Summer Bath Ideas for Kids

Summertime!  It is full of play outside and kids just don’t want to stop. Summer is sunshine and fresh air, laughter and horsing around. While kids get really dirty, baths just don’t seem as important in summer. The fact is that isn’t true. We get sweaty and dirty and still need to wash with soap and water. Of course, that doesn’t always happen and so I came up with some fun “summer bath” ideas for kids to switch things up and keep the play coming.

Like I mentioned, nothing will replace soap and water for a bath. It is the only thing that gets us really clean and is essential for a healthy lifestyle. That being said, kids don’t need to bathe as frequently as most people think. Skin dries out and the natural microbiome of the body can be disrupted by washing too frequently. Plus, sometimes it just isn’t worth the fight! Here are some fun ways to give kids a summer bath while continuing to play outside.

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How to Take a Playful Summer Bath

Soap and water doesn’t need to be boring or even inside! There are a lot of ways to get clean while staying outside in summer.

Bath in a Kiddie Pool

Who said that baths can only be in a bathtub? Why not in a kiddie pool outside? This kind of summer bath can consist of just a soaking in the pool to wash all the dirt off or making it a full bath by bringing the soap outside and washing. It is a fun way to switch things up and still make sure kids are washing the sweat off from a hard day of play.

Check out some of these fun inflatable kiddie pools I found on Amazon! Just be careful with adding soap to any pools with slides as kids will be slippery!

Alphabet Bath

I have an entire blog post dedicated to this one since my kids love it so much! Washing in a kiddie pool doesn’t have to be just about washing yourself. Add some big letters or numbers for kids to wash in the pool to make it educational.

Car Wash

I think this is a classic summer activity for kids! Wash the car and have fun getting wet. Sounds like a recipe for a summer bath if you ask me! My son actually started washing himself on his own while we washed the car.

Summer Bath in a Bucket

Similar to the bath in a kiddie pool but instead, it is in a big bucket! I don’t know what it is about these buckets but kids just love to fill them with water and play in them. They can dunk down, splash around, and play all while getting clean! Add some soap directly to the water or on a cloth and encourage kids to wash themselves.

Outdoor Shower

If you are lucky, you can install a shower head outside to take outdoor showers. They are so relaxing for adults and fun for kids! If you don’t have a place to put a permanent one, try a temporary or camping shower to still have fun with this kind of “summer bath”. You can also let kids shower in the hose as a last resort!

The Power of the Hose Summer Bath

The hose is my best friend in the summer. I don’t have an outdoor shower (yet) so the hose is the best way to rinse off before coming inside. I’ll admit though, I don’t always use soap, sometimes it feels good enough for me to just rinse myself (and the kids) off.

Slip and Slide

Yup, the classic slip and slide summer activity. This is probably the most fun way to rinse off after a hard day of summer play. If you want to up the “cleanliness” factor of this summer bath, add some soap to the end of the slide. Make sure to use something that is tear free but the crash into a soapy pool at the end of the slide is a great way to get kids to take a bath without even knowing they are getting clean! (warning: hips might get bruised! Sign of a good time!)

Forget the Soap

Alright, I know I said nothing replaces soap in a bath. In summer, all rules get broken every now and again. All the above activities can with done with or without soap. These ones, I’m not sure how you would add soap to the mix but they sure are fun and will do in a pinch! After all, something is better than nothing so why not count these as a summer bath? Just remember to make sure that your next bath includes soap!

Water Fight

Break out the squirt guns and battle it out! Maybe throw some water balloons around. Simply the act of getting wet will help to clean kids at least a little. That’s all you need for a summer bath right?

Sprinkler

This is another classic summer activity and so I decided to include it as one of our fun summer bath ideas. Turn on a regular sprinkler and run through it. Easy as that! Great way to rinse off while having fun. Plus, the laughter that comes from kids playing in the sprinkler is the best sound in the world! We use a regular sprinkler made for watering the grass.

There are so many fun ones out there that can increase the fun! Here are some of my favorites from Amazon. Click the picture for more information.

Swimming

Swimming or soaking in a real pool, creek, beach, pond, etc are all acceptable in my opinion. Granted, you will probably want to rinse off with a hose or outdoor shower afterward to make sure nothing from the water your were swimming with (chemicals, dirt, etc) stays on your skin overnight. While I often count these as a summer bath, I will usually give a soap and water bath the next day.

Play in the Rain

Summer rain can be really warm. That means that you can go outside and play in it, rinsing off as you do. There isn’t a need for a raincoat unless you want one. I remember going outside fully naked in the rain as a kid. That counts as a summer bath right? At least it should count as an outdoor shower!

Summer Bath to Help Skin

Dry skin is a fact of life in summer. There are many ways that you can help this in yourself and in in kids. Lotion is key, but did you know there are things that you can add to a bath to help as well? These additives help soothe irritated skin and can actually help treat sunburns! Soaking in one of these summer baths is a great way to unwind after a long day of playing hard. You can do these in a regular bath or outside in the kiddie pool.

Honey and Vinegar

• 1 cup vinegar
• 1 tsp honey

This is a very relaxing bath and helps irritated skin and sunburn. It also helps to relax and prepare for bed. Adding a couple drops of lavender oil will increase this effect.

Milk Baths

I’ve always been a big fan of breastmilk baths as a healing option for kids. I even stored some expired breastmilk that I still have in my freezer for times that the kids skin gets extra dry. It really helps. If you don’t have breastmilk, a regular milk bath is also really beneficial.

Other Bath Additives

• Rose Oil
• Olive Oil or Coconut Oil
• Rose Petals
• Orange or Lemon Peels

All of these are soothing for the skin and help to hydrate. They are also great for sensory play as they can add different scents and even textures to a summer bath.

Looking for more summer fun? Check out our Summer Bucket List for Toddlers.

What do you count as a summer bath?

 

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