Parenting Guide | The Benefits of Baby Bathtime

Physical touch is essential for a baby's development and including this in their bathing routine will help to build an unbreakable bond between you and your child. Once your baby is little older, you can take this opportunity for closer skin-to-skin contact by getting in the bathtub with them, holding them against your chest, having a cuddle, and even breastfeeding. For parents who aren't the primary caregiver or for mums who aren't breastfeeding, this can be a great alternative way to strengthen your bond with your baby. 

Safety note: If you choose to co-bathe with baby, make sure you still follow the safety rules for baby bathing (body-temperature water, shallow water depth), and either have someone else hold them or place them in their seat or bounce chair whilst you get in and out of the tub.

The combination of warm water and relaxing touch can make bathtime perfect as a pre-bed ritual for baby, calming them down and getting them ready to go to sleep. It can also be a mindful moment for you, taking this opportunity to wind down and connect with your little one. You can increase these calming effects by including a baby massage at the end of the bath. Baby massage triggers the release of oxytocin (the love and bonding hormone) in both parent and baby, and other hormones that serve to regulate your baby's sleep cycles and reduce stress.

Bathtime is great opportunity to have fun with your baby! That could mean just splashing around in the water, but it can also include introducing bath toys such as Liewood's super sweet rubber animals to keep your baby laughing, distracted, and less likely to be fussy. Colourful LED bath lights are also a popular choice for turning bathing routines into a sensory display, and it’ll make the whole experience far more enjoyable for you too.

Image by My 1st Years

There are so many different moments in your baby's day where you can support their cognitive development, and bathtime is just one of them. Pouring cups, dripping water, bubbles, different scents, singing: these are just a few of the many ways you can engage your baby's senses and encourage them to explore their surroundings. Not only can all of these things be great for developing fine motor skills, but playing and laughing with baby is also brilliant for bonding — and a lot of fun too. 

Talking to your baby is a brilliant way to improve their cognitive function, with studies showing that it actively helps them develop a broader vocabulary by their second birthday. Telling stories, singing songs, and even just recounting your day to them are all great ways to do this. You can talk about popping bubbles, the drip-drop of the tap, and the splashing of the bathwater — bathtime is a perfect opportunity to incorporate even more words into your conversations with baby. 

Images by Liewood

1. Order your bathtime with fun at the start, gradually winding down into a relaxing end, ready for a good night's sleep.

2. Get the bath temperature right. The water should be at body temperature or just higher, though some babies prefer cooler bathwater — see what works! 

3. Playing some music can help calm unsettled babies and distract them if they don't enjoy bathtime — it's also a good excuse for a singalong!

4. Choose a variety of bath toys and alternate them each time to keep them entertained. Liewood's sweet animal toys come in different colours and creatures, from dinosaurs to elephants!

5. Ensure the room is warm and have one of Kissy Kissy’s hooded towels ready. Wrapping baby up in a fluffy towel and having a cosy cuddle after a bath will help them feel safe and relaxed.

Images by Liewood