I remember when Matthew and I first came home from the hospital with Augustine. We were filled with all these wonderful new emotions, but there was also a lot of fear. Would we be good parents? Did we have things under control? It felt like the first challenge we had to overcome together was bath time. I know it sounds like an easy task, after all, we bathe ourselves all the time. But when you’re washing an itty bitty baby, things feel so much more intense and stressful. The water is slippery, the baby is squirmy, and you don’t want them to cry or slip. Luckily, we had my mom there to help us with our first bath time with Augustine, but since then we’ve gotten much more comfortable with this parenthood responsibility. In fact, we’ve actually grown to love it! 

Bath time is one of the parts of the day that we look forward to most, Augustine included! When I ask him if he wants a bath he’ll look at me and bounce up and down. That’s his way of saying “yes,” by the way! We’ve developed a fun little bath time routine that I thought I’d share with you. At first these were tactics we used to make bath time more fun but now they’re just a part of our normal routine. I’m also sharing some of my must-have safety tips with you in case you’re pregnant or a new mom. I know how daunting it can be at the beginning so don’t be ashamed to ever ask for help! 

AUGUSTINE’S BATH TIME ROUTINE 

Tips and Tricks for a Smooth Bath Time 

Get Everything Ready 

Before we start Augustine’s bath time routine we make sure we have everything we need within an arm’s reach. That means the towel, the soap, the brush, and sponge, everything! You never ever want to leave a baby unattended in the bath so if you forget something, even the towel, grab that baby, wet skin and all! 

Music to their Ears 

In the early months, when Augustine still wasn’t too sure about bath time, I’d put on a soothing playlist of music. I chose classical music mainly since he listened to that genre frequently in the womb. I make sure whatever we play is very calming and peaceful though because I know that it calms his nerves. We have to remember as parents that this little baby is experiencing things for the first time. They don’t understand what the bath is, or why their skin feels wet and possibly cold. Make this an enjoyable and calming experience for them as best you can. At 14 months, we still play music occasionally but usually we like to sing songs and talk. 

Timing is Everything! 

Pick the right time. Making sure Augustine isn’t too hungry or too tired is key! It’s worked the best for us to give him a bath about an hour before bedtime.  

Perfect Temperature 

Make sure the water isn’t too cold or too hot! Babies lose a lot of heat through their bodies so I like to make sure the bath is about 95 degrees. We had a bath thermometer but after a few times I was quickly able to tell whether the water was too hot or too cold.   

Special Toys 

Designate special bath time toys! This helps the baby get more comfortable with bath time when they know they have a special toy they can play with. The bath toy gives them something to occupy their thoughts with and a little bit of a diversion from hair washing. Augustine has a small penguin named Penguino that we like to play with, and we also have Tick Tock Croc, a crocodile temperature reader for the water. Augustine loves to throw these in and out of his little bath tub. Lately Augustine has been very interested in the brush so I’ll let him hold that and sometimes he’ll brush his hair with it. It’s the cutest thing! 

A Gentle Shampoo & Wash 

Find a good clean bath time wash. I know I’ve mentioned it before but I love the Live Clean products. They’re 97% plant based and a great natural option. I love how the Calming Bedtime Bubble Bath & Wash smells {like lavender, jasmine, vanilla & chamomile}. All those plant extracts are known for their calming and relaxing properties so it’s perfect at nighttime. If I’m giving him a bath during the day, after a blowout perhaps, I’ll use the Gentle Moisture Tearless Shampoo and Wash. It’s very mild and gently cleanses without drying. 

Countdown is On 

Give them a countdown before bath time is up. At this stage, Augustine would spend all night in the tub if he could. I’ll ask him if he’s ready to get out and he knows exactly what I’m saying because sometimes he’ll shake his head and make sounds like a “no.” In that case, I tell him “Ok let’s play for 2 more minutes and then we’ll get out and read some stories.” I feel like this helps ease the transition without too much of a fuss. 

Post-Bath Routine 

After Augustine’s bath, we’ll wrap him up {“like a burrito” we say!} and take him over to put on a new diaper and his pajamas. Part of our post-bath/pre-bedtime routine includes giving Augustine a baby massage. I feel like it’s a nice way to end a bath, especially if he’s feeling energetic from splashing the water around. I like to use either the Gentle Moisture Baby Lotion from Live Clean or the Calming Bedtime Baby Lotion. I always make sure his skin is dry beforehand though. I pat his skin gently, trying not to rub, so as not to irritate his skin. Always check the neck, arm, leg and bottom creases, and don’t forget about the spot between fingers! I remember during the first few months Augustine would always get lint stuck between his fingers. Maybe from the mittens he wore? 

Developing this bath time routine has been such a nice and relaxing way to end the day, for both Augustine and myself. It’s something I really look forward to, especially because of how much he enjoys it now! He’s our little water baby! Makes me think about how when we were in Hawaii for our babymoon we went snorkeling and I know he was loving it then too!  

We give Augustine baths usually every 2 or 3 days. In the early months, we’d give him a bath less frequently, about once or twice a week, but still clean his skin with a washcloth. The bath seemed like such an ordeal at the beginning so if we didn’t have to give him an official bath we wouldn’t. Sponge baths do the trick, promise! The duration of his baths range from 5 to 10 minutes. In the beginning, they really don’t need to be in the water for long. Even a few minutes is fine if you just want to clean them off and get them comfortable with the tub.   

Do you have any tips for making bath time run a little more smoothly? Would love to hear anything that’s worked well with your family. Also, if you’re looking for a good line that’s more gentle and natural, I’d highly recommend Live Clean. Live Clean has been such a staple in our house the past year and I love sharing my favorite products with you all. Also the price and accessibility is so good! I’ve bought at Amazon and Whole Foods. And Kroger carries them too!

Hope you all have a great week ahead! Make sure to check out our Bedtime Routine post, and if you’re interested in any other Motherhood topics, there are a bunch! Here’s some advice I’d give a first time mom! 

xox 

photos by Priscilla Frey

DISCLOSURE: Thank you so much for Live Clean for partnering with me on this post. All thoughts and opinions, as always, are my own. Thanks so much for supporting my sponsors!