Need Baby Bath Tips and Tub Reccomendations

Another big vote for the kitchen sink. It's just the right size, and much better for mama's back!

I don't think I put my little dude alone into the big tub until he was 1 or so... He usually joined me in my baths, and otherwise was washed in the sink like a little dish!

I found a Pooh blow up bath tub at Kmart that you put inside a regular tub... my 9 month old has plenty of room to splash around (the duckie one was a little too small), and when I need to wash his hair, I can get him to look up at Pooh's face. He's too long for the kitchen sink, and the ring that I had picked up was too slippery and he kept sliding around in it, especially when he would try to stand up in it. A lot of times though my husband or I take him in the tub with us, and that works great too :)

Don't get anything!! Just let him sit up and this will be a good opportunity to reinforce "tub rules" like "the tub is slippery, so we always sit during your bath" etc. Wait until the very end to break out the soap and it will be less slippery during "playtime". He'll do fine, just supervise him and enjoy yourselves!! I think it is crazy that we always think we "need" another device for every stage of development - these devices are new in the last few years - what did families do before that?? Put the money in the college fund and happy splashing!

I just bought a bath mat for the bottom of the tub and my son was fine. He has had baths in our tub since day 1 and as soon as he was able to sit on his own he did. I have friends that did the bath ring and they liked it, but I don't know how hard it was to get their daughter in and out, and as soon as she was sitting well, they got rid of it.

I used a bath ring and LOVED it. I have seen them at Walmart for $20.00 and plan to get one for the new baby soon.

I took my daughter in the tub with me from when she was just a few months old. I had some kind of floating ring thing. She loved it. The bath ring that sits on the bottom of the tub would be the best I think. He can sit up and still play. Then when he's old enough to walk, the bath mat or those little sticky things should be fine so he doesn't slip. And there's always the kitchen sink. That works well also.

The laundry basket sounds really good! I wish I thought of that!
Good luck!

I had a bath ring for my daughter and she just loved it. It won't tip over because it attaches to the side of the tub and gives you an arm rest. It also turns completely around so your little guy can circle the bath tub without going anywhere. It is made by Safety First. I also used a bath mat when she got older. It covered the whole bottom of the tub and kept her from slipping. As long as you keep your eye on him it would be good. Especially if you don't want a huge seat in the tub. If you do get a bath seat, I would recommend getting some of those little duck shaped stickies that go on the bottom of the tub and instead put them in the seat. That will keep him from slipping and hitting his "stuff".

I used a bath ring for my son at 5 months. It's not really dangereous. The one I have hooks on the side of the tub and is pretty sturdy and they can't knock it over. I'm actually going to start bathing my 4 month old in it soon. I think I got mine at Target for about $20.00. It doesn't take up very much room at all either. It is a good investment because it keeps them from trying to crawl around the tub once they're mobile. It's nice because you also have 2 free hands instead of having to keep one on the baby all the time.

L.

HI there...

We have a small bathroom and I wanted something my daughter could play in, be safe, and not get hurt..all while not taking up too much space. I ended up buying the soft tub inflatable tub from Onestepahead.com (amazon.com has it aswell for a little less) There is a big suction cup on the back that when you are done just stick it right to the back of the tub wall and you can get on in and shower with out having to worry about it. My daughter loved it cause she could sit up and rest her back against the one side and have a little secure feeling while being able to splash and play. It also saves on using too much water. It fills in a minute and done. Even if they start standing and so forth the sides and bottom are all soft so no worries on hitting their head or bumm. I swear by it and loved it. my daughter used it from 8 months till 16 months before transitioning to the big tub. I still sometimes wish I had the inflatable when she slips and falls in the big tub. Well, hope that helps.

Ps. I used a tub ring as well and it's not the best. It slipped around the tub, my daughter was always slipping and I didnt feel safe with her in there.

Target sells a small seat. It is pretty cheap and you can get some with toys on it too.

Don't get the bath ring. I had one for my sone and it wan't very sturdy. It tipped over and because they are stuck in it, he was held under water. I never left his side while bathing, but I immediately got rid of it. If I hadn't been there he wouldn't ahve been able to maneuver himself out of it. I honeslty think they should be recalled.

I usually bathed my kids in the kitchen sink dunring the transition to the big tub. OR I took them in the shower with us. When my hubby is in the shower I would hand him the baby and he would wash them up and hand them back or Vice versa. If he likes to play the kitchen sink is a great size. Big enough for his body but small enough for him to grip his feet on the side and not slide around.

I did have a friend that would use one of the storage bins to bathe her sone while they were camping and she said it worked out great.

