Bathtubs and Bath Products
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 tell you what to look for when you buy a bathtub, towel, and body wash.
Safety Tips tell how to use the products.
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.
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