bathing baby

[Hannah4311]

Hi I'm 29 weeks with my first baby and was just looking for some advice. Is a baby bath worth buying or should I buy a baby seat for our big bath? What's best? TIA x

IME defo

I liked the baby bath, mainly because I could have it on a stand so didn't have to bend over (I have a bad back). It was also quick to fill, and didn't need much water - they are in and out so quickly it seemed an awful waste to run a big bath. It was easy to control the temperature too.
I got a bath seat once DS could site up. It was also useful when I had DD as it made bath sharing with the 2 DCs much easier. I think you can get sort of flannel sling-type seats for when they are tiny but I didn't bother.

Baby bath!!*

Kitchen sink/bowl

We used a sponge thing that propped her up in the proper bath. Never used the baby bath someone gave us except in the garden for water play! And babies love to 'swim'. Have lovely pics/videos of dd going back and forth chortling with joy in the bath in a couple if inches of water!!!

I had one but never really used it so won't bother getting one this time round. I found the easiest/ most enjoyable thing was to have them in the bath with me or DH.

Never bought a baby bath with either DS1 or DS2. We had one of those support seats that you put in your own bath. Lasts until they're able to sit up by themselves. I loved it.

I just put mine in with me

They feel more secure and its easier for me,plus its good for bonding.

We're going for the angelcare bath support thing, mothercare sell them.

I'm planning on getting the fabric type support to go in the big bath. Baby baths just seem to take up too much space IMO. Like the idea of bathing with baby but I think the first couple of months we'll just be too scared of her sliding out of our grip. Plus I get cold very quickly if the bath isn't nice and hot so it isn't like it'll be a nice relaxing bonding experience for me! Had a bath at the pregnancy recommended 38 degrees recently and was like, what the hell is the point in that?

I borrowed one but hated it as I had to use it on the floor and it was hard to fill and even harder to empty (unless DH did it). I much preferred using the kitchen sink as it was a good height AND I could put the cotton wool, towel and other bits on the kitchen worktop, and dry DS on the draining board. Made me keep the sink area clean too! I also tried a baby support in the bath but never felt I had enough hands to deal with it as we didn't have a wide edge to the bath to put things on. It all depends on your set up, but don't under estimate how difficult it might be to lift a full bath to empty. Also think about how warm your bathroom or kitchen is or can be as small babies get cold fast.

I brought a 2nd hand TummyTub and it was very good and you could use it anywhere as it was light even with water in it and easy to carry. In the winter it was nice to bath the babies in the living room. And you can put it on table so no crouching over the bath.

A bucket would work just as well :)

We did lots of bathing with us parents too.

Baby bath, I put it on the kitchen work top right next to the sink for easy filling, emptying we put the change mat and towels on the kitchen table so no bending.
We have a whirlpool bath with really high sides it really hurts to lean over and hold a newborn.

Kitchen sink with one of those sponges in the bottem. In the big bath once they can crawl. Much easier on your back and on the water bill. Really made things easier after a CS. I'd put the changing mat covered with his bath towel on the kitchen table before we started so it was a quick transfer out. Was particularly great with DS2 as I could bath him while DS1 ate supper.

Best tip I had for DD was just to lie her on her back in a couple of inches of water (from a month or so old). She kicked around and went nuts! loved it. Had loads more fun than in the baby bath (which you have to support them in anyway).

We used ours once and found it an awful faff - both to fill and to keep a hold of squirming DS, who was not impressed by the experience.

The second time, I took him in the bath with me. He lay with his head on my chest for ages. We worked it into our evening routine and he now (10 months on) gets a bath with me every night. It's lovely :)

PS. I was scared of falling over when getting in and out at first, so DH used to hand him to me and take him out, but I got over my fear very quickly and am fine bathing him when DH is away. However, most of the time DH still hands him to me and takes him out as he likes to be part of the routine.

I got in the bath with them. I'm pretty sure this helped make them feel safe and secure in water and to grow into happy confident swimmers. I did also use the bathroom washbasin or the kitchen sink sometimes. Much easier on the back than leaning over a bath.

We got one given to us (i was adamant i wasn't buying one) and it was useful for the first month-6weeks tbh. Our bathroom is tiny and tiled floor and i wasn't happy straight away about the transfer from bath to towel in the space as it seemed risky (that sounds odd but you'd have to see my bathroom to understand) so a baby bath on the carpet was much better for us. Once i got my confidence it was a little hammock thingy in the big bath and then either DH or i usually topped the bath up and got in afterwards so it didn't seem like such a waste of water.

Id get one if i were you, but see if you can borrow one as they are only useful for 5 mins.

Bathroom basin, if it's big enough. Wrap a flannel or towel around the taps so baby doesn't bump on them. Then kitchen sink, yy to a foam mat in the sink. I realised after first 2 babies that baby baths are a total waste of time, never used one at all for my 3rd or 4th.

We had a tummy tub and it was very good. Easy to fill/carry and use in the living room which was much warmer than bathroom for newborn winter baby. He was fully submerged up to his chest, so stayed warm for the duration. I especially liked the fact that I just had to support DS' head (just a hand under the chin) until he was able to do it himself, then no hands required really. He quickly learnt to splash away like mad. We kept using until about 7 months or so and then alternated with the big bath.

Top and tail bowls are a waste of money.

Baby bath - we used ours for a good six months, and have now passed it on to our nephew. Also took him in the bath and shower with me, remember, that you don't rally need to wsh them with soap when they're tiny, so a shower works really well, as there's no soap to make you all slippery.

Plastic washing up bowl for when they are tiny, then in the big bath (with you, or in a baby bath) once they can sit.

Used tummy tub or kitchen sink for the first few weeks only. Then moved to normal bath with a fabric support. Now bathed together with toddler.

We were given a 2nd hand baby bath and I used it precisely once. I wouldn't bother with the tummy tub either, it is just a bucket!

We didn't bath our babies much in first few weeks, they weren't that keen and they don't really need it apart from topping and tailing. Now dd is 5 months it is part of her bedtime routine but we don't use soap on her.

I had idea that bathing the bairns would be but it really wasn't.

Oh god, yes, top and tail bowls are absolutely a waste of money. I use tupperware.

We've got one of these -puj.com/products/puj-tub

It's really easy as I can stand at any sink with it, it folds down flat for storage and it supports our wee boy really well, perfect after a cs.