Are you having a hard time giving your toddler a bath? Worry no more, these fun bath time games promise to entertain your toddler and end your crisis of getting him clean once and for all.

Go Fish

While your little one is sitting in bath water, why not play a fishing game? You can purchase a bath toy set (e.g. Munchkin Bath Toy Set or Sassy Catch N Release Net Bath Toy) or make your own marine-life collection by buying a small aquarium net for your toddler and some craft foam. Using the craft foam, cut different sea creature like fishes, starfishes, sea horses, dolphins and whales. You may also download and print a sea life template. Let the creatures float around the water and challenge your toddler to scoop up all of the fish or everything that is green.

The Card Game

Your toddler will need foam-like card like the Splashimals by Milliwik. He can get them wet, stick them to the wall and then help him name the animals one by one or ask him what sound each animal makes. This is a great game to boost your toddler’s enthusiasm to take a bath while improving his artistic, memory and reading skills.

Hello, Teddy!

Encourage your young one to shampoo his own baby’s hair (he may use a plush bath toy or an old teddy bear) while you are shampooing his hair. It is a very effective technique that will distract him while at the same time, make him more at ease with the hair washing process.

Bath Time At The Zoo

Gather all your toddler’s plush stuffed animals and have them join your toddler while you are giving him a bath. Tell him that the animals are dirty and are in need of some good scrubbing. Your toddler will truly have fun getting his stuffed animals squeaky clean.

Eye Spy

Wondering what is the simplest way to prevent soap from entering into your toddler’s eyes? Have him look up while you wash him. You can blow bubbles in the direction of the ceiling or stick a colorful poster on the ceiling.

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall

Place an unbreakable mirror on the wall where your toddler will face. While you shampoo his hair, let him watch as you turn  his hair it into a Mohawk, a flattop, give him a pair of antlers or a pirate’s mustache.

Measuring Game

Place an assortment of plastic spoons, bowls, cups and other kitchen items in the bathtub. While you slather soap on his skin, have him pour and measure water using his tools. Then, ask him which items float, which ones go down or which holds more water better, the bowl or the glass?

Name That Body Part

Use washable crayons or markers to outline the different parts of your toddler’s body. Point out the markers in his body and ask your toddler to name as many parts as he can. After naming a part, rinse it off with a soapy washcloth until no marker is left.

These bath time games will surely keep you and your toddler laughing, making bathing stress-free for the two of you. So do not be surprised if he wants to take a second, third or fourth bath just so he can play these games again.

Some children love taking a bath, while others detest it. If your toddler belongs to the latter group, then you know how frustrating and arduous this task can be. But, with the help of these tips, you can get your toddler to take a bath and bid adieu to his bath time fears.

Do A Demo

Put a plastic bowl or glass in the sink, fill the tub with water and then drain. This will show your toddler that the item is still there and it did not go down with the bath water.

When you take a bath, let your little one watch you. Or, get his older sibling in the tub and bathe him. Another excellent idea is to let your toddler bathe his favorite teddy. This may seem silly but you might get your toddler fascinated enough to want to take a dip.

Join The Fun

Take a bath with your toddler. Dump and splatter water around. Take turns shampooing each other’s hair or scrubbing each other’s back. By taking a bath together, it will make your little one realize that there is nothing to be afraid of and bathing can be a fun bonding activity.

Keep It Entertaining

Believe it or not, some children do not like to take a bath because they get bored. To keep your toddler engrossed, give him bathing products such as kid-friendly soap and shampoo, bubble baths, bath toys (e.g. boats, a bucket and shovel, spray bottle, bath chalks, toy car or rubber duckies) or a special tub. This will keep your little one so distracted that he will not realize you have washed him clean.

Be Creative

Use a soft bathtub liner or a plastic mat in the tub if your toddler dislikes sitting on the tub’s hard surface. If this does not work, ditch the tub and use the shower instead. Showers are more fun since your child is able to move more freely, eliminating the feeling of being trapped which bathtubs tend to create.

Put Your Toddler In Charge

Let your toddler bathe on his own. Have him shampoo his hair and lather his body with a cleansing bar (with your assistance, of course). Give your little one a washcloth and let him wash himself. This allows him to be at ease with his surroundings.

Do Not Be Pushy

Children love taking their time when taking a bath. Schedule his bathing when you can take things slow, say, after he wakes up in the morning or before bedtime. When you are not in a hurry, you allow your toddler to go at his own pace. Oh, and if he does not want to get his hair wet, do not insist. Skip the shampoo for now.

Be Compassionate

Sympathize with your toddler. Let him know that you understand his fears because you were also scared to get shampoo into your eyes when you were young. Talk to him how you conquered your fear. This will help your toddler understand that what he is feeling is normal and that he, too, can outgrow his fear.

They key to getting your toddler to take a bath is to be flexible, ingenious and to make the activity fun for your little one. Make sure to keep that in mind.