Bath Time

We used to bathe our son every other day, but he loves it so much that it's become a part of our nightly bedtime routine. It is also a great way for papa to spend some quality time with him between dinner and sleep. However, all of the accoutrements for baby bath time can take up a lot of room in a room that isn't a lot. We keep things to a minimum since our bathroom is small and has awkward storage.

For the first 6 months or so, we used a special bathtub. It worked out great when he was tiny, and it came with a little sling hammock for him to rest on when he was newborn. It was also useful when he had an abscess in a sensitive region and needed a bath every time he went to the bathroom. Once he was sitting up on his own, we just put him directly in the bathtub with about 2 inches of water. Now we have this tub taking up space.

Toys make bath time more fun! But too many can take up space and make the bathroom full of trip hazards. We got these stacking cups as a shower gift and he has played with them every day for the past 9 months. They take up very little space. He also plays with a small tub turtle that we found on the sidewalk when I was 8 months pregnant. It was destiny--this little turtle is one of his favorite toys, and it has even traveled to France. Other bath toys include one obligatory yellow ducky and a random plastic dog that our son brought into the bathroom a while ago and has since made the tub its home.

Aden + Anais makes soft yet durable muslin baby washcloths. Again, we've used these nightly for a year, and they have held up well. As for those special baby towels with hoods and cute designs? Save your money and linen closet space for more Aden + Anais washcloths. The baby towels we had ended up being scratchy, and it's not like the baby spends more than two minutes bundled in one. Now we simply use the same soft towels that we use for ourselves.

Bath time can be a great opportunity to bond with baby while getting him clean. He can also splash around, practice pouring skills, and learn about the science of water. A couple small toys, stacking cups, some soft washcloths, and special baby soap are all you need to have good clean fun!