Bathtime essentials – making baby bath time more fun!

No matter how old your little one is, bathtime is a wonderful opportunity to spend some quality time with your child. Many people harbour fond memories of bathtime as a child, with some people even having photos commemorating their time in the tub! Most parents can remember their little one’s first bathtime, whether still in the hospital ward or in their first days after arriving home with their precious bundle. These splinters of time spent in the tub can become real milestones of childhood, time-stamped memories tied to your little one’s first birthday, first day at school or even their first haircut. As time goes on, and your little one journeys towards independence, soon the bittersweet day will come when they no longer need any assistance in the tub, making your memories of this time spent together even more precious.  

Our essentials for children of all ages

Starting with the correct water temperature and a gentle cleanser suitable for children, the last things you’ll need are soft baby towels for getting your little one dry. Take this one step further with our carefully designed kids bathrobes, hooded bath towels/capes and hooded poncho towels.

Kids bathrobes

The classic bathrobe for kids, our 100% organic cotton kids bathrobes are available in a range of sizes, using premium quality 370/380 gsm GOTS cotton. These baby bath robes make an excellent new baby or first birthday gift, and often end up being kept as a treasured keepsake or passed on ready for another little one to use. All that’s left to do is choose between our four adorable designs, a bunny, lion, dino or unicorn! Our baby bath robes are available in sizes 1–2, 3–4 and 5–6 years.

Discover all our bath robes for babies and bath robes for toddlers in bunny, lion, unicorn and dino design.

For younger children, our classic kids bathrobes are also available in different formats, such as our 100% organic hooded bath towels/capes and hooded poncho towels. Our one-size baby towels with hoods/capes are suitable for even the youngest of babies, featuring the same four fun motifs (bunny, lion, dino or unicorn).  These hooded bath towels and bath capes can also make for an adorable photo opportunity! 

Perfect for little feet on the move, taking on holiday or even for swimming lessons, our hooded poncho towels are suitable for children aged between 0–4. If your little one finds it hard to keep still, our hooded poncho towels could be just what you need to make bathtimes run smoothly.

What to do if your little one doesn’t enjoy bathtime 

Some children might find bathtimes a little unfamiliar or strange, which can result in them getting upset. In the event that your little one doesn’t enjoy bathtime, don’t worry, we’ve got some ideas that might help. 

• Make sure your little one is comfortable with the right water temperature
• Ensure the room temperature isn’t too hot or cold 
• Check that the towel you’re using to dry your little one is nice and soft 
• Add some of their favourite toys 
• Dimming the lights or playing some relaxing music

Last but not least, you might like to try our 100% terry cotton wash gloves. Available in four adorable designs, these premium quality wash gloves are perfect for your little one’s delicate skin. Choose between a bunny, lion, dino and unicorn, or consider purchasing a spare to vary between bathtimes. These gloves can be used all over the body, but come in especially useful for cleaning those adorable faces! You could also keep one in your kitchen for post-mealtime clean-ups, or use them for cleaning your little one’s face at toothbrushing time.  For smaller babies, placing the wet glove soaked in warm water over their tummies or chest can help keep them warm at bathtime.

Our baby wash cloths «LEO» | CARAMEL

Daily ritual or mid-week treat – how often should you be bathing your little one 

There is much conflicting information available online about how often you should be bathing your little one. Only a few years ago, it was common for children to be bathed just once or twice per week. In recent years, as people have become more hygiene conscious, it isn’t unusual for people to bathe their children on a daily basis. Even in a medical setting, there is no consensus about when newborn babies should be given their first bath. Much evidence now suggests it is better to refrain from bathing newborn babies for up to one week for a variety of reasons. The main reason for this is due to the magical substance known as vernix found coating your baby immediately after birth. Previously, this substance would immediately be wiped away using dry sheets or towels before later being removed more thoroughly using warm soapy water. Research now shows that this protective layer benefits your baby's skin and should be left in place for several days. There is also some evidence to suggest that getting wet during these first few days will make the baby cold, which could go on to have negative health impacts. 

Like many aspects of raising children, there is no right answer, and the issue requires personal judgment. For further advice, don’t hesitate to consult your midwife or health visitor.

Discover our baby bath capes in different designs.

Safety

It’s important to stay safe at bathtime, using your own judgement as well as any relevant guidance from health professionals. Babies and young children are more sensitive to temperature than adults. For this reason, you should exercise caution when it comes to the temperature of their bath water, following relevant guidance for their age group and being vigilant when testing the water temperature. Test this using your elbow or the more delicate skin on the inside of your forearm for a more accurate indication of the temperature and how it will feel on your baby’s skin. You should also take a moment to consider the air temperature in the room during and after bathtime. Children are not able to regulate their body temperature as well as adults and may be more sensitive to the cold air upon emerging from the warm water. If you’re still unsure about what temperature your baby’s bath should be, you might like to consider purchasing a bath thermometer. These brilliant devices can be placed directly into the water for you to keep an eye on the temperature.