Tips For Bathing Toddlers

Bathing toddlers can be a fun and easy process. It is important to keep your toddler clean and healthy. Bathing is a critical part of this. My little boy has always loved to take a bath ever since he was born. Most toddlers look at bath time as a FUN time to play. They don't realize that at the same time their little bodies are getting nice and clean:)

There are some toddlers who do not like to take a bath. The good news is that this may change during this toddler stage and they could begin to like bath time. Until that time comes the name of the game is to use distractions. Here is a list of some distractions you can try to make bath time fun for your toddler and easier for you.

Some great distractions that can be used are as follows:

1. Bubbles. This is a given. Every toddler loves bubbles. Use their baby body wash as the bubble bath. Never use regular bubble bath or shampoo. It may hurt their little eyes or skin. Only use the same stuff you wash their little bodies with. Just a little bit of bubbles makes all the difference. It keeps them laughing and distracted.

2. Toys. Any kind of bath toys are FUN when bathing toddler. Especially the ones that fill with water and squirt the water back out. My son would get so tickled when I squirted the water back at him. You can buy toys and keep them specifically for "Tubby Time". Boats and duckies are a classic and still a hit with any child. It is so funny because my son is 3 now and at bath time he has more toys in the tub than water. (This is just a figure of speech LOL). You see my point he has grown to love his toys in the bath tub with him. It makes it fun for them and especially if your toddler is uncomfortable taking a bath.

3. Bath Paints and Bath Chalk. These are really great, but we do not use them every day. They are fun but sometimes can get a little messy. You can designate a day of the week for chalk and paint. It is fun for them to draw on the sides of the tub or shower walls.

You also have to remember to take certain safety precautions EVERY time your toddler takes a bath. These are very very important to ensure their safety at all times while in the bath tub.

1. Water Temperature. I can't stress this enough. Always test the water before you place your toddler in the tub. Use warm water. It should not feel hot to you. Remember when bathing toddler you cannot bathe your child in the same temperature of water you may use. It can burn them. Children are sensitive to hot water. My son likes the tub water to be a little on the cold side. So use caution and be careful when selecting the appropriate water temperature.

2. Water Level. There should only be a few inches of water in the tub. That is all that is needed. Toddlers can potentially drown in a small amount of water so be careful and judge appropriately.

3. NEVER leave your toddler unattended in the bath tub not even for a second.

4. Never allow your toddler to stand up in the tub during bathing time.

5. Invest in spout covers and a Bath Mat. The spout covers are fantastic!! They will cover the spout and the hot and cold water. This way in case your toddler hits their head on the spout it is covered and they are less likely to get injured. Also with the hot and cold water knobs they will not be able to turn the water on by accident. Prevention is the key. Make sure you have a kid friendly bathmat in the bottom of the tub also to keep them from slipping.

Something else I would like to share is about other additional items that are important to have for toddler bathing.

1. Toddler Soap. Use baby wash for their body and hair. My toddler is 3 and I still use baby wash when bathing him. It's great because the wash does not hurt his eyes and it also washes his hair at the same time. This way you only need to buy one product instead of two. The adult bath soap also tends to dry out their skin so just stick with the baby wash. Plus you can use the same baby wash for BUBBLES in the tubby. You see baby wash is the best and has so many great uses!

2. Infant Wash Cloths. My son is 3 and I still use the baby wash cloths. I love them. They are thinner and great to use. I always use two wash cloths when bathing toddler. One I use to wash his hands face and body. The other I use to wash his bottom and private areas. This is a personal choice just remember if you only use one washcloth than wash their face first and their bottom last.

3. Nail Brush. Dirt can collect under their fingernails and this is great to wash all of those germs out of there. Cleanliness and sickness go hand in hand so keeping fingernails clean is important.

4. Toddler Towels. The towels with the hoods on them are great!! You can wrap them up after their done and their whole body is covered. Then you can dry them off well and they are ready to go!! I have purchased lots of these towels and they are Nice!!

It is important to settle into your own personal routine when it comes to bathing toddler. Always remember safety first. Make it FUN for them. and before you know it, they will LOVE bath time.

Top Toys for Babies And Toddlers - Your Little Ones Will Absolutely Love These

Are you looking for toys for babies and toddlers? You have come to the right place. We have searched high and low for the perfect toys that all babies and toddlers will love.

Here is the list of bestselling toys for babies and toddlers in 2010:

Go Baby Go Stride-to-Ride Dino by Fisher-Price

Once toddlers are ready to take their first steps, this walker shaped liked a dinosaur is an ideal walker. When in motion, the lights in the dino's head flash with the music. There are 3 songs, 2 tunes and 5 types of nice sound effects. The best part is that when your baby is ready to outgrow it the toddler can ride the dinosaur rather than walking. The two rear legs can slide together and you can use it as a comfy seat.

