Product Spotlight Series 3/6: Bath Time

emiliadkay

This is a place for FTMs to ask questions about, S+TMs to share their prior experience with, and everyone to share what they're eyeing in the world of maternity, baby and postpartum products. Each week we'll spotlight a new category of product to help streamline and make it easier to refer back. This week we're discussing BATH TIME. 

To view past Product Spotlights or the upcoming schedule, see here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DzmfbSu7toufv3p1VWNu1XOXDaU-tbI5FEfV8av46pc/edit?usp=sharing

fitandnerdy

I’ll start with a question... we only have one full bathroom in our house and it has a shower! What do we do? We are moving eventually but likely won’t move until about a 1-1.5 years after baby is born... are there any baby tubs that can be used until like 1.5?

coldlife

@fitandnerdy, I'm sure there are. Do you have any Rubbermaid-type totes? Something like that would work. Assuming your shower is the type with a lip and not a wraparound, I've heard of covering the drain with a piece of plastic and filling the shower stall. 

Minimalism over here, again. We've never had any special bath gear. We just fill the tub with just a few inches of water and put them in there. If you don't have a bath mat, you can lay them on a hand towel to help keep them from slipping around. 

We've used aveeno shampoo/wash combo and a storebrand organic shampoo/wash combo. Both have worked fine. The aveeno definitely smelled better. It doesn't have a strong scent, just a nice subtle clean smell. 

gomillis

@fitandnerdy We used the Primo Eurobath tub until DS was at least 1.5. It says it works for ages 0-2. 

PRIMO EuroBath, Pearl White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000056OV0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_pVVyEbA7GT47X

It’s large, but very light weight and easy to maneuver and clean. 

Otherwise, like @coldlife we were pretty minimalist when it came to baths. I don’t really have a preference in terms of soap/shampoo combos. We’ve used everything from store brand to Burt’s Bees baby. For the past 6 months or so we’ve used Dr Bronner’s baby bar soap because I’m trying to cut down on my plastic use. It works great and lasts a long time. 

[Deleted User]

We have something similar to the above, except it also has the mini infant seat for nested or sink use.  I liked that it didn't have a soft fabric sling to get mildewy, just keeps it simple.  My almost 18mo is wearing 24m and 2T and she still fits in the bigger part of the tub just fine. @fitandnerdy

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0796BLCXS?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

ETA You can really go down a rabbithole with baby tubs but ultimately, I would try not to overthink it.  I think most of them will work up to two years, no problem.  I remember having decision paralysis with the tub and eventually I just had to go with something that looked good to me, and it did the job! :)

RedBaramid

We were spoiled and lucky... We just popped our kid into the sink until she got too big for that and then moved to the bath tub.. but I do have some solid advice to pass on to other new mommas.

The lotion you put on your baby after they are done getting washed and clean is gonna be cold.. that bottle is air and water tight though and will probably float, so stick the bottle in the tub/sink with the baby to warm the lotion up to the temp of the warm water while you're washing your kid. It'll help, especially if you're a bed time bather. Cheers.

roo_baby

I will say this one doesn’t matter much. Get a tub that is inexpensive, looks cute and fits your space. There are inflatable tubs that people without a lot of space recommend, but I think you can’t use until they are sitting up independently (around 6-7 mo). There is also a flower thing that goes in the sink. Not sure how much love those get. There is also the infant bucket-style tub thing and the stoke folding tub, which are both a bit pricey for a piece of plastic but are more space-efficient.

When they are tiny you mostly just do a washcloth bath anyway. we did the standard fisher price tub with infant sling and it worked for us, but it does require more storage space than we really have.

I do recommend some soft infant wash clothes. May seem silly if you already have wash clothes, but these are smaller and more gentle and you will go through several a week. We still use them all the time.

For shampoo, we got a lot of free samples and could have lived off of those for a year. They are great for travel. We were pretty happy with aveeno baby wash and our normal sized bottle hasn’t run out yet (babies are small and don’t need as much or bathe as often as adults). Mustela is also really good for cradle cap - I ended up buying that when she was a few weeks old and used for a few months. 

You don’t need bath toys until they are at least 1. We have a small folding stool we sit on when she’s on the bath (she also uses it to wash hands, etc) and that may be useful. 

