Tips for bathing your kid with a cast
So happy to share this blog post I created as a Suave Kids partner. The Disney, Frozen and Star Wars trademarks are used by Unilever pursuant to a license agreement with The Walt Disney Company. All rights reserved.
We are in full-on adjustment mode with a new arm cast in our house. When we went for the cast and the doctor said we couldn’t have a waterproof cast, my heart sunk a little. B loves her baths and loves getting wet. But this cast cannot get wet. And despite that fact that she’s not supposed to be running or jumping, she is still getting stinky and getting crunchy food hair. So, not bathing is not an option.
Since we are a couple baths in, I thought I would share some of the things that are working well for us during this new bath time ritual.
1. Don’t write off the sink
Thank goodness she’s still such a peanut, so I can bathe her in our kitchen sink (after a good sink cleaning, of course). Of course, I know this isn’t an option for my 10 year old, but I can also tell my 10 year old to keep her hand out of the water and she understands. The sink is a good option for containing her, and the fact that it’s divided allows her a place to rest her casted arm out of the water. If we didn’t have the divider, I’d have her face the other way and have her arm up on the countertop.
2. Wrap that arm or leg
We wrapped B’s arm in a plastic grocery bag. I just pulled it on, wrapped the handles around and then tied it. It’s worked very well for us. Of course, we are still trying to keep her arm out of the water as best we can.
A friend told me that she used plastic umbrella bags with a hair tie at the top. I’ve also had people recommend using press and seal wrap as well as special cast bag.
Side note: I’ve had to do this on myself. The inside of the bag gets hot very quickly, so try to keep this bath process quick.
3. Keep it fun
Let them be kids in the tub. Use the cups and toys that they would normally use. You will probably just have to remind them like 20 times more than normal to keep their arm or leg out of the water.
4. Have an assistant
Have a sibling or another adult help with the bath if at all possible. It’s nice to have somebody there to hold up their arm or leg out of the water and also double check it doesn’t get wet when rinsing and washing.
5. Get pump dispensers
If you are bathing your child alone, you will likely want to have one hand on the casted appendage at all times. To do this, you have to have dispensers for wash and shampoo that have pumps on them. You will need to be able to get soap with one hand and wash with one hand.
6. If it gets a little wet
Try not to freak out. Hopefully, it’s just damp. If that’s the case, take out your blow dyer on the cool setting and see if you can get the moisture out. If you are really concerned, call the doctor and see what they have to say. Hopefully, taking the necessary precautions you won’t run into this issue.
7. Try to be consistent
If possible, keep bath time still at the same time and have the same toys. If siblings usually bathe together, but now it’s not an option, maybe they can be in the same room with them and keep them company.
8. Get something a little special and new as a potential distraction
Our first bath with a cast was a little rough. B wasn’t happy that things were so different. I had some new Suave Kids head-to-toe gentle products that are specially formulated for kids in new variants with Disney Frozen characters on them. Having Elsa, Anna and Olaf there right on the bottle made for a nice distraction.
I could quiz B about the bottles and characters all while using the gentle cleansing ingredients that are thankfully tear-free. Thankfully, they are also dermatologist tested and haven’t given her any problems with her sensitive skin.
The Disney Frozen Elsa 2-in-1 Shampoo + Conditioner in Berry Flurry cleans with a rich, creamy later that rinses off easily leaving hair feeling clean and soft in one step.
The Disney Frozen Olaf 2-in-1 Shampoo + Body Wash in Icy Grape cleans hair while leaving skin smooth and soft.
When we use a shampoo + conditioner, a detangler like the Frozen Anna Detanlger spray in Sparkle Berry is a must. It helps get all of those tangles out as well as taming B’s crazy flyaway. Plus, it makes her head smell like berries!
You can find more information about these Suave Kids Disney collections at and purchase them at Walmart, Target and mass, grocery drug, value retailers and online.
Suave Kids Shampoo & Conditioner Disney Frozen Elsa Berry Flurry, 28 OunceSuave Kids Detangler Spray Disney Frozen Anna Sparkle Berry, 10 Ounce
Suave Kids Shampoo & Body Wash Disney Frozen Olaf Icy Grape, 28 Ounce
Do you have any other tips for helping bathe kids with a cast? I’d love to hear them. We still have two weeks left in the “giant red bandaid”!
She is such a champ!
I am glad this all worked out well for you both. It is good she’s such a peanut.
Thanks for the tip on getting water out of it if it DOES get wet! I wouldn’t have thought of the hair dryer.
It’s only a little wet. If it gets too wet with the bend, they are getting a new cast:(
Thanks for the tips. We haven’t had any broken bones yet (knock on wood), but if we do have someone with a cast, these are great tips to keep in our tool box! I love the Frozen Suave products too. My daughter would love those for bath time!
Maureen
maureen.tenney@gmail.com.