The first thing that you need is a baby bathtub. Select the appropriate tub for your baby, keeping his or her size and weight in mind. Some baby bathtubs are inflatable, others are made of plastic. While a baby bathtub is not essential, most have features that make bathing easy. Some even have toys attached to them, and sensors that can warn you if the water temperature is too high.

Safety tap/faucet covers are very useful when your baby crosses the 6-month mark. As your baby gets ready to stand up, it is quite possible for him to inadvertently bang his head or any other body part on the hard steel tap. This can be quite painful for an adult, let alone a tender young baby. A safety tap cover inflates to fit over taps.

This gives protection against bumps and knocks, and also prevents your curious baby from accidentally turning the hot water tap on. Faucet covers come in attractive colors and shapes, and some of them make bath time fun by spewing bubbles. Similar covers are available for the bathtub drain release valve. These covers have finger slots on the sides, which allow parents to access the drain release without removing the cover.

If you are bathing an older baby, you will naturally be using the bathroom, where it is easy for you or the baby to slip accidentally. Bath mats provide cushioning and increase grip on the floor. If you will be bathing more than one child, get extra long mats. Good quality bath mats come with suction cups, which will hold the bath mat securely in place. Select a bath mat that is easy to clean and does not attract mildew.

The bathroom holds an array of accessories starting from baby shampoo, baby oil, and liquid soap, to toothbrush dispensers and baby toys. A carry stand can be very useful when you want to keep all your baby’s items in one place. This way, it is easy for you to just pick up the stand when it’s baby’s bath time. Some bath stands come in attractive sizes and shapes and will even encourage your toddler to pitch in with the cleaning up.

An important bath accessory is a soft and cushy bath towel. Bath towels that are colorful and extra-soft will make toweling a pleasurable experience. Many baby towels have hoods, which will keep your baby’s head warm when he gets out of the bath.

Bath toys are attractive and fun, but not absolutely essential. Bath time can be extremely stressful for some babies. In such a case, you can use some attractive toys to distract your baby while you get your work done.

Toiletries: If you have just brought your first baby home, you will be awed by the variety of toiletries aimed at that little bundle. Tempting as it is to buy the whole shop, you need only a few basic things.

Mild baby soap or liquid soap is a must.

A mild baby shampoo that does not irritate your baby’s delicate eyes is another essential item.

A natural all-purpose moisturizer is also useful if your baby’s skin seems dry.

And that’s all there is to making bath time a relaxing and fun experience.

Baby bath products, ranging from an infant bath to a bath seat and then to toddler tubs, are so numerous that a parent can feel confused by the sheer choice and range. So, here’s an inventory that seems to be the most useful for the baby as well as the parents.

Baby bath products can be classified under three main categories:

• Pre-bath products
• Bathing products
• Post-bathing

Baby oil: Baby oil, which is light and non-greasy, is a good purchase. For babies who love the bathing ritual, this will be a delightful experience. With my own baby, we spent many happy hours massaging and talking about all sorts of wild stuff – he seemed to understand every bit of the talk and his toothless grin used to make my day!

Apart from the wonderful bonding experience it offers, light massaging is good for babies. In cold climates, where the skin is likely to get rough, non-greasy oil helps to make baby skin soft and supple. Many baby-oils are enriched with vitamins A, E and D.

Baby oils get absorbed quickly, and are non-staining. If you warm the oil slightly before applying, it increases the blood circulation. But check the temperature on your skin first.

Oil also helps to take care of cradle cap. Gently massage some baby oil into the scalp and comb your baby’s hair. Wash the oil off with a mild shampoo.

If you decide to buy the baby oil, a massage mat is inevitable. I personally feel that the few extra dollars you spend on the mat is well worth the truly rewarding experience of bonding with your baby.

