suggestions for bathing dc while traveling

[mamica]

DD is 8 months, and we're going on a trip next week... I had bought an inflatable Snug Tub Deluxe which seemed like a great idea, because it's portable (when deflated), well-cushioned when inflated and the perfect size to place inside the bathtub in our hotel room.

I tried it out today for the first time, and it is SO slippery. I tried lining it with cloth diapers under her bottom and behind her head, and they just slid around. My heart was pounding during the whole bath, and I'm terrified to ever use this thing again. She's still a little wobbly sitting up, and this tub was also not quite contraining-enough for me...she wanted to scoot around all over the place. The only other solution I can think of is to pad the entire bottom with a double-layer of towels, but dd's skin is very sensitive and I'm nervous about the detergent from the hotel towels irritating her skin (I'm probably being irrational).

Does anyone have any ideas? When did you move dc out of the baby bathtub?

[Lucia]

Have you tried showering with her? That might be the easiest solution because you don't need to bring anything else. Our 8month old daughter loves showers. Or perhaps bathing her in the bathroom sink...she could be sitting up but a little more contained?

[carolines mommy]

I second trying to shower with her. We showered with both girls when they were babies and they loved it. With all the other stuff you have to bring for baby when traveling, I'd hesitate to add one more thing. Even a towel laid in the bathroom sink for comfort would work for quick clean ups.

Erika
Mommy to Caroline Nov 03 and Chelsea April 05

[jgriffin]

When travelling (and at home sometimes) we either do sponge baths (if E isn't too dirty), or one of us takes a bath with him. He doesn't like his water too hot, so I don't think a shower would be too comfortable for us, but a bath is a lot of fun.

Jen

[punkrockmama]

Yeah, just jump in the tub with her.

I bought a eurotub for my kid when he was first born. Used it once for his first bath and then realized it was a waste.

After that DH just jumped in the tub, held the baby, and I would kneel tubside and do the washing.

It works, it's nice to do it together, and you don't need anything extra to do it.

[JBaxter]

I always showered w/ my kiddos when traveling. Worked well for all 3 of mine

[colegiala]

I used this inflatable tub when we travel and it worked great for us. I think I got it at Babycenter http://store.babycenter.com/product/safety_baby_care/bathing/bathtubs/3779?adcode=CON%3ASERC%3APROD%3A2 . It says its made of non-skid vynyl. She was 9mo. when we traveled. I didn't find it slippery, as she sat up without slipping. Now we are using it as our everyday tub, and I take it when we go to grandmas and sis. I've even taken it to the beach as her little pool. The problem now is that she wants to stand in it. I did see these non-slip strips at Bed Bad Beyond. Maybe you can stick them at to the bottom? Make sure you are using the suction cup when is in the tub so it doen't move. I also us the suction cup to hang it to dry on the bathroom wall tile. I also recently bought at BRU this inflatable cover for the faucet. I like that they are both portable when deflated. Let me know if you have other questions about this tub.

[mamica]

This is the same tub we have! I guess she can sit up OK, but when I lean hear back a bit to try to rinse her hair I gets a little sketchy. Maybe I should give it another try? I don't know...

I do like the shower and co-bathing suggestions. I'll give those a try for sure.

Thanks for all your responses!

[kimbe]

We use a laundry basket or a rubbermaid sweater box -- which ever is available. We put them right in the big tub. The both contain dd very well and make bathing her in the big tub more managable. And we don't have to lug anything around with us. I like the laundry basket better because it is less slippery and dd can sit up against is much better, but my mother only has round laundry baskets and that just wasn't going to be pretty ;) !

HTH

[BeachBum]

We've been bathing DS in the regular tub since he could sit. We do use a non skid mat in the bottom.
He doesn't have a lot of hair, but we just lay him all the way down in the tub to rinse his head. Sometimes I just dump the water on his head and don't worry much about it. :0
I typically only fill the tub to his bellybutton or lower anyway, so he can lay down completely and the water goes in his ears but not any higher.
It really works well for us, and he loves the tub and isn't afraid of the water.
HTH

[smilla653]

When DS outgrew his infant tub, we started co-bathing (both at home and while travelling) and never looked back.

Our DS doesn't like showers, though. Only tub baths. We forgot to check whether the apartment we rented for two weeks for vacation had a tub and, sadly, it didn't. We did sponge-type baths in the kitchen sink and only rarely bathed him in the shower.

[mudder17]

We did the bathing in the sink until Kaya outgrew the sink. Then we just filled the bathtub with 2 inches of water and gave her a bath that way. I think by the time she outgrew the sink, she was sitting on her own with no problems (and crawling).


Eileen

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/33734.gif 28 months...
http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/t/catcatcvi20040222_-6_Kaya+is.png
http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/p/dev317pp___.png
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/33732.gif for Leah

[samiam]

Assuming you have a hubby or significant other who is traveling with you, I say take a bath with your child. You get in first, then have dh hand her to you, then when you've finished cleaning hand her out to your hubby. You already need to pack so much that you'll probably appreciate not lugging a tub with you.

[jamsmu]

We gave up with baths on vacations and just started showering with him. It was really simple, just hold on tight because babies can be slippery.

Actually, I think i moved DS2 out when he was about 9 months. But he was just way too big for the snug tub (which we love.)

[meghna88]

do you just have to have the water cooler for them than you would for yourself?

does anyone like the dex foldable ez bather for little babies? ours is 2 months old...

[jordansmommyin stlouis]

We have the inflatable ducky tub from target and have used it since he was 4 months old. We used this in our bathtub while home until a few months ago to conserve on water and Ds has always been comfortable sitting in it.

Michelle

[kcandz]

Not sure where you are going, but when our DC was that young, we always stopped at a Babies R Us and bought one of those yellow sponge bottoms for tubs (we also bought diapers for the trip so we wouldn't have to pack more than a few). We used it with a regular tub and left it behind when we returned.

[stefani]

We travelled with DS when he was 7 months old, and we just bathed him in the sink. I have the Snug Tub, and we used that once he was sitting upright well.

Have fun!

[shburks]

LIke many of the pp, we used to just jump on it the bathtub with him when travelling before he could sit up well unassisted. It's actually much easier to bathe them like that anyway!! No bending over the tub, hurting your knees, etc. Kind of makes a funny sight but works well! (I always laughed at the sight of dh in the tub with ds!!)

Good luck!

[amp]

This may not be the answer you're looking for, but we just brought our kids in the shower with us when traveling. That way we didn't need to bring any kind of tub device and I didn't have to freak out about the tub used by so many people!

[DrSally]

This is exactly what we did while travelling. I know what you mean about slipping in the snugtub. DS did this at first, but now he sits up just fine. I know this doesn't help for your current trip, but he should be sitting up fine in it in a little while.