Bath time can be very fun, but also a bit exhausting, especially when children want to exercise their independence and refuse to follow instructions. At this stage, babies acquire lots of new skills; one of them being standing up on their own. This is a major developmental milestone, and as a parent you certainly are very proud! However, these new skills come with increased energy and restlessness to explore his surroundings. Keeping still during bath time may seem impossible!
As parents and adults, we know that accidents can occur during bath time. We don’t want our children to slip and hit themselves, so to see them stand up in the bath can be quite scary. When your indications to sit down don’t seem to work, what should you do? Here are several techniques you can try instead:
- If your baby loves bath time and you don’t want him to stand up, you can tell him that if he stands up, bath time will have to be over. In a gentle but affirmative tone say “You are standing up. You’re showing me it’s time to get out of the bath”. If he doesn’t listen, he must be taken out. He will soon learn that if he wants to play during bath time, he can’t stand up.
- You can also establish that he can only use the toys if he’s sitting down in the tub. If he stands up, the toys will be taken away.
- Another option that’s recommended by experts is to let him stand. Sometimes it may be safer to bathe him standing up than to have a quarrel every time he takes a bath. If you decide to let him stand, you need to adjust the bathroom space to make it as safe as possible. Place a rubber mat on the floor around the tub or shower. Remove any object that can hurt him if he falls and make sure to always keep an eye on him. Sitting or standing, he must always have someone watching over him.
Hopefully, these techniques will help! Remember to use your creativity and to adapt the techniques to your own style. There is no single correct answer, the key is to be consistent, affirmative, and always be present. Your little one is excited about his newly acquired skills, so be considerate. He is not challenging you; he does it because it is something new and exciting for him. Understanding this will help you establish the best rules for his safety.