Baby gear

• Babies need lots of stuff to stay safe and comfortable.
• Get a car seat and make sure you can install it correctly.
• Be sure any pre-owned items are cleaned and the right size.

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A baby bathtub is a small, safe place to bathe your baby. We do not recommend a bath seat, bath ring, or blow-up (inflatable) tub that fits inside a regular tub because they can flip or tip over and the child could drown.

Shopping tips

• Buy a bathtub with contoured sides or a sling to cradle your baby. The contoured sides keep your baby from sliding around in the tub. The sling prevents her from slipping underwater.
• We do not recommend a bathtub with a temperature indicator. They are not necessary. Your hand or elbow is the best way to test the water temperature.
• Do not bother with a fresh-water rinse unit. It costs extra, takes up room, and may not work that well.
• Buy a soft towel and washcloth. A towel with a hood is best because it cradles the baby’s head.
  Choose a baby body wash that is also a shampoo.

Safety tips

• Give your baby sponge baths until the stump of his umbilical cord falls off. Then bathe him in a baby bathtub two to three times a week. More often can dry out his skin.
• Always hold your baby while she is in the bathtub. A baby can drown in very little water.
• Test the water temperature before you put your baby in the tub or rinse him. Use your elbow, the inside of your wrist, or the back of your hand.
• Rinse your baby using a plastic cup or a sprayer attached to the sink. Test the water temperature first.
• Clean and dry the bathtub each time you use it. This keeps mildew and soap scum from building up on the tub.
• When your baby can sit up, he can be bathed in a regular bathtub with a small amount of water.
  For more information, visit Babies & Kids on the Consumers Report Web site.

June 2008

Copyright 2008, Consumers Union of United States, Inc. All rights reserved. No redistribution allowed.