Baby Bathing Games
A baby bath is about so much more than getting clean. It’s a chance to play, learn, grow and bond with your baby.
Your gentle, loving touch during your baby’s bath and cuddle time afterward supports your baby’s healthy happy development. In fact, research shows that your touch promotes healthy social-emotional development and enhances your baby’s motor skills.
Baby Bathing and Tips for Happy, Healthy Baby Development
What you can do
During the baby bath, have fun and celebrate your child’s accomplishments, like when she squeezes the water from the sponge or floats a toy.
Explore and play games like patting the water back-and-forth to make a splash.
Cuddle up together after the baby bath and share a bonding moment.
What your child is learning
She is smart and competent and that you delight in sharing her discoveries when you play together.
The skill of taking turns and that engaging with activities together is fun and rewarding.
That she is loved, which builds her self-esteem.
Building and Strengthening Baby’s Language and Thinking Skills
What you can do
Connect and engage with your baby. For example, when your baby makes sounds and gestures, such as indicating she would like you to read a book, respond with praise and the action she requested.
When bathing your baby, talk with her and explain what you are doing together. For instance, drop the ducky in the water and exclaim, ”Look, he floats!”
Bath time for babies can also be a chance to pick up new skills. Show her how to stick sponge letters to the wall of the tub or make the ducky squeak.
What your child is learning
She is communicating with you and you understand. This reinforces that sounds and actions are a good way to show what you are thinking or feeling.
When you talk to your child like this during activities, it helps your child to learn words and concepts like sinking and floating.
She will learn to make things work by copying your actions, while bonding with you.
Understanding Physical Development
What you can do
Make each baby bath fun and educational by offering your baby a variety of toys so she can explore and discover with her hands.
Point out and talk about your baby’s different body parts as she uses them. Praise her when she uses her hands to pop bubbles and tell her what body part she is using.
What your child is learning
How to have fun and explore in new ways from a seated position. Transferring objects from one hand to another and using her hands to make objects work, such as trying to get the bath stickers to stick to the tub, teaches your baby confidence.
To recognize her body parts and how they work to help her reach her goals.
When she makes a big splash with her hands or by dropping a toy in the tub, your baby learns about cause and effect. This helps her figure out how things work. When she wipes the bubbles away to discover her belly underneath, she learns that things still exist even though she can’t see them — a very important concept. And all the talking you do together during this special time helps build her language skills.
What’s most important is that all of this learning takes place with you, her most favorite person! How’s that for making the most of each baby bath?
Remember, part of keeping baby bathing fun is making sure your baby is safe. NEVER leave a baby alone in the bath. Not even for a second. So gather all the things you will need for the bath beforehand and if the phone rings, just let it. Also, be sure to set your water heater below 37 degrees Celsius to help prevent the possibility of scalding.
Moms around the world trust JOHNSON’S® to care for their babies
We are committed to working with moms, healthcare experts and scientists to ensure our products continue achieving the highest JOHNSON’S® baby standards.
Learn how we're making JOHNSON’S® products even better for your baby >
Toddler Bathing
Make brushing your toddler’s teeth a part of his bathing routine.
Baby Bath Seats
Baby bath seats have recently undergone changes to align with stricter safety standards — but they are still controversial. BabyCenter® shares what to look for if you purchase one.