Ramblings-n-Writings

Baby bathtubs. Who knew they could be so different?

We are on our 2nd bathtub for the twins. No, they didn’t wear the first one out. I just found it increasingly difficult to bathe the girls as they got bigger and more active in the tub.

The First Years Sure Comfort Newborn-to-Toddler Tub

I really liked this tub when the girls were newborns up until about 4 months old.

The sling was perfect for introducing the girls to water baths instead of sponge baths. The sling attaches easily to the tub and is simple to remove for cleaning – throw in the washing machine for a thorough cleaning. The sling fits around the baby nicely to keep her/him from tipping to one side or the other. With adjustable straps, the sling lowers for the baby to sit low enough in the tub to get used to the bump.

Once our girls were too big for the sling, they loved to kick and splash in the water. The slope of the infant side of the tub is ideal for little ones to lay back and be able to move their legs. (I’m beginning to think that LG is part frog or a future Olympic swimmer!)

However, after about 4 months, the girls really got active and I found myself constantly holding one hand on their stomachs to prevent them from sliding down in the water. If you ever tried to bathe a baby, sometimes you just need two hands – one to hold a little hand while you wash under a arm – but with The First Years tub, this was a challenge.

To me, the bump is misplaced or not high enough and fails to keep their backside in place. The other side of the tub, not sloped, is probably great but it was too straight for my girls to sit in at 4 months old.

Another plus for this tub is that it fits perfectly across a double kitchen sink. Our counter space wasn’t ideal for putting the tub on the counter so I was very pleased with how securely this tub fit in the sink.

Fisher Price 3-Stage Aquarium Bath Tub

The best thing I can say about this tub is that I love it! The shape and contour of the tub seems very fitting for infants.

Since the girls were older when we started using this tub, we did not use the sling. I’m not even sure how it attaches. And I’ve only ever used the tub in the bathtub, but it does have the insets on the bottom for use in a sink.

The water temperature thermometer on the bottom of the tub is a great feature! It’s simple to understand with smiley faces – water too cold or too hot has frowns, just right gets a smile. The thermometer is definitely useful for first-time parents or for those who don’t frequently bathe infants. No reasons to wonder if the water is too cold or too hot.

As the girls learn different things, such as pulling themselves up from a reclined position, I’m discovering that this tub still works for them. I don’t have to worry about keeping a hand on them at all times. Eyes – yes, hand – no.

Other features of this tub are a turtle and starfish toys and a hanging hook to keep the tub out of the way when not in use.

I really don’t have much else to say about the Fisher Price 3-Stage Aquarium Tub other than if you have a choice, definitely go with the Fisher Price tub over The First Years tub. There is a price difference, but you get what you pay for.

Related posts:

1. Twins = Two of Everything?
2. Still Alive at Almost 7 Months
3. 10 months old
4. How Do You Clean?
5. Twin Pregnancy – What I’ve Learned