Do I really need a top and tail bowl??

[Firsttime86]

Hi, obviously 5am is the best time to be thinking of these things but I am due to be delivered on Monday (tomorrow - eek) and having mini panics about what I don't have. Many moons ago I trained as a nursery nurse and we always used T&T bowls when changing nappies but do I need one at home? I was thinking I would just use a clean ice cream container or Tupperware box and do top first tail second.
What does everyone else use? I don't want to give in to the marketing/pressure and buy everything buy equally I want to get it right! 😊

First baby I used it all the time (years ago). Second baby not at all. If I have another, I won't bother. Any old tub would do if necessery. Also they were a real pain to wash as they don't fit in the sink very well so I remember always sloshing my feet with water when trying to wash it!

Nope.
Any container will do. Assuming so skin issues, you'll end up using wet wipes anyway.

I have two kids and I'm still not sure what these are?
No one I know used one...

I basically never used mine so I would say no. Think I just grabbed whatever was to hand.

Cue 300 posts saying they are essential...

(Sorry to say this but now would be a good moment to let go of the urge to get it right. You'll be getting it wrong most of the time except the baby doesn't care, a five hour nappy change is terrific stuff as far as it's concerned).

They are obviously a new thing.

I managed to bring up 2 children without ever having heard of it

No. I have a schnuggle tub or whatever it's called and it's been amazing!

Two words: water wipes
Don’t get one I didn’t use mine

Never heard of this so I'm going to say no. If I need to top and tail baby I put tap water on a flannel.

Oh also CONGRATS!!! My children are the Best thing ever obvs biased but you’re about to meet the most special person imaginable

No you don't need one. Consider reusable wipes. Better for the environment and much much better for your baby's skin.

No

I bought one with DS, used it twice. Didn't even get it out of the cupboard for DD & then couldn't even give it away when I wanted to get rid of it so definitely don't need one. Good luck for tomorrow!

I would say, no, you don't need one. I never used one nor indeed did I ever top and tail (I never understood what it meant 😐 until he was no longer a baby!)
They're not a new thing, my DMum still has the one she used for me and DB.
If you do top and tail, I'm sure wipes are fine or if you need a bowl, any container will do.

No. Use actual bowls you already have, or water wipes.

Just a plastic bowl split in two. I had one years ago, came with baby bath. Can't remember using it much. Go eco with old ice cream tub, old lunchbox or plastic bowl. I rarely did top and tail of baby at same time iirc. Top gets done in the bath and tail at every nappy change (if wiping eyes with cool boiled water use a completely different bowl). If you are able to b/f, tail is not too bad to clean with one bowl and cotton wool.

If bottle feeding then you may need an array of bowls, or maybe a karcher pressure washer for the yellow sludge that squirts up their back and sometimes into their armpits 😀. Good luck and enjoy your baby!

Congratulations! Very exciting time

No, you don't need one. It's a waste of money and another unnecessary piece of plastic that just doesn't need to be produced. Literally any old (clean) bowls or containers will do. The point is just to use different water and cloths for the baby's bottom and the rest of them.

I just used pyrex bowls out of the kitchen and a couple of flannels. "Free" in that I already owned them, and more environmentally friendly than buying a new lump of plastic or using disposable wipes.

Nope, had two kids, just used a flannel or baby wipes for face and different wipes for bum. Job done. If you want to be more eco friendly use washable wipes as pp suggested

I used old take away containers. For wipes I first bought a packet in a solid plastic tub, I then used reusable clothes I stored in the plastic tub in water with a little baby bath

Never had one. Used “flushable” wipes for first baby. By second baby I knew better and used Cheeky Wipes, which were great, especially as we used washable nappies, just chucked them all in together!

I did use one because I didn’t have other suitable bowls. It was really useful - all the way til ds potty trained. This was because we didn’t use wet wipes - I bought a job load of cheap flannels and used those. Ds did monster sloppy poos due to tummy issues until he was about 5! So flannels were better.
I could then put the flannels in one side and carry the lot easily.

But I’m sure I’d have coped with standard bowls.

What’s a top and tail bowl?
Water wipes and a bath...why the added faff?

DS is 4 months old, and our top and tail bowl is still in the loft, where I put it when DD was about 2 months old and I realised it was pointless! If you're in Manchester you're welcome to it! Cheeky wipes all the way here, they're fantastic.

Thank you so much everyone! I did think I wouldn't need one but didn't want to be a bad mum from the off! People assume I know what I'm doing because of the job I do but in reality I haven't got a clue!! Thank you x

I've never "topped and tailed" either of my dc. Bath on the evening, then any daytime messes were cleaned with wipes. I don't understand why a baby would need a strip wash if they have baths, and baths just seem so much easier and warmer.

Bought it, it got dusty, threw it out years later - never once saw water or a baby