Bath-Time Play for Babies and Toddlers: Simple Ideas, Done Safely

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Bath time is already part of the day, which makes it an easy place for a little water play and a lot of talk. The play itself needs almost nothing: cups, a jug, a colander. The safety rules matter more than any toy.

Before play: the bath itself

• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises sponge baths only until the umbilical cord stump falls off, which usually happens by about one or two weeks of age. First tub baths should be gentle and brief.
• About three baths a week in the first year may be enough, according to the AAP; bathing more often can dry out a baby’s skin.
• For an infant tub, the AAP passes on the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s advice: a hard plastic tub with a sloped, textured surface or sling, made on or after October 2, 2017. The AAP advises against bath seats, which can tip over.
• Use about 2 inches of water that feels warm, not hot, on the inside of your wrist or elbow. Never bathe a baby in running water.

Safety first, every time

The AAP says children can drown in only a few inches of water, so never leave a young child alone in the bath, even for a moment. Have everything you need within arm’s reach before you start, and if you must answer the door or phone, wrap your child in a towel and take them with you. Bath seats and rings will not prevent drowning. Empty the tub when you are done. The AAP also suggests no-slip strips in the tub, a cushioned faucet cover, and a water heater set so the hottest water at the faucet is no more than 120°F (48.9°C).

Pouring and filling (toddlers)

The UK National Literacy Trust’s Words for Life suggests a pouring game with plastic cups, bowls, jugs, colanders, spoons and funnels. Avoid anything that could break and check for sharp edges. Show your child how to fill a container and pour it out a few times, then let them try.

• Talk as you go: “I’m filling the cup, you’re pouring it out.”
• Repeat short words your child can copy: full, empty, pour, all gone, more, again, splash.
• As your child gets older, ask which container holds more water, or count how many small scoops fill the biggest one.

Bubbles, boats and talk

BBC Tiny Happy People suggests chatting through everything you do in the bath, from running the water to using soap, and repeating words so your child links them to actions. Their ideas include making bubble hair and beards and describing them as “soft” or “fluffy”, floating boats or rubber ducks, and a game of hiding a toy under the bubbles.

Example to research

You don’t need special toys; kitchen cups work. If you want a set, the maker of Green Toys Stacking Cups says the six cups are numbered 1 to 6 on the bottom and are volumetrically accurate (cups 1 and 2 together fill cup 3), made from recycled plastic, and dishwasher safe (plain link; check the brand page for current details and age grading).

Safety first: always follow the age grading on the package and supervise play. For children under 3, avoid small parts (see our safety checklist).