Bathing Baby in the Big Tub: How to Bathe Your Baby Safely in a Full-Sized Bathtub - What to Expect

Now that your little guppy has fully outgrown his baby bath, you're probably thinking about taking the plunge into the full-sized bathtub.

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Transcript:

Now that your little guppy has fully outgrown his baby bath, or soon will, you're probably thinking about taking the plunge into the full-sized bathtub. But you may be wondering about, and may be worrying about, whether your still oh-so-small, and slippery, fish might be ready for such a big pond. Not to mention whether you're ready.
Moving from the soft, cozy confines of an infant tub into the vast open and hard-surfaced spaces of the regular tub may be a tad intimidating for your tadpole. Almost as intimidating as the logistics of sudsing, rinsing, shampooing and supervising your baby in it may seem to you.
But it won't be long before the big tub becomes a water wonderland for your baby, and big boy, or big girl baths become big time fun for both of you. Let's dive right in.
First be sure your little dipper is a good little sitter, able to stay seated in the tub either solo or with minimal support. Considering using a bath seat to offer support while you wash and baby plays? Most experts recommend against these seats since they can lull a parent into a false sense of security about baby's safety. But if you choose to use one, opt for a new model that confirms to strict stability requirements. And don't use it as a substitute for supervision, even for a split second, even while you turn to reach for a towel. All hands and eyes on baby deck, all the time!
To help making transitioning to deeper waters smooth sailing for both of you, start with a dry run. Put baby in the tub on a non-slip tub mat or in a safe bath seat. Skip the water, but add some fun toys. This way, both of you can get used to the tub before you add water.
When baby's ready for an actual rub-a-dub-dub and scrub in the tub, have everything you'll need on hand, so you won't have to take your eyes or your hands off your little one for a moment. That includes the towel, washcloth, baby wash, shampoo, and tub toys.
Fill the bath — the water should rise just to baby's waist level — before you add your little bather. Water temperature should be, as always, not too hot, not too cold, just right for baby's tender skin will be cooler than you'd likely like your tub.
A bath thermometer can help regulate these bigger waters. Or run a quick temperature check with your elbow or the inside of your wrist. If you have a hot water tap, turn it off first, so drips from the faucet won't scald baby. A safety cover on the tub spout will protect against burns and bumps. Now bring on the rubber ducky, plastic cups, and a whole fleet of floating fun, to keep baby busy while you take care of scrubbing business.
For many babies, bathing in the big tub becomes a favorite activity, so do whatever you can to keep it that way, including protecting those peepers when shampooing and rinsing. Hold a washcloth across baby's forehead when rinsing off shampoo, and if you have one, use the tub's handheld nozzle for more control when rinsing, making sure of course that water temperature is baby-friendly. A plastic watering can or cup can also do the trick.
Washing and playing is all done? Lift your little fish out of the water carefully, wet babies are slippery babies and quickly wrap up that bundle in a large, soft, hooded towel. Don't pull the plug until baby is out of the tub. That gurgling sound can be startling. Here's to making tubby time so much fun and so safe!