https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:15:17 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mamas-who-incorporate-baths-into-bedtime-routine#post-1237019 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 16:15:53 +0000 littlepenguin 1237019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like your baby, my son loves bath time; it's a big splish splash party. I know my son likes to go to bed roughly 8:30-9:00 pm. So our bath is part of our evening routine but not bed time routine. I give him a bath, I use it as a time for him to get some of his energy out, since he clearly enjoys it. We put on PJ's and he has a couple hours to be a silly baby and spend time with Dad. When he's getting sleepy, it's night time bottle and cuddles with Mommy or Daddy.</p> <p>I think the most important thing I've realized being a new mom, is that if I notice a certain behavior (ie bath time is fun and exciting) and I try to force something (ie bath time = relaxing and getting ready for bed time) it's usually me that's going to end up frustrated. After all he's a baby, it's easier to find activities and create a schedule that supports his behavior than try to change it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mamas-who-incorporate-baths-into-bedtime-routine#post-1236996 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 16:07:23 +0000 cmomma17 1236996@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@deerylou: I read that it's the change in body temperature (from warm, to cool) after a bath that relaxes kids at bedtime.</p> <p>My pediatrician kept talking about soothing massage at bedtime, but all I do is try to grease him down as quickly as possible while he tries to eat his foot or roll away ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mamas-who-incorporate-baths-into-bedtime-routine#post-1236994 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 16:06:34 +0000 ALV91711 1236994@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Bath time is splash and play time. DH usually gets him laughing so hard. By th time he is done and lotioned and in pj's he knows it is time to nurse and go to bed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mamas-who-incorporate-baths-into-bedtime-routine#post-1236980 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 16:00:01 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 1236980@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@deerylou: DD likes to play in the bath, BUT, I have noticed that, because it's always been part of the bedtime routine, she'll go down easier at night after having a bath, than the nights that I don't give her a bath.... kind of like Pavlov's dog ;-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mamas-who-incorporate-baths-into-bedtime-routine#post-1236966 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 15:55:44 +0000 deerylou 1236966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shopaholic: We rub her down with raw shea butter after a bath. Are they certain baby massage techniques that help to calm? I know nothing. Mostly, she just kicks her legs around and tries to shove her oily limbs in her mouth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mamas-who-incorporate-baths-into-bedtime-routine#post-1236958 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 15:53:50 +0000 shopaholic 1236958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've only done daytime baths if there was a nasty blowout or she went swimming. Do you do a massage after bath? We do that at night. Though, these days, it's more about a quick rubdown with coconut oil as fast as possible since she hates being changed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mamas-who-incorporate-baths-into-bedtime-routine#post-1236948 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 15:49:55 +0000 Andrea 1236948@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our baths have never been calming and both kids sleep great! They're just tired at the end of the day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mamas-who-incorporate-baths-into-bedtime-routine#post-1236922 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 15:38:04 +0000 Weagle 1236922@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We only do nighttime baths and it's never calming. She sleeps just fine :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mamas-who-incorporate-baths-into-bedtime-routine#post-1236919 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 15:36:52 +0000 BeachMama 1236919@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Dd gets super excited in the bath and afterwards runs around like a crazy women before bedtime. I think she's just getting the last bit of energy out. As soon as I pick her up to cuddle and give her lovey she calms down and puts her head on my chest and usually has no problem going to sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mamas-who-incorporate-baths-into-bedtime-routine#post-1236854 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 15:19:46 +0000 LuLu Mom 1236854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I use bathtime as a way to "wear her out" because she plays hard in there. I use the time afterwards to get her to unwind; lotion, PJs, milk, books, ect. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mamas-who-incorporate-baths-into-bedtime-routine#post-1236774 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 14:58:18 +0000 lawbee11 1236774@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We put aveeno calming bath stuff into the water, but it doesn't really calm her. It just creates bubbles and then she sticks her bubble-covered hand in her mouth and makes faces/gags/cries. So yeah, not very calming! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mamas-who-incorporate-baths-into-bedtime-routine#post-1236773 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 14:58:16 +0000 yoursilverlining 1236773@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Bath time is totally party time in our house. I DJ LO's favorite tunes and she plays in the water as long as ill let her! It doesn't relax her, but does tire her out, so she is ready for bed post-bath </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mamas-who-incorporate-baths-into-bedtime-routine#post-1236755 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 14:55:19 +0000 MrsF 1236755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@deerylou: I love the image of the wind chimes and cucumber eyes :) </p> <p>I think for us it's more about the routine than it is about it being soothing. She can calm down pretty quickly even after the bath. