Getting young children to take a bath can seem like a nightmarish task for many parents. Some kids just don’t like taking a bath.

If you’re lucky enough to have a child that doesn’t immediately balk about getting in the tub and hide in the closet or under the bed, you still may have the challenge  having a child that doesn’t want to stay in the bath for too long.

However, there are some ways to make bath time fun for kids, and many of them are simple. They might not have your kids begging to take a bath, but they should make bath time much more enjoyable for them and easier for you.

1. Glow In The Dark Bath

Photo credit: Disney Pixar

Most kids love moving lights that they can play with – meaning most kids love glow sticks. To keep your kids interested (or distracted) during bath time, dimming the lights and adding a few glow sticks to the water may be all you need. Kids can toss them and play with them in the water, and you’ll have enough time to get them clean.

Glow sticks are inexpensive and can be found many Dollar Stores. If your kids really love them, buy your glow sticks in big packs – that way you can grab a few whenever it’s bath time.

(Complicated Mama note: Check out this super cool Outer Space Themed Bath on Growing A Jeweled Rose! – It. Is. AWESOME.)

2. Bathtub Crayons and Paints

A lot of retail stores that sell toys for kids also sell bath crayons and paints that will wash off, and they’re a great way to keep your kids entertained since they can draw or finger paint while getting their bath; however, spending money on these toys really isn’t necessary.

Colored shaving cream makes perfect bathtub paint.

Photo credit: Flickr

To make your own bath paints, all you need is a bit of inexpensive shaving cream or foam and some no-sugar added, water-soluble food coloring. The color foam will wash right down the drain with a splash of water after the bath.

3.  Ice Cube Toys

Making ice cube toys that your child can play with in the bath is so simple and effective— it’s pure genius. The idea behind ice cube toys is that you can actually freeze small toys – think army men or smaller – in ice cube trays.

Photo credit: Flickr

To make them even more fun, you can combine a small amount of no-sugar added food coloring or colored bubble bath to the water before making the ice cubes. As the ice cubes dissolve, your child will have a toy to play with.

Best of all, it only takes about five minutes to make a batch of these. Get plastic ice cube trays that come in neat shapes, like stars, crescents or squares, for even more bath time fun.

Unique ice cube trays make bath toys even more fun for kids.

4. Building Blocks

Lego Duplo Starter Kit- $19.99

Simple building blocks, such as Legos, are perfect for bath time. Kids can build underwater castles or even long, winding structures on the edge of the tub.

When bath time is over, all you need to do is rinse them and let them dry on a towel. After they’re dry, they can be stored and used again, in or out of the bath.

Building blocks can be used in the tub and rinsed before air drying them on a clean towel.

5. Alphabet Soup Bath

Munchkin Alphabet Bath Letters, $6.99

If your child is loving their letter learning, why not continue that educational fun in the bath?

Like the glow sticks, alphabet letters are an inexpensive tub toy that could create bath time gaming fun! Quiz them on their letters or spelling and you can even reward them something to put in the tub, like bubbles or building blocks every time they answer a question correctly!

Just don’t make the game too long, and try to ask questions that are not too difficult. You don’t want bath time to feel like school.

(Complicated Mama Note: Check out how Crystal from Bath Activities For Kids created her alphabet soup bath game– super cute!!)

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About Our Guest Blogger:

Marcela De Vivo is a health and wellness writer from the Los Angeles area. She writes on everything from family health to supplements, fitness, and special needs education and inclusion. As a mother of three, she is always coming up with new activities so that her children will enjoy their bath time!

By now I think you all know about my obsession love for Disney/Pixar’s Monster’s University– just 11 days til’ it hits theaters, you guys!

So when Kellogg’s approached me to share their newly launched  “Scare Scholar” instant win games, as well team up to offer Complicated Mama readers a truly scare-tastic month of giveaways…. I couldn’t resist!

The Kellogg’s Scare Scholar Games are a fun, free social gaming app, that plays similar to Simon.

From now through August 15th, Kellogg’s (and Monster University) fan’s can head over to Kellogg’s Facebook page daily to play the Scare Scholar Games for a chance to win a $10,000 scholarship and instant prizes.

Some of the instant gaming prizes you can win are things such as; Movie Certificates, A Free Music Download and gift cards!

But wait… there’s more!

Thanks to our friends at Kellogg’s, Complicated Mama will be hosting a month long sweepstakes that will randomly award a truly Monster-ous Prize Pack each Monday through July 8th, to one lucky Complicated Mama reader!

Entry is super simple! 

• Head over to the Complicated Mama Facebook page and click on the “Win” tab (Mike Wisowski is there to greet you).
• Enter your name and email address
• Hit submit ….and check back each Monday on our Facebook page to see if you’ve won!

