Scrub-a-dub dub… Baby Bath Tubs!

Who knew picking a baby bath tub could be difficult? I sure didn’t. I never really considered where or how I would be bathing my baby. Just buy a baby bath tub and wash the baby, right?

I’ve seen pictures of baby Christina (me) in a kitchen sink (literally in the sink… no tub), I knew that some baby bath tubs were designed to fit in kitchen sinks and envisioned my child sitting in a bath ring, as he grew older.
Truth is, I hated bathing my son in the kitchen, some of the plastic tubs didn’t actually fit in the kitchen sink, bending over my bath tub was hard on my knees, and back, and the bath ring didn’t stick to my non-stick bath tub. Maybe if I had a one story house or if my kitchen was not the farthest (and coldest) room I’d feel better about utilizing the kitchen sink- especially since we have a water hose sprayer and those make bath time super easy. I digress.

After considering your unique house layout, and personal bathing preferences for your child, you might want to consider these baby bath tubs:

Puj Tub
Holla! Finally a newborn tub that is made for a bathroom sink! That is where I prefer to bathe my children… in the bathroom. But not just made for a bathroom sink, it’s made for any sink- if you prefer your kitchen. I don’t judge
The Puj Tub hangs flat to dry, snaps together in seconds (with one hand), cradles and protects your new baby with a soft, flexible material in an upright position, it keeps baby insulated and warm, and is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, non-toxic, PVC-free, BPA-free. It’s also lightweight and great for travel (think hotel room sinks or grandma’s house).
Something to keep in mind- look at the faucets in your house! That’s really the only thing that could make using the Puj tub difficult. Luckily, we have standard, no so fancy or over-sized faucets on all our sinks.
Additional notes from me- I used a Comfy Bath Cushion with each child (since Puj wasn’t invented yet). I personally believe that sink bathing your newborn is the only way to go! I loved the ability to lay the Comfy Bath Cushion in the sink but the drying time was horrible, it was definitely not insulated, it had no built-in support and the worst part? newborn poop. There’s lots of newborn poop and they will poop at bath time, I promise. Cleaning a porous bath cushion, like the Comfy Bath Cushion, was a complete nightmare.

 Summer Infant Right Height Center Tub
After my boys outgrew the sink, bath time in a bath tub was the next step. I’ve tried many options over the years and even found that some worked better for one kid than it did the others. Different body type, different temperaments, and different needs I guess. I love the idea of the Summer Infant Right Height Center. Having a baby bath that grows with your child is a huge bonus considering they grow hourly daily. The four-stage growth plan for the Right Height Center makes bath time more comfortable for babies and parents.

The first stage features a cushioned newborn bath support to keep your little one comfortable at all times. Stage two is the addition of a raised infant tub, which lifts the baby closer to you – making bath time easier on your back. The third stage is a large toddler tub with kneeler that makes bathing older children easier. Finally, the fourth and final stage is a step stool that is meant for extended use and can hold up to 250 pounds.

I’m all about practical baby items. They had me a kneeler! and “easier on your back”. 

Primo EuroBath
I’ve never actually tried one of these but it gets great reviews based on the fact that it keeps baby in one place. I’d like to see a little more cushion (especially for the infant part) as I can’t imagine that any baby would be all that thrilled to be laying on cold, hard plastic for very long. It is another tub that grows with your child, which hopefully prevents purchasing multiple baths to get your baby/toddler through the first two years. I do, however, like tubs that have little built-in storage spots to keep dirty/clean washcloths or to keep the baby wash close at hand.

Summer Infant Mother’s Touch Large Comfort Bather
After sink bathing, I used this one with my second son and for him? it was awesome. He loved lounging in it and it lasted him well in to his sitting months. Being in the bath was a very calming thing for him so he was all-good with reclining, being washed and doted on. I like the larger version because it offers a large cradling seat with a special crotch bolster to help stabilize your child. It doesn’t fold as flat as the Original Baby Bather but it’s definitely not bulky. The mesh allows for easy cleaning and drying and because it stores easily, it’s great for traveling. We actually took ours to a hotel and it was great to have. Plus, it was a familiar thing for our son while in an unfamiliar place.

The Original TummyTub Baby Bath
Hmmm… First of all, they need a new ad picture. Nothing about squatting down to clean my baby makes me want this tub. That being said, I’ve heard some rave reviews about these styles of tubs. Most of the parents I know that have a TummyTub (or a similar version) love that it soothes their fussy or over-stimulated baby (because it mimics the womb- small, submerged, warm) but they do say it takes some getting used to. Cleaning my baby’s behind is hard enough in a reclined tub, so I can totally see why it would take a while to get the hang of.

Hoppop Bato Bath Tub
Once your baby can sit up unassisted or your toddler wants to be in a “big tub”, something like the Hoppop is the way to go. We’ve tried the blow-up tubs in the past but found that they were extremely slippery and not good at keeping the water (or baby) warm. The Hoppop Bato tub has high sides for support and safety, insulated walls to keep the water warm, cleans easily and has a drain plug for ease of use. Plus, it looks cool!

Ikea Lattsam Baby Bath
For a lot less money you can get the Ikea Lattsam Baby Bath but you wont get the insulated sides and drain plug. The Lattsam has non-skid grippers on the bottom and inside the tub to help keep baby from slipping. This is another bath that is appropriate for babies that can sit unattended or for a toddler that proves to be more comfortable (and safe) in a smaller, confined tub. We used this one with one of our kids and even though we wished it had a drain plug, it worked well for what we needed it for.