Splish splash, baby's taking a bath! Even tots who love bath time can get bored with the routine. So shake things up with some new toys that make the ordinary bath feel new! We've scouted out 13 fun toys that will have them jumpin' for joy when mama calls everyone into the tub.
Splish splash! Bath time may be designed to get lil ones clean, but for many mamas, it's also an opportunity to calm fussy lil ones during the witching hour. The key to doing so is ensuring that the entire experience is as comfortable as possible — both for mom and for tot! A host of new products are making bath time cleaner and comfier than ever. Check out five that are hitting our radar right now!
Bath time should be a breeze. Kids playing around in a tub of water with plenty of bath toys at their disposal sure sounds like fun, but getting lil ones to want to take a bath is often a struggle. American Standards' fun baths may change all of that. Available in two designs, the kits fit directly over standard bath tubs, transforming them into either a shiny red fire truck or a purple princess castle. The kid-friendly designs also have safety in mind with built-in seats, grab bars, and spray showers to keep lil ones comfortable throughout their baths. At $2,200, the temporary tub transformations are quite an investment, but can you imagine doing bath time without an argument?
Because salvia and cough syrup are just déclassé, America's teens are now snorting bath salts to get high. The kids are calling it "Cloud Nine", and apparently it's a craze that's sweeping the nation. Don't go shoving that Ahava up your nose just yet, though. The "bath salts" being sold aren't your run-of-the-mill lavender and eucalyptus stuff. They're actually erstwhile chemicals, usually mephedrone and methylenedioxypyrovalerone, being passed off as seasoning salt, bath salts, or even fertilizer.
Both chemicals are powerful stimulants, said to be around four times more powerful than Ritalin and similar in effect to MDMA. Also, they're as addictive as meth. Great. Not surprisingly, lots of the people using this stuff are winding up in the hospital. So, to recap: the bath salts you use at home are totally fine; don't snort them. If, however, you are looking to get high, please do not buy these dumb, terrible drugs for the above reasons.
I'm well aware that Hanukkah started at sundown Wednesday, but for those of us inclined to be a little tardy with the gifting, why not make it up to your favorite mensch with Lush's Fizztival of Lights ($20) gift box? It's in a cute little hat box that's already all festively wrapped, it has four bath bombs (buy two boxes and you've got all eight nights covered), and with the price, you'll have plenty of gelt left over.
Nothing recalls wintry woods drifted high with snow like the astringent, green scent of balsam. Of the "wood" scents popular in colder months, it's one of the brightest, and it's never fusty or heavy smelling. There's plenty of fresh balsam goodness for your bathroom, too. If you want to smell like a forest while you moisturize, there's Allgauer Foot Balsam ($10), Nivea SOS Hand Balsam ($13), and Dr. Eckstein Krauter Balsam Facial Balm ($23). If you'd rather fill your shower with the smell of the outdoors, Balsamo Soap by Valobra ($15) and Philip B. Nordic Wood One Step Hair & Body Shampoo ($8) will both do the job. And if you'd like a beautifully blended holiday scent that's pretty but not girly, there's Agraria Balsam Cologne Spray ($40).
The zippy, sweet smell of nutmeg helps make mulled wine, spiced cider, and pumpkin pie delicious. Coincidentally, it smells pretty great on people, too. If you'd like a soft, creamy skin scent that lingers all day, products like Jo Malone Nutmeg & Ginger Body Crème ($75) and Crabtree & Evelyn Naturals Botanical Body Butter in Nutmeg & Cardamom ($26) will leave you hydrated and nicely spiced. If you prefer smoky, leathery scents with nutmeg blended in, Serge Lutens Cuir Mauresque Eau de Parfum ($140) is extremely sexy and sophisticated. If you'd like to clean your way to frothy, chai-scented bliss, there's always fancy Byredo Chembur Soap ($45). And if you just want a little something festive from the drugstore, Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer in Nutmeg ($4) is a bargain.
Some people said cupcakes were just a fad, but from everything I've seen, these tiny, nomtastic cakes are definitely holding their own. And, thus, the proliferation of the cupcake soap. You could say you've seen all the delicious-looking faux cake soap that's out there, but think again. Care to test your luck? Then take my quiz and see.
Confession time: I was Death from The Sandman for Halloween this year, and there's very little denying that I'm a huge dork, so a "geeky fun or soap?" quiz was inevitable. Won't you put your coolness aside, too, and journey with me to a land of soaps and gadgets that will surprise and delight your inner fangirl? I promise it'll be fun and that there will be Street Fighter. All ready to get down and nerdy?
As many travelers will know, sometimes even five-star hotels, no matter how pristine they may appear, have their share of problems. (Yep, I'm talking bed bugs.) But assuming that any hotel's bathtub — from the exclusive to the bargain variety — is sparkly clean, would you still bathe in it, or does the risk of being exposed to a stranger's germs creep you out?
