The Ultimate Guide To Bathing Your Toddler (answers to 16 of your burning questions)

Bath time is not just a time of day to clean your body. Bath time is a great opportunity for kids to learn and play. It can be a source of fun for you and your kids and a great bonding experience.

There are many things you should know about bathing your toddler, and in this article, I outline them as a series of frequently asked questions.

If you’re a parent or caregiver who needs to know some basic information about bathing your toddler, then you’ve come to the right place.

Let’s jump right in and talk all about bath time.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Giving Your Toddler A Bath

1. What time should a baby bathe?

The time you bathe your baby depends on their set bedtime. If your child’s bedtime is 7 pm, then they should bathe from around 5:30 PM to 6 PM. This way, you will have enough time to brush your child’s teeth and perform other bedtime routines before 7 pm.

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2. Can a toddler take a shower instead of a bath?

If you don’t feel like bathing your child, you can shower them. Keep in mind that it may be a little difficult to do so. 

Toddlers who are crawling will not sit still for a shower. Some kids may slip and fall in the shower.

If you chose to shower your child, supervise them very closely. Do not leave them unattended in there.

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3. How long should bath time be for a toddler? 

Baths should be between 10 and 20 min. A child should not stay in the bathtub longer than 20 minutes. Staying too long in water can dry out their skin and make it lose its oils.

Bath time can still be fun even if it doesn’t last long. Try playing games, singing songs, or using bath toys to make it entertaining. You kids won’t notice the length of time.

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4. Do toddlers need a bath seat? 

There will come a time when your toddler will no longer fit into their baby bathtub. For us, this happened when my son was 10 months old.

When this time comes, your toddler will need either a bad seat, a toddler tub, or a bath mat. 

There are many alternatives to baby bathtubs. They include bath mats, bath seats, and toddler tubs.

Below, I will review some of the best options for when your baby no longer fits in their current baby bathtub.

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Bath seats for toddlers

If you have an active toddler who doesn’t stay still in the bathtub, then you should get a bath seat.

Bath seats are great because they keep your child contained in the tub. With bath seats, there’s no possibility of your kid slipping and falling in the tub.

I had to get a bath seat eventually because my kids never sat still in the tub. My firstborn always tried to climb out of it.

If you need a bath seat, I recommend both the Hugbino Convertible 2-in-1 Layback Chair and the Summer My Bath Seat.

These two are budget-friendly and came highly recommended by moms in my mommy group.

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Toddler bathtubs

If you’d prefer not to use a bath seat or bath mat, then a toddler tub might be right for you. Toddler tubs are just a bigger version of a baby bathtub.

I would only recommend you get one if your toddler isn’t active in the tub. They can easily tip over if your child tries to climb out of them.

There are many brands of toddler tubs on the market but I like the Stokke Flexi Bath X-Large. Kids can use it from 0 to 6 years old. It works as a travel tub as well. It is also foldable for easy storage.

Bath mats for toddlers

If you’re on a budget, you may want to opt for a bath mat. They suction to the bottom of the bathtub to prevent your baby from slipping.

It can be very difficult to find a good bath mat for kids. Some of them are poorly made and grow mold quickly. 

Some don’t suction properly, while others are not made with nontoxic materials.

I tested several bath maths before I found the one that works. I recommend the Secopad Kids Bath Mat from Amazon. It is non-toxic, doesn’t grow mold, and it is nonslip. It worked great for us.

5. How do I bathe my toddler properly? (step by step instructions)

To bathe your toddler correctly, follow the steps below:

• Gather all the items you need in the bathroom before bath time. You will need safe baby soap, a clean washcloth, and a towel.
• Run the bathwater to your desired temperature. 
• Place your baby in the bathtub and begin scrubbing them with soap.
• Start with wiping their face, then move down their body. We wash from top to bottom because the bottom of the body is usually dirtier than the top. This avoids bringing dirt back to the face.
• Don’t wash your toddler’s hair every day. This will strip it of vital oils and cause a dry scalp.
• After washing your child, rinse them off with clean water, and wrap them in a towel
• Apply lotion to their skin on the changing table.

6. Should I wash my toddler’s face with soap?

You can wash your toddler’s face with soap. Just make sure you apply lotion afterward to moisturize their skin. 

If you’re giving a bath after a messy activity such as dinner, then their face will be dirty. Water alone might not take away all the mess. 

So it’s okay to use soap, as long as you return the oils to their skin with a moisturizing lotion.

If they haven’t done anything messy that day, then you don’t need to wash their face with soap.

7. How often should a toddler take a bath?

You should bathe your toddler at least once a day either in the morning or evening. Bathing twice a day may strip your child’s skin of its natural oils and leave it dry. 

If your child has engaged in a messy play activity that requires a major clean-up, then it’s okay to bathe them as needed.

Make sure you always apply moisturizer to your kid’s skin after every bath. This will keep their skin hydrated and prevent dryness.