Bathtubs: Once your baby’s umbilical cord falls off, you can start bathing him or her properly. A bathtub is therefore a most-needed accessory. If your little one is squirmy and irritated in the bath, an infant bathtub becomes useful. These mini-tubs allow you to place your baby in a reclining position, without him wriggling all over the place. Tubs that come with a slip-resistant seat and a contoured shape will make your baby feel secure. If you want to use the same bath for a longer period, go for a transitional bathtub. This one has removable infant bath attachments, which can be detached once your baby is able to hold his head up.

Baby soap and shampoo: Mild baby soaps and shampoos clean skin without drying it out. Since young babies have to be cleaned thoroughly, soaps are a must. And while you’re at it, get a mild shampoo that does not irritate his eyes.

Bath toys: Squishy, squeaky, colorful toys help keep your baby engaged while you get on with the bath. Many bathtubs have built-in toys or special pockets where you can keep toys.
Moisturizers: A natural all-purpose moisturizer will help tender skin regain its oil balance after a thorough bath.

Towels and washcloths: A large fluffy, soft towel with a hood will keep the baby dry and warm just after the bath. Washcloths are handy to dry difficult areas like the inside of the ears, creases of the neck and bottom etc.

Other products:

Thermometers can be used to test the temperature of the water. Ideally, water temperature should lie between 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Wipes: There are times when a bath is not really essential, or a bathtub is not available. Never underestimate the power of wipes. They’re just the thing to clean baby drool, baby food and any other mess that your baby creates. They are also best to clean up a baby after a diaper change.

Before you buy any product, do a little research. Any baby product should be one hundred percent safe for the baby.

But as parents, we want nothing less than the best for our little ones. Like babies, parents also love the feel of soft towels, and bundling up Junior in a beautifully patterned towel is almost a matter of maternal pride. During the first few years of his life, when a baby gleefully makes a mess everywhere he goes, he is in constant need of cleaning up. Towels and washcloths help clean a messy baby.

A baby’s towels should be useful as well as creative. The most popular towels for young infants are the hooded towels. Put simply, a hooded towel just has an extra length of fabric added to one corner of the towel to create a hood. Just after a baby is born, you may observe the nurse quickly covering the infant’s head with a towel. Soon after, the tiny head is covered with a cap. This is essential because a baby can lose a lot of body heat within the short time that his head is bare.

Baby bath towels are important bath accessories. After a bath, a baby’s body temperature can fall rapidly if his head is left bare. Hooded towels provide a special pocket for the head and prevent loss of body warmth. These towels are therefore the perfect bath time accessory to keep the baby warm and cozy. Hooded towels are available in a variety of shapes with trademark characters and designs. This makes taking a bath a fun experience for young children.

For a newborn baby, being snug and warm is the epitome of happiness. Since he has been used to the steady warmth of the stomach, a baby feels cold even at room temperature. Most parents like to keep their babies within a hooded towel using the towel much like a blanket. The bright colors and attractive designs add to the beauty of these towels, which come shaped as cute bunnies, puppies, ladybugs and so on. Many hooded towels even come in designs that complement baby clothes, so your little bundle of joy is perfectly color coordinated.

Towels make excellent gifts for expectant mothers. A large set of towels may contain a receiving blanket, a hooded towel, a sleeper, a bib and a baby washcloth. Different styles of towels are available in sets to match with layette items. Smaller sets may contain only hooded towels and washcloths.

Washcloths, on the other hand, are rougher than soft towels. They are used to clean the skin by removing dead skin. In the friction they produce, they speed up blood circulation and revive the skin, making it soft and pink with health. A newborn baby can start taking regular baths only after his umbilical cord falls off. Until then, you can sponge him using a wet washcloth.

A washcloth is useful when you want to clean all those areas that are a bit difficult to reach, like the inside of the ears, between the toes and fingers, folds of the neck etc. A wet washcloth is all you need to wipe your baby’s bottom clean before a diaper change. Washcloths encourage the skin’s exfoliation process by getting rid of dead skin.

Towels and washcloths are important bath time accessories for your baby.