You might have seen your baby bath bathtub as a baby tool from the heavens as it fit your little one so snugly. With the use of this baby bathtub, you can properly clean your baby without the risk of him or her slipping. It is the perfect size for a child.
But as your child grows, how can you tell when it is time to switch to a regular tub? You really cannot be sure as to when it is the right time to do so.
A lot of babies tend to be transitioned into a regular tub when they are about six months or so. At this time, they can already support themselves in terms of sitting on their own.
Keep in mind that size can really be a good determining factor, but remember that the growth of a baby is very different. He or she can still be little but able to sit on his or her own. It is definitely about gauging what your baby can and cannot do.
With that said, let us talk about things to do when it is time to transition to a regular bathtub.
You have to set up the bathtub environment before you can transition your baby to a regular bathtub. This is beneficial so that your baby will not have stress from being abruptly put into an unfamiliar environment.
There are two ways to do this:
This is the easiest way of introducing the regular tub to your baby. Your baby can still feel safe in its comfortable environment while being introduced to the bathtub. You can also go about your normal washing routine while the baby tub is in the bathtub.
To further accustom your baby to the bathtub, you can turn the water on in the bathtub so that he or she can get used to the sound.
At the same time, you can push the baby tub towards the sides of the bathtub so that your baby can feel the tub. You can also assist your baby by holding out his or her hand from the baby tub to touch the bathtub.
This way is not really about easing your baby into being accustomed to the bathtub, but it is still a very effective way. Keep in mind that you can only do this if you think that your baby can handle the abrupt change in environment. What you can do is to directly place your baby inside the bathtub.
Place him or her on his or her back and make sure that you have a towel underneath your baby. Make sure that you use warm bath water and keep pouring bath water onto your baby throughout the cleaning process so that he or she will not get cold. Lastly, make sure that the bath water is only a few inches high and does not entirely cover your baby’s back.Once your baby is getting used to the tub, you can then try sitting him or her up. Always assist the back and the head of your baby. If he or she gets fidgety then your baby might not ready for the bathtub.
Even though your baby is able to sit on his or her own, you should remember to always lower the risk of slipping and bumping his or her head. Here are some the things that you can do as precautions:
Before you put your baby inside the bathtub, always put everything you need within arm’s reach. This includes clothing, diaper, shampoo, soap, sponge, etc. This way, you do not have to leave the bathroom to get what you need. Remember that your baby might drown even though he or she can already sit up on his or her own. Supervision should always be at 100%.
Just for added precaution, it is good to put a non-slip mat at the bottom of your bathtub. You can do this even though you are placing a baby tub inside the bathtub. This reduces the risk of your baby or your baby tub from slipping. If you do not have a mat, you can use a towel.
Now let us move on to the water level. It should just be an inch or two from the bottom of the tub. It should also be warm. Test the temperature first before putting your baby inside the tub. You can turn your water heater down just in case your child gets a hold of the lever and accidentally opens the faucet.
If your baby is still not ready to transition to a bathtub, you can also wash him or her in a sink.
This technique is great if you are concerned about back pains that your baby might feel when he or she lays flat in the tub or is still getting used to sitting on a tub. In this way, there is little room to move and there is plenty of support given.
Those are some of the tips for transitioning your baby from the baby tub to a regular bathtub. Do not forget that as long as your baby is still very splashy, use a shampoo and soap that is tear-free.
Also, do not forget that the number one priority is safety. Always make sure that your baby is comfortable and not stressed. Furthermore, do not rush the process, your baby will know what to do when he or she is ready for it.
Barbara is a full-time mom of 3 children and a part-time blogger since 2018. She likes to write on various topics about motherhood. She drinks a lot of coffee, loves French pastries, reads a lot, also enjoys crafts and Montessori activities.
