Bathing a baby is part of the daily routine for parents. Although this activity may seem trivial, with the right toys and gestures it can be transformed into a fun and educational activity. It also helps to strengthen the bond between parents and their children.
How to prepare the bath:
First of all, to be able to enjoy every moment with your child in complete safety, everything must be perfect. To do this, simply follow these guidelines:
– Keep an eye on your child at all times. A baby or young child can drown easily and quickly. Therefore, remove any distractions from the bathroom such as phones or tablets.
– Make sure everything is within easy reach: toys, shampoos, towels and clothes.
– Make sure you fill the bath before putting the baby in. A height of 12 centimetres is desirable to avoid making waves. If your child is a little older, make sure that the water does not go over his or her waist when sitting.
– Set the water temperature to 37 degrees. The water should be warm, not hot.
– Keep electrically powered objects such as dryers away.
– Use a non-slip mat for safety.
The importance of playing in the bath
Bathing while playing and interacting with your child can help them develop many aspects of their body and personality.
EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF BABIES AND YOUNG CHILDREN
For some parents, bathing their baby is a precious part of the day. It’s a chance to relax and unwind, and a break from the day’s routine. The baby receives the full attention of the parents. He feels privileged and loved.
The mother or father should encourage him to splash around, put his head under the water or blow bubbles. He or she should then congratulate him or her with a “Bravo! “Well done! The child feels this enthusiasm and reacts accordingly. He feels intelligent and capable of doing things that make you proud and happy and this builds his self-confidence.
DEVELOPMENT OF LANGUAGE AND THINKING SKILLS
You should talk to your child constantly during bathing and not hesitate to point to different parts of the body and name them. While playing with your child, explain the actions you are taking and describe what is happening. For example, drop the plastic duck into the water and tell your child that it floats. Empty a glass of water and tell them that the glass is now empty. Also introduce bath books and teach your child to turn the pages. After a while, he will ask you to read them to him in his own way, and you should not hesitate to do so.
In this way, the baby begins to expand his vocabulary and gradually understand certain concepts related to water: objects that float and sink, empty and full glasses and other concepts such as cause and effect.
MOTOR DEVELOPMENT
Provide your baby with several different toys and encourage him to touch them and pass them from one hand to the other. As they try to catch them, they will move their fingers and hands and discover that they can manipulate them in any way they like by exerting different forces or by throwing them.
Bath toys
Playing in the bath with your child has become increasingly important in recent years and as a result a wide variety of toys are now available for purchase. Of course, it is best to choose a toy that is suitable for your child’s age so that he or she can enjoy it to the full.
Plastic duck: the most classic of all bath toys. It floats and makes sounds when squashed.
Stacking cups: Plastic cups that the baby can fill and empty. He also learns to stack them and to use them for other purposes, such as as a hat.
Coloured bath pencils: very good way to teach your child colours and how to hold a pencil.
Bath books: they are made of plastic so the child can handle them without fear of wearing them out. However, it is important to choose a book with colourful pictures and content that will interest the child. This is also a good way to get your child to like reading.
Boats: another classic bath toy, but one that is nevertheless very popular with children. It is a good way to show the baby that boats float on water and are pushed by the wind and waves.
