A new baby will require as much sleep as they need, usually waking when they are hungry or if their nappy needs changing. At first, it will be difficult to know what your baby wants when it is crying or tired. Once you are settled into a routine, you will recognise when your baby is ready for a nap. You will want to settle him into taking naps appropriately during the day, and so that he will sleep at night without too much trouble.

Babies will still rub their eyes when they are small, an indication that they are tired and yawn too. He may also get fussy and a little upset. When your child gets older, they become more active and try to avoid sleep even if they are tired.

Try getting your baby to sleep at regular times during the day, so if they need a nap about 3 times a day, space out to mid morning, early afternoon and late afternoon which is appropriate for a baby who’s bedtime will be about 7.30 – 8.00 p.m.

Towards dinner time your baby will usually get tired, so then the parents face the dilemma of what they should do. If you allow your baby to sleep, you may find that they will not sleep at bedtime. The other option is to try to keep your baby awake and then settle him to bed at an earlier time.

Most parents prefer to try to keep the baby awake so that they get into the routine of when their bedtime is. If it has been a very busy and tiring day for your baby, you should let him have a short nap, then feed and play with him a little before putting him down for the night.

Keeping to a regular routine for naps and bed time will get your baby used to sleeping regularly at certain times.

Why let this fun end when bathing the child? With some application of mind, you could make baby bathing an interesting activity for the child, and hence for yourself as well. All you need on hand are a few baby-bathing products, bath toys, and robes that are not only baby skin friendly, but also handy bathroom accessories any mom would love to stock her bathroom with.

Baby Bath Products and Accessories

Baby bathing products or accessories are numerous, but there is one item that is most essential – the baby bath towel or baby bath robe. A baby bath towel or robe must be soft on the child’s skin. If the child shows some discomfort while you use it on him, assume your child has not taken a kind view towards the new accessory and it is paining or irritating his skin. Also, the bath robes or towels must be sufficiently large so that it can easily and fully wrap around the baby. If the bathrobe has interesting pictures of animals and birds, it may help your child to remain inside the robe for at least some time. Usually the soft cotton hooded towel sets cater to children right from their newborn days to 12-24 months, depending on the child’s size.

Baby Skin Care

The same theory of baby skin friendly concept applies to baby soaps, lotions, oils, and toys. While purchasing baby soaps and baby lotions ensure that they are sensitive enough for baby’s skin and do not contain any potential skin irritants. In that sense, if you see artificial or synthetic ingredients in baby skin products, you may want to avoid them. These products can cause terrible skin irritations.

The major task of baby’s bath time, however, remains to be baby’s entertainment in the bath tub. The baby most likely won’t like anyone to disturb his playful mood by pouring water over him in the confines of a bath tub. This is where bath toys play a crucial role, in ensuring that the playful atmosphere indeed carries over to the baby bathroom, giving the little ones full company all throughout the bathing ritual. Bath duckies, rubber animals and shapes, baby bath seats, bubble bath buddies (for kids of certain age), even the bath water thermometer, are some good bath time toys that could give your child good company in the bathroom. These items usually make decent baby shower presents, as well as being relatively low-cost items.

Above all, the most important thing for a child during bath time is the interaction with his caregivers, and the presence of an adult for safety at all times.