Photo credit Muriel HEARD-COLLIER, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Things to Keep In Mind

• The bathtubs for bathing babies come in a wide array of designs and features. The first and foremost thing you should check is a rubber backing that is slip resistant and doesn’t move when giving bath to the baby.

• Plastic tubs are available in a variety of colors and material types. One should make sure that the plastic used in the plastic tub is good quality and non-toxic for the baby. When filled with water the plastic tubs should retain their shape in the center and shouldn’t fold or expand due to the weight of the baby and water.

• Make sure you are careful of the rough edges in the bathtubs that can scratch your baby’s delicate skin. Choose bathtubs with proper foam padding to provide maximum comfort to the infant. One also needs to be careful of the foam lining as it can be torn by the baby and swallowed.

• While bath seats and baby fasteners with the bathtubs make sure that the baby doesn’t move much while taking a bath, but these can be dangerous as if the tub tips over the baby can drown. The same goes for flotation devices, bath seats and bathing rings. All these products are meant to secure the baby but might cause a serious health hazard.

• The best way to make sure you do not spend extra money for bathtubs when the baby grows is to by a ‘Baby to Toddler’ tub that can be used even when the baby grows up. Depending on the type chosen, most good quality bathtubs can be a little expensive and buying a new one each time the baby outgrows the old one, can be a bit heavy on your pocket.

• For the baby’s maximum comfort, it is best to choose bathtubs which have a sling or a hammock so the baby can recline comfortably while the mother gives it a bath. If you cannot buy such a bathtub make sure the tub is designed in an angle that it provides a gentle recline to your baby.

Bathing Safety Tips

• Make sure that you keep one hand on the infant while you give the baby a bath. This makes the baby feel more secure despite of how well designed the bathtub is. A mother’s presence alone is enough to make the baby feel comfortable while bathing.

• Babies are highly susceptible to drowning, so make sure that only experienced baby care personnel or adults who are trained to give the baby a bath assist the baby. Baths are usually fun but can be extremely dangerous as well as babes can drown even in an inch of water.

• Make sure you touch the water to check its temperature before you put the baby inside the tub. Too cold or too hot water can harm the baby and the temperature should be personally checked before you bath the baby.

• Make sure you have all the necessary items likes shampoo, wipes, oil, soap and clean diapers while the bathing session so you do not have to leave the baby unattended or run around the house with a baby looking for the stuff.

• Empty the bathtub and put it in a position so the water drains completely out of the tub after the bath. Stagnant water can cause moulds in the tubs that can be toxic to the baby.

Giving a baby a bath is something that parents should be extremely careful about. The above tips can certainly help you choose the best for your baby while being light on your pocket. You can also check out websites like www.babyhaven.com and others for more information and tips on baby care.