Oh, towels. Get a cute infant one or two for when they are tiny. And then the white IKEA one is bigger than most and pretty fluffy and will last from about 9 mo - 3 yrs. 

riatortillaxo

I don't have too many particulars either for bath time. I didn't register for a bathtime and just planned on using the bathmat but someone got us one anyways. I was happy to get rid of it when we didn't need it anymore because I'd the space that it took up. 
We weren't picky about soaps or shampoos either! I like the suggestion for mustela for cradle cap. That is something that came in handy for us but we didn't get it until after he was born. 
We did a bath maybe twice a week until he was 6 months and started eating with us. At that point he went right in the bathtub after dinner because he was usually a mess. We still dont really scrub him down with soap every night. It can be really drying for their skin. But it is a nice part if our nightly routine. 

emiliadkay

We bathe DS roughly once a week, and that's probably rounding up so take all recos from me in this space with a grain of salt

For the early days, we did a sponge bath on the kitchen counter (just on top of a folded towel) and then baths in the kitchen sink. And when we first moved to the tub, we had the Angelcare seat you see everywhere and it worked just fine. DS really loved the water and having something supportive let us extend bath time longer, otherwise it gets pretty tiring to support them over the edge of the bath. Once he was solidly sitting up, though, the seat became useless.

https://www.amazon.com/Angelcare-Baby-Bath-Support-Aqua/dp/B008VWVS14

Similar to @roo_baby, we are on month 21 of our very first bottle of baby wash/shampoo (mustela), and still going strong. 

Someone bought us the munchkin "shampoo rinser" (glorified cup) and honestly, it's been kind of nice to have. A measuring cup would do the job just as well probably, but it's nice that it's soft and doesn't get appropriated for cooking and/or dog food scooping.

https://www.target.com/p/munchkin-shampoo-rinser/-/A-13296332

We have an older tub so couldn't get one of those faucet cover thingys to stay in place, but I do highly recommend if they work for you. Sooner or later, baby's going to bonk her head, hard.

Finally, bath toys do come much later, but if you're in the market, this one is the coolest. 

https://www.amazon.com/Moluk-Plui-Rain-Cloud-Tub/dp/B00IS5DJ5M/ref=asc_df_B00IS5DJ5M/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312031083993&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7572333532062418212&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9027583&hvtargid=pla-628340950277&psc=1

[Deleted User]

Oh!  One thing I wish someone had recommended sooner was this little scalp comb.  People kind of said, oh there's not much you can do about cradle cap, and she didn't have it bad, but man, once I added this comb to our routine, it was never a problem again.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B011EVXIIE?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

I also very much liked the pigeon nail scissors when she was tiny, and mini clippers once she was a bit bigger.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000FHS97Y/ref=ya_aw_oh_bia_dp?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000FI3QSK/ref=ya_aw_oh_bia_dp?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I think the price must be up a bit atm from what I remember paying for them, tho. :/

WishesSheCouldCook

I liked the puj tub until 5-6 M. Easy to store and I like that it was easy to stand and use at the sink. The flower ones sort of grossed me out thinking about how long it would take to dry
Puj Flyte - Compact Infant Bath (White) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008PZ9VXY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_6tczEbDV0M89G

I used this once she could sit
Munchkin White Hot Inflatable Safety Tub and Bath Ducky Set (Discontinued by Manufacturer) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BNEBL6E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ozczEb9T7KTAK

I liked the Mustela for cradle cap

[Deleted User]

I actually wanted to get the puj tub too, but then the store where I found a crazy deal on it sold out!  :s @WishesSheCouldCook

RedBaramid

@BusinessWife I just added that comb to my Amazon cart NOW! I never considered and item like this and I am so hyped for it. My husband is an adult who still gets "cradle cap" (it doesn't behave like normal dandruff, it acts just like cradle cap you see on infants) and my daughter is also very prone to it still at 5 years old if I don't stay on top of her. 

[Deleted User]

@RedBaramid oh I'm so glad it could help someone!  I do her shampoo, and then I use a small amount of my own (sulfate free) conditioner, and comb the conditioner through, making sure to go all the way down to get scalp.  I think the conditioner too helps to moisturize any loose flakes so they all come off easily.  I love it!

ziggymama06

Thanks girls for all these amazing recs, as usual!!!  Re:  the mustela... is the a shampoo/wash or the no-rinse cleanser?  Or something else?  It seems there are several products that they have and want to be sure I register for the best one!!     

