Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Baby bath?

69 replies

ShabbyAbby · 07/04/2019 16:24

Do I need one if I don't have a bath? Or will a sink or washing up bowl do (very well cleaned obviously)

AIBU to think it's an unnecessary piece of equipment and that, actually, a top and tail does for most washes anyway? And a sink or bowl will do the job otherwise?

OP posts:

Cornettoninja · 07/04/2019 17:53

You can try them in the shower anytime really at an appropriate temperature (room temperature too since they’ll get cold quicker when wet). It’s easy whilst you’re in there holding them, becomes very apparent once they have the strength whether they like it or not. If you have a high pressure shower maybe leave it a couple of months.

If they start being dangerous to keep hold of or making a dash for freedom then it’s time to look at the pop up/inflatable baths.

OneDayillSleep · 07/04/2019 18:37

You could manage but I think a baby bath is easier, plus a normal sink is quite small.

We have a shower and used a normal baby bath with our first child until she was about 2. Our second child we bought a shnuggle (looks like a bucket) and I have to say it was one of my favourite baby items, I hated bathing my first child because she was so slippy, the bucket baths prop them up nicely so they can't go anywhere. We used that until just over 1 year old with our second child, now just use the shower with a 1 and 3 year old. Works fine at these ages but we still needed the bath when they were small.

outpinked · 07/04/2019 18:40

I highly recommend the Shnuggle bath. It was £20 from John Lewis and is easily one of the best purchases I made.

It didn’t exist when I had my first three DC but I wish it had. It supports them from a very early age so you don’t have to hold and try to wash them simultaneously and my DS absolutely adores sitting in it splashing and playing. Looks nice too.

ba03 · 07/04/2019 18:41

You could definitely make do, but I think a baby bath would make things a lot easier. We bought a schnuggle bath and it's been one of my most used baby items by far. Always lots on Facebook marketplace etc

hammeringinmyhead · 07/04/2019 18:47

For the sake of £20, get a schnuggle. We use ours now and DS is 18lb.

Top and tailing isn't enough. You need to scrub off armpit and leg fold cheese.

Rtmhwales · 07/04/2019 18:56

I swore I wouldn't need a baby bath, useless when there's a sink, etc etc. I caved and bought one for DS and it was the best thing I ever bought for him. He's bath obsessed though.

Cornettoninja · 07/04/2019 18:58

Top and tailing isn't enough. You need to scrub off armpit and leg fold cheese

...and milk vomit reeks. Much better to have a good soak with that stuff.

Original poster

ShabbyAbby · 08/04/2019 09:23

The schnuggle does look good. How big is it IRL?

OP posts:

crispysausagerolls · 08/04/2019 09:26

Can’t believe all the people who showered a baby when water temperature can change from normal to scalding or freezing.

crispysausagerolls · 08/04/2019 09:26

Agree that Schnuggle is good

IWouldPreferNotTo · 08/04/2019 09:29

We were given one of the things that's goes in a bath and a hip bath style tub. The thing that goes in the bath is useless but the hip bath despite my initial sneering has been wonderful.

He loves sitting in the deeper warm water and bath time can be 20-30 minutes of fun bonding time which he loves

Newmumma83 · 08/04/2019 09:31

We use the schnuggle, it has a nice bump
In it to help baby sit, when very little you still have to have one hand on chest to steady them, but after a while baby can hold themselves up... it’s a nice size but not too big so you hurt you back carrying with the water ... my bubba loves his bath in his x

LutherRalph1 · 08/04/2019 09:34

We got one from smyths which inflates ( top was solid) and you could have slipped or set down and it folded away.
We used it about twice
We got given a foam baby support and that got used every day until baby could sit up.

cliquewhyohwhy · 08/04/2019 09:35

I bought one with my first and used it a couple of times but it was easier to just use the normal bath so I didn't bother with one for my next two.

Siesta · 08/04/2019 09:37

I haven't got a bath. My Ds went in the shower from about 2 years old. However, a bath has been very useful at times. We have a stokke foldable one and we still use it although ds is nearly 4.

Natsku · 08/04/2019 09:41

The problem will be when they are too old for a sink and too young for a shower.

There's no 'too young' for a shower, both of mine have gone in the shower with me since newborns.

I had a little baby bath for my youngest OP and he had about 6 baths total in it, shouldn't have bothered.

Natsku · 08/04/2019 09:43

Can’t believe all the people who showered a baby when water temperature can change from normal to scalding or freezing.
We don't have that issue with our shower, water temp is always consistent. But my youngest loves a cold shower after sauna!

HoustonBess · 08/04/2019 09:46

DD finds the shower terrifying. It's a different experience when you're a very small person, the noise and splashing and keeping your head out... You might be able to get your DC used to it, but could be tricky.

A bath, on the other hand, is soothing and peaceful.

ZippyBungleandGeorge · 08/04/2019 09:50

We have a bath at home, but DS happily comes into the shower with me at swimming and has done successfully he was about ten weeks when he started swimming classes

Jinglejanglefish · 08/04/2019 09:51

I got the Ikea baby bath tub and we got loads of use out of it. It's hardly expensive plus a washing up bowl isn't really the right shape for lying them down. And yes, DD needed and still needs proper baths to get her fat rolls clean and milky crap out of her neck fat 🤢

Oysterbabe · 08/04/2019 09:55

Depends how much you object to shit in your washing up bowl.

jackparlabane · 08/04/2019 09:57

If your shower has a good rim on it, then you could simply plug the plughole and fill it a few inches to make a bath.
Though a baby bath is useful for carrying stuff around and for toddlers to play in, and there's always free ones going, so I'd get one and see. We had a small one we gave away after a couple months, then a larger one used for a couple years. It doubled as a laundry basket.

2birds1stone · 08/04/2019 10:01

Shnuggle is a good size bath. My dd used hers until she was about 11 months. She was an early Walker so got dangerous with her standing up and trying to climb out.

Shnuggle also do stands with it which is great if you dont want to sit on the floor or lean over a side.

It fills with a good amount of water and easy to support them in it.

Original poster

ShabbyAbby · 08/04/2019 10:18

I have a spare washing up bowl I use for hand washing (soaking shit and puke out of things basically) but never use for food so that's not an issue. I'm not overly hygiene obsessed but try to keep eating and washing separate.

OP posts:

BertieBotts · 08/04/2019 10:45

If you are going to get one, get a Shnuggle. But the sink is really fine.

Flip

1 2 3

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread