Tummy Tubs | Go Dutch or Just Use a Bucket?

Give your baby a bucket bath in a tummy tub

I remember the first time I gave my babies a bath. It was a joyous occasion, filled with equal parts fun and discovery. I discovered just how easy it would be to bond with these human beings that I had helped form out of love. With my first, I was of course a new father, so I was tentative. My beautiful baby girl was seated in her spongy bath cradle, eyes half closed as rays of morning light filtered in through the bathroom blinds, her entire face yawning after rising from a nap. So little, seemingly so fragile in my mind. I approached my offspring’s first bath with the uncertain steps of a tiny faun.

Soon, I became a bath time expert who would happily bathe the kids, whether it was to give my wife a breather or simply because I loved to do it. There was no more stumbling, just plenty of time to bond and share songs and happy faces with my little ones.

We made that spongy bath cradle last through two children. Well, that isn’t completely accurate. Eventually we got to the point where we simply used the bathroom sink. So long as you are with the child at all times and they can safely breathe, it’s a low-cost alternative. We didn’t resort to the sink because it was too expensive to replace the former bathing paraphernalia – payday loans and credit cards not required – but because the sink worked just fine. So long was our kids were in contact with warm water, they seemed very comfortable.

If I had a bucket…

Ammu Kannampilly of ABC News London reports that a Dutch company has created a bucket that will “make bath time enjoyable from birth.” It’s been featured on the “Today Show,” the “Early Show,” TodayShow.com and throughout the blogosphere. As you can see from the photo above, the Tummy Tub baby bath is designed to replicate the feeling of being in the mother’s womb. So long as warm water reaches baby’s shoulders, they should remain warm. Babies tend to naturally curl into the fetal position, a reflection of their comfort with familiar surroundings. The product supposedly makes drowning much more difficult, which is certainly a useful characteristic. However, adult supervision is still required.

According to its maker, Tummy Tub has been endorsed by “maternity hospitals, physicians, midwives and child caregivers throughout Europe.” But let’s get down to brass tacks: it’s a bucket! The company charges $36 for this specialized child care product, but an ordinary bucket will cost you much less. Avoid overextending your new parent budget and sending your to the debt relief line. We tried to avoid too many unnecessary baby products when regular household things served nicely. Today, that’s a sensible way to approach recession living.

But it is cute, isn’t it?

The Tummy Tub is good for kids up to six months old. The bathroom sink is good for a bit longer and is just as cute if not more so. In case you’re thinking about getting one of these, here is a quick list of some benefits as compiled by a marketing wizard somewhere…

• Bath time enjoyment from birth
• The special design of the original TummyTub ensures babies relax in the familiar fetal position
• Soft baby-friendly material
• The baby can be immersed in the water up to shoulder level and will therefore remain warmer for longer
• Babies feel warm, reassured and secure
• Especially recommended for premature babies
• Helps babies settle and sleep, and is excellent for colicky

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