To not get bathroom overhauled for baby?

[PoppieD]

We have a walk in-shower, not a bath. Am I completly unrealistic that will manage to bath baby with baby bath on floor of shower?

[poocatcherchampion]

Oh we are like you tinkly, with the older ones capering around in their birthday suits talking about bodily functions - happy days!!

[Witchend]

One of mine was terrified of showers until they were about 3yo

[HoundoftheBaskervilles]

I think you'll be fine. Baths, whilst nice, are not obligatory. Much of the world do not have baths, I'm pretty sure they survive.

[Dinosaursdontgrowontrees]

I have a 3 yr old dd and am 8months pregnant with dc2. We have no bath. Dd had her baby bath when she was tiny but as from about 6 months she came in the shower with us. She is more than happy. She gets lots of water play at other times and has baths and her grandparents houses whenever we stay. No problem for us!

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

Ah those French campsite baby baths Poocatcher. Fond memories of singlehandedly lining up 3 under 5, giving them a good scrub in the bath and a vigorous towel dry, while a young French couple at the next sink, carefully and delicately, managed to bath one little one between them in the same amount of time.

The young Irish Mum waiting patiently for her turn with her tribe remarked that he was obviously a very precious child. Bet she is a Mumsnetters now.

[Oysterbabe]

It's just a nice routine. Bit of a play in the bath, pjs on, cuddles and story time. Sure you could do it without the bath but you need to clean them whatever and it's a good way to start winding them down for bed.

[Saz12]

DD had a bath at home, but when on hols with only a shower we blocked the plughole in the shower unit with a hand towel, the water was a few inches deep (well within the depth of the shower cubicle thingy) but enough to float a duck on.

[Notso]

I don't understand the obsession with baths for children. I can't wait to get rid of ours.

[poocatcherchampion]

Me too tinkly - French campsites are the best for this!

[pretend]

Dd wasn't a fan at first, but now she gets to choose a toy to take with her it completely transformed how she approaches it. She takes in her play saucepans, spoons, little animals etc and would stay in for hours.

[DinosaursRoar]

As soon as they can sit up unsupported, you are looking at bathtime being about splashing. Those washing 4 month olds in baby baths in other rooms will need a lot of towels down to stop soaking the carpet...

If the baby gets used to a shower early, it should be ok, as well as washing in the sink/baby bath, carry them in the shower with you some times to get used to the feeling.

[BoffinMum]

I used to do mine in the kitchen sink as this was a lot easier.

[catkind]

Pretend, they like sitting in the bath playing with bath toys. Which can be achieved in other ways but not so conveniently.
Some scream blue murder at a shower - then DS at that age screamed blue murder at baths too for a while, they can take against anything really.

[LibrariesgaveusP0wer]

Pretend. - they sometimes did that. More often they were having such fun they danced around and slipped. Or bent over and whacked their head on the wall. Or balanced on one leg and fell over....

[MarjorySunshineDust]

We have a good sized shower enclosure and use a flexibath for our now 2 year old. We just fill it in the shower and she loves it. It folds away too which is handy, much less bulky than a regular baby bath.

[LillianGish]

Never had a bath when DCs were babies/toddlers. Used baby bath then as soon as they were old enough - ie could sit up quite sturdily used to put them in the shower cubicle under the shower. They used to play in there quite happily sticking those foam letters and things on the shower walls. Water on their heads never bothered them as they never really knew any other way. I remember my mum being horrified at the thought, but soon saw how much they enjoyed it. Eventually moved to a house with a bath and used to worry much more about leaving them unattended and able to reach the hot tap.

[frenchfancy]

Many homes on the continent have no bath and they manage just fine. Don't worry about it.

[pretend]

Mine just sits down and blocks the bloody plughole

[Mrscog]

Buy a massive storage box and use that. We've got one my nearly 4 year old could fit in if the need arose!

[LibrariesgaveusP0wer]

Not three, but mine were getting on for that before they could be trusted not to fall over in the shower. Even with a mat.

[pretend]

Why not put all these hulking three years olds in the shower though?

Are they soluble under running water?

[TribbleNamedDave]

Gosh, we used a baby bath until well over two with our first. Admittedly it was plonked in the bigger bath, but we filled it using the shower. He coped fine in it.

[Jengnr]

Much to my dismay we don't have a bath. Our boy is 3 next week. And he's not a small 3. When he grew out of the baby bath we had one of those inflatable ducks that goes in a normal bath and now we have a fucking huge baby bath. He is still fitting in it nicely. And has proper baths at GPs.

[Cass168]

Just wanted to chip in - You can also get HUGE baby baths these days - we've just had our whole bathroom done so borrowed one to bath DS in while work was going on. He's 2.5 and had plenty of room for him, his train, a digger... etc .... You should be able to manage fine.

[OnlyTheWelshCanCwtch]

Use a small paddling pool when baby is a toddler!