How to protect your child's skin in the bath or shower - plus tips for making it a fun experience

Bathtime is a special moment for parents and children to bond. It’s also a great opportunity to nurture their developing skin and hair. With gentle, caring products, you can help protect their skin and hair, all while enjoying a soothing, enjoyable experience for both of you during bathtime. 

While we all have our own skincare routines, children’s skin and hair have unique needs, and can benefit from extra gentleness and care that’s tailored specifically for their age. Studies have shown that a child’s hair and skin are still developing until the age of 12 years old. So, choosing the right products for our little ones is important - whether that’s a lotion for moisturising their skin or a bubble bath to gently wash away dirt and germs, and to make the nightly routine more fun. 

Then there’s also shampoo and conditioner to consider, especially as your child’s hair starts to get longer and more prone to tangles. Kids’ hair is three times more delicate than adults’, so it’s a good idea to use gentler formulas that cleanse and nourish younger hair while it's still developing.

So, how can we keep our children’s skin and hair protected during bath time and beyond? Read on for essential tips and advice, plus products from Mumsnetter favourites AVEENO®, whose kids’ range is designed to be gentle versus regular adult products.

What shampoos and conditioners should I use for children?

When choosing bath products for your little one, opt for gentle formulations that are designed specifically for children’s skin. Look for mild, tear-free options that help maintain the skin’s natural balance. Products that are free from harsh soaps and artificial dyes can be a good choice for sensitive skin. 

AVEENO® Kids Shampoo is proven to gently cleanse without drying the scalp. It is free from soaps, dyes and sulphates and uses a soothing oat and shea butter formula. It’s tear-free and makes the hair much easier to comb.

Then, follow it up with the AVEENO® Kids Conditioner, which soothes the scalp and nourishes hair. It also contains a blend of oat and shea butter, and is gentle and kind to little ones skin and hair.

Can kids use bubble bath?

We know most kids love nothing more than bubbles, but foamy baths can be troublesome for sensitive skin. The sulphates found in some bath and bubble wash products can disrupt the skin's top layer that leads to dryness and sometimes irritation. This is especially concerning if your child is prone to eczema.

For children, choose a gentle bubble bath that’s kind to the skin. AVEENO® Kids Bubble Bath & Wash is sulphate-free and enriched with a soothing oat extract. It still creates big fluffy bubbles that your little one will adore but gently washes away dirt and germs while nourishing their skin. What’s more, it doubles up as a shower gel, so if your child is old enough to have independent showers, they can use it there too. Win-win.

It’s also a brand that has the Mumsnetter seal of approval:

How to make baths or showers more fun for kids

Bath or shower time can be a great opportunity for children to relax and have fun, and with minimal effort, you can transform a mundane routine into a fun experience. Especially when they reach an age when they can build up to bathing or showering themselves, adding some extra fun and positive associations can encourage this newfound independence. 

Remember, there’s no set age for when children should shower and bathe themselves; it very much depends on the maturity of the child. General guidance is that a child under five shouldn’t be left unsupervised in the bath, though some experts recommend eight as the age to begin independent bathing.  

1. Let them play with age-appropriate bath or shower toys

While they may have outgrown the bath toys that captivated them as a baby, there are still loads of options for kids to keep them entertained whether you’re still supervising them or pottering about nearby.

What Mumsnet users say

“She splashes about so much and natters away to her toys so I can hear she's ok!” - Phos

“I used to pop DS in the bath, playing with his bath toys while I got on with the ironing. I would hear him singing /chatting/splashing.” - shinynewapple22

2. Play an engaging audiobook

Listening to an audiobook during bath time can be a good way to blend bath time with entertainment and learning. Choose age-appropriate stories with engaging narrators to captivate your child’s imagination. It’s also worth investing in a waterproof Bluetooth speaker to ensure safety, and make sure you adjust the volume to a comfortable level. 

What Mumsnet users say

“DS has a Yoto player, he listened to a story in the bath earlier and will have it on while he's playing.” - RewildingAmbridge

“I have now got DS an Audible subscription and he's already nearly finished the first book. He's listened before bed and in the bath, and has been talking about the book - so I think it's really positive and agree with the positive comments on here about audiobooks now!” - jobnockey

3. Make bubble bath extra fun

Using a gentle bubble bath like AVEENO® Kids Bubble Bath & Wash, enhance the appeal of bath time by making bubbles part of playtime. Whether you get your little one crafting their own beard or styling a ‘foam’ hairdo, it’s time to get creative, and you can join in the fun too.

What Mumsnet users say

“I remember when I used to make a 'beard' on the kids.”  - OldEvilOwl

4. Turn bath time into an interactive story time

If you’re still supervising your child in the bath, create a narrative around bath time, perhaps involving a favourite character or a fantasy setting. This can make bath times feel more fun and encourage your child’s storytelling skills.

Or alternatively, incorporate a bath time story that involves the characters on the products you use with them in the bath. For example, each bottle in the AVEENO® Kids range features a different animal in the ‘Kids’ Care Crew’ - each with a unique personality - which can be built into story time, as well as free bathtime animations if you scan the QR code on the back of the bottles. Not only can this be engaging for kids, but it also helps encourage them to use the products to wash themselves as they build up towards solo baths and showers. 

How can I protect my child's skin against dryness?

Dry skin can occur in children due to certain skin conditions, such as eczema, but it can also be the result of environmental factors. You may be using products that are drying to the skin.

Regularly applying a moisturiser to your child’s skin can help to keep it hydrated. The AVEENO® Kids Face & Body Lotion helps to preserve the moisture barrier, protecting skin from the first use. The formula isn’t greasy and is quick to absorb, which is ideal if your child hates the feeling of sticky skin. Use after a bath or shower, or get your child into the habit of applying it to their skin before bed.

About AVEENO® Kids

AVEENO® has a great understanding that a child’s skin and hair is constantly developing, so they created an effective range using their scientific research.

AVEENO® Kids, formulated with soothing oat and shea butter*, is specifically designed for kids' developing skin, scalp & hair and is proven to cleanse, protect and help nourish kids’ developing skin, scalp and hair from the first use**. 

For more information on kids’ developing skin and hair, visit the AVEENO® website.

_{*shea butter in haircare only}

_{**when used together}

About the author

Kat Romero is a writer and journalist with over a decade’s experience in the industry. Hailing from London, she has become experienced in scouring the market to find the latest and best products and services that are designed to make parents’ lives easier. 

Away from her desk, Kat can be found consuming far too much coffee and spending her weekends with her toddler and partner - soaking up the sights of London and sampling anything new and exciting that has opened up within walking distance.

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