With toddlerhood comes a strong desire for independence.  Tasks that were previously simple and easy are suddenly a battle.  Your toddler wants to do everything by herself from putting on her clothes, eating with a spoon, using the “big kid” cup, to giving herself a bath.  Toddlers are learning all about the world around them and how they fit into that world at a very rapid pace.  They realize suddenly that they are independent of their parents and doing things by themselves is much better than having things done for them.  This little swing towards independence is both fun and challenging for parents.

One of the big challenges can be bathtime.  It may no longer by a breeze, even for those little ones who previously loved bathtime.  Between being told they have to do something at a certain time and having someone do most of the work for them can make for a few meltdowns.  So how can you make bathtime fun again for both you and your toddler?

• If you haven’t already done so, build it into your routine so your child knows to expect it every day or every other day at about the same time.
• Set expectations by giving your child a warning that bathtime is coming up by saying, for example “5 more minutes of play and then it is bathtime.”
• Purchase a few fun new bath toys that are age appropriate.  I have found that my daughter loves the sponge letters and numbers I purchased for her.  She gets something new to play with and gets to learn while she is playing.
• Get your child involved in bathtime by letting them help with the washing up.  Let them wash their tummy or their legs as a way to encourage their new independent nature.
• Add buddles to the tub every so often to shake things up a bit and make your child “want” to get in the tub.
• Consider showers instead of baths if bathtime is too much of a struggle.  A shower will be quicker and may make your child feel “cool” to be washing up like a “big boy”.
• Let your child help dry themselves off and put their jammies on after the bath.

Allowing them to stretch their new independent side will make everything, including bathtime, a little easier for them and you.  Struggles are part of the territory but you can minimize them so you don’t feel like you are constantly in a game of tug-of-war with your toddler.

My daughter loves bathtime, however, getting her to remember how fun bathtime is and come into the bathroom when the water is ready can sometimes be a challenge.  For the most part she cooperates but if she doesn’t I offer her something new or different, like I’ll take a bath with her or we’ll blow bubbles in the tub together.

What do you do to help minimize the battles with your independent toddler?