Question re top and tail bowls

[moomin35]

First timer here, please forgive my stupidity(!!) - Having thought I wouldn't use a top and tail bowl I have now decided that I will for the first 1-2 weeks whilst the umbilical cord stump waits to drop off as it shouldn't get wet. I was just wondering, some top and tail bowls come embossed with a diagram as to which end should be used for the "top" and which end should be used for the "tail". But for those top and tail baths that don't, how do you ensure you use the correct end to keep it all hygenic?!

just wash the head end of the baby first.
Then wash the rest.
or leave the used flannel etc in the water you've used.

Either way, washing his face with bum water won't cause terrible damage

You don't need one. Really you don't. Just use a normal bowl and wash baby's bum and bits last.

ours has got q lion pic on the sticker which is one end. that is the head :) still 2 years on. we would have scratched it or marked it otherwise. otherwise it is pointless really...

we don't have much baby crap but we love that bowl!

You really really don't need one. Wash all over and do bottom last.

Even if they are washed with bum water they will survive. After all their first breath will have been taken in direct contact with a bum (unless CS I guess but you get my drift).

Sounds like a waste of money. Just use one bowl but wash the top before the tail.

I also agree with other posters that you don't need one, I had one and then it fell on DD in the bath (didn't hurt her, only landed on her little legs) but I resented it after that as she cried like a howler after it! :)
I just use one old Tupperware container and wash face, body etc and bum last

You absolutely don't need one. Just get a bowl, stick some water in it and wipe your baby down; bum last. They really don't get very dirty.

Agree just get any bowl. Do bum last. I used my little bowl loads like others said they don't get that dirty was way easier to wash them down than bath them all the time.

I've never used one and I've got two dc's.

Never saw the need.

I found mine v handy - I put water in one end, and the opened nappy sack in the other to dump dirty cotton wool balls in. I never used it to wash faces at all - I just did that as and when required while they were sitting up.