How do you handle bathtime with 2u2?

lilone_06 · November 2009

Okay, so apparently it's a new challenge every day!

How do you handle baths for your LOs without your DH (or other extra set of hands) around? I attempted this tonight, but I'm not brave enough to put both of them in the same tub, so ended up having to abandon DD1 in the tub for a few moments and had to let DD2 cry it out in her glider for a few other moments. (DD2 is a little fussy in the evenings and isn't happy unless held.) Neither of which are ideal. Any tips for me? TIA!

Trvlingbride · November 2009

My DH work 24 hours every third day so I have to do both their baths together. I use a reclined seat for DD # 2. I wash DD # 2 while #1 plays in the tub. THen I take #2 out and put her in a towel in her bouncy seat or get her dressed right away. Then I quickly wash # 1.

If your DD2 is fussy in the evening then you could bathe her earlier while #1 is napping or let #1 "help". I will often take DD 1 in the shower with me when I do that. Then I don't have to worry about bath time.

Good luck! In a few months DD 2 will be sitting and it will be SO much easier.

susansev · November 2009

I try to have help for bath night but when I don't I put DD 1 in her pnp and give DD 2 a bath and then after I put DD2 in the bouncy seat in the bathroom with us and give DD1 a tub...DD 2 is sitting up pretty well unassisted so last night was the first time we bathed them together with DD 2 in a seat that hooks to the side of the tub and DD just sitting in the water- I will probably only do that when I have help though....

HarrietNJMommy · November 2009

I have 3 kids. I bathe the girls together in the afternoon while DS naps - the girls don't nap! I will bathe DS right after he eats dinner, in the kitchen sink (in a tub) - we have a big kitchen sink, while the girls play in the playroom while I can watch them.

We don't do bathtime right before bed. It's way too hectic for me. It's not part of our routine.........

In a couple of months, I'll try to bathe all 3 together, and it'll be right before dinnertime........

Mr.&MrsS · November 2009

It is tricky here too! Usually I dont have a problem giving DS2 a bath because I use the baby tub in the kitchen. DS1 will just play with his toys right near me, or I put him in the chair and he "helps" me. He will hand me the wash cloth and soap and things. Giving DS1 a bath is harder because DS2 usually screams the whole time. I usually put DS2 in his bouncy and bring that into the bathroom with me while I bathe DS1. If DS2 cries then he cries...DS1 needs a bath!! I have been thinking about getting one of those reclining seats for the tub and doing them both at the same time, but I havent done that yet.

HappyTXChick · November 2009

I usually close DS in the bathroom wiht us while I bathe DD, then let him play in her room with us while I get her dressed. Then I lay DD on the bath mat by the tub and talk to her while I bathe DS. Then I put DD in DS's crib with his aquarium on while I get DS dressed. It works out fine. But luckily I have only had to do this 2 or 3 times as DH always helps.

howleyshell · November 2009

I put the baby tub down inside the regular tub so the baby is supported and literally right next to the toddler.

I put very little water in either tub.

I washed the toddler first while the baby laid in the baby tub and washed the baby last. A good trick is to put a warm wet wash cloth on the baby's tummy while the baby's in the tub. It makes them feel surrounded and soothed and should buy you a few extra minutes to soap up the toddler.

Singing songs to them during this time helps them both feel like they've got your attention as you deal with the other child. Songs where the toddler can do hand motions are especially helpful (I see yours is over 2 so I'd recommend Happy and you Know it, Twinkle Twinkle (open and close fists), Itsy Bitsy Spider (I crack up watching my almost 2 year old try to do the fingers for the spider)

Then remove baby, dry and dress (all on the floor right beside the tub) while the toddler's playing with toys in the tub. (also removed the baby tub so the toddler had more room to play)

Baby is snug, warm, and happy while removing toddler to dress.

I could get them in and out in under 10 minutes by using this method but I often times sat and cuddled or nursed the baby and let the toddler play a while longer.

You'll figure out what works for you in no time.

GL!

shouldbworkin · November 2009

#2 got baths only about 1x a week until she was big enough to sit in the bathtub with #1 (using a bath ring) at around 4 mos old. Honestly, she wasn't very dirty since she wasn't eating real food until she was 6-8 mos old, so she didn't need a bath more often. I would wash her with a wash cloth in between.

johnsoar · November 2009

I bathe them together. DS is in the infant tub in the big tub and DD sits on at the end of the tub. I put DSs head toward the facuet so DD can't poke his eyes, put her fingers in his mouth, pat his head...

Pesky · November 2009

Umm, they often end up not being bathed. Embarrassed

Hate to say it but true. When DS was really little and stayed up later than DD, I could give him a bath after she went down. But when DH is OOT, it's more often than not a washcloth to the face and hands and feet of DD and maybe a sponge bath for DS but that's it. The only time I could manage to bathe DD when DH was OOT was when a neighbor volunteered to hold DS for me while I did that and got her to bed.

adri77 · November 2009

No help is hard! I never had help when they were this young either, and still don't I never bathed them together until DS2 was about 6 months- and too big for his tub. My routine was to bathe and put DS1 to bed, while the baby was in the hall outside of the bathroom in his swing/bouncy/floor whatever. Sometimes he cried, sometimes not. Then, I bathed him in our kitchen in his little tub. I didn't start bathing them together until I was confident the baby could sit up unassisted ok. I would wash them both up, and then dry/change the baby on the floor in the bathroom, so I could still keep a good eye on DS1. Then I'd put him somewhere secure and do the same with DS1.

You will find that as they get older, routines constantly change and what worked last week, suddenly doesn't work this week!!! Good luck with everything!

Rinnie · November 2009

99% of the time I do bath's alone.

I have a DD who is 2.5 years old and twin boys that are almost 11 months.

I can tell you my kids don't get as many baths as I would like because it is just to hard for me. It is also not part of our night time routine.

I recently found that if I give my DD a bath during the boys nap is a bit easier for me, but when it is time for the boys bath she then wants in with them and I end up putting her in. So I have 3 kids in the tub. The boys LOVE their bath - so I always feel guilt that they don't get enough.

I always bath the boys together. I have 2 bath chairs that I got for the boys. This worked for me up until 2/3 months ago when they climbed out.

https://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2605795

You can always get this and then put the other child in the tub also.

Now I bring everything into the bathroom with me and fill the tub up. I try to set up a movie for my DD in our bedroom to keep her out. Sometimes she wants to help and I let her, it will depend on my mood.

If my DD ends up in the tub, I always watch and keep my attentions on the babies. They get out of the tub and dressed first while she hangs out in the tub. If I need to go into the boys room - right next to the bathroom I will talk to her the entire time I am in there. Or we sing.

If you do want to do them one at a time - let DD2 hang out either in her chair in the bathroom if it is big enough or in the hallway while you bath DD1 and while you bath DD2 let DD1 hang out and play either in bathroom/hallway.

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