April 2007
Features to consider Baby bathtubs
Contoured design with padded lining. In lieu of a sling, a contoured design is a must for keeping a baby from sliding around too much.
A drain with an attached plug. This can make the tub easier to empty. A large drain plug allows for quicker post-bath cleanup.
Temperature indicator. Some models of bathtubs, such as the Summer Infant Newborn-to-Toddler Bath Center and The First Years Sure Comfort Deluxe Newborn-to-Toddler Tub, have temperature indicators--a temperature strip or a drain plug that change color when the water is too hot for a baby. In our tests, we found these features to be impractical. The Summer Infant temperature strip was too slow to react to temperature changes, and The First Years color-changing plug was even less specific. It's too difficult to keep track of a temperature strip or the shade of a plug when you're bathing a baby. Don't look for these high-tech extras when you're shopping. Instead, test water with your elbow, the inside of your wrist, or the back of your hand before putting your baby in the tub or rinsing him off.
Convertibility. Some tubs, such as the Fisher-Price Aquarium Bath Center and Primo's EuroBath, are made to last from newborn to toddler. The Aquarium Bath Center includes a hammock-like padded infant cradle that you take out when your baby can sit up unassisted. The Eurobath is molded to support a baby under both arms; a crotch post keeps babies from slipping forward in the water. With this model, babies can be bathed in a reclining position from birth to 6 months. Then, from 6 to 24 months, they sit upright facing the other direction; the older baby end of the tub has less infrastructure and more wiggle room. "I used the Primo EuroBath until I felt comfortable putting my daughter in a regular bathtub," says Robin Kelman from Lafayette Hill, Pa., the mother of a 16-month-old who was happy with the unit. A convertible tub, though, probably won't last you as long as manufacturers claim. As we mentioned, a convertible tub will probably buy you three more months or so, but not much more.
Foldability. Some tubs, like the Safety 1st Fold-Up Tub, fold in half for easy storage. To make sure a foldable tub won't leak, practice at first with a small amount of water. The downside? This style can be compact; your baby may bust out of it quickly. "My son grew out of his foldable tub really fast, which meant that I had to put him into the big tub a little before I was comfortable," says Emily Carlton from Long Beach, Calif., the mother of an 8 month old.
An internal mesh sling/cradle. It's cozy and supportive, especially for a newborn. Some models, like the Mother's Touch Large Comfort Bather by Summer Infant, come with a two-position backrest for added comfort. Some fabric slings have steel rods that support the infrastructure. We think steel rods might become uncomfortable when your baby kicks his legs or moves from side to side. Other slings are hammock-like and don't have steel rods. Look for those.
Fresh-water rinse. Some tubs, such as the Newborn-to-Toddler Bath Center and Shower by Summer Infant, feature a separate, battery-powered shower unit that lets you rinse your baby with fresh water instead of using bath water. But some parents, such as Heidi Suppelsa from Saint Louis, Mo., the mother of a baby boy, found this feature unwieldy. "I thought I'd use it all the time, but it ended up being too cumbersome when my husband or I were bathing our son solo. I needed one hand on the baby, another to wash him, then two additional hands to use the shower feature," she says. In our tests, we found that the shower head delivered water too slowly to get the job done fast and efficiently. There are also shower units that sit inside the tub, but some parents report that these units get in the way, crowding their baby's leg room. They ended up using the spray attachment from the sink or a plastic cupful of water at rinse time, which can be the best way to go anyway, in our opinion.
Easy storage. Some models have a handle or hook on the back to hang the tub up for draining or storage. That's a feature to look for if space is tight. Hang the tub upright from its hook in your shower, so water doesn't drip on the bathroom floor.
A smooth, overhanging rim. This feature makes it much easier to carry a heavy, water-filled tub (without your baby in it) from the sink to another location.
Nonskid surface. Some models have a nonskid surface on the bottom to keep the tub from sliding in a regular bathtub.
