Bathing Baby

If you find bathing little ones a nightly chore, take the hassle and hustle out of bath time with some fun products and ideas specifically for water babies.

Before tub time, prepare by doing the following:

Keep the bathroom temperature warm enough so that kids won't be chilled when wet. Fill the tub with warm (never hot) water (98 degrees is ideal; use your elbow to test the temperature). Set your water heater to 120 degrees so water never gets scalding hot. Never leave water running unattended. An adult must be present at all times during bath time.
Unplug any electric appliances and place them out of reach. Be sure plastic, rubber and vinyl bath toys are nearby (some that float, others that fill). Use a soft terry washcloth or animal-shaped sponge to clean from head to toe. Have a clean, dry towel ready when the tub plug is pulled. Place nonskid mats on the floor.

Try these products for tons of tub fun:

Sponge

Speak and Splash talking sponges come in cow, duck, dog, monkey and elephant shapes. Creations by Alan Stuart; call (800) 866-4424 for a store location near you.

Soap

Mustela's Cold Cream Soap is excellent for babies with dry or irritated skin. For a store near you, call (800) 422-2987.
Thornbury's Soapy Ted is a teddy bear-shaped soap that comes in rosemary, oatmeal and honey, and vanilla scents. Available at JustRelaxMe.com.
Blue Skies and White Fluffy Clouds bubble bar by Lush fizzes up in the tub and smells like patchouli. Available by calling (888) 733-LUSH.
Woody bath bubbles by Johnson's is adorned with Disney's cowboy character, Woody, from Toy Story. Available at mass market retailers nationwide.
The Kiss Kids line by Kiss My Face includes a grape jelly-scented bubble wash to use as a bubble bath or all-over body wash. Available at KissMyFace.com.
For babies, try All Washed Alto, a gentle body wash from Bambini Soul. Available at Beauty.com, Barneys, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue stores.

Shampoo

Suave's Tropical Punch shampoo is a foaming formula for "sculpting" your child's hair while shampooing. Available at mass market retailers nationwide.
L'Oréal's Burst of Cherry-Almond shampoo has a gentle two-in-one formula. Available at mass market retailers nationwide.
Bath and Body Works makes Foamtastic shampoo in four fruity scents. Available at Bath and Body Works stores nationwide.
Jungle Care's tear-free shampoo is an excellent choice for babies. Available at professional salons, select Nordstrom stores or by calling (800) 7beauty.
Le Petit Phyto by Phytotherathrie's Phytomiel is especially well suited for extremely fine hair. Available at Sephora, Barneys New York, Neiman Marcus; visit Beauty.com, or call (800) 55-PHYTO for a location near you.
Arizona Babies nopales shampoo doubles as a body wash. Available at ArizonaBabies.com or by calling (866) 4AZ BABY (866-429-2229).

After Bath

Wrap your little one in a soft, cuddly towel. Then sprinkle baby with Johnson's Baby Powder Pure Cornstarch with aloe and vitamin E ($3.19; available at mass market retailers nationwide). Powder absorbs moisture and protects against chafing and other skin irritations.
Once dry, use Pour Maman et Bébé's skin creme, a rich cream that contains blue chamomile, lavender and other essential oils to soothe dry patches. Available at SculptressBabyGifts.com, or by calling (888) 961-4488.
Baby Barrier by Neal's Yard Remedies is a soothing cream containing aloe vera, vitamin E and shea butter. Available at Nyr-usa.com.
Nicole René Baby Care's baby lotion moisturizes without mineral oil or other harsh chemicals. Available at NicoleRene.com.
If you really want to spoil your little one, use Bvlgari's Petits et Mamans Gentle Body Lotion on all of their little parts. Its scent is a beautiful blend of peach and lily extracts, which will refresh your child's skin and leave baby smelling sweet and fresh. (Available at Saks Fifth Avenue and Bvlgari stores nationwide. To find a store near you call (800) BULGARI.).

For travel-sized products or to give as a gift, consider one of the following kits or sets:

Tranquil Time gift set by Arizona Babies. Available at Arizonababies.com or by calling (866) 4AZ BABY (866-429-2229).
Mama Mia bath set with polar bear sponge by Bambini Soul. Available at Beauty.com, Barneys, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue stores.
Baby Bee Getting Started kit by Burt's Bees. Available at Drugstore.com.
Jungle Care gift box for boys or girls. Available at professional salons and select Nordstrom stores; or call (800) 7-BEAUTY.
Mustela Squeaky Clean set with Musti bear floating tub toy. For a store near you call (800) 422-2987.
Eight varieties of 3-in-1 shampoo, conditioner and body wash from The Cookbook by philosophy. Available at Barneys New York, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue , Marshall Fields; or call (800) LOVE-151.
Venus Giftware bath kit for kids. For a store near you call (866) 222-9055.

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