Ask the Village: What to do About Standing in the Tub

Welcome to Ask the Village where all of us moms come together to share our best tips, tricks, advice, and support to one another so we can all be each other’s village!

Today’s question: what to do when baby starts standing in the bathtub?

Tons of responses submitted! Two overall themes – one was about letting them stand and how to make standing safer, the other was about encouraging sitting. Lots of similar advice submitted, so we know it works for a ton of babies. Here are the tips:

Making Standing More Safe:

Use a non-slip bath mat + rubber cover on the faucet

Bring into the shower instead

Water shoes for grip

Get a suction cup handle for baby to grab

Teach them to hold onto the side

Encouraging Sitting:

Top advice: Take baby out immediately if they start standing, they’ll learn that standing = bath over. Explain it to them so they understand. Ex: “standing means we’re all done!” and the follow through is super important here.

Also shared frequently: Repeatedly say “on your bum” or whatever phrase works for you, and with time they’ll learn what that means and what you’re asking of them

Make a crazy fuss when they sit down – praise, shout yay, clap. They’ll love the reaction and sit.

Get in the tub with them – easier to hold them sitting, plus it’s a way to model behavior

Distract with new toys

Bath seat (if they still fit)

Top toy rec: fidget spinner toys that suction to the side of the tub placed at sitting height

No big reaction to standing (they like to see your reaction)

Some babies starting sitting more once they had more water in the tub

Modeling with a bath toy that sits “let’s sit down like your ducky”

Bath books

Splashing as a fun distraction

Lights off and use a light projector

Yookidoo Flow n Fill Spout Toy

Switch to sink baths

Hopefully this gives you some ideas for how to handle those tricky bath times! If you have other advice, please share below!