I prefer the California Baby brand of kids lotion and shampoo. They are vegan, certified organic, and made in USA.

8. How often should you wash a toddler’s hair?

How often you wash your toddler’s hair depends on how much oil their scalp produces, and their hair texture. 

The oil produced by our scalp functions to coat our hair strands to prevent them from breakage and damage. Washing your hair too often can damage your hair strands by drying out your scalp.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, you should wash your toddler’s hair once a week or every other week if they have tight curls or textured hair. This applies to the hair texture of African Americans.

Those with straight hair can wash their hair every other day or once a week. Of course, if your toddler’s hair is noticeably dirty or very oiling, then don’t hesitate to wash it. 

To wash a toddler’s hair, follow the steps below:

• First, wet the hair with water. Apply a kid-safe shampoo and massage the scalp thoroughly with your fingers. 
• Rinse the hair until there’s no remnant of shampoo in it.
• If the hair is very oily, then you can apply another dollop of shampoo and wash it again. 
• Apply conditioner to the hair and massage it into the scalp.
• Wait 5 minutes for the conditioner to set in, then rinse it out completely.
• Apply hair oil throughout the hair to make it shiny. This step is optional for toddlers with straight hair. For those with textured hair, oil is essential to keep hair strands healthy and to avoid breakage.

I recommend the mixed chick hair care set from Amazon for kids with tight curls & textured hair.

If your toddler has straight or loosely curled hair, then you should use the moisturizing baby shampoo from Babo Botanicals

9. Is it okay to shower my toddler at night?

It is completely okay to shower your child at night, instead of showering them in the morning. 

I think it’s better to shower them at night because you’ll be able to clean off all the mess they’ve gathered on their skin during the day.

If you’re a busy parent (especially with multiple kids) then you know how hard it is to get mornings started.

You need to make breakfast, fill up the lunch box, get the kids ready for school, make sure homework is in the backpack, etc. There’s just so much to do in the mornings.

If it’s easier to shower them at night instead of in the mornings, then go ahead and do so. No one will judge you.

Even as an adult, I still shower at night because it’s just easier for me. 

10. At what age can a child take a shower alone? 

You can let your child shower alone by 8 or 9 years old. At this time, they should be able to wash their bodies clean without your assistance.

This includes their private parts and hair. If your kid can’t clean themselves properly, then you shouldn’t let them shower alone.

If your kid can’t clean themselves yet, you can wash them yourself but offer them the choice of rinsing themselves off. This will satisfy their need for some independence during shower time.

11. At what age do you stop supervising baths?

You have to be very careful when it comes to letting kids take baths alone. You can start letting your child take baths alone between 10 to 12 years old. 

You should always be close by in case of an emergency.

Before you leave your child alone in the tub, make sure you explain to them the dangers that can happen in the bathtub so that they remain vigilant. 

Let them know that they should never plug in any electronic devices such as a hairdryer, cellphone charger, etc. near the bathtub. Explain the risk of electrocution to them.

They also should never fall asleep in the bathtub due to the risk of drowning.

If you feel like your kid isn’t mature enough to understand the risks involved in taking baths alone, then you shouldn’t let them do it.

12. Is it okay to take a bath with your toddler?

It is okay for parents to take baths with their toddlers for the first 5 years of their lives. At about age 5, toddlers will begin to understand their body parts.

If a parent of the opposite gender is bathing with their child, then your toddler may begin to compare & contrast their body parts with yours.

They may notice that they have a penis and you have a vagina. This observation is not a bad thing. It’s just them learning about their bodies.

When they begin to notice these differences in body parts, this is a good time to stop bathing together.

If they have questions regarding your or their body, answer them with an age-appropriate response.

If your kid asks why you stopped bathing with them, you can simply say that they’re growing bigger and need more space. 

13. When should siblings stop taking baths together?

Just like with parents bathing with children, siblings should stop bathing together when they begin to touch each other’s body parts.

We need to teach our kids to respect other people’s bodies. Touching their sibling’s body parts does not show respect towards them.

If your kids ask why they can’t bathe together anymore, it is okay to explain that they both need their space and privacy.

14. What do I do if my toddler hates bath time?

If you have a kid that hates bath time, try to understand the reasons why. Start by asking your toddler what they hate about taking baths.

If they don’t like sitting in the bathtub, then consider showering them if they’re old enough to stand still.

If they’re bored in the bath, then try to make things fun. Play some games in there. A favorite bath game in my household is “I spy with my little eyes”. 

Consider investing in bath toys to liven up bath time. Creating some distractions with toys will make bath time go smoother.

Read my post on 18 Fun Bathtime Activities For Toddlers Who Hate Baths for more resources to help you.

Conclusion

Bath time can be one of the best parts of your daily routine with your kids if you know what to do, and how to make it fun. 

I hope that by reading this post, I have answered some of the questions you have regarding bathing your toddler.

If you feel like I missed anything, please comment below and let me know.

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