|
Most small babies love bath time but if you’ve got one that doesn’t enjoy it make it more fun by playing some great games. For really small kids say the nursery rhyme “Rub-a-Dub-Dub” while you go through the motions with your child. When saying rub-a-dub-dub take the baby’s hand and rub his or her tummy. “Baby’s in the tub”, take the baby’s hands and pat the sides of the bathtub. “Now what do you think he’ll do?” While saying this part of the rhyme lift the baby’s hands in the air. “He’ll swish.” Now swish the baby’s hands rapidly underwater. “And he’ll splash.” Help baby splash the water with the palms of his hands. With the last phrase, “he’ll swish, splash, SPLASH.” Make swishing and splashing motions but make a giant splash on the last word. Soon the baby can do the motions without your help.
Babies between the ages of three months and a year will love a nice warm bath outdoors. Use a portable tub in the shade on a very warm day. Lay down a towel and place washcloth, soap and shampoo. Put plenty of toys in the tub for baby to play with after bathing. Talk to the baby about what he sees outside. Point out clouds, a bird, a neighborhood dog and other things that might grab the little one’s attention.
Fill the tub with things from the kitchen that make noise. Metal spoons and metal pans are perfect. Plastic cups, lids, mixing bowls and utensils all can come together for a musical bath. Start by humming or singing while tapping a metal pan with a metal spoon. Encourage the baby to do the same. Baby will especially like bowls that are floating. Say the sound that is being made, like “tink, tink, tink” or “boom, boom, boom” while you and baby are making music.
Sing “A Fishing We Will Go” while showing your child how to fish in the tub. Place one bowl in the tub and let it float. Use a sieve with a handle to teach baby how to fish. Put small rubber or plastic toys in the tub - they don’t have to be fish. You can use cows, chickens, reindeer or other small animals. Show the child how to scoop one up with the sieve and dump it into the floating bowl. Clap and say “yea” when the child catches one.
Use a rubber duck to play “soaring duck”. Show baby how to hold the duck on the bottom of the tub and then let it go. It will fly to the top of the water, often jumping up above the bath suds. You can also play hide the duck with a washcloth, clapping and saying “yea” when small babies uncover the duck.
Show an older baby how to capture soap bubbles with a washcloth. Have plenty of suds and lay a washcloth over them. Now gather the edges of the washcloth to capture the suds. Show baby how to smack the washcloth to release the bubbles. Show the baby that he can squish the suds out against his belly.
Other fun things to place in the tub for baby are a turkey baste, small watering can, paint brushes and assorted sponges. Babies also love music so have a portable cd player nearby that plays baby’s favorite tunes. If baby protests against any of the games don’t force him or her to play. Some kids like to get baths and get out without any fuss. Others will be thrilled to play all the new games.
| 