Contoured design with padded lining. In lieu of a sling, a contoured design is a must for keeping a baby from sliding around too much.
A drain with an attached plug. This can make the tub easier to empty. A large drain plug allows for quicker post-bath cleanup.
Temperature indicator. Some models of bathtubs, such as the Summer Infant Newborn-to-Toddler Bath Center and The First Years Sure Comfort Deluxe Newborn-to-Toddler Tub, have temperature indicators--a temperature strip or a drain plug that change color when the water is too hot for a baby. In our tests, we found these features to be impractical. The Summer Infant temperature strip was too slow to react to temperature changes, and The First Years color-changing plug was even less specific. It's too difficult to keep track of a temperature strip or the shade of a plug when you're bathing a baby. Don't look for these high-tech extras when you're shopping. Instead, test water with your elbow, the inside of your wrist, or the back of your hand before putting your baby in the tub or rinsing him off.
Convertibility. Some tubs, such as the Fisher-Price Aquarium Bath Center and Primo's EuroBath, are made to last from newborn to toddler. The Aquarium Bath Center includes a hammock-like padded infant cradle that you take out when your baby can sit up unassisted. The Eurobath is molded to support a baby under both arms; a crotch post keeps babies from slipping forward in the water. With this model, babies can be bathed in a reclining position from birth to 6 months. Then, from 6 to 24 months, they sit upright facing the other direction; the older baby end of the tub has less infrastructure and more wiggle room. "I used the Primo EuroBath until I felt comfortable putting my daughter in a regular bathtub," says Robin Kelman from Lafayette Hill, Pa., the mother of a 16-month-old who was happy with the unit. A convertible tub, though, probably won't last you as long as manufacturers claim. As we mentioned, a convertible tub will probably buy you three more months or so, but not much more.
Foldability. Some tubs, like the Safety 1st Fold-Up Tub, fold in half for easy storage. To make sure a foldable tub won't leak, practice at first with a small amount of water. The downside? This style can be compact; your baby may bust out of it quickly. "My son grew out of his foldable tub really fast, which meant that I had to put him into the big tub a little before I was comfortable," says Emily Carlton from Long Beach, Calif., the mother of an 8 month old.
An internal mesh sling/cradle. It's cozy and supportive, especially for a newborn. Some models, like the Mother's Touch Large Comfort Bather by Summer Infant, come with a two-position backrest for added comfort. Some fabric slings have steel rods that support the infrastructure. We think steel rods might become uncomfortable when your baby kicks his legs or moves from side to side. Other slings are hammock-like and don't have steel rods. Look for those.
Fresh-water rinse. Some tubs, such as the Newborn-to-Toddler Bath Center and Shower by Summer Infant, feature a separate, battery-powered shower unit that lets you rinse your baby with fresh water instead of using bath water. But some parents, such as Heidi Suppelsa from Saint Louis, Mo., the mother of a baby boy, found this feature unwieldy. "I thought I'd use it all the time, but it ended up being too cumbersome when my husband or I were bathing our son solo. I needed one hand on the baby, another to wash him, then two additional hands to use the shower feature," she says. In our tests, we found that the shower head delivered water too slowly to get the job done fast and efficiently. There are also shower units that sit inside the tub, but some parents report that these units get in the way, crowding their baby's leg room. They ended up using the spray attachment from the sink or a plastic cupful of water at rinse time, which can be the best way to go anyway, in our opinion.
Easy storage. Some models have a handle or hook on the back to hang the tub up for draining or storage. That's a feature to look for if space is tight. Hang the tub upright from its hook in your shower, so water doesn't drip on the bathroom floor.
A smooth, overhanging rim. This feature makes it much easier to carry a heavy, water-filled tub (without your baby in it) from the sink to another location.
Nonskid surface. Some models have a nonskid surface on the bottom to keep the tub from sliding in a regular bathtub.
