Bathing

Bath time actually doesn’t require a lot of equipment, as the manufacturers will have you believe. All you need are a sturdy bathtub, a couple of towels and wash cloths, some shampoo, and some bath toys for a few months down the line.

Bathtub

We got the First Years Sure Comfort Deluxe Newborn-to-Toddler tub. It provided our baby with the head support she needed as an infant, and it fit into our kitchen sink perfectly, which is important because you don’t want to lean over your tub the whole time you’re bathing such a young baby.

We were also given a larger Primo Eurobath as a hand-me-down, and it served as a nice transition tub at six months. The Eurobath sits snugly in your real tub and confines the baby and all her toys to a space that’s just right. I recommend registering for the First Years tub, then perhaps buying the Eurobath one later on if it seems appropriate.

Shampoo and Body Wash

We’ve had the Johnson & Johnson Head-to-Toe Baby Wash, which is both shampoo and body wash, since day one, and we’re still only about a third into the 28 fl. oz. bottle. But I don’t think it’s the brand that matters—get whatever you prefer. (The Johnson & Johnson one didn’t actually do so well among reviewers.) The important thing is to make sure the bottle has a pump so you can get the shampoo out with one hand while the other is supporting the baby.

Hooded Towel and Washcloth

We got two hooded towel sets and it was just enough. You definitely need more than one because babies are notorious for peeing while being toweled off, but you probably won’t need more than two—typically one will be in the hamper while the other is in use. I don’t think you can really go wrong with any hooded towel; just pick a couple of designs that appeal to you. We got the Bumkins Organic hooded towel set, which also comes with a nice little washcloth (I’ve found you only need about two of those as well) and the Summer Infant Hug Me hooded towel (discontinued).

Bath Toys *

You won’t need bath toys until your baby is at least five months old, so it’s not necessary to register for them unless you’re looking for more things to register for. But once your baby learns how to pick things up, bath toys will be quite necessary to keep him occupied while you soap and rinse him. (They’re also great teethers.) We have some small rubber squirt toys by Munchkin.

Not Recommended:

Faucet Cover

Maybe some parents find faucet covers useful, but I personally don’t understand why you can’t just keep your child on the other end of the tub, away from the faucet.

Bath Thermometer

Just test the water the old fashioned way—with your elbow.

* Nice to have, but not necessary.

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