely saves them. At the same time, the child develops a feeling of compassion for those in trouble and a willingness to help them;
• The next game is the child’s initial acquaintance with animals that live in water. So, the child needs to explain and show that, for example, fish live in water, ducks swim on top of the water, and, say, seals live here and there. Of course, for this, the mother should initially stock up on fish, ducks, and seals.

Drawing in the bathroom

This is the same game, but, in addition, it is also an educational and useful activity. The baby will draw on plastic or tiles that line the walls of the bathroom - where else? In fact, there is nothing tragic for mom here - the walls of the bathroom are easy to clean:

• A child can draw with anything: gouache, other paints, even daddy’s shaving foam. Modern stores even sell special pencils designed specifically for drawing in the bathroom;
• What a child will draw on the wall is, first of all, his personal business. However, parents can show an unobtrusive initiative here and teach the child to represent numbers and letters, simultaneously explaining what it is and what it is needed for;
• Washing off the design with water is so much fun! So let the baby do it. At the same time, mom will have to wash the walls less;
• A separate item is swimming and wallowing in colored water. Of course, the baby will turn into all the colors of the rainbow, but that’s the whole point! Well, isn't it fun? Then, of course, you will have to wash it, but this is such a small thing!

Cognitive experiments during the bathing process

It also seems like a game, but at the same time it’s instructive! For example:

• We determine the properties of various objects - what sinks and what floats on the surface of the water. This will captivate the baby in itself, and, in addition, will give him primary knowledge about the physical laws and structure of the world in which he lives;
• shooting from a water pistol, when water flies in a thin stream, is also an educational and at the same time exciting activity;
• Dip the tube into the water and blow into it. Bubbles appear on the water (and even with sound). But this, too, is a definite physical law, and moreover, more than one;
• yes, it’s elementary - let the baby fill a plastic bottle with water. There is so much information and fun in this simple process! This is real magic!

Of course, these are not all the games that you can and should play with children while bathing in the bath. Any experienced mother has many other, no less exciting and useful games in stock. And that is great!

Lastly, watch this video for some kids' bathroom games.

How to choose a time to swim

Pediatricians recommend choosing a time of day to bathe a baby in a large bathtub when parents can devote approximately 40-45 minutes to water procedures. This time interval includes preparation and actual washing. If the baby is naughty, you need to wait for the right moment.

Important! Procedures should be avoided immediately after eating to avoid the natural reaction of regurgitation with a full tummy.

The selected time must meet the following conditions:

• during the break between feedings;
• nothing bothers the child;
• parents have enough time not to have to take forced breaks.

The optimal time for bathing a baby in a large bath is before evening feeding and subsequent bedtime. Water procedures are an active time for babies. He spends quite a lot of strength and effort. If compared with an adult load, this is equivalent to 35-40 minutes of physical exercise. After such efforts, the baby is left with two desires - to eat well and to fall asleep. If parents can do everything correctly, the child’s natural response will be to sleep soundly almost until the morning.

It sometimes happens that instead of a relaxing effect after bathing, the baby, on the contrary, is animated and does not want to calm down. In such cases, bathing must be postponed to the first half of the day.

Important! For each child, you need to find a convenient routine for taking a bath so that the baby gets the maximum benefit and pleasure.

Duration of water procedures

Recommendations must be followed:

• start water procedures from 3-5 minutes;
• if the child is not nervous, he likes everything, increase the interval gradually by 1-2 minutes;
• Having brought it up to 15 minutes, observe the baby’s behavior: if there are signs that he is comfortable, you can gradually add minutes (about 20).

The completion of the baby's bathing in the bath should take place without whims and crying. Usually by three months from birth, water treatments become a favorite pastime. If parents begin hardening activities, then bathing should be done daily, the procedure time is increased to 30 minutes. During this interval, the baby will have time to play, move his legs and arms, and roll over onto his tummy with the help of adults.

Important! The water temperature should not change much throughout all water procedures.

Preparing the bathtub for bathing

How to properly bathe a baby in a large bathtub without problems or complications? To maintain the required air temperature in the bathroom, avoid drafts and do not open doors and windows. Preparation of swimwear includes the availability of:

• two clean sponges;
• mild cleanser;
• terry towels no less than 120x120 cm with a hood;
• diapers;
• diapers or clothes as needed;
• Diaper rash remedies.

To bathe, you need to thoroughly rinse the entire inner surface of the container.

How to clean a bathtub for a newborn

To avoid unnecessary problems, you should choose the right cleaning and disinfection product. It is strictly forbidden to use conventional chemical products. A child may react to even minimal concentrations in water. This can lead to serious consequences (intestinal upset, allergies).