[Deleted User]

@ziggymama06 We used the Mustella no-rinse cleanser (micellar water) for early days, with big cotton pads for little change-table baths, or for nice gentle face wipies, too.  Love it!  I think for cradle cap etc. The others are referring to their shampoo or baby wash.  They have a great product line!


I also highly recommend the Burt's Bees gentle face wipes for easy, no-bath change-table baths in early days.  I used to keep a pack in the kitchen for her face after meals times (but now I pretty much just use whatever lol).

ziggymama06

@BusinessWife Excellent!!  Thank you again for all the recs!  All three have been added to the registry 

rivercitynik

@ziggymama06 you read my mind... that was the exact question I was going to ask.

Sort of silly, unrelated question, but I just realized I was so clueless about when to bathe them, what kind of baths to do when they are brand new, etc. STM+... where did you learn all of this? Is it covered in infant basics classes? Starting to realize how little I know about newborn care!

mrswheeler812

The angelcare seat is what we used for the first 6 months and then just laid him on a towel in the tub I liked that it wasn't fabric that could form over his mouth or get gross as it dried. For soup we use Dove sensitive body wash for his body and hair. My DS has super sensitive skin and bad eczema so its the only thing that doesn't result in flair ups and we will be using it for this baby too!

riatortillaxo

@rivercitynik At the hospital, a nurse did his first little sponge bath and she gave us some information. I got so much from my bump group with my son. They answered so many new mom questions for me. We have all been there!! 
You're supposed to do sponge baths until the umbilical cord falls off and then you can do more normal baths in a little tub or the sink. Or you can stick with sponge baths! Too much bathing can dry out a baby's skin so we just did a bath maybe once a week or as needed. I didn't do a newborn class but they might cover some info there too! 

coldlife

@rivercitynik, umm, I don't know, honestly. I think the midwives told me no getting the stump wet, and thus no baths. Generally, I think I just heard about baths from friends or family who had kids. And I have NO desire to bath them frequently, especially if they don't need it. They like baths, but it's work!

gomillis

@rivercitynik What to Expect: The First Year was our bible for all of those questions about infant care. Our pediatrician also gave us a lot of information. 

Before his cord fell off, we just gave DS sponge baths as needed. Once the cord fell off, we did tub baths as needed. We started doing nightly baths when he was over 6 months because it was part of his bedtime routine and helped get him settled. 

roo_baby

this is the mustela cradle cap shampoo we had, but the gel one is also good: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MYONM8E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_f86zEb67SBBDT

@rivercitynik I learned everything from my BMB and then at some point your own judgement kicks in and you are like “this kid still smells good, doesn’t need a bath.” Or “explosive diaper! Let’s put you straight in the tub.” However, there are also books that some people read that have a lot of this info, but not the how to use your mom instincts stuff. 

RedBaramid

@rivercitynik Last night in the hospital a nurse brought me from my room to the nursery and gave me a hands on lesson in baby bathing. She allowed me to participate and stood right beside me to help as I got used to it. 

rivercitynik

Aww thanks everyone for the info and for being so encouraging!! 😺

[Deleted User]

Thanks to whomever recommended the Dove.  I have just been buying the Dove sensitive bodywash (not the baby wash 🤷) but anyway I feel like that's probably a nice, inexpensive alternative to my favourite (spendy 😬) babywash from last time.  No sense in worrying about stuff like that when a nice alternative is so easy to find. ☺️

maelove

@BusinessWife I use the dove sensitive body wash for me and love it! I plan to switch DS to it when we run out of her pricey baby wash/shampoo that I have been milking since my baby shower haha.


@rivercitynik I feel like the only thing that was not intuitive for me was that you don't really need to bathe babies that much! We did it weekly for the first year unless obvious dirt/diaper blowout happened. Even now its twice a week for DD who is 2. I do however have some mommy friends who did it daily for routine/the calming effect and it worked for them so there isn't really a wrong way to do things.


 We had all the bath toys and accessories the first time around and I feel that I found less was more. The more toys and assistive items you have, the more you have to clean/monitor for mold (Keep an eye on the toys that squirt and bath mats! I found most of these to get mold at some point in time). This time around we plan to be a little more minimalist in terms of bath time.

edited for spacing