Bath time

Water play
When Nadia Hall unexpectedly went into the hospital, her three-year-old daughter was upset. While Hall was away, the one thing that calmed her distraught toddler was having a bath. "Water play is more soothing than anything else," says Hall, the director of professional education at Invest In Kids.

Toys make a bath even better, and they don't need to be fancy. You can use old plastic containers, some punched with holes. And take your cue from your child. "You might find pouring water out of a container for 10 minutes boring, but your child is loving it," says Hall. Turn up the fun by singing along with Singin' in the Bathtub by John Lithgow.

First time?
Who could have guessed that washing a newborn would require such skill and thought? Here are tips for first-time parents from Helen Coomb, a registered nurse at Women's College Hospital in Toronto.

• Bathe your baby two or three times a week, but wash his hands and bottom every time you change his diaper.

• Use a baby bath or a sink (but don't use the taps when Baby's in it). You can also take your baby into the bathtub with you and hold him while you bathe him.

• Use a cloth and mild soap: start with Baby's face (wipe his eyes from the inner corner out), then wash his ears (outer ear only), genitals and creases. Dry him thoroughly, especially his creases.

• Wash Baby's hair separately. To keep him warm, swaddle him and hold him, football-style, under your arm. Put a little oil (any kind except mineral oil) on his scalp; gently comb it to loosen flakes of skin and help prevent cradle cap. With your palm, rub in a dab of baby shampoo, avoiding tender fontanels. Rinse with a washcloth or cup, then dry.