It’s 6pm. It’s bathtime. Like a weary soldier, you arm yourself with towels and shampoo, and try to hasten your child to the battlefield of the bathroom. But it’s no use, they’ve got other ideas. With a screaming preschooler in one hand and a collection of toys and body products in the other, you’re asking yourself, surely there’s an easier way?

Bathtime can be a very polarising activity for children. You might find your child has no problem getting into the bath and really enjoys it. It’s also possible your child could have a fear of the bath and hates anything to do with water!

Fear not, we have plenty of tips and solutions for getting your child in and out of the bath without outbursts and tantrums!

How can I tell if my child needs help with bath time?

You can tell that your child might need strategies to help them with bathtime if you notice them displaying these behaviours:

Your child refuses to bathe or shower.

They pretend to have a bath or shower when actually they just turn on the taps so it sounds like they have (check for dry towels!).

They become very defiant around bathtime.

They appear afraid of the bath.

They make a lot of mess, sometimes on purpose.

Why does bathtime become stressful?

As weird as it seems, there are plenty of reasons why a child might hate bathtime. If your bathtime routine usually means leaving them to their own devices, for example, they may have separation anxiety. Being in an unfamiliar environment without an adult can be scary to a young child.

If your child struggles to handle transitions, the fact that bathtime usually comes before bedtime might be what they’re afraid of. They’re seeing bathtime as the start of bedtime, and if they’re not tired yet they will push back against it.

For some children, bathtime might be an extra sensory overload. Changes in temperature, plus the feeling of water might be overwhelming to them. If your child can communicate, it’s always worth asking if the sensations at bathtime are distressing to them.

At an early age, the actual nitty-gritty of bathtime cleansing is done by the adult. To the child, this can feel like a loss of control, and so they try and reclaim it by pushing back. This also applies to the concept of bathtime in general, in which a portion of a child’s day is being taken away from them - time that could be spent playing! Your child might need to learn the importance of cleanliness before they accept that bathtime is a necessary part of the day!

So now we know why bathtime can feel stressful for your little one, let’s look at some strategies to make jumping into the tub more enjoyable for them and for you!

What strategies should I use before bathtime?

Before bathtime, there are several things you can do to make your child more comfortable. First, you need to take a look at what you can control; time, expectations and what happens after bathtime are key factors we can change.

A simple time change can be the biggest difference you can make. Separating it from bedtime in your child’s mind can make a meaningful change towards accepting bathtime. Try various times in the day to see what your child prefers. Once you’ve found a preferred time, try to stick to that schedule every day. This will help your child accept the day’s schedule. Plus, there’ll be no wriggle room to argue that you’re making changes every day!

You can promise a treat that only happens in the bathroom! You can play specific music on Bluetooth speakers, use LED lights and give them toys that they can only play with during bathtime. Using child-safe bath bombs is also a fantastic way to get your child actively wanting bathtime!

You can give your child a set reward after bathtime. Perhaps a favourite programme or an extra story. This is good to sandwich between bathtime and bedtime, effectively distracting your child from the dreaded double transition!

You can set alarms during bathtime. This helps your child understand that when the alarm goes off, bathtime is done. Your child may be more responsive having an alarm informing them of an activity change, rather than a parent!

What about during bathtime?

If you suspect your child may have separation anxiety, try to be present during bathtime. If you cannot be present, respond to their activities from the other room, to remind them that you are in the vicinity and paying attention to them. For example, “Oh wow, I can definitely hear you’re having a fun time by all the splashing sounds you’re making!”.

If your child has a tough time dealing with sensory overload, it may help to talk them through every action you’re doing, from shampoo to scrubbing. Clearly outline when it’s time to play and time to clean. Stick to a clear schedule that they can remember.

What about after bathtime?

You should follow through with the post-bathtime treat! It’s especially positive when you turn it into a bonding activity rather than just leaving the child on their own. Enjoy spending some time playing with them!

If they felt a bit cautious or scared during bathtime, now would be a suitable time to sit with them and talk through their experiences. Listen to their concerns and explain to them why we need to bathe and what we need to do to keep ourselves clean.

It may seem tempting at first, but don’t go overboard with praising your child if they have a stress-free bathtime. We want to normalise this routine, not making it seem like having a bath is remarkable!

If bathtime becomes too stressful to do every day, consider a couple of days a week where there is no bathtime. This can take the stress off you and your child. However, do not replace it with a fun activity, as this will build more resistance!

How to turn bathtime from a chore into a fun activity!

Splish-splash your way towards a joyful bathtime with Unii's tips.