Bath time has always been a time of day our family looks forward to – who wouldn’t love to sit in a tub of warm water, make a mess with bubbles and splash around?! It is the perfect time for family bonding, engaging senses, creating memories, loud giggles and even a little bit of relaxation.
I remember the first bath I ever gave to my newborn baby. As a first time mom, I was so nervous! A little eight pound, slippery girl… was I going to break her!? Was she comfortable? Was she cold? – I was so grateful to have my own mom and husband there to help me. She was so tiny and perfect and I wanted to be the perfect mom for her!
Bath time quickly became a part of our nightly routine before bed. We noticed when we had that time with our baby, she was happier, healthier and slept so much better! As soon as she heard the water running, she would get so excited to get in – and when she got out, she knew it was time to sleep.
Time flies SO quickly as all moms know! Our little newborn is already two-years-old and bath time STILL is a nightly ritual for our family. It is fun to see how bath time has changed through the years. It began with a time of bubbles and relaxation and she has grown to love bath time for all of the splashes and toys. Alphabet letters, bath crayons and singing are just a few of her favorite things.
By the age of three, 85% of our baby’s brains are formed! Research suggest that during this time, sensorial stimulation can be critical to baby’s happy, healthy development. As the #1 baby skin care brand and pioneer of research on baby skin, JOHNSON’S® is now exploring the role of multi-sensorial experiences that make bath time a ritual that be more than just cleansing!
To make your bath time ritual a fun and positive experience, we have asked moms what they do to make sure they their baby gets the most out of bath time!
1.UNDIVIDED ATTENTION: This was number ONE out of the experienced moms we surveyed. Put everything away – close your computer, turn off your phone, put down your book and use bath time as a time of bonding. Talk to your baby. Sing to your baby. And make it a time for them to bond with you.
2.TURN ON MUSIC: Any kind you prefer! It can be fun, dancing music or maybe you prefer calm, relaxing music to get ready for bed.
3. PROVIDE TOYS: There are so many fun toys you can purchase for your little ones! Let them play and have an imagination in the bath.
TOP TOYS FOR BATH TIME: Bathtub finger paints, bath crayons and glow sticks are some really fun ideas! Purchase glow sticks at the dollar store, put them in the bath and turn off the lights! You can also purchase fake razors for little boys to “shave like daddy.”
4. READ BOOKS: Studies show that infants who are spoken with have larger vocabularies by age TWO!
5. RELAXING SCENTS: Pleasant smells, when paired with the loving interactions of a parent, can create lasting memories children will remember forever.
6. LET THEM BE LITTLE: Lastly, let them have fun! Let them splash. Let them explore. They are learning every single day and they are only little for a short time.
Bath time is a multi-sensorial playground and provides the perfect opportunity for parents to evoke their baby’s senses in a variety of ways. Bath time moments serve as special rituals that help parents develop relationships with their babies through touch, smell, and more! JOHNSON’S® is committed to showcasing the ways that these everyday interactions are the perfect opportunity to stimulate baby’s senses and lead to happy, healthy development.
A few fun facts about bath time:
1. Playing with bubbles helps babies develop hand-eye coordination and discover objects exist even when they can’t be seen. The bubbles also stimulate baby senses through touch and smell, which are both closely tied to memory development, and provide a great time for parent and baby to bond.
2. Research shows that infants who experienced routine touch and massage (a big part of the after-bath routine) were 50% more likely to make eye contact and 3 times more likely to have an overall positive expression.
Best Day Mom Challenge: Make routine touch and massage part of your after-bath routine for three nights in a row – what benefits are you noticing?
Massage tips to keep in mind:
- Use slow and positive strokes
- Begin with a resting hand
- Begin on the legs
3. Studies have shown that babies bathed with a fragranced bath product (compared to those who were not) displayed 30% more engagement cues with their parent after bath and spent nearly 25% less time crying before sleep.
Best Day Mom Challenge: Try using your favorite scented product during bath time on your little one a few nights in a row and let us know about the memories this evokes for you, as well as the other bonding moments you experience with baby during this activity. DID YOU KNOW? Smell is the sense that is most directly linked to memory and emotion. Memories evoked by smell are more emotional than those evoked by other senses.
4. Dads play a key role in bath time globally: 54% of dads are the primary bathers in their households. In a quarter of households (26%), bath time is a two-parent job.
Best Day Mom Challenge: If dad is not the primary bather in the household, let him take on the role for a few nights in a row! Challenge him to add other sensorial enrichment activities like a baby massage, play time with bubbles or song singing. This isn’t only great for dad, but great for YOU too! Use this time to relax or do something for yourself.
Being a mom is the BEST, isn’t it?! I love that we have the opportunity to raise these little ones and to try to help them develop the happiest, healthiest lives possible! For more information and ideas, you can check out Johnson’s Baby website here!
What do YOU do during bath time to help your baby have the most enjoyable experience? We would LOVE to hear from you!
This post was sponsored by JOHNSON’S Baby through their partnership with The Motherhood and Today’s The Best Day. While I was compensated to write this post, all opinions are my own. We only partner with companies and organizations that we know can help your lives and the lives of mothers everywhere. You are appreciated! Thank you!
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Danielle is the owner of Today's the Best Day. She strives to provide creative and uplifting content in order to enrich the parenting experience for women everywhere. Danielle hopes to help you and your family to make every day the best day! 
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