Are baby bath tubs really necessary?

acorlew7 · January 2012

I know they probably make the job easier, but I don't really have anywhere to store one when not in use. I know back in the day, my parents used their bath tub or a sink to bathe us. Do people still do this? Just seems like kind of a waste of money, but I know a lot of things have changed over the years so I wasn't sure if they're considered necessary now. Also, if you just use a regular bath tub, do you put anything in the bottom to pad it?

sassafras007 · January 2012

We used regular tub with frog shaped sponge and very little water.

Mrs_MBed · January 2012

We got the baby bath tub as a gift for DD1 and really only used it for quick baths. It was just easier for me to be in the regular tub with her. We did the same for DD2. But they were both summer babies so we also used this method as a way to cool everyone down.

We no longer have that tub and I have no idea what we're going to do with the boys. I guess I'll just be in the tub with one at a time.

Stephchern · January 2012

I bought one of these. It's a Puj Tub. You might check it out.

sanriobaby · January 2012

Technically no, but does it make it easier, absolutely. Think of it this way, those with very little means manage to bathe thier babies w/o one by either washing them in the kitchen/bathroom sink, or by washing them at the same time they take baths or showers. I have the Primo Eruobath, it's a monster of a tub but it will be kept in the bathtub when not in use b/c there's no other place to store it. This can be done w/any baby tub really. If that's not an option or something you're not keen to, you can simply purchase one of those foam mats (frog, bear, or ladybug shaped for less than $10) and place that at the bottom of the tub or even your sink and bath your LO that way. You might have to replace the foam mat every now and then, but it takes up hardly any space and you can use it until LO can sit up w/o assistance on his/her own.

MotherMonster · January 2012

Nope! They really aren't neccessary. My mom never bought one for me, my sister or my brother. The first baths for baby will be sponge baths and after that you can just bathe baby in a sink or in the shower with you or DH or in a tub with you or DH with a very low water level.

I'm not buying one and I told my friends and family not to buy me one.

elektra1835 · January 2012

So um, I'm going w/ the tummy tub baby bath. It is basically a giant baby-friendly bucket (no laughing or flaming please), but it will be a lot easier to store than a regular baby bath. It's also got great reviews so that's all I need. A bit pricey for a bucket though.

But no, you don't actually need a baby bath and lots of people still bathe babies in the sink. That's what I was originally planning on doing, but our kitchen is so small (we have zero counter space), that it would make me kinda nervous. And I don't like our tub enough to take a bath in it (showers only), so that's not an option.

namara5532 · January 2012

If we weren't gifted one, we would just use the kitchen sink at first and then the bathtub when he got older. Unless your sink really isn't big enough to bathe a baby, I consider it one of those luxuries you can get away with not having.

OurJellybean · January 2012

I use mine. Exsp when they are so little and floppy and can't support there heads. Much easier

Jillibean85 · January 2012

My LO will be 2 this month and we still use her little tub! (It had a detachable "net" thing on it... before her umbilical cord stump fell off and we did sponge baths we kept that on there for her to lay on... ever since we took it off she just took a normal bath in her baby tub) Is it NECESSARY? No... But we like it because it's quick to fill-up, has a little reader on the bottom to let you know if the water temp is too hot or cold for LO, and it comes up above her belly button, so i feel like it keeps more of her body warm without having to wait for the adult tub to fill up. She has her own bathroom so her tub just stays in the bath tub!

We have this one:

https://www.polyvore.com/amazon.com_disney_newborn_to_toddler/thing?id=35036367

(may have to copy and paste the link)

December192009 · January 2012

for the first couple of weeks - no - you can sponge bathe with washcloth and towel and some nearby warm water.

for the 2 wks-4 mo. mark - yes! My boys were so wiggly that we preferred to wash them in the baby tub just so we could keep them contained and managed. I think it also made me just feel safer - they can slip out of your hands so quickly in the regular bathtub, so I really liked them being cradled in the baby tub. GL!

barnwife · January 2012

Absolutely not. I think we used ours once. (Thank goodness I got it from a garage sale.) It was way easier to just use the bathroom sink or give him a sponge bath.

And then we started having DH take him in the shower.

I have absolutely no plans to get it out of the attic for this LO. Our bathrooms are small and I don't need it taking up space.

marissa422 · January 2012

this. i also use a sponge-tub..and also have very limited bathroom space but it hangs right on the shower caddy!

LilyPotter218 · January 2012

I think the tubs are a huge waste. My sister had this fancy thing with water temp and all kinds of crap and both of her kids despised it. She got the $10 sponge for the tub and judged water temp by hand. Much happier babies

kjoswick · January 2012

The tub we got came with a big sponge frog for the bottom and a mesh part for when they are really little.

mommybrynn · January 2012

Total waste of money. We just used the foam turtle thing from BRU in the big tub with a small amount of water and it was actually about a million times easier than the stupid plastic whale tub we had registered for... we gave it away and plan to have the same system for this LO (turtle thing, big tub)

mbear511 · January 2012

We received a bath tub for a shower gift with DS but rarely used it. We did a lot of baths in the sink and then switched to the bathtub. DS did sit fairly early (around 4 months) so the transition to the big tub was pretty easy.

ghdst1 · January 2012

We have one but it was actually difficult to use with the baby being so small. I found it much easier to be in the tub with the baby to bathe him OR shower with the baby.

Once he was bigger it was easier to let him bathe in his baby tub. We got one that folded up so it was easier to store since our bathroom is pretty small.

Jolaine83 · January 2012

It was worth it for us because we bathed DS in the baby bathtub on the kitchen counter for the first few months of life. It made it so my DH didn't have to stoop over the tub and we felt much more secure using a smaller tub with the braces to help support the baby. We did have to use a sink elsewhere a few times and it was harder. Once DS sat up, we put the baby bathtub away and started him on baths in the big tub.

FWIW, having a baby bathtub is also great to have on hand with a toddler. We fill ours up regularly with soapy water or something small like beans and play with it in the middle of the kitchen floor. DS loves it and it's a cheap sensory table that's very easy to clean up.

tartaruga · January 2012

I used one of those mesh bathtub seat thingy a ton more than the actual bathtub. Much easier to put baby in the real tub in a seat than fill up a separate basin.

DBride2006 · January 2012

We discovered that DS seemed to sleep better after a bath, so it became part of our nightly routine. We used this tub:

https://www.amazon.com/First-Years-Infant-Toddler-Sling/dp/B000067EH7

pretty much every day from the time he could have a bath until he could sit up well in the big tub. We'd to baths on the kitchen counter as it was super convenient and DH and I could chat while one made dinner, etc.

We COULD have lived without it, but I used it so much I often buy this tub with bath goodies for shower gifts for friends. It was one of the most used baby items in our house for the first 6 months or so.

mmkerr · January 2012

We used ours all the time with DS1. Pretty much from the time his umbilical cord fell off until he was able to sit up in the big bathtub by himself. As far as storage, we had the Fisher Price Aquarium bathtub and it had a little hook at one end where you could hang it up over the door when not in use. Either that or just leave it in the tub.

sbost0118 · January 2012

I use one of those big foam sponge things on a cookie sheet in the kitchen sink. Standing up is easier than bending over and the spray nozzle at the sink makes rinsing a breeze. When they get too big for that I use the foam sponge thing in the bath tub until the baby can sit up on his own.

Keri Marie · January 2012

No. And they're horrible to store. we bought a baby sponge for him to lay on. $5.00

kjg5445 · January 2012

i owned one for DS2 and i really just hated it. i ended up using a bath sponge at the bottom of the tub. i liked that a lot more and it was more comfortable for DS (softer)

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