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Bathtub or baby blender?
Categories: Newborns, Babies, Kid Decor & Style
A new style of infant bathtub from the Netherlands is generating a fair bit of buzz on the internet. The idea is to mimic the position the baby was in when inside the womb. It also provides better water coverage -- everything below the neck is underwater -- so the baby is less likely to get cold. The manufacturers even claim it will help with colic and learning to stand.
The issue is that when you put the Tummy Tub on its included stand and put a baby in it, it sure looks a lot like a baby-in-a-blender. I imagine it's something like what we'd see from Anne Geddes if she turned evil (or more evil, depending on your opinion of her work.)
Despite the imagery, it seems like it would be difficult to actually wash a kid all squished up in there. Personally, I'm a big fan of the Japanese ofuro -- deep, straight-sided soaking tubs -- but I'm not sure this is all that practical. Still, there are a lot of testimonials on the site that make it out to be the best thing since sliced bread. What do you think? Is this a good idea? Would you try it with your newborn? Or would you be too worried about someone accidentally hitting the "puree" button?
via Boing Boing
The issue is that when you put the Tummy Tub on its included stand and put a baby in it, it sure looks a lot like a baby-in-a-blender. I imagine it's something like what we'd see from Anne Geddes if she turned evil (or more evil, depending on your opinion of her work.)
Despite the imagery, it seems like it would be difficult to actually wash a kid all squished up in there. Personally, I'm a big fan of the Japanese ofuro -- deep, straight-sided soaking tubs -- but I'm not sure this is all that practical. Still, there are a lot of testimonials on the site that make it out to be the best thing since sliced bread. What do you think? Is this a good idea? Would you try it with your newborn? Or would you be too worried about someone accidentally hitting the "puree" button?
via Boing Boing
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Nicola 12-18-2007 @ 2:20PM
Creepy, weird, doesn't seem very safe, and I do not see the point. I didn't notice anybody actually washing a baby in one of these buckets, not really sure how that would work. I suppose that if you had a very colicky baby and were moments away from giving up on life itself, this might be worth a try. Even if only for a few moment's peace. Otherwise, bizarre, can't see why you'd spend money on a bucket for your baby...
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Amanda 12-18-2007 @ 2:41PM
Okay, now that I'm through laughing hysterically.... ahem...whew...,
I think this is the biggest waste of money EVER! I can barely wash my chunky baby's fat little legs when she is sitting upright in the regular bath tub, I don't see how it would be physically possible to wash all those folds on a baby while in this tiny blender/tub :D
plus, it looks a little narrow, and babies are slippery when soapy and wet, looks like you would have to do a lot of awkward reaching and pulling to get the child out!
I never had a baby tub, I just bought one of those foam baby mat thingies and placed in on the bottom of the tub and put just an inch or two of water in the bottom of the tub. Until she was sitting upright on her own.
P.S., is it just me or does the baby's water look a little yellow :(
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Marcia 12-18-2007 @ 2:55PM
I agree that this just doesn't seem safe. This looks absolutely ridiculous. If you can't wash your baby properly with a regular tub, how do you think you could in that contraption?
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Andi 12-22-2007 @ 6:06PM
Hold baby at the shoulders and just kinda.....agitate them like a washing machine?
There's a reason I will never be a mother :)
Anji 12-18-2007 @ 2:59PM
I saw an almost identical product a couple of years ago and it seemed like a good idea. Just fill it with soapy water and dunk the baby a few times, sorted. ;oP
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Swistle 12-18-2007 @ 3:08PM
1) It does indeed look disturbing.
2) Storage, set-up, etc. would be a hassle.
3) I don't see how I'd wash the baby.
4) Especially a tiny baby.
5) I'll stick with 2 inches of water in the tub.
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Ethel 12-18-2007 @ 3:22PM
You know, when I first saw this on BOingBOing I thought "How stupid!" But the more I look the more it makes sense and how I had it when my youngest was smaller. He needed to be bathed once a day because of his terrible cradle cap that covered his body. Okay, I could have left it alone but it looked horrible and if I did not his skin cracked.
It would have been better for him if he could have had most of his skin submersed to hydrate the dry skin and help it slough off - certainly when I was bathing him the water looked like soap from the dead skin that came off. So for us it would have worked well - think the base is stupid, but the bucket would have been perfect.
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aprilw 12-19-2007 @ 6:34PM
Those have been around here in the UK for a few years - the attachments at the bottom are new though, it just used to be a clear bucket.
My friend raved about hers, how great it was. When my second son was born she loaned it to me so I could see how great it was and decide if I wanted to buy one. I had heard from a few people how newborns LOVE it so was surprised when my son HATED it. He loved his sling so I thought he'd love the womblike feel of this too. Nope. And he didn't stay upright like everyone told me he would.
And I kept it for a couple weeks and tried it more than once because my friend kept saying to me that he just needed to get used to it... he never did!
Great for some people, but not cheap, so if you can try it before you buy it. If I had bought it I would now own an extremely expensive large cleaning bucket.
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DD 12-18-2007 @ 11:53PM
So when you're done with the bath, do you stick the baby in the salad