Looking for a way to make bathtime feel less like a task and more like play? This plan keeps it light, fun, and calming, perfect for winding down and building a routine.
From book to bubbles, drip-drop play to gentle hair rinsing, bathtime can become a calming, confidence-building routine.
About This Play Plan:
This play plan turns bathtime into a calm, playful part of your toddler’s bedtime routine. With simple books, toys, and sensory moments like pouring and bubbles, your child builds confidence, body awareness, and a sense of comfort around winding down, all while having fun in the tub.
How to Use This Plan:
- Gather Your Materials: Check the list below for everything you’ll need.
- Follow the 5E Tabs: Each tab provides step-by-step guidance, creative ideas, and reflection prompts to make the experience more meaningful.
- Let Your Child Lead: Observe how your child interacts with the materials and adjust based on their interests and developmental stage.
Spark your child’s curiosity:
Start by reading a toddler-friendly book about bathtime, such as Bedtime for Zoe.
Pause to point out familiar actions, like washing hair or playing with water. Use a calm, playful tone and say things like, “Zoe’s in the bath, just like you!” This helps set the stage for a fun, relatable bath experience.
Encourage hands-on exploration:
During bathtime, give your toddler the Lovevery Nesting, Stacking Drip Drop Cups to play with. Encourage them to scoop and pour water, exploring how it moves. As they play with the water and the cups, say simple words like “water” or “drip, drip, drip” to help connect language to the action.
Also, try blowing some bubbles and let them try catching or popping them. Repeatedly say the word “bubbles” when your toddler notices them.
This keeps things light and playful while they get used to the routine.
Provide simple, age-appropriate explanations:
As they play, model what they can do with simple, clear words.
For instance, if you’re about to pour water down their hair, you can say “Tilt your head back, like Zoe!”
Gently narrate what’s happening with their body: “Water’s going down your back… now we add some soap to your body.” This builds awareness and helps them associate actions with comfort, not resistance.
Expand on the activity:
Connect bathtime to the bigger bedtime routine.
After the bath, mention what’s next: “Now we dry off and read our story, just like Zoe.” Keep the tone calm and predictable.
A note: Some toddlers don’t want to leave the bath because it’s fun and soothing. To help ease the transition, give them a gentle signal that bathtime is ending. You might say, “All done,” while slowly gathering the cups, then say, “Bye-bye, bath,” together.
If your toddler starts to cry when it’s time to get out, you can say, “You feel sad; it’s hard to stop when you’re having fun. We’ll have another bath tomorrow.”
You can even revisit the book after the bath as part of the wind-down. Over time, these steps help your toddler feel secure and more independent during transitions.
Reflect on how your child responded to the play:
- What part of bathtime seemed to hold their attention the longest: pouring, bubbles, or the book?
- How did they react when you named what was happening (like tilting their head or drying off)?
- Were they more relaxed, playful, or cooperative during the bath?
- Did the transition out of the bath feel smoother with a heads-up or simple goodbye routine?
- What small signs of comfort, curiosity, or independence showed up during this routine?
Keeping bathtime at a consistent time each day helps make the routine predictable and easier to move through.
Materials List:
- Bedtime for Zoe board book (or any toddler-friendly story about bathtime routines)
- Lovevery Drip Drop Cups (or similar water-pouring toys)
- Bubble wand and solution
- Bubble solution or bubble bath (safe for toddler use)
- A small washcloth or soft sponge for rinsing
Tips for the Grown-Ups:
Follow the Child’s Lead:
Observe how your child interacts with the playthings. Let them guide the session by following their interests. If they show a preference for exploring textures, sounds, or colors, embrace it. Be a silent observer, ready to expand their learning with gentle, supportive language.
Create a Calm, Inviting Space:
Set up a clutter-free area that encourages focused exploration. Use natural light and simple setups to inspire curiosity. If the weather permits, take the play outside for a richer sensory experience, connecting with the natural world.
Encourage Open-Ended Play:
Embrace imaginative twists and unexpected uses for the toys. If the activity takes a surprising turn, celebrate this as a sign of growing cognitive flexibility and problem-solving.
Our Own Play Experience
We moved to a new apartment when my daughter was 11 months old, and the unfamiliar bathroom and tub made bathtime a scary experience.
But once she learned to stand, she discovered how much she loved splashing in a bucket of water. We skipped the tub and filled the bucket with bubble bath instead. With the Lovevery Drip Drop Cups, she played with focus and joy, sometimes crying when it was time to stop.
Blowing bubbles made the routine even more fun, and at 13 months, she started trying to blow them herself. It was sweet watching her keep at it until she finally got one to pop.
The only part of bathtime she didn’t enjoy was rinsing her hair. She didn’t like the water streaming down her face, and we struggled to make that moment more comfortable.
Reading Bedtime for Zoe helped us teach her to tilt her head back. Now, when we say, “Look up,” she closes her eyes, lifts her chin, and smiles as the water trickles down her head.
We do our best to keep bathtime consistent, after dinner, before teeth brushing, and always before bed. It helps her unwind, and the rhythm of it all brings her comfort and calm at the end of the day.
Please Note: I am a proud Lovevery subscriber and fan, and many of the play plans shared here feature Lovevery playthings. However, this site is not affiliated with or endorsed by Lovevery. All ideas and recommendations are my own, based on my experiences as a mom who values meaningful, play-based learning.
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