Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Putting baby in washing basket in public

219 replies

TottenhamCake · 31/03/2026 12:58

im really keen to find a more practical and safe way of washing my baby (4mo) after his swim lessons. Washing him in the shower feels like a disaster waiting to happen. I like to get him washed there as well, as he’s so exhausted I can’t get a bottle in him before his nap, and hate the thought of chlorine lingering on his skin.

im thinking of getting one of those foldable laundry baskets and using as a kind of bath. The shower heads there aren’t fixed to the wall so this could be done. Will I look like a complete lunatic though? Or does anyone have any better ideas??

OP posts:
BauhausOfEliott · 31/03/2026 15:49

Paveparadiseputupaparkinglot · 31/03/2026 14:52

I can only assume she doesn’t want to get wet also?!

Show quote history

Do you think the baby was swimming in the pool on his own?

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 31/03/2026 15:49

Would he fit in a salad spinner? That would be a quick way of drying him too.

BauhausOfEliott · 31/03/2026 15:48

Ella31 · 31/03/2026 15:43

Nonsense the mum paid to use the pool for the lesson which includes showering facilities after. You dont own the place. She's just looking for a safe way to waah her baby

Show quote history

She's just looking for a safe way to waah her baby

As others have pointed out, she already has a safe way to wash her baby, which is stepping under the shower with him in her arms like every other parent does.

ThatLilacTiger · 31/03/2026 15:48

AllWasWell · 31/03/2026 13:03

Why can’t you just step into the shower with the baby in your arms for a rinse and proper bath later?

If you do this, DO NOT USE SOAP. It's quite unsafe anyway but the one time I tried to use body wash, my baby became a totally frictionless surface and I'm lucky I didn't drop him on the floor.

A small drainable plastic box or folding baby bath is way safer and he'll be able to sit up before long, which will be even more helpful.

BauhausOfEliott · 31/03/2026 15:47

Washing him in the shower feels like a disaster waiting to happen

Why?

ohyesido · 31/03/2026 15:44

Do what feels right for you and don’t worry about what others think

Ella31 · 31/03/2026 15:43

CremeEggThief · 31/03/2026 14:41

Completely agree with this.
I would tell you off for this OP, if I were there. 💯

Show quote history

Nonsense the mum paid to use the pool for the lesson which includes showering facilities after. You dont own the place. She's just looking for a safe way to waah her baby

Shimmerandshine21 · 31/03/2026 15:42

I used to take a bumbo chair with me on occasion. They are waterproof so could sit on the floor in the shower but also dry it out and they can sit in it whilst you change yourself too. I had two very close in age so it gave me free hands to help one whilst the other sat in it.

snackattackk · 31/03/2026 15:38

Why on earth would you go to all that hassle, just stand under the shower with your baby in your arms like ever other parent has ever done. As if you'd start unpacking a bath and filling it up 🤣, bizarre. The showers are right there!

TheFrendo · 31/03/2026 15:25

Our children used to get a bucket bath or a sink bath.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 31/03/2026 15:24

I'd rather attempt to shower a greased octopus than DD2 when she was too little to stand up. The basket sounds a great idea.

VenusClapTrap · 31/03/2026 15:18

I never even rinsed mine because the moment we stepped out of the pool he went into a full scale screaming meltdown, so it was a race to wrestle us into clothes as fast as I could and get out of there and into the car with a windmilling child under my arm. Every single week. He had eczema but leaving washing till normal evening bath time on swim days never made it worse.

A friend of mine used a bucket to wash hers in at the side of the pool. We do laugh about that now.

HisNotHes · 31/03/2026 15:17

Just stand underneath the shower with him!

Mt563 · 31/03/2026 15:13

CremeEggThief · 31/03/2026 14:55

For being selfish and making other people wait longer of course.
Not sure what is so hard to see about that.🙄
You don't get to faff around and do whatever you like in a situation like that, it is incredibly RUDE!

Show quote history

OK. Pretty sure I've seen people using shampoo and shower gel in the showers so I assumed that washing yourself and kids was fine but maybe it's just for rinsing and anything else is faffing.

Unwritten social expectations are hard and complicated for some people.

flirtybird · 31/03/2026 15:08

I used to sit on the floor in the shower with the kids in my lap to wash them and I would also wash that way.

FunnyOrca · 31/03/2026 15:05

takealettermsjones · 31/03/2026 13:04

I mean you would probably look like a bit of a lunatic but why should that stop you if it works for you? 🤣

That said I would definitely just hold baby in my arms and step in, it's only for a quick rinse ☺️

Second this! At our baby swim class we all look like lunatics with the various showering and changing methods.

Rituelec · 31/03/2026 15:04

AllWasWell · 31/03/2026 13:03

Why can’t you just step into the shower with the baby in your arms for a rinse and proper bath later?

This is what i did

EgregiouslyOverdressed · 31/03/2026 15:01

If you really won't hold him in your arms under the shower then you could always use a mesh water sling.

NamelessNancy · 31/03/2026 14:55

Parsleyforme · 31/03/2026 14:45

Are you worried it will look like you don’t have hot water at home? I think it will be more faff than it’s worth as you’ll have a dripping wet basket to deal with because water won’t absorb in like it does with fabric. And will you be able to easily bend, empty and collapse it while holding baby?

Exactly, where will you put the baby whilst setting up/dismantling this apparatus? Doesn't it just trade one problem for others? I'm pretty sure I just showered quickly whilst holding mine for a quick rinse off.

Babyboomtastic · 31/03/2026 14:55

Paveparadiseputupaparkinglot · 31/03/2026 14:52

I can only assume she doesn’t want to get wet also?!

Show quote history

She'll have been in the pool with baby though.

CremeEggThief · 31/03/2026 14:55

Mt563 · 31/03/2026 14:52

For what? Cleaning herself and baby? What about this is so problematic?

Show quote history

For being selfish and making other people wait longer of course.
Not sure what is so hard to see about that.🙄
You don't get to faff around and do whatever you like in a situation like that, it is incredibly RUDE!

Paveparadiseputupaparkinglot · 31/03/2026 14:52

tripleginandtonic · 31/03/2026 13:22

Isn't that what everyone does?

Show quote history

I can only assume she doesn’t want to get wet also?!

Mt563 · 31/03/2026 14:52

CremeEggThief · 31/03/2026 14:41

Completely agree with this.
I would tell you off for this OP, if I were there. 💯

Show quote history

For what? Cleaning herself and baby? What about this is so problematic?

CandyEnclosingInvisible · 31/03/2026 14:50

Get one of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hugs-Suds-Shower-Baby-Carrier/dp/B0FPMBPRGH/
The mesh fabric doesn't absorb water or soap so you can wash yourself and your baby without worrying. I agree with you OP I wouldn't want to try to wash a baby while standing in the shower myself the little critter might be so slippery and wriggly that I dropped him but a sling link this would do the trick and also lets you wash your hair while you are at it.

Comtesse · 31/03/2026 14:48

Jane143 · 31/03/2026 14:16

Surely if babies are very sensitive to chlorine it would be better to not take them swimming while they are still so young. Just practice splashing around in the bath at home would be less of a faff than carting washing baskets along with all the other paraphernalia that goes in the changing rooms . Then when they are older and skin less sensitive try swimming pool then. I doubt a 4 month old really benefits from swimming pools until able to toddle or sit up

Hard agree! Swimming with little babies is such a mega faff for very limited rewards in my experience (ymmv of course)….