Buying guide
How to choose a baby bath
Classic, folding or with a support? Choose by your bathroom and where you store it, not by the accessories. Plus the safety rules that matter more than the model.
In short
- A simple bath with a non-slip base and a drain plug is enough. Choose it by where you fill it and where you keep it.
- A newborn support frees one hand in the first months, but it is no substitute for supervision.
- The water is around 37 °C and is checked every time, with a thermometer or your elbow.
- Never, not even for a second, leave your baby alone in the water.
A baby bath is a washing-up bowl with pretensions, and that is good news: it is hard to choose a bad one. The differences between models have less to do with your baby and more to do with you – where you fill it, where you empty it, where it lives between baths and how much your back hurts.
First, your bathroom
Before the models, three questions:
- Where do you put it when you bathe? In the bathtub, in the shower cubicle, on a stand, on the kitchen table? Measure the space. Many baby baths do not fit in 80×80 cm shower cubicles.
- How do you fill it and how do you empty it? A full baby bath weighs 15–20 kg. If it does not sit next to a tap and a drain, you need a plug and perhaps a drain hose.
- Where does it live the rest of the time? In a flat’s bathroom, a one-metre bath hung on the door takes up a lot of room. Folding models win here.
Types of baby bath
| Type | Used roughly | What you need to know |
|---|---|---|
| Classic, rigid plastic | 0–12 months or more | Cheap, stable, easy to wash; takes up space |
| With a built-in anatomical shape | 0–12 months | Has a slope for the newborn and a seat for later |
| Folding | 0–12 months or more | Packs flat; check the leg locking and the condition of the soft parts |
| Bucket type | 0–6 months | Baby sits curled up, in water up to the shoulders; little water, little space; used briefly |
| Inflatable | occasionally | For travel; not for every day |
What you check
- Compliance with EN 17072, the European standard for baby baths and stands. Freestanding bath supports and seats come under EN 17022.
- Non-slip base, inside and underneath.
- Drain plug. Without it, you tip 20 litres of water over the edge of the bathtub.
- Rounded, wide edges, that you can lean on with your forearm.
- Smooth plastic, without grooves where limescale and mould collect.
- On folding models: legs that lock with a click and silicone parts without cracks. Check them periodically.
- Stand, only if your back hurts or you are recovering from a caesarean. It must be the one made for that particular bath and must not wobble.
The newborn support
A wet newborn is slippery, and in the first weeks you hold them with one hand and wash with the other. A support – a plastic slope, a mesh hammock or an anatomical sponge – supports their back and leaves your hands freer.
It is useful for about three or four months. Some baby baths include one; for the others it is bought separately and costs little. Mesh hammocks dry fastest; sponges dry slowly and need replacing.
The support helps with holding. It does not help with supervising.
Until the umbilical cord stump falls off, follow the instructions you received at discharge or from your paediatrician: recommendations differ, and some doctors prefer sponge washing instead of a bath.
What you do not need
- Bath seat or ring. It is not a safety device and it does not give you permission to turn your back.
- Thermometer with a screen and an alarm. A simple floating one, or your elbow, does the same.
- A set of ten bath products. One fragrance-free wash gel, used sparingly, is enough. In the first weeks, plain water is enough.
- A baby bath with a display, shower and scales. More parts mean more places to clean.
More examples in what not to buy for your baby.
Second-hand
Rigid baby baths are a very good second-hand choice: they can be washed, disinfected and there is nothing to break. On folding ones, look carefully at the soft parts and the hinges. Sponges and fabric hammocks are bought new.
Our recommendation
A simple plastic bath with a non-slip base and a plug, plus a support for the first months. If the bathroom is small, a folding one with legs that lock firmly. The money you do not spend on extra functions is better spent on two hooded towels.
Everything to do with bathing and care is in the newborn checklist, with quantities.
Frequently asked questions
How often should a newborn be bathed?
A daily bath is not needed. Two or three times a week is enough in the first months, with daily washing of the face, neck, hands and nappy area. Baths that are too frequent can dry the skin. If the evening bath calms you both, it can be daily, short, with a little wash product.
What temperature should the water be?
Around 37 °C, body temperature. Check it every time with a bath thermometer or your elbow, and stir the water beforehand so no hot spots remain. The room should be warm, with no draught.
Do I need a bath seat for my baby?
No. Bath seats and rings are not safety devices and can tip over or come loose. If you use one, your baby is still within arm’s reach, with your eyes on them. Many parents manage very well without.
Think it could help someone else?
Send the guide to your partner or to a friend who is expecting a baby.