Bathing a wriggly, wet baby can be quite a balancing act. If your baby screams blue murder when he or she sees the bath towel, chances are he or she has been hurt in the bathroom and has painful memories. When your baby has started crawling, and you don’t have the necessary accessories to be in control, you have a very rough ride ahead. Here is a list of the most essential bathing accessories you will need.

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.