Save water and time by giving your toddler a "bird bath"

Summertime grime = daily baths. Here's how Jill gets it done:

Instead of spending a lot of time in the bathtub cleaning the dirt from the day away and of course playing (not to mention the many gallons of water), I've been giving my almost 2 yr old son "bird baths" in between real baths. I usually strip him down and set him on the bathroom counter with his feet in the sink. I fill it about a quarter full, because no matter what a little splashing is involved. I also put a washcloth under his bum as a barrier and to soak up some of the splashing. It works great, he's all cleaned up and ready to put on his jammies. And I probably used 2-3 gallons of water.

Related: Hose + a disposable washcloth = outside bath

Comments

[Desiree]

Amen sister!! My 2 year old little girl goes to day care and they have a little playground they play on every day. And she digs. So she comes home with dirty hands and legs, daily. :) We do a washcloth bath anytime it is not a normal bath day and there is less than six inches of total dirty surface area on her person. :) More dirt than that and she has to go into the tub.

[Jill in Atlanta]

We have "business baths" for those hurried days. The toys are removed and I'll even start on one child while turning on the water so he's done before the other child even gets in. I only let about two inches into the tub.

[Laura]

My Mom used to give us a "2-gallon" bath. The gallon was a milk jug with the top cut off. She'd sit us in an empty bath tub and pour 1 gallon over us to get us wet. Then soap us up. The second gallon was a rinse. It was a great way to save water and get pretty clean in between "real" baths!

[Laura]

My Mom used to give us a "2-gallon" bath. The gallon was a milk jug with the top cut off. She'd sit us in an empty bath tub and pour 1 gallon over us to get us wet. Then soap us up. The second gallon was a rinse. It was a great way to save water and get pretty clean in between "real" baths!