What to look for when choosing a baby bath

Bathing your baby can be a joyous, special time for both you and your little one. Warm water can help promote relaxation, and splashing around can be fun for babies! Many parents incorporate bath time into their night-time routine, and there’s something very cute about little yellow rubber duckies floating on the water.

But with so many bathtub products out there, which one do you choose? Your mum bathed you in the laundry sink, is that safe? What if you don’t have a bathtub at home?

We’ve compiled the ultimate guide to help you choose the right bathtub for you and your baby. Still got questions about how to bathe your baby safely? Check out our article on the ultimate guide to bathing your baby safely.

When it comes to choosing a baby bath, there are a few options. We’ll run through some pros and cons of each type.

Probably the most common baby bath type, baby bathtubs come in a bunch of sizes and are usually quite portable. You can pop them into an existing bathtub and simply let the water drain down the bath once you’re done, or bathe your baby in a different room on a table. Keep in mind though, if you’re not bathing your child in the bathroom, you’ll need to carry the bathtub full of water to drain down a sink, and this can be heavy, and depending on the baby bath’s volume, unmanageable.

A baby bucket is designed to bathe babies until they’re around 6 months old and can sit on their own. With a bucket-like shape, they’re designed to support newborns, leaving parents both hands to wash those little toes and fingers squeaky clean.

Some parents don’t buy a baby bath, and just use the family bath instead, hopping in with their baby. This can be a lovely bonding experience for baby and parent, and saves you from having to buy yet another baby product.

This is another option for those parents wanting to use the family bathtub, without getting wet themselves. The baby bath seat is exactly that - a little supported seat that sits in a family tub (or even a baby bathtub if it’s big enough) that your baby sits in to be bathed. It’s a better option for older babies who can sit in it, rather than newborns, so around six months onwards.

You should always empty your baby’s bath as soon as you’re done. When buying a baby bath and considering where you’ll bathe your baby, it’s important to think about how you will drain the bath. If you’re bathing in the family bathtub, then draining the baby bath is easy. If you’re using the kitchen or bathroom table, consider a bath that has a draining pipe that easily drains water into a nearby sink. Otherwise, you’ll be trying to carry a heavy bath full of water into the nearest sink, which is difficult at the best of times.

If your baby bathtub doesn’t have a non-slip mat, it’s worth getting on to place at the bottom of the tub—that goes for the family bath, too.

While nice-smelling soaps and luscious, foamy bubble bath sounds tempting, it’s best to simply bathe your newborn in warm water. Soaps can strip babies of their essential oils, and can also make babies extra slippery in the bath.