Baby bathtubs are designed to provide a safe, convenient way to bathe newborns and infants. Most can be placed in a sink or regular bathtub, or on a countertop, and may have a contoured design as well as a fabric or mesh sling or padded seat to keep the baby from sliding around.
Typical costs:
Basic bath bathtubs typically cost between $15 and $30. Folding or travel type tubs are a little less expensive, averaging between $10 and $20, while tub/shower combinations (which allow you to rinse your baby with fresh water rather than the bath water) cost a little more, ranging from $13 to $40.
Features to look for, according to Consumer Reports, include: a drain with an attached plug, temperature indicator, convertibility or foldability, an internal mesh sling or cradle, a smooth, overhanging rim and a non-skid surface.
BabyCenter[1] says you should also check for thick plastic that won't buckle under the baby's weight combined with the weight of the water.
Shopping for a baby bathtub:
Baby bathtubs are sold at numerous retailers and specialty baby stores, including Target[2] , BabyCenter and BabyAge[3] .
Consumer Reports strongly advises against bath seats that are designed to be used in a regular tub. Consumers Union, which publishes Consumer Reports, says the suction cups typically used to hold the seat in place don't adhere well to non-skid surfaces in newer tubs, and may cause the seat to tip over, trapping the baby under water.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission[4] , more than 60 fatal drownings have been blamed on baby bath seats.
Check the CPSC website before buying any baby product to see if there have been any recalls on the brand or model you are considering.
Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. For medical decisions, always consult your physician for the right course for your infant or child.
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At first, someone gave us their own fisher-price blue bathtub, which was nice and useful when our baby was newborn. However, we have a big boy, and by 1 year+ he didn't fit so well and a lot of water splashed out. Another friend gave us a Primo Eurobath, which is working well for us -- a friend liked how big our infant tub was so we got them one for Christmas. Be sure to consider a baby's size when picking the right one for you.
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