Your one entry qualifies you to win any one of the four weeks, but you may enter daily to increase your chances to win if you choose!

See official rules here.

Good Luck!

Week 19, and I feel like I’ve been pregnant forever. I don’t say that in a whining, complaining way (not yet anyway)– but I feel like “only week 19??”  I find myself obsessing over not feeling the baby yet. 3rd time Moms are suppose to feel it sooner!…. But I’m “only 19 weeks”.

*Sigh* guess that’s what happens when you know you’re pregnant practically the day after you’re actually pregnant. You’re on pregnancy fast forward.

Life.

Since my last update, we’ve been semi-settling into our temporary apartment while our new home is finished. The apartment is nice enough, nothing to complain about, but I just want to feel permanently settle. Unfortunately though, we were informed that that “permanently settled” date may actually be more like WEEKS (or days!) before the baby arrives, not months. This news triggered my very first crazy, hormone induced, preggo meltdown … which began in the kitchen cabinet store. Yep. Totally in public. That was fun. When we got back to the apartment James whipped me up a Crystal Light Margarita Mocktail and listened to my rambling. If that doesn’t scream love, I don’t know what does.

Cravings and Weigh-ins

No pregnancy cravings to speak of, except for my addiction to sparkling water and seltzer. In the past few days, I’ve downed bottles Pelligrino like they were the bottles of the merlot I truly needed.

I am up a grand total of 10 lbs. And find that I’m treating every doctors visit like a Weight-Watchers weigh-in … that always ends with food. The days leading up to the visit, I am the picture perfect healthy eater -all salads and fruit. The morning of, I pray for nature to call (yes, I said it), wear the lightest clothing possible, remove shoes before I step on the scale (because every ounce counts)… and when I leave, I either eat through the sadness of gaining too much (like last month when I gained 4!!)  or eat to celebrate a “good month” (like this month, when I gained 1 – woohoo!).

It’s comical and twisted all at the same time.

Getting To Know Babe

As I said earlier in the post, no movement as of yet. A few days ago I felt a zap type feeling- not the flutters I remember in early pregnancy, but a larger feeling that kind of felt like movement you might feel later in your pregnancy- so I’m doubting it was movement. I have no idea what that was.

This month we have our 20 wk sonogram, which can tell the sex of the baby. We still want to keep it a surprise, but I can tell already it’s going to be hard. Besides the fact that part of me wants to hear its a boy so I don’t have to research anymore girl names, the kids are dying to know, and part of me wants to start baby shopping when I see something cute. I must admit though, I caved last week and bought a cute Sully onesie. If its a girl I will make a froofy bow and make her Sully’s girlfriend.

The Name Game

We are 98% sure we have our boys name…. but girls? Impossible.  I almost forgot how I married the pickiest man ever when it comes to children’s names. When we were having Laina, he vetoed so many names that I finally said her name is Delaina- and you’ve used all your vetoes, so there! {stomped feet, stuck out tounge} … ok that tantrum part might not have happened, but luckily, he loved the name and our child is not nameless.

So, once again I’m finding myself constantly looking for new names, throwing them out randomly… even the kids are weighing in– but so far, no dice.

Laina recently suggested we name the baby Delaina S. (for Sparkles) if it’s a girl… which, honestly may not have been the worst suggestion in the world because it is inevitable that whether a boy or a girl, this child will get called Delaina at some point (Ry, I mean Delaina, I mean…).

Tell me, do you have a favorite girls name I might be able to borrow in the event I cannot convince James to love my number one choice? … It’s only a 50/50 shot that I’ll use it and my bets are on a boy right now.

Complicated Cash (not real money) to the first person to come up with a name we can both agree on ;)

Today while perusing the isles of our local Costco, I discovered two things.

1.- The masses do not crave sparkling water as much as my unborn child, and therefore

Costco does not carry bulk Pelligrino or Perrier Water. (Whomp! Whomp!)

2.- They DO carry incredibly cute plastic Mason Jar Straw Cups!!

How perfect are these for summer time beverages?!?

Sold at Costco in a 3 pack for $19.99, I scooped these babies up- two for the kiddos and one for me ;)

These summertime sippy’s are BPA free, dishwasher safe and have straws with a stopper at the end so they can not be pulled out. The 3 pack that we purchased even came with extra straws. (Score!)

If you do not have a Costco membership, or don’t really need 3 of them, I learned through my Instagram friends that Walmart also sells these individually for $7.

You’re welcome ;)

xo Cori

As we gear up for our very first Disney Vacation Club trip to Disney’s Aulani, located on the beautiful island of Oahu, Hawaii- I’ve been getting a little nostalgic about last year’s trip to Maui. 

