Make sure the water isn’t too hot—better a bath that’s too cool than one that scalds. Let your child test it first.

Teach your child how to turn the faucet on and off (stress that this should only be done with a parent in the room), and let him run his own bath. Everyone likes to feel empowered.

Purchase a vast array of bath toys, ideally with your child’s participation. Friendly looking towels and washcloths; plastic ducks, boats, and fish; and bathtub paints and crayons are always winners.