NannyViews: Tub Time!

Fisher Price Whale of a Tub

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Baby skin is very delicate. Everything you use during bath time should be fragrance, dyes, and alcohol free.
If your baby hates baths, don’t force them unless you need to. They don’t get that dirty, sponge bathe them until they feel comfortable in the water. You can also try taking them in the bath or shower with you.
Newborn babies should be sponge bathed until their umbilical card falls off.
Keep the bathing room warm. At least half of baby’s body is going to be out of the water at any given point
Wash baby’s head last. If baby’s head is cold, then the rest of them will get cold too.

Safety:

Never, ever leave baby alone near or in water. A baby or toddler can drown in less than ONE INCH of water.
Never fill a tub higher than baby’s waist, and even that’s high.
Put everything you need right next to the tub before starting bath time. If you realize you forgot something, go without or take baby out of the tub and with you to retrieve it.
Empty the tub immediately after you are done with it. Once baby is mobile, or has an older sibling, that left over water becomes a death trap
Adjust your water heater so that the hottest it can go is no more than 100-120°F. Any hotter can scald baby. Keep it at this preset until your child is a teenager. Children can turn the faucet easily.
The water temperature should be about body temperature. Stick your arm in (your forearm is best for testing temperatures), if the water feels hot on your skin, than it is too hot for baby. If it feels cold on your skin, then it is too cold for baby. You should hardly be able to tell there is water on you, or it could be just slightly warm.
A tub thermometer is worthless, your arm is fine. You should not rely on them, always check the water before putting baby in.

Baby Tubs:

You don’t necessarily need a baby tub. It is easy to do without, but some people find bathing babies hard or nerve-racking.
For newborns you can lay baby on a fluffy towel on the counter to sponge bathe them until their umbilical cord falls off
0-6mo: My mom used to lay us in the regular tub and fill it with a little water to about our ears. This gave us room to kick and splash and turn our heads to lap a little water.
6-12mo: Many people are fond of kitchen sink baths. I really like these once baby can sit up unassisted. I put a bath sponge or washcloth underneath baby to keep them from sliding around, and turn the faucet away so they can’t bump their heads. You do have to remember to clean out the sink before to remove food particles.
I happen to like baby tubs because I hate bending over the big tub. It strains your back and hurts your knees. I put the tub on the bathroom or kitchen counter to wash baby.
I do not like the tubs with slings for infants, but some people swear by them. In my experience they loosen, and baby’s back is hitting the hump in the middle. Plus, baby is cold because s/he is suspended out of the water. Not to mention that tub slings get mildewy.

Tubs I Like:

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