R.,

I have four children one of which is male and I sucessfully used the ring with all of them. If your concerned with the section of plastic between your sons legs, try wraping a cloth diaper around that part, then just wash it with the rest of your soiled towels. I personally never had a hugh problem. I will say this though if your boy is all happy and wiggly at bath time it takes careful manuvering to get them in out is usually easier because they have already gotten to play in the tub. I think I would avoid the laundry basket but that's your call. Enjoy him while he is little the time goes fast.

C.

R.,

We used the yellow blow up duck tub (less than $10 from Walmart). I set it inside the regular tub and filled it up. It was nice because it contained my son to a smaller area and gave a little padding between him and the tub. It really was nice until he was stable enough to be in the tub without it.

T.

I bought this blow up mini tub and it is wonderful! It fits right in your bath tub. I can't remember the name of the brand, but I think I bought it off of babycenter.com. I used it with my last and will use it again with my 6 month old soon. When he can sit on his own, I will start using it. Good luck!

I found that a nice bathmat and the bath ring that has an arm that goes on the edge of the tub with an elbow pad for mommy. I got it at walmart and it was only about $20.00 I love it, my son is almost two and he's a crazy splasher and crazy wild child and i use it still when we wash his hair otherwise I cna't get him to sit still enough to wash it. Lifesaver and i don't think it's dangerous at all, and it doesn't in any way make me nervous. I think the brand is the safety first brand, it's blue and white. we use the bath mat for when he's playing in the tub after we wash his hair. loved it!! good luck

My son started sitting up very well at around that time and I just got a bath mat so that he didn't slip and slide on his bottom. But I also had a cover for the water spout so that if something did happen that he didn't hit himself on it. It worked out well for me. Good luck!

My son loved just being put in the bath tub. Of course you stay right with him, and don't fill the tub too high. But it gives them a sense of progress and excitement, and you too!

You don't need to spend money on anything special. He being 7 months, hes ready for the big tub. Plus think of it as "he thinks it is a big pool." He probably love moving around and splashing then being cooped up in something. Let him have fun, let him explore and kick. Thats me though. My kids were in the big tub almost as soon as they were sitting up on there own. I still watched them though.

You say you don't have space for anything bulky, so here's what I suggest:

If you have space for the bath ring, then find a Children's Orchard near you and see if they have any in stock. That's where I bought the one for my son, and I only paid about $5. (Incase you're unfamiliar with Children's Orchard, they sell previously owned, gently loved children’s merchandise.) Because these rings are only a transition aide, I would HATE to pay full pop for 2-3 months of use. Once they can stay seated in the light current of moving bath water, its usefulness has expired. That is the point where they start trying to get out of it.

If you really don't have room for it, then go to the kitchen sink. As another mom pointed out, typically your kitchen sink is the perfect size for kids during this transition. (And a REALLY nice break for your back! (O; ) If you go this route, BUY the no slip tub mat, NOW! Having it too soon will cause no negative consequence. It will give you the option of doing a “test run” periodically. My test runs were done in the shower while I bathed. He LOVED holding the shower wand and “getting Mommy” with it. He also loved filling and dumping cups of water.

I learned the hard way, NEVER allow a child to be in the tub with out a slip mat! When my guy was 9 months I had him on the shower floor. I closed my eyes to rinse my hair and he tried to climb up the glass door. Tile floor slippery, glass door slippery, tinny hands slippery= baby slip, eye bleeding, trip to ER and 3 stitches in eyelid. I felt like SUCH a LOOSER of a mom. As they say: it only takes a second to have an accident. Nothing like calling your neighbor to help you with your naked bleeding child while you’re naked too! Oh well, I guess that’s part of why you want to have friendly neighbors.

Anyway, I hope this was helpful. ~J.

Hi R.

I used the Safer Bather by Leachco for my daughter. She loved it. It's like a big pillow that goes into the bathtub. You can get it at toysrus or babiesrus.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=240150...

If you do decide to get this, make sure you let all of the water drain from the tub before you pick it up so it will be easier. It comes with a hanger and you just hang it up in your tub area. You can also throw it into the washing machine. I used this until my daughter was nearly a year old.

Good luck,
R.

Our little one grew out of her baby bath tub quickly since she is in the high percentile for height... so we graduated her into the tub before the age of 1 year.

You can either use the tub, take a bath with your little one, or you should check out the inflatable baby bath tub.

Good luck!

Once my son was sitting up and trying to get out of the infant tub I knew it was time for the big tub. I didn't really buy anything for when I started putting him in there. Since I was already sitting right there while he was in the tub I would just hold him when I noticed him start to get a little wobbly.