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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:
Haworthia · 22/08/2018 16:57

I must admit, I would have really struggled.

Some children are easy going about things, but my two have always been highly strung PITAs and would have screamed bloody murder in a shower as toddlers. For quite a long time, DC1 used to scream bloody murder over baths too. She’d refuse to sit down, and just stand there (screaming) as we hastily washed and shampooed her. She’s 6 now and likes showers, but only during the last year or so.

DC2 is 3 and we’re going on holiday in a caravan next week. I haven’t even worked out how we’re going to shower him Grin

speakout · 22/08/2018 16:59

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

twinsetandpearls- yes that is a hyperbole.

I'm simply saying I want a bath when I have kids.

Of course I would still have children if I had only a shower, but a bath is an extra dimension of fun - and it helps them relax for bed.

Sarahrose21 · 22/08/2018 16:59

Nothing wrong with just a shower, I am in the same boat, nice big shower no bath and DD now 7 months has been showered since we got home with the exception of 2 attempts at bathing her, once in a baby bath ontop of her changing unit - ended up with water bloody everywhere and nearly did my back in trying to empty it.
And once in same baby bath in the shower tray - again did my back in bending and knees whilst kneeling after back gave up!
She now has an angelcare bath thingy in the shower tray and has a shower every other night with me or DH and a rinse down if needed at other times, once she's too big for the angelcare she can sit in the shower tray instead. It is unlikely that I will ever put a bath in, she doesn't need it and they are an awful waste of water and you sit in your own filth

Tipsylizard · 22/08/2018 16:59

I have a 3 yo and 22 months old and most nights they go in the shower (both if them are filthy by the end of the day) and they both love it. If i put them in the bath together they seem to end up fighting. The only downside i can see is my shower is full of bath toys that i stand on every flipping morning Grin

PookieNoodlin · 22/08/2018 17:01

We have a bath and DS would have one every night until he was about 1. Then we dropped it to every other night. He is now 2 and likes to shower every few days (we do go swimming at least 2-3 times a week so he mostly showers there). We tried him with a shower couple of times before when he was a bit smaller but he was always too scared, it seemed like overnight he suddenly liked it. We haven’t used the bath for ages now and when we redo our bathroom in a few months it’s going completely and we’re just going to have a large walk in shower. If/when we have another baby we will probably get one of those foldable bath tubs like mentioned by PP and just put it in the shower tray. Will also probably try and get them used to the shower a bit sooner than we did with DS.

Soubriquet · 22/08/2018 17:02

I was just coming to say that @WooYa

A paddling pool at the bottom of the shower works perfectly.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 22/08/2018 17:02

We gave a lovely big cast iron bath, but I still bathed the babies in the kitchen sink to save my back. Plus it looks adorable when they sit there splashing around...

GrumpyGoose · 22/08/2018 17:05

Get one of these if you really need something, can be used as a paddling pool then when he's grown out of it; toy storage. Otherwise I don't think it matters if you don't have a bath.

To think i don't need a bathtub, despite having a baby?
ArfArfBarf · 22/08/2018 17:07

I have a nearly 2 year old and I can imagine from about 9m to at least now the “stand safely” option might have been a bit of a challenge. Plus all three dc love the bath.

But I don’t think it’s necessary, just nice to have.

I agree with a PP that early exposure to water won’t stop a contrary toddler deciding they hate it all of a sudden. See also food fussiness...

ILoveDolly · 22/08/2018 17:08

I think some people have this idea that the kids must have a bath every night, a bath, without fail, every night. I have friends who will still insist on their quite big school age dc having a full bath every night no matter what time it is or how busy they've been that evening. That's not necessary really and I think a particularly British obsession.
I envy you really, your child will be much easier on holidays, mine were scared of the shower for years and I still struggle of I need to shower the younger ones at swimming etc

INeedMoreCakeInMyLife · 22/08/2018 17:15

I saw a post where people put a small pound land paddling pool in the shower cubicle and fill. Up as a bath on holiday. Looked a fab idea for short term.

Oldraver · 22/08/2018 17:17

How about this

pinkhorse · 22/08/2018 18:11

I just saw this and thought of this thread.

To think i don't need a bathtub, despite having a baby?
EyUpOurKid · 22/08/2018 19:11

Plastic storage box that will fit in the shower tray. We had the baby bath filled inside of the big bath until ds was easily 15/16 months and he's a big lad.

Get a lid for it and you can store all the toys in there when not in use.

Batjs really are an easy way to entertain a grumpy baby. Get a few ball pool balls and stick them in there at bathtime. You can do messy play with with cream and food colouring/cooked spaghetti etc. Bath toys are endless fun.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 22/08/2018 20:49

ILoveDolly is it a British obsession? I like a daily bath for my DC as 1) it helps fill in some time 2) they know that’s the start of wind down 3) they get clean- those that dont have daily bath/shower and just wash down the bits with a flannel etc seems like more of a faff

Original poster
TheMagicalChicken · 22/08/2018 21:19

The face, hands, bits and bum.wash is not a faff! Wash my hands. Get Wipes. Get DS Undressed. Wash face, hands, nappy off, bits and bum. Dry off. Fresh Nappy on. Bed time Onsie on. Done.
No more faff than a normal nappy change! Just adding a face and hand wash.
The full wash is more faff than the little wash! Which is partly why we only do that every 2-3 days. (Plus he just doesn't need a full wash every day!)

OP posts:
OnlyFoolsnMothers · 22/08/2018 21:23

Each to their own, our children are hardly going to care

DiegoMadonna · 22/08/2018 23:56

We do a daily bath too (not in UK) as part of the bedtime routine. Relaxes them, signals the start of bedtime, etc.

Saidthesharktotheflyingfish · 25/08/2018 10:45

My recollections of bathtime with children are lovely. That ELC suction toy which had a waterwheel and other bits and pieces too, oh god, children loved that.

Am sure a bath or shower is fine, but considering that in effect a baby sits in its wee and poo in a waterproof bag 24 hours a day, I'd definitely do one or the other and not just wipe them down.

Original poster
TheMagicalChicken · 25/08/2018 11:18

Why do you ou think the soap and water in the bath/shower would be any different or somehow get them magically cleaner than the soap and water for the bits and bum wash? Confused

OP posts:
AmIRightOrAMeringue · 25/08/2018 11:23

No you don't need a bath. He will be used to the shower so won't be scared of the transition like a lot of kids. I'd just make sure to take him swimming so he isn't scared of being in water? Also maybe buy a bath seat for when he's sitting up but in the wobbly stage so doesn't slip over.

AmIRightOrAMeringue · 25/08/2018 11:23

A shower is probably better for the environment. And babies skin

Duskqueen · 25/08/2018 11:41

I tried bathing my 11 month old in a standing shower whilst we were away and it was a nightmare, the amount of times he nearly fell over and banged his head, I was a nervous wreck afterwards. I find it easier to bath him, but even then it is a handful, I get in with him and still need my DH's help to keep hold of him.
I know some people manage with a shower but there is no way with my little man I could cope without a bath.

00100001 · 26/08/2018 12:29

Why does it take two of you to bath your baby? Just get him to sit down.

Worldpeace123 · 26/08/2018 13:06

I still do not understand how and why people bathe their little ones in a kitchen sink?!!! Confused