Bath Time Bonding: A Cherished Ritual for Working Moms

This post is brought to you by JOHNSON’S®. All opinions and content shared here are mine.

As working moms, especially when our children are babies and toddlers, we often feel guilty or sad about missing out on special times and milestones with our children while we’re at work. We might even worry that our baby’s caregiver gets to have more quality time with our child than we do. That can really hurt.

Here’s one simple way you can combat this guilt: Bath time bonding. The idea is to make bath time (and subsequent bedtime) into a special, daily routine with your little one. Even if you have to work late and miss dinner, or are absent for daytime activities during the week, your child’s nightly bath and going-to-bed moments can be reserved especially for you. After all, you are your child’s one and only mama—and that’s a pretty special role to play.

Bath time basics

Our friends at Johnson’s Baby sent over some new JOHNSON’S ® HEAD-TO-TOE® baby wash and the new baby lotion to help me share my bath time-bonding ideas with you. When my kiddos were little, we used their baby wash at home (as do many hospitals around the world). We preferred the ultra-mild cleanser because it’s clinically proven safe and gentle enough for baby’s delicate skin and sensitive eyes in those first few days of life.

Now, you can pair the baby wash with a complementary HEAD-TO-TOE® baby lotion, which is perfectly pH-balanced and infused with vitamin E and baby oil for baby’s tender skin. Both the baby wash and lotion were specifically designed to work together in harmony with mom’s touch to nurture baby’s happy, healthy development.

Other basic items you’ll want to have ready for bath time (if you don’t already) include:

• Safe, sturdy infant tub—nothing fancy needed here; a plastic tub that helps support your baby and drains easily will do.
• Soft cotton washcloth—or if you’re not caught up on laundry, it’s nice to have some new JOHNSON’S® HEAD-TO-TOE® baby cleansing cloths on hand to substitute for a washcloth.
• Cozy cotton towel—I always liked the terrycloth towels with a cute little hood in the corner, so I could wrap them up quickly and keep their little heads covered.

Bath time bonding tips for working moms

If you want the evening bath to be your beloved time with baby, try some of these bath time bonding tips to make it so:

1. Let it be known: Make sure your partner and caregivers know you’ve got dibs on bath time. Sure, if a nasty blowout or other incident calls for an emergency bathing, you’ll understand if someone else has to step in while you’re at work. But on most days, you can rely on being the designated bath giver.
2. Give yourself enough time: Baby baths don’t usually take all that long, but if your child’s usual bedtime is around 7 p.m., don’t wait until 6:55 to start the bath. A too-tired infant can make for a less-than-blissful bathing experience—for both of you.
3. Have everything ready: Set aside all the items you’ll need for baby’s bath before you start the water running and get him undressed. That includes baby wash near the tub, washcloth and towel at the ready, and lotion, diaper, and pajamas by the changing table.
4. Test the water: You probably already know this, but just remember to make sure the bath water is at a safe, comfortable temperature before you put baby in the tub. (Get more baby bath safety tips.)
5. Make yourself comfortable: If you’re standing, bending, or sitting uncomfortably while bathing your child, find a creative solution to the problem. Whether you need to try a different seat or put the tub in another location, do what you can to feel at ease. That way, you’ll be more likely to enjoy this ritual.
6. Focus on this moment: Keep your phone and other distractions out of the way during bath time. Allow yourself to be fully present, taking in all the lovely sounds, sights, smells, and touches of your sweet baby splashing in the bath. Remind yourself that this little person is a miracle, and you are the one who brought him into the world. Isn’t that amazing?

The post-bath wind-down

Personally, I cherished nothing more in this world than wrapping my freshly bathed baby in a towel, inhaling that soft, damp, fuzzy head, and gently massaging them with HEAD-TO-TOE® baby lotion. Not only does lotion help replenish baby’s natural moisture (and your own), the experience of touch does more than you realize for your baby.

For instance, did you know…

• Skin is the first sense organ to develop prenatally, making touch the first sense to develop.
• Babies are dependent on touch for exploring the world.
• Baby’s first sensory stimulation in life comes from touch while still in the womb.
• Touch is so important that some consider skin to be the external nervous system.

As you’re enjoying this end-of-day bath time and bedtime ritual, you’re also helping to shape the development of your baby’s brain with those loving touches, smells, and words. Consider keeping the lights low, perhaps playing some calming music in the background, and reading your baby a bedtime story as you prepare him for a good night’s sleep.

When you’re working, you may not be around for every part of your child’s day. That’s OK. Focus on how you make the best of the moments you are with your baby, like bath time, and remember you are the best mom your baby could possibly ask for.

More about JOHNSON’S®

As the #1 baby skin care brand, JOHNSON’S® has been providing safe products that are formulated and designed with baby in mind for over 120 years. JOHNSON’S® is the 1st baby skincare company to study how baby’s skin develops from birth and evaluates products across different skin ethnicities and continents. JOHNSON’S® has been leading the science and setting global standards in baby skin care by developing high-quality products that are safe and extensively tested. JOHNSON’S® has helped advance 90% of research on the understanding of baby’s skin.