Making Bath Nights A Success

Some nights are really good for us, and others not so much. I have to repeat the same things over and over again (welcome to parenting), and my kids still don’t like to remember it the next time we put them in the bath.

Fortunately, things seem to be getting a bit better for bath nights for us, but we still have nights where it is a real struggle to keep the kids in line. Below are some of the things that have helped us make it more fun than work.

Have a set schedule for bath nights

As with most things that are related to your kids, having a set schedule and being consistent with it goes a long way in getting your kids to be in the right frame of mind for it. Bath nights are no exception to that, and consistently doing bath nights on the same nights and times will make a big difference.

How often you actually have bath night will be up to you. We’ve ranged from every night to three nights a week. You’ll have to decide what works best for you and how much bath time your kids really need. 

While our kids love taking a bath, it's also additional time that we must spend on those nights to get them clean. We maintain a balance where we bathe them every other night at the current time.

Have a routine that you follow

Once you’re in the bath, have a routine that is consistent. Having kids get clean first thing one night, and then having them get clean at the end of the time the next night is going to make it hard for your kids.

We personally like to get kids clean first thing when they’re in the bath. This allows us to get the worst part about bath night out of the way immediately, and it’s much easier to get them out at the end as you won’t have to fight them at the end, and try to rush them through getting clean.

Let kids have fun playing

If your kids are still young enough that they want to play in the water, then let them do so. Both of my kids are still at an age where they like getting in the bath and playing with toys. We get them clean first, and then let them play for about 15 minutes.

While we have some toys that are just for the bath, they also like some other basic items as well - empty bottles or cups, LEGO, and cars are all favorites. For whatever reason, dumping water out of a bottle really does it for them. Of course, we have to watch them closely as they also like to pour water on the floor as well.

Let kids bathe together if appropriate

This has been the biggest lifesaver for us. While our kids are just over 4 years apart from each other, they do really well in the bath together. If your kids are close enough in age, let them bathe together.

By letting kids in the tub together, this saves you from having two baths, and it gives each of them someone to play with (or get on the nerves of on bad nights). We save about 30 minus per bath night by putting the kids in the bath together. This also gives me a few minutes to read after I’ve got the kids clean and while I let them play.

The younger your kids are, the more you’ll need to watch them closely while in the bath, but as they grow, it will become easier to let them play without much supervision (don’t leave them alone in the bathroom, but you don’t have to have your eyes on them every second). Ultimately, they’ll grow out of it, but take advantage of it while you can.

Conclusion

Make your bath nights go smoothly by getting in to a consistent routine that your kids know, and make it a fun night for them.