Bath and Play time are important to help babies discover and enjoy the world around them, it encourages their sense of exploration and coordination. It is also a great way to establish a bedtime routine and a fabulous way for mummy, daddy, siblings and baby to bond especially if one or both have been out at work all day.

Ali Voysey-Jensen, Tommee Tippee’s Child and Family Healthcare consultant, mother of three advocates and cherishes the evening bath time routine as it allowed quality family time, using the evening time efficiently. Ali’s tips and recommendations are as follows...

If your bath is not big enough for three or more take it in turns to be in the bath with your baby as this promotes close bonding and security for a tiny baby. I have a spare stool to sit on in the bathroom for the times when space is a problem.

Please make sure the water is quite warm but not hot and some bubbles such as specialized baby bath products (lavender fragranced ones can help with settling for sleep) not only produces squeals of delight but assists with the care of your babies skin. It's best to use tear free formulas as you want your baby to enjoy splashing and not have stinging eyes .

Even from newborn the Tommee Tippee bath time duck will encourage eye coordination and movement. At a few weeks they will love to see the Tommee Tippee sea squirts bobbing up and down and these will continue to educate and please as your little one steams towards five. They can be used to squirt water in the bath or each other, for teaching colours, counting and that all creatures have two eyes. I have taken mine on holiday and my little boy loves to chase them around the pool or decorate his sandcastle with them.This soon had other children wanting to share his fun and I am often asked where they can be bought.

As your baby gets older the Tommee Tippee bath time stack and float fun play encourages motor skills and if you stick it on different sides of the bath this will stimulate the left/right side coordination of the brain. During Tommee Tippee Tea Time Talks coffee groups I am regularly seen sticking it to the ranch sliders which parents have found novel and clearly loved by babies and toddlers.

The Tommee Tippee bath appliqués that sucker flat on the bath can be used to brightly decorate the bath sides or tiles. I stuck mine to the floor of the bath to prevent slipping. My boy loved this and was quick to point out fishes live in water.....It’s a great place to teach them things as well as sing the nursery rhymes such as Row Row Row your boat. There are many versions but mine is:
"Row Row Row your boat gently down the stream, if you see a crocodile don’t forget to scream" then you and baby make a gentle scream noise.

As your baby approaches 2 years your freezer storage pots from the first foods may now be redundant so you may like to use them as pouring containers in the paddling pool or bath, they make great sounds when sea squirts are squirted into them.

When selecting your toys and during playtime remember the important following aspects:

Stimulation
 Bright Colors and patterns
 Texture and shapes
 Sounds: rattles, animal sound or musical tunes
 Make sure it can fit in their tiny hands

Age appropriate
 0+ Months – Soft cuddly Toys, Pram toys, Wrist & ankle rattles
 4+ Months - Bath time is the perfect time for Mum and Dad’s to bond with baby
 6+ Months – Rattle Teethers, Bath toys with fishing net for coordination

Safety

• Run the cold water first if you do not have a mixer tap, the bath temperature should be 37degrees.
• Never put your baby into the bath until the taps are off and you have mixed the water as a baby could easily be scalded with 2nd or 3rd degree burns from hot water.
• Never leave your baby/child in a bath unattended as they can drown in as little as 3cm.
• Take everything in the bathroom with you, if your phone or doorbell rings while bathing either ignore it or take your little one with you in a warm towel.
• Put an anti slip mat down or anti slip appliqués to prevent falls.
• Have an adult to pass your baby to before you get out of the bath.
• Encourage sitting rather than standing as this will help prevent toddlers slipping over and banging themselves on the edge of the bath.

 Check out Tommee Tippee's website tommeetippee.co.nz and their facebook page for more information.

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