Ocean Wonders Deep Blue Sea Table by Fisher-Price

This table provides a fun adventure for babies and toddlers through various ocean-themed activities. An important thing to keep in mind is that this is exclusive to Toys R Us. Toddlers can roll the ball and enjoy various sounds, lights and music on the tabletop. You also see dancing lights if you slide the seashell door. Want to hear bubble noises? Just turn the starfish and flip through the pages of the attached book.

Ladybug Smart Trike by SmarTrike

Do you remember your first tricycle? Your little angels will too. But, this wont be just any trike. This will be the cutest trike which looks exactly like a ladybug. This is another toy that is exclusive to Toys R Us. This tricycle comes with a complete metal frame and handle. You can push your children and let your kids take over using a clutch. Most kids wont want to stop the trike once they get it moving but there is a brake pedal included. This Smart Trike has washable seat cover and a canopy to provide some shade. Some accessories that we didnt enjoy that much was a play phone. But, the storage bucket is a nice idea.

Disney Dance Star Mickey by Fisher-Price

Who doesn't love Mickey? Your little ones get to enjoy Mickey Mouse dancing along to 1 of 6 different songs. Different styles of music such as Disco, Latin and Techno are available. This might also be the only place where you get to see Mickey do the Moonwalk. Your toddlers get to dance along and play a few interactive games as well.

9 Easy Ways to Set Up Outdoor Play Time For Toddlers

One of the most vital aspects of toddler development come through the outdoor play time they have and the equipment parents provide for them. Whether it is a purchase for the backyard or a regular trip to the park a toddler will benefit from the opportunity to get outdoors and have fun.

The toys and equipment are often beneficial for major muscle groups with running and climbing but there is also the chance for them to get some sensory play with the messier things like water, sand, and dirt. Outdoors is also the perfect place for the messier crafts like gluing and painting if the weather is right.

Great Things Kids Can Play With Outside

Outdoor play needn't be just about expensive play equipment. There are many cheap and even free ways to get the most out of your toddlers outdoor time.

Paddling pools - great on the ground for paddling or even on a table for hand play. Add some cups and buckets for pouring and floating fun.
Bubbles - All kids love bubble. You can have fun blowing them or invest in a bubble machine. These help to give toddlers spatial awareness as they try and catch the bubbles.
Ride On Toys - outdoors kids can have a lot of fun on ride on toys. They might be learning to pedal, scooter, or just pushing with their legs.
Balls, skipping ropes, bowling - these types of games help with hand-eye coordination as well as playing with others included in a game.
Natural Props - give children the chance to play with leaves, logs, rocks, sticks and other things in the natural environment. It is a great way to learn about the world around them.
Being loud - not only do kids get a chance to run and jump outside they get a chance to shout and make a higher level of noise than indoors.
Balance Boisterous Outdoor Play With Some Quiet Time

Playing outdoors will certainly wear your child out and make them tired. This is a good thing in many ways but do be aware that the smaller the child the faster they will get tired and it can take very little play at first.

Also for older preschoolers too much excited play can over-stimulate and cause problems with behavior. So rather than completely free play time, try to structure in some rest and quieter times as well. There are a few ways you can do this:

Food - a picnic is a lovely way to encourage children to sit and relax while eating and discussing their day.
Nature walk - a slow walk to study trees and things around them is a nice way to wind down from active play. It's also an opportunity to talk with kids about how wonderful nature is around them.
Read a story - a book outside is a wonderful way to settle things down a little. Sitting quietly together or in a group situation with a good book to read out loud will be something they will remember. Find a shady spot if the sun is hot.
Important things to remember

Sun Safe

Be sure to slip, slop, slap with shirts, sunscreen, and hats and find ample shade areas. The sun can be fiercest between the hours of 10am and 4pm so in summer think about staying indoors during these times.

Drinks

Smaller children can dehydrate quickly. Although they may have some other drinks like juice or milk, be sure to give them water. Juices and cordials have a high sugar content and can also dehydrate so use those occasionally and in conjunction with plain water.

Water Safe

If you have any water present or are near water, watch the kids like a hawk. It takes very little water to put them in danger so be vigilant.

Adult Supervision

This point cannot be stressed enough. Supervision is a key factor to a great time being had outside. Things can easily develop into a dangerous situation or children can wander off if you are watching them close enough to be able to grab them when needed. Leaving toddlers with older kids is not adequate supervision. Teenagers may be fine on a one on one situation.

Play With Them

See outdoor play as an opportunity to join in the play with children. Get up and chase, rune and laugh along with them for a while. This will not only give them a wonderful time but will keep you active as well.

Outdoor toys and play equipment will foster a lot of physical and mental development in toddlers. It is a part of the day that is always enjoyable for them. Even if the weather is a little cool or there is a little rain this is great time to get them into the wet weather gear and go find some puddles to jump into.