Though at times the effort of bathing both children in tandem (micro is still too young to share a bath with his sister — or, perhaps, I am still too terrified to embark on it) is daunting, I have come to deeply appreciate the ritual now that I have re-situated it in the middle of the day, just after lunch. A small blessing afforded by quarantine: getting the bath out of the way and passing the stretch of the afternoon during which midday doldrums normally strike in relative peace and calm. Once convinced to actually get in the bath, mini loves it in there. She will swim around happily, quietly for twenty minutes, creating elaborate conversations and plot lines with her mermaid stickers or My Little Ponies, “cooking” with bubbles, or sometimes just pretending to be a mermaid herself. Micro, too — it’s one of the few spots where he will sit contentedly without imperiling his well-being or squirming out of reach for a couple of minutes. (But my goodness, that boy is a swashbuckler. He will often stand on top of toys in order to leverage himself partway over the crib railing, and has taken to balancing his tiny feet on the rim of the baby tub I place within the tub in order to climb out when he’s determined he is ready to do so! I am simultaneously astounded by his agility and horrified for his wellbeing.) At any rate, a mother once described bathtime as “a glorious time to sit-er-vise”: supervise while seated and gloriously unencumbered. It has become a cherished moment during which I feel I am accomplishing something but am able to drift into daydream, and the children are content and preoccupied.
I thought I’d share a couple of my favorite bath gear finds for children:
PUJ KNEELER WHEN KNEELING AND STEPSTOOL WHEN SITERVISING FOR MY OWN COMFORT
UBBI BATH SCOOP/CADDY (GENIUS AS WATER DRIPS OFF TOYS INTO TRAY BENEATH THAT AN IN TURN BE EMPTIED — NO MOLD!)
I HAVE TRIED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF SHAMPOO BUT ALWAYS RETURN TO EITHER NOODLE & BOO OR MUSTELA (DOUBLES AS BODY WASH) — BOTH ARE ULTRA-GENTLE BUT MOISTURIZING (OTHERS DRY MINI’S HAIR OUT!) AND SMELL FANTASTIC
GERBER BABY WASHCLOTHS (THESE ARE SUPER TINY — JUST THE RIGHT SIZE FOR SMALL CHILDREN)
CALIFORNIA BABY BUBBLE BATH (VERY EXPENSIVE BUT BEAUTIFULLY SCENTED AND FOAMS WONDERFULLY — SO MANY OTHERS HAVE THE MOST HIDEOUS SCENTS!; ALSO, A WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS!)
POST-BATH: BEST DETANGLER (WORTH THE MONEY, LASTS A LONG TIME) AND MASON PEARSON BRUSH (PRICEY BUT THE ABSOLUTE BEST BRUSH EVER AND I FIGURE SHE’LL HAVE IT FOR HER ENTIRE LIFE)
MUSTELA BODY LOTION AND TUBBY TODD OINTMENT IF NEEDED (IF DRY OR IRRITATED)
WE USED THIS INFANT TUB WITH HILL SINCE HE WAS ABOUT THREE MONTHS OLD — REALLY LIKE THAT IT HAS A DRAIN AND HAS A REPOSITIONABLE SEAT
WHEN HILL WAS ITTY BITTY, I USED THE PUJ FLYTE WHICH I WOULD GIVE 5 STARS
MY FAVORITE HOODED TOWELS ARE THESE NORDSTROM HOUSE BRAND ONES — SUPER THICK AND SOFT, BUT ALSO MUCH LONGER THAN PBK’S!
USUALLY USE FULL-SIZE BATH TOWELS, THOUGH, AS BOTH OF MY CHILDREN ARE TALL AND I LIKE TO TOTALLY ENVELOPE THEM!
FOR STYLING MINI’S HAIR, I LIKE TO SPRAY THIS CONDITIONING POLISH ON BEFOREHAND TO MIST/WET AND SMOOTH EVERYTHING DOWN
Popular bath toys around these parts:
MELISSA & DOUG TUB STICKIES (WE HAVE THE MERMAIDS)
BATH TUB CRAYONS (THESE REALLY HELPED DURING A PERIOD WHEN MINI REFUSED TO GET IN THE BATH AROUND THE AGE OF 2-2.5)
CRAYOLA BATH DROPZ (THESE HAVE BEEN A HUGE HIT FOR NEARLY A YEAR — MINI LOVES TO DROP THESE IN; THEY GIVE HER A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP OVER BATHTIME, TOO, AS SHE USUALLY DROPS WHAT SHE’S DOING AND TROTS RIGHT OVER WHEN I ASK HER TO PUT THE COLORS IN)
MY LITTLE PONIES (HAIR CHANGES COLOR IN WATER)
And if we do end up giving baths just before bed, I usually take my happy hour drink to go…i.e., to accompany me bath-side while I sitervise.
P.S. If you’re running dry on activities for your toddler, check out this list, which I have updated a number of times! I also just ordered her this felt figures set for a rainy day as a possible new entrant into her sticker book obsession…
P.P.S. A child of books.
P.P.P.S. Practical thoughts on preparing for a second child.