Bath time should be a fun time for the child and parent and can be the start of wind-down time for the child. It can also be an opportunity to talk through the day together.

Make bath time interesting – put some clean yoghurt cartons or pouring jugs in the bath, use soap/bath crayons or shaving foam to draw mystery notes. Try not to  show your child that you are in a hurry. Talk through the day or tell a story to your child. 

If your child has difficulties with balance they may find sitting in a slippery bath being washed a scary experience. Try using a non-slip mat for getting in and out of the bath.

If your child likes specific TV or cartoon characters they often make shampoo bottles with the characters on them. This may encourage your child into the bath.

If your child has no concept of time in the bath, then use a timer so that he or she can see or hear when time is up and they need to get out.

If your child hates having his or her hair shampooed you could use a shampoo guard so that your child can sit upright with their eyes open. Suppliers of baby equipment  often sell a “shampoo shield”. This is a foam rim which sits on the child’s head so water does not go into your child’s eyes.

If your child is fearful of getting soap in his or her eyes, there are several makes of shampoo that claim to be better for this, such as Johnson’s “No More Tears Baby Shampoo” and Paul Mitchell’s  “Baby Don’t Cry Shampoo”.

Ask your child to help wash his or her own hair.