1 Use props Tempt your baby with a new bath toy – it is a great way to entice her into the water.2 Share a bathAsk your partner to hold her while you play in the bath with her toys. She will forget her fears and want to join you. 3 Hold off

“I was always a water baby,” says Rebecca. “Every family holiday there would be a big group of us, with the children spending practically every waking moment in the pool. I loved being in the water and was always pleading with my mum, ‘Please can we

in the bath… 
In his book Birth And Beyond (Vermilion, £25), Dr Yehudi Gordon suggests that a bath can also be a good place for a mother to feed her baby (warm water encourages the let-down reflex in the breast, so mothers having feeding problems could find

.babybitsonline.co.uk).As far as soap is concerned, the golden rule is that less is definitely more. Your baby’s skin is good at keeping itself supple and moist, and water will wash away almost any dirt – it’s not until your baby starts eating solid food at around six months

BabiesWhile not really swimming using the proper technical strokes that we develop as adults (children don’t have the strength and coordination until at least age four), a baby benefits a great deal from an early introduction to water, not least

*Winner*Trunki BoostApak £45

. 5 Swaddle upBabies tend to love the security of being firmly wrapped, so swaddle her snugly in a baby blanket.More development tips by Junior:Five ways to boost water confidenceFive ways to teach children manners

before being given to a baby. Fortunately for us, in the UK we can take safe, drinkable tap water for granted. Each water authority has strict guidelines to adhere to and details of what pours from our taps. Despite the Drinking Water Inspectorate

Babies up to 18 monthsHold your baby while he ‘swims’ in the bath, and let water trickle over his body so he can discover how it feels. Teach him to make a splash by patting your hands on the surface of the water in the bath, or in a washing-up bowl

Versatile four-in-one appliance that cooks, blends, defrosts and reheats food. What more could a busy mum ask for?Babycook Duo from £170, by Beaba Don't miss... Find out how Beaba fared in our Best Family Cookbook categoryPlus Discover delicious recipes that your child will love ...