It’s all well and good to be a supermom and able to handle two little rascals on my own, but some daily tasks are a lot more complicated for me than others. I have no problem getting my kids into the bath, but I need to have a solid plan in place beforehand. Once that’s done, I like to take a quick shower myself. That’s when things get a little trickier.
As in many homes, bath time at my house can be chaotic. Every parent has struggled at some point to get their kids into the tub, lather them up, wash their hair, or rinse them off. But once you’ve overcome that hurdle—or at least once you know how to handle it—you have to start all over again with the next ones. As a single mom, I now have to deal with two children under the age of 3—who aren’t exactly cooperative—and get them clean.
So here’s a little survival guide:
Before you even start, make sure you have towels, diapers, pajamas, washcloths, etc., ready.
Next, figure out the order in which they’ll take their baths.
TIPS: Sit the youngest in their “booster seat” or a portable bouncer that you can carry with you and leave it nearby while you help the other one. Since I’m on maternity leave, I take advantage of the time to bathe my youngest while her sister is at daycare. Sometimes I have no choice but to put on an episode of one of his favorite shows (Paw Patrol) so I can get the job done.
Now that the kids are clean, what about me? I’m never without a child—when will I finally be able to take a shower? Every mom has asked herself this question at some point, even if Dad is home.
As for me, I try, most of the time, to take it during the day. That way, I only have one to deal with. The easiest time is obviously during nap time, if I’m lucky enough to get him into his bed. So I quickly hop in the shower, door open, with the monitor right beside me, keeping an eye on things to make sure I have enough time to rinse off. Of course, sometimes I’m busy. In that case, I have to wait until very late at night when everyone’s asleep and hope the noise doesn’t wake them up!
TIPS: Go run some errands, and when the baby is asleep, come back home, leave him in his car seat (if he’s in an infant car seat, of course), and bring him into the bathroom. Having a sheer curtain lets you keep an eye on them while you wash up. Also, don’t be shy about asking visitors to watch the kids for five minutes so you can finally lather up without stopping at every little noise! HALLELUJAH!
Enjoy your shower!
Sophie-Anne