The PJ Library story Happy, Happy! shows the baby in the book celebrating all their firsts – first time home from hospital, the first tooth and their first Shabbat. Meaningful moments may not always go so smoothly though so it was a relief to see the mealtime was messy and the bathtime was wet! We’ve been in touch with Gillian Assor AKA Nanny to the Rescue, to get her suggestions on how to prep for a calmer bath time making it a more enjoyable experience for everyone.
- If possible get everything ready in the bathroom before your child comes home from nursery or school. Pyjamas, nappies wet wipes, creams, bath towel and whatever else you need.
- Give your children a five minute warning before they have to go upstairs so they can finish whatever they are doing before it is time for their bath.
- Use your imagination to get them upstairs. You could pretend you are all mice and creep upstairs quietly, or bang your feet as if you are all thundering elephants.
- Change which toys you bring to the bath every few weeks. It’s amazing to see the difference a variety can make to their behaviour. Use yoghurt pots, milk powder scoops, funnels, corks, sponges or small bowls. Keep a couple of small baskets/buckets full of different toys and just swap them over now and again.
- Children often like to chat about their day when they are relaxed in the bath. It’s a great place to communicate and bond with your child.
- If you bathe your children together take it in turns for them to come out of the bath first. I like to wrap each child in the towel and play a game called “What’s That Animal”. The child makes a sound and I guess what animal they are, while I am drying them. They end up dry and happy with little fuss.
- Getting dressed into their pyjamas – whatever their age, children often like the help and attention. Why not count in a foreign language and see if they can get dressed before times up?
- Brushing their teeth can also be quite taxing. You can use an egg timer, phone timer or sing a song to them to help pass the time. Children often find it fun to watch themselves in a mirror while brushing their teeth.
- Let them choose their (PJ Library!) bed time story. Snuggle up and enjoy a kiss, cuddle and end of day chat before saying goodnight.
- Be firm once the routine is through. Bed time means Bed. You can agree some reading time if they are older and you feel they need a little longer to settle. You can’t make a child sleep BUT you can insist that they stay in their room until they fall asleep.
Books for Bedtime
About Gillian
Gillian Assor is a highly experienced childcare specialist. She set up Nanny to the Rescue an emergency and ad hoc nanny agency. She dedicates her to all areas of children’s development including behavioural issues and works as a trouble shooter (like Supernanny!) going into people’s homes and advising them how to adapt their parenting as needed. She has just published her first children’s book called Polly Poo Goes Home, a fun, light-hearted and easy-to-follow story helping children who may have a fear of going to the toilet, understand what happens to their Poo!
May 13, 2019