[Lula'sMamala]

OK, so I feel like an idiot, but I'm really having trouble working this out. DD2 is too big for the sink, where I've been bathing her (she's 7 weeks now) and I'm not comfortable getting into our big bath with her on my own when DP isn't around. So I'm thinking of getting a plastic baby bathtub, but I don't understand how they work practically. It seems you'd have to fill it in the big bath - then do you leave it in there and crouch next to it, leaning over the side of the bath? Doesn't that hurt your back? Isn't it too heavy with the water in to take out of the bath?

Does anyone use these things? Can you explain the process in detail?

Thanks!

 

[mamazee]

You could put it on the kitchen counter and fill it with the spray attachment, and then there's often a plug at the bottom you could open, so you could push it over the sink and unplug it.

But I usually just did it in the bath. I'd have a sprayer attachment I used to put some water in it, and then I'd put the baby in and wash her. I didn't have a problem with my back, but that's a reasonable concern.

 

[sapphire_chan]

My SIL would put the tub in the bath tub and would just bend over and hurt her back.

 

[Twinklefae]

We never used one. We used one of those mesh cradles inside the big tub. It helped to prop him up and keep him from slipping, but wasn't heavy.

 

[caenach]

We don't even own a plastic babytub ourselves, but my mom used to put hers on the kitchen table and fill it there using a bucket of warm water. It had a little plug to let the water run out one end and she'd just empty it back into a bucket when she was done, I think. Once it was empty, it was easy to rinse out/clean.

Too much of a hassle for me so I just take DD in the shower or tub with me. Have you tried a bath sponge or a folded towel in the bottom of the big tub? You'd still have to deal with the crouching, but not so much heavy lifting!

 

[Ruthie's momma]

To be honest, I am not sure...

. They do seem a bit cumbersome. I never used one. Most often, DD would bathe with me or DH. I would give DD a thorough wipe down with a wash cloth...

. When she was about 4 mo, I began to fill the tub with an inch or two of water. I would simply lay her in the water and wash her, while leaning over the side of the tub.

 

[hrsmom]

The tub I have fits onto the kitchen sink, and I filled it there when she was younger and bathed her that way. When she was old enough to sit on her own, I put the same tub into a regular bathtub and sit next to the tub while she splashes and plays in there. I wasn't going to get a baby bathtub at first but I'm really glad I did. These days (almost 8 months) she does take a bath with me fairly frequently, but that didn't work at first.

 

[Dreamy]

We got a little tub with a little ledge for DS to sit on (FP Rainforest, like the Ocean Wonders). When little, we bathed him on the counter, then I put it in the tub to bath him since he splashed so much. The little ledge has some non-slip foam, which was really helpful to me in supporting him, yet he was still reclined enough that I could rinse his hair with a cup.

Now I just put him lying down in the big tub in an inch or so of water. After washing him and his hair, I support him sitting up so he can play a bit.

I'd love to bathe or shower with him, but he gets sooooo impatient and fussy during the drying/dressing process, I'd be dripping all over the place because I wouldn't have time to dry myself.

 

[Dreamy]

We got a little tub with a little ledge for DS to sit on (FP Rainforest, like the Ocean Wonders). When little, we bathed him on the counter, then I put it in the tub to bath him since he splashed so much. The little ledge has some non-slip foam, which was really helpful to me in supporting him, yet he was still reclined enough that I could rinse his hair with a cup.

Now I just put him lying down in the big tub in an inch or so of water. After washing him and his hair, I support him sitting up so he can play a bit.

I'd love to bathe or shower with him, but he gets sooooo impatient and fussy during the drying/dressing process, I'd be dripping all over the place because I wouldn't have time to dry myself.

 

[GISDiva]

I actually take my socks off and get in the big tub, crouching behind him rather than leaning outside of the tub beside him. It's still a bit of a strain, but more so on my out-of-shape legs than my back.

 

[calebsmommy25]

We have the fisher price aquarium tub. It had a hammock attachment that came in so helpful when he was a newborn. I was so sad when he outgrew it. He is now almost 8 months and we still use it. I use it in the tub and bend over to wash him, it isn't too troublesome. I usually fold a towel to put under my knees and sometimes a towel on the side of the tub.

We really only had a difficult time bathing when he was just learning to sit up because he was too big for the hammock, but not big enough to sit up on his own, so he would slide around everywhere. A towel underneath him really helped though. If your baby would fit in the hammock, I would def recommend this tub. It made both of our lives easier.

 

[HappiLeigh]

I never could figure out how to make our baby bathtub work. It was just cumbersome. I just ended up sitting in the bathtub myself and putting DD in my lap, but since you don't want to do that, I think I'd put just an inch or two of water in the bathtub and lay a towel down in the water to lay the baby on.

 

[newmommy7-08]

The tub I have I set on the counter next to the kitchen sink... I'm tall tho, so you can also use the table if that's uncomfortable. I then fill it w/ about 6-8 qts of water using a pitcher... that way I can have the temperature right before I even put him in the tub. Once we're finished and he's dressed and either playing or with daddy I just dump the water into the sink... it's not all that heavy.

I agree that it's cumbersome... but we rent and only have a shower... you couldn't pay me to put my son in it... the spray is way too hard, and the bottom is yucky no matter what I do to clean it. Here's hoping my landlord replaces it soon as promised

 

[riverscout]

In the big bath tub, I fill the baby tub with a few inches of water. I also fill small basin with water. I then move them to a beach towel on the kitchen floor. I wash baby with mild soap. Rinse baby with cups of water from the basin. Remove baby from tub. Diaper and dress baby. Put baby down somewhere safe and empty the baby tub and the basin into big bath tub. Easy as pie.

 

[eclipse]

I tried with my first two kids to use baby tubs, and they were too cumbersome and annoying. My counters weren't big enough to set the tub on safely, and I figured if I was going to have to crouch over the big tub, I might as well skip the baby tub and hop in with them. Mostly, though, I found it easier to just give spounge baths.

 

[just_lily]

I use a baby tub in the big tub. She is a big splasher.

I have a step stool that I sit on to save my back.