Bathing and Grooming Tips for Your Toddler

The theory is that bath time should be a fun and relaxing event for you and your toddler. While that’s generally true, it’s good to have a quick checklist that can ensure everything goes off smoothly. Here’s a few tips you can use to make sure bathing goes off without a hitch.

First off, you need to do a little preparation and make sure the bathroom is warm enough. Your little ones can be very sensitive to cold temperature and making sure the room is inviting will create a pleasant association in your toddler’s mind right from the start. Remember they don’t like to be kept waiting after the bath is done either so it’s a good idea to have all their after bath clothes laid out in advance—you don’t want them getting cold waiting for you.

Having Fun

It’s important to let your toddler have some fun. Sure the bathroom will get a little wet while they splash around in the tub, but the water will dry and your child will learn in the process that getting clean can be enjoyable at the same time. Remember to tackle the harder parts first. Toddlers don’t always like to have their hair washed so getting through that part of the adventure first might be a good idea. You can help to motivate your child about how much fun it is to take a bath as well. Remember they take their cues from you so being in an upbeat mood helps to foster enthusiasm in your children when bath time comes around.

Choosing the right toys is important as well. Simple containers of different sizes are great ways to entertain your toddler. They’ll enjoy emptying these out and filling them up again with the bath water while you clean them. Getting your child to guess which toys will float and which ones will sink is another great game and little sing songs that you can act out with bath toys is another handy option.

Grooming Techniques

Making the experience fun also applies to a variety of grooming techniques you’ll want to teach your toddler. Child care experts tell us that children that are invested in the process of good hygiene from a young age are more likely to carry through with it as they grow. As far as brushing their teeth, one useful technique is to buy them a brush that’s identical to yours and then sit on the floor with them so they can see what it is you’re doing. Being able to mimic Mom and Dad is a very powerful learning tool.

Finally, there’s no reason to use cotton swabs to clean the earwax from your toddler’s ears. You can puncture the eardrum that way and earwax is nature’s way of protecting the the inner ear anyway. Pediatricians say you can use a cotton swab to clean the outside of a child’s ears when it’s been moistened with peroxide, and if you’re worried about a buildup of wax on the inside of the ear, it’s best to check with a doctor.

Read more info like this at   All My Children.

Author: Rob Starr