Bath Accessories for Kids

• Turn bath time into a play time. Marcy Maloy/Photodisc/Getty Images

  For some parents, luring your child into the bathtub for a scrub-down can be a challenge. But whether you're coaxing your child into the bath at the end of a long, smelly day, or you're offering your little one a bit of playtime in the afternoon, with the right bath accessories, bath time can be more enjoyable for everyone.

The Usual Stuff

• Whether it's soap, shampoo or bath towels, certain items every kid must have in the bathroom. Sure, your bottle of Suave shampoo will do the job on your kid's hair, but banana-scented shampoo might be more up his alley. The market is full of kid-centric toiletries, from smelly-good shampoo, soap shaped like butterflies, and matching washcloths and towels with aliens on them. Keep it light and kooky in the bathroom, and surround your little darlings with everyday items with pictures of their favorite creatures and characters on them. The more interested your kid is in looking at the soap, the more interested he might be in actually using the soap.

The Safety Stuff

• Many items are available that focus on safety in the bathroom. One that can come in handy is the bathtub faucet protector. The function of this invention is to protect little heads from bruising when they bonk up against the faucet. This small plastic device only costs a few bucks. For a little bit more, also get a faucet cover with a thermometer to tell you the temperature of the bath water. Two other items that may come in helpful are a plastic visor and nonslip decals. Your kid can wear the visor when you're rinsing out the shampoo to keep it from getting in his eyes and stinging. The safety of the nonslip tub decals, which come in a variety of shapes and sizes, help little guys who are just getting used to standing up in, and getting out of, a slippery tub.

The Fun Stuff

• Companies such as Alex Toys provide an an array of stuff for bath time play, from "shaving kits," to a floating vanity set, to crayons for drawing on the tub walls and floating drums. Bath squirters come in a variety of shapes and sizes from various companies, but squeeze out the remaining water after each use, or you're likely to create a mold factory. Kids may also enjoy racing wind-up toys or simply watching them flutter by. While maybe not be the most fun for the kids, a mesh basket with suction cups on the side of the tub will hold all the playthings and let them dry out for the next round of play.