Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think i don't need a bathtub, despite having a baby?

100 replies

TheMagicalChicken · 22/08/2018 15:55

we only have a shower in our bathroom- as neither of like baths and we wanted a nice big shower instead. never thought of it as an issue. DS is 6 months old. First washed DS in sink, now too big really and is now washed in the shower tray every few days. but a friend at group keep suggesting that somehow this is 'wrong' and i "need" a bathtub, so he can have bath every night? first i don't really want to do a 'full wash' of him every single day. so like a face, hands, bits and bum before bed etc. And a "full" shower every 2-3 day for hair and everything else. (obvs, i break the 'rules' for poonamis and sick incidents etc where he gets hosed down!)
anyway - schedules aside, he'll be fine in a shower? just laying for now, sitting when he can,.standing when he can safely?
we sometimes have a shower together and we sit on the floor, he is on my lap and gets washed.

am i somehow denying my boy? he can have baths at Nanna's, or Uncles etc

AIBU???

OP posts:
FranticallyPeaceful · 22/08/2018 15:56

We have a big bath and I shower my 13 week old because it’s easier to jump in with him and he prefers it. You don’t need a bath

CarrieBlu · 22/08/2018 15:57

No, you’re fine. If it really worries you get a fold down bath, should last until your DC is 3. Boots have them on their website, we bought one recently.

pinkhorse · 22/08/2018 15:58

I couldn't manage without a bath

imnotreally · 22/08/2018 15:58

What's wrong with the kitchen sink?!

WooYa · 22/08/2018 16:01

I've just seen a hack on Facebook - put a small paddling pool in the bottom of your shower to bath baby in! Genius Grin

QueenCuntyFlippers · 22/08/2018 16:05

When my DD was born we only had a shower, it was really big so after the initial kitchen sink washes we bought an inflatable duck bath that used to sit in the bottom of the shower.
We had the bath put back in after about 1 year of that - it’s much easier with a bath/ shower but we managed fine x

Giraffesandllamas · 22/08/2018 16:08

My sibling lives abroad in an apartment in a capital city. They have never had space for a bath. they had a giant washing up bowl which sat in the bottom of the shower, in fact it was safer than a bath as the child couldn't fall backwards under the water. My kids thought is was great fun.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 22/08/2018 16:10

hate a bath myself, but for my DD i prefer to dunk her/ submerge her in a bath of water, the shower was in my opinion a bit harsh when she was smaller. TBH whatever works for you.

Kpo58 · 22/08/2018 16:11

My DD is scared of the spray from the shower so a bath is a must for me.

SleepyMcEdie · 22/08/2018 16:12

We always take a small paddling pool on holiday with us if the accommodation only has a shower. Just put it in the tray and let him sit and play.

speakout · 22/08/2018 16:12

Bathtimes can be great fun for kids.

My children loved bathtimes it's not just about getting clean.

Squirty toys, little boats, stick on foam letters, submarines, diving mermaids, bubbles.

Water play can be done in other ways, but nothing beats the fun of a bath.

I wouldn't want to have kids and no bath.

Chembe · 22/08/2018 16:15

I have a 7 year old and 6 week old. Survive fine with no bath!

NameChangeCuddleBums · 22/08/2018 16:16

We haven’t got a bath and manage fine, similarly to you.

speakout · 22/08/2018 16:17

Of course kids survive with no bath and just a shower, but would miss out on a huge amount of fun!

MooChops89 · 22/08/2018 16:17

I have a bath seat for DD (4 months), was £5 from Tesco and I tend to put it in the bath but use the detachable shower head on her, usually I get in with her and shower us both together. She seems to like it! She's probably had 5 baths since birth, I shower her around twice a week

guiltynetter · 22/08/2018 16:18

My DD is 4 and we’ve only just got a bath a couple of weeks ago as we couldn’t afford to have our bathroom done until then. it’s SO good to have a bath for her now. she loves playing in it and somehow i feel like she’s cleaner! we used a baby bath for far too long until she barely fit in it. then used the shower tray which she decided she hated at the age of 2.5 and screamed through every shower which was stressful. you probably don’t ‘need’ bath but i find it soooo much easier now.

guiltynetter · 22/08/2018 16:20

for people who say they shower with their 6 month old, 13 week old...so what you stand up turn the water on and they’re just under the water with you? and it just sprays in their face? it seems a bit harsh!

Camomila · 22/08/2018 16:20

DS has his baths in a green plastic ikea laundry tub (inside the shower)

I can even just about fit in it so it'll def last till they can shower by themselves.

Original poster
TheMagicalChicken · 22/08/2018 16:21

imnotreally nothing is wrong with the sink? its too small really now. i did use it first.
kpo ds has had showers since the beginning with me maybe once a week - and now 2-3 times a week so is used to it. not scared.

i suppose i could do the paddling pool thing sometimes for fun =)

OP posts:
Tw1nsetAndPearls · 22/08/2018 16:23

I wouldn't want to have kids and no bath.

Classic MN hyperbole. We have a 2 year old and no bath - have never thought shit we should have aborted him ! 😂

yikesanotherbooboo · 22/08/2018 16:25

Obvs it isn't needed for keeping a small child clean. Sink and then shower is fine. The bath can be fun and relaxing but maybe we should all be thinking about water usage and limiting the wallowing around.

Tw1nsetAndPearls · 22/08/2018 16:25

We used a mixture of the kitchen sink and his baby bath.

He now has showers and has an bath at the bottom of his shower. We have four bathrooms but no shower - not great planning.

It is a bit of a pain but nothing major. He sometimes has a bath in the garden or in front of c beebies- he seems quite happy .

toomuchhappyland · 22/08/2018 16:25

You don’t need one, but as he grows, you’re missing out on an easy/free method of child entertainment. Bath time with toys and bubbles fills a fractious half hour between tea and stories, or is a good way to fill some time on a rainy afternoon. Children really enjoy splashing in a bath.

imnotreally · 22/08/2018 16:26

Sorry if that came across as a criticism. Just that the kitchen sink works fine for lots of people lol. But no I don't think it's a must have.

BlairWaldorfsHeadband · 22/08/2018 16:26

We only have a shower. MIL thinks it’s odd but we manage fine.

Swipe left for the next trending thread