As your baby grows older and becomes a toddler, they will naturally bounce around the house with tremendous energy. Put them in a park or other wide-open space and watch in amazement as their energy levels rapidly multiply.
In our hot, humid weather, all this activity leads to one thing: a sweaty, messy and sometimes stinky little toddler!
One of your many challenges as a mom of a busybody toddler is to find a way to get your little one smelling clean and fresh, without restricting his high energy levels. It’s not impossible to do — you just need to remember the following tips so your tot remains smelling as fresh as a daisy!
1. Clean them up after every outing
Whether it is a visit to the playground or a trip to the neighborhood park, make sure you give your toddler a good hair-to-toewash and scrub-down after he returns home.
For this you will need some essentials. Liquid soap (such as Baby Dove) will effectively clean that grimy little face, and those tiny, dirty feet and hands. Don’t forget to wash the sweat out of their hair with a good baby shampoo.
Before you dress your tot, pat on a hypoallergenic, pH-neutral baby lotion such as Baby Dove Rich Moisture Nourishing Baby Lotion that soothes skin from the first use. Plus, it has a lovely, mild fragrance that will make you want to kiss your toddler’s soft skin all day (if you can catch him, that is)!
2. Pack a small towel, baby wipes and change of clothes for outdoor trips
If the park is far away or if you are heading out on a longer outing, make sure you pack extra clothes for your toddler. They’re bound to get dirt, water or food (or all of these things) smeared on their clothes, so they will need a change for sure.
Another must-pack item for a mum of an active toddler is baby wipes. Baby Dove Wipes are a great choice, and perfect for on-the-spot cleaning where a washroom is not available.
3. Plan your toddler’s outdoor activities carefully
The sun is strongest from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. While your toddler needs vitamin D that is absorbed from the sun’s rays, over-exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays can also damage your child’s skin.
Keeping this in mind, take your toddler out to the playground as early as possible in the day. You can have another round of playtime after 4pm in the afternoon, when the sun’s rays are not at their strongest.
Don’t forget to give your little one a good clean-up once he returns home so he smells clean and fresh again. (He’s probably going to need it.)
4. Avoid Synthetic garments
Synthetic garments generate heat. The trapped heat makes your child sweat more, and, you guessed it, you end up with one very stinky little tot! The best option is to go for cotton clothes which keep your kid’s skin cool and fresh
The other thing to keep in mind is the color of your child’s garment. Go for light colors, as dark shades will absorb heat and make your toddler hot and sweaty.
5. Wash and dry your toddler’s clothes regularly
What do you do when your toddler returns from the playground with sweaty clothes? Do you put them away in the laundry basket to be washed later on or do you wash them right away?
The best thing to do is to soak them in warm soapy water immediately. That will get the dirt and sweat out. After washing, hang the clothes outside to dry.
Once dried, fold the clothes and store them away in your child’s cabinet. To give your toddler’s clothes that beautiful “linen” fragrance, leave some dried lavender in their closet.
6. Encourage your toddler to love bathtime
Some children are not too keen to bathe everyday! But there are also some kids who can’t wait to get into their bathtub! Which type is yours?
No matter which type your little one is, the trick is to make bathtime so much fun that kids can’t help but love it. Keep small toys inside the shower area or near the bathtub so that bathtime becomes playtime!
Play games as you use a mild soap like Baby Dove to wash them up. Have them scrub body parts as you call them out, a la Simon Says, or get into a full-blown tickle fight! Afterwards, you bub will come out of the tub with a mild scent that goes well with his own natural scent.
Let the fun and games go on even after your toddler steps out of the bath. Have your little one step into an imaginary “spa” and give your (now-clean) kiddo a relaxing massage.
Baby skin is delicate and can lose moisture easily during bath time. To help replenish this essential moisture, use Baby Dove Rich Moisture Nourishing Baby Lotion. Hypoallergenic and pH neutral, with a fragrance developed for delicate baby skin, it moisturizes baby’s skin for up to 24 hours.
No more stinky little tots with our tips, moms! Now, keeping your toddler fresh and clean should be a breeze for you.
Baby Dove products go beyond mildness and help restore essential moisture from hair to toe. Now, you can be more confident that you’re providing the very best care for your child. After all, when it comes to your baby, there is no perfect way— only your way. #RealMoms
The whole #BabyDovePH line is now available in the Philippines. Learn more about it here.