Playing with foam and shower

When playing with foam, it is important that it be hypoallergenic, ideally not sting your eyes. And the shower needs to be set up in such a way that the jets do not get into the baby’s face, at least while he is just learning to interact with it.

• Fountain . The simplest shower game. The streams rise up so nicely, they tickle your fingers. What happens if you immerse your shower in water?
• We wash off the shaving foam . Draw letters, numbers, any patterns or just dots on the bathroom wall with shaving foam. Encourage your child to wash them off with a shower. A great way to learn letters and numbers through games. Antoshka loves this game.

• Blowing on bubble bath . You can also blow on light objects in the bathroom and watch them float.
• Who is hiding under the foam . Dilute more foam in the water and invite the baby to look for who is hiding under it and where the toy floated away.
• Foam hairstyle . Lather your child's hair into fun hairstyles and show the result in the mirror.
• foam snowdrifts with a tractor.

How to hold a baby correctly

It is recommended to follow the rules for immersing a child:

1. A newborn baby is able to bathe in many positions: on his back, on his stomach. It is not at all necessary to hold the baby’s body tightly in “four hands”. Easy enough to support under the neck. His head fits comfortably in an adult's palm.
2. If the child has a desire to roll over (he will begin to twist), he needs help. Usually the first signs of a revolution are observed after 1-2 months. The adult’s task is to hold his head with one hand and lower the other onto his chest. At the same time, with a little effort, the young bather is turned over.
3. To prevent your child from becoming capricious, you can use a little trick: you need to place your finger parallel to his lips, he will reflexively begin to suck, and will calm down.
4. To teach him to swim, you need to move him back and forth. Soon the baby will begin to take an interest in his condition.

How to support your child

To increase interest in water activities, you can use several plastic toys: a duck, a boat. A 2-month-old baby will be happy to be busy contemplating, and as he grows up he will begin to play on his own.

Bathing a baby with a circle

A circle for newborns has been designed for safety. The age of the child is not limited: from the first days of life to almost 2 years of age. The main advantage is that it supports the head in weight even when the baby is not yet able to do so. Parents simply put it around their neck and secure it.

Swimming with a circle

When bathing a 3-month-old child in a large bathtub, you no longer need to use a circle safety net. Parents acquire certain skills, they are calmer and more confident in their actions.

Preparing for a bath for a small child

How comfortable and easy this procedure ultimately turns out to be depends on proper preparation for bathing. It’s best to prepare everything in advance so that you can enjoy a pleasant moment with your baby later. So, you need to do the following:

1. It is advisable to organize the first baths in a baby bath or a spacious bowl. Now the baby has no need for large spaces - let him get used to this procedure and love it. Before use, the container must be washed with soda and then poured with boiling water to disinfect. When the child gets a little older, you can simply rinse the bath before the procedure.

2. The water temperature for bathing a newborn should be 33-37 degrees Celsius. In winter you can make the water warmer, in summer cooler. When the baby starts bathing in a large bath, you can safely lower the temperature to about 33-34 degrees (a large bath allows you to move more, so the baby will not freeze).

3. Until the navel is completely healed (10-15 days after birth), the baby should be washed in boiled water that has cooled to 33-37 degrees.

4. You can add a decoction of herbs to the bath or bathing bowl if you consider it necessary.

5. Prepare a clean, soft towel and comfortable clothes for your baby to wear after drying. In the cold season, it is advisable to iron them first so that the baby immediately feels the warmth from the heated items.

6. Prepare shampoo, soap or foam for bathing and toys that you can use to captivate your baby in case of whims.

7. Place a mercury-free water thermometer in the bath - this will allow you to control the temperature (as it cools, you can add warm, but not hot, water to the bath).

8. Prepare the cream, powder and diaper needed after the baby has finished bathing.

9. If you need someone's help, inform your family members in advance so that you don't have to wait for them at a crucial moment.

10. Prepare your baby's crib for bed, because after a pleasant bath you will need to dress him, feed him and put him to bed as soon as possible. Keep the lights on dimly lit in the bedroom to immediately set your baby up for calm and sleep.

Using the slide

A special device will free up an adult’s hands, which is very convenient for gently lathering the baby’s entire body. How to bathe a child in a bathroom with or without a slide? If the child lies comfortably on a special device, an adult can calmly wash all parts of the body.

Pros of using a slide:

• no need to constantly support the baby's head;
• the adult's hands are free;
• An adult’s back does not get tired from tension, there is no need to rush into bathing;
• Can be done by one adult.

There are also disadvantages. The child does not have as much freedom of movement, so if nothing bothers him, you can do without a slide. Just in case, secure your head with a circle collar and go on a long voyage.

Newborns in the bathtub quickly get used to the extra space. The choice of parents is whether to accustom their baby to adult swimming or not. The listing of all the advantages and features of swimming is advisory in nature.