Bathing your little one for the first time can be an amazing experience. Because your baby is so small, you have plenty of options on where to clean him or her: There’s the tub and the sink, or you can buy a baby bath. The latter are made specifically to properly and safely bathe your infant. Here’s your guide to buying to a baby bath:
Your options
When it comes to baby baths, there are plenty of options. Here’s the lowdown on the types:
Standard Tub
This tub is relatively inexpensive and usually made with plastic. It fits comfortably into most big baths, although some are meant specifically for sinks. In addition, most styles are designed with an angle so your little one can sit in an upright position.
Convertible Tub
This kind of bath can be altered based on your baby’s size. Oftentimes, this is the most economical, because you won’t have to buy a new one as your child grows.
Foldable Tub
A foldable tub can be stored in confined spaces. If you don’t have a lot of extra storage, opt for this type – it won’t take up much room in your home.
Inflatable Tub
This variety of tub requires being blown up before it can be used, which can take some time. However, it’s perfect for traveling because it can easily be folded up and thrown into a suitcase or bag.
Luxury Tub
This kind of bath comes with more features but is also much more expensive. Typical characteristics include: jets, nozzles and vibrations. Warning: These are usually heavier than other baby baths so they’re not very easy to move or store in your home.
Standing Tub
A standing tub style elevates to your baby’s height so you don’t have to bend over to bathe him or her.
Bath Seat Ring
These tubs offer less support than baby baths because they are simply little seats that keep your baby sitting upright.
“Don’t buy something your baby will grow out of in the first year.”
Things to look for
There are lots of things to keep in mind when looking for the perfect baby bath. First, look for something that will last. You don’t want to buy a pricey tub that your little one will grow out of in two months. Infants grow fast, so it’s best to spend your money on something that you will be able to use all the way until he or she reaches toddler status. Next, as mentioned before, you’re going to want something that doesn’t take up a lot of space. Odds are, you will be taking a shower in the same tub that your infant’s bath is housed in, so you don’t want something you can’t easily move and store. Something that is foldable is ideal. Just because your little one is, well, little doesn’t mean a plastic tub will be comfortable for him or her. Look for a baby bath that has a smooth, angled surface so your baby will be comfortable. That last thing you want is an unhappy infant during bath time. Lastly, scan your options for something that has a drain to make clean-up easier.
Sometimes the best way to see if a bath is compatible with your baby is to try it out. Bathe your infant and see if it feels right. Keep in mind that he or she might cry either way. However, the best way to go about finding the perfect baby bath is a little trial and error.
Check out the top selling baby baths.
