When I became pregnant with baby #2 (the one we now call Milo), Whitney asked our friends and scoured the Internets for baby advice for me. The best one about bathing a baby (when you have two under two or even two under three) is “Just bathe the dirtiest one.”We used that tip for a long time.
Here are several methods for giving your two little ones a bath that have worked for our friends and readers:
Just bathe the dirtier one. One at at time, no big whoop. The big kid can help by handing you supplies or playing nearby (or watching TV). If the little one is not in the tub, a baby seat is a great device. We also had an exersaucer in the bathroom for just such occasions.
Little tub. Big tub. My friend Laurie’s two are almost exactly two years apart. When she bathed Big Brother in the large tub, she could also fit Little Zoe’s baby tub inside the tub. This kept Zoe relatively protected from her big brother’s impulses (pictured). Our baby tub was a bit larger (AKAÂ Eurobath)Â and could be used at the same time outside the tub.
Bath tub ring things are bad bad. The handy device was never a substitute for your total vigilance in the bathroom during the Great Wash, but it can be like an extra pair of hands. Instead, you might want to try a more stable compact support seat. Never leave your little ones unattended.
Pictured bath ring contains the smaller baby in the tub (does not work on thick thighs)
Go for it in the big tub. Once your baby can sit up unassisted, you might be ready for the real tub! The first time you try to bathe your two little ones in a regular bath tub, you will want help. It will be scary and slippery just like the first time you tried to bathe your infant in a bucket or the kitchen sink. After a few times of practice, you can hand this job off to daddy or even a babysitter without having a panic attack. I promise.
How to give two little ones a bath at the same time: go for it!
Even though we totally think you deserve a merit badge, bathing kids is just something moms do!
Remember to grab your towels in advance and lay out jammies to save yourself some headaches and wetness once the tub(s) drain.
Do you have any other parent-tested methods for bathing a couple of little ones?
[Photo credit: Laurie Zee and Heather Flett, used with permission]
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