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mamas-who-incorporate-baths-into-bedtime-routine#post-1236733 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 14:49:20 +0000 deerylou 1236733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm starting to realize that I'm trying to create an experience that's not going to happen. Here I am ready to bust in with wind chimes, and cucumbers for her eyes, when in reality, babies just think bath time = party time. Duly noted! ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mamas-who-incorporate-baths-into-bedtime-routine#post-1236725 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 14:46:21 +0000 cascademom 1236725@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't do daytime baths unless he got really dirty. Our baths are far from soothing, more like crazy fun. Bath always come before bed and getting ready for bed with us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mamas-who-incorporate-baths-into-bedtime-routine#post-1236724 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 14:45:42 +0000 JoJoGirl 1236724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>OMG, DH said to LO the other day "BATHTIME IS NOT TIME TO BE A BUCKING BRONCO!" because she was SO. PSYCHED. to violently kick her legs in the bath, she was arching her back and her bum actually came up out of the water. It was not a calming spa experience by any means.</p> <p>Either way, she gets pissed at us when it's time to take her out, so even if it was 'relaxing', it gets undone in 5 seconds anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mamas-who-incorporate-baths-into-bedtime-routine#post-1236717 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 14:43:35 +0000 Ra 1236717@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>B looooves the bath. Like PP's he kicks, splashes, and laughs. Not soothing at all. We do it every night before bed so he knows jammies, book, bottle, and bed are coming. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mamas-who-incorporate-baths-into-bedtime-routine#post-1236707 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 14:40:21 +0000 autumnlove 1236707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Only at night. Playtime for toddler and my baby just tolerates it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mamas-who-incorporate-baths-into-bedtime-routine#post-1236705 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 14:40:03 +0000 Pepper 1236705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO looooves the bath. I don't think it relaxes him... he tends to have a lot of fun splashing and smiling. I think it just helps him to realize he's close to bedtime when he gets one. After bath, he gets dressed, has a bottle and goes to bed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mamas-who-incorporate-baths-into-bedtime-routine#post-1236694 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 14:37:06 +0000 Smurfette 1236694@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We only do baths at night. She splashes some but mostly she just tries to drink the water. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mamas-who-incorporate-baths-into-bedtime-routine#post-1236687 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 14:35:18 +0000 doodlepoodle 1236687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There's nothing relaxing about a bath in our house, day or night :) I do use the johnson&amp;johnson bedtime soap at night and the normal yellow bottle during the day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mamas-who-incorporate-baths-into-bedtime-routine#post-1236686 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 14:35:17 +0000 deerylou 1236686@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Good points, ladies.</p> <p>DD is four months, and still being held on my arms when we bathe. I've thought about eliminating the bath from the routine, since she already showers every other day, and doesn't seem to get relaxed, but I love my evening baths, and enjoy seeing her so happy in there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mamas-who-incorporate-baths-into-bedtime-routine#post-1236674 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 14:31:10 +0000 lovehoneybee 1236674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>E is 15.5 months and has NEVER been calmed by a bath before! I just let him splash and play...I agree with @cmomma17: , I think it lets him get rid of some excess energy before bed! </p> <p>He's always ready for bed by the time I've put a diaper/PJs on, brushed his teeth, read a story, though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mamas-who-incorporate-baths-into-bedtime-routine#post-1236659 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 14:27:50 +0000 cmomma17 1236659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@deerylou: My LO is 7 months and recently learned how to splash. No amount of candles or relaxing music could stop him from splish splashing like a maniac :) I figure it tuckers him out a little bit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mamas-who-incorporate-baths-into-bedtime-routine#post-1236658 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 14:27:37 +0000 hilsy85 1236658@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We never do daytime baths (unless it's a quick rinse because he is absolutely filthy from a meal)...doing 2 a day would dry out his skin, I would think? And it's more work than I care to deal with! :) </p> <p>He does get really excited during bathtime, but I think that's ok--he calms down during Pjs, nursing, and story time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mamas-who-incorporate-baths-into-bedtime-routine#post-1236653 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 14:25:59 +0000 deerylou 1236653@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you usually give a bath as a part of the bedtime routine, do you do anything that separates it from a daytime bath, to make it more soothing? </p> <p>We shower with LO almost every other morning to get her clean, but I bathe with her before bed each night. She loves the water, but I've found that she gets pretty excited, rather than calm and tranquil. I've contemplated candles/low lighting, soothing music, essential oil, but wanted to see if anyone here had any tips. </p> <p>Thanks! </p>