Being prime vacation time, I thought I would re-share some of our family’s travel tips for anyone planning or considering a trip to the gorgeous island of Maui!

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Planning a family vacation to Maui in the perfect mix of fun and relaxation. Yes, I used the words “family vacation” and relaxation in one sentence, and I meant every word.

Maui offers families a ton of opportunities to experience fun and adventure with the nature of the island’s beauty.

Here are some of our favorites that we would recommend you look into while planning your family’s Maui get away!

8 Fun Maui Adventures With Kids

1. The Penguins And Parrots At The Hyatt Maui

While vacationing in Maui, we stayed at the Hyatt Regency and it was gorgeous!

In addition to a beautiful pool and beach area, the Hyatt offers some great family dining as well as some adorable penguins, parrots and swans.

The parrots and penguins are out every day and their feeding schedule is available at the front desk. My kids loved visiting during feeding time to learn more about the animals and their talents from staff members.

2. Watching The Island “Wake Up”

Traveling from the east coast to Maui definitely caused a little confusion with time, but also had it’s perks. We were up the first few days very, VERY early.

Like 4 am early. Turns out this is one of the most beautiful times to explore the island. We would get up and out early to splash in the quiet beaches and “watch the island wake up” at sunrise. It was gorgeous!

3. Authentic Hawaiian Luau

A visit to Hawaii would not be complete without a luau experience. There are many to choose from in Maui. After researching, we chose the Feast At LeLe in Lahaina as it had the best reviews and was touted by many to be the most “authentic luau” on the island.

The Feast At LeLe kicked off by being greeted with a Lei and beverage (non-alcoholic beverages were available for the little ones).

There was a trio band playing live music and some hand crafted Hawaiian items for sale as everyone was seated. The kids loved the welcoming party atmosphere. The show and dancers were amazing, complete with a “fire swallower”– which was the most anticipated moment for Ry (7 years old).

The food is brought out in courses to allow you to experience a variety of Polynesian cuisine and we even got to celebrate our son’s birthday Hawaiian style!

While the food was good, this was the only down fall when traveling with picky eater. My son is a true foodie and loved trying everything, while my daughter on the other hand ate next to nothing. Other Luau’s may have more traditional food or a kids menu. If you have a picky eater in your group, this is just something to keep in mind.

4. Beachside Family Portraits

When traveling as a family, often one person is left out of the group photo as they the role of photographer (this is usually me)- or you ask a stranger, and well… it’s never easy to assess a strangers photography skills as they walk by- right? It’s a 50/50 shot.

The beaches and sunset in Maui are gorgeous and make for the perfect family portrait. So why not hire a professional and make it your annual family photo? (Looking to create a little Christmas Card  envy ,anyone?)

We chose the husband and wife team of Dimitri Photography on the recommendation of friend and fellow blogger, Sarah of The Ohana Mama.

Dimitri and Sandra chose the tucked away, DK Fleming Beach for our shoot. A “secret beach” of sorts that we may have never discovered, had it not been on their recommendation.

Our pictures came out phenomenal, and was a beautiful way to remember our Maui vacation for years to come.

5. Surfing Lessons

Maui is the ultimate place to experience a little surfing and there are lessons available for beginners as well as experienced surfers.

James and Ryan took a private lesson for beginners with Tide of Rivers To The Sea. 

They had a great time learning the basics and Tide was amazing with the kids- he even let Laina (3 yrs old) in on the fun.

Rivers to the Sea is just one of many surfing schools on Maui, but we truly loved them and highly recommend! Run by brothers Tide and Kiva, they have taught some Hollywood celebs including: Zac Effron, James Gandolfeni and Amanda Bynes (before she went Cray-cray).

6. The Hawaii Tropical Plantation

The Tropical Plantation is open year round and offers a train ride through the plantation showing off the island’s agriculture and beauty including a gorgeous lake area and fresh coconut-tasting experience.

We visited during spring break/Easter vacation, while Maui was celebrating it’s annual AG Feast at their Tropical Plantation, which was fun! If you are visiting during that time of year as well, definitely look into this festive event.

7. The Lahaina Market Place

The Lahaina Market Place is a great place to check out some local handmade craftsmanship. From jewelry to soaps and wood carvings- this cute little village has it all. My kids loved going from shop to shop browsing all the local goods.

This market place is also the central point where many boat tours leave from. So you can make a day of it by booking a boat tour and then touring shops and grabbing a bite to eat!

8. The Road To Hana

This road-side experience was so amazing, we gave it it’s own in-depth post. In short? DO. IT.

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 Looking for a romantic date night idea while visiting Maui? Check out our oceanside dining experience at the Marriott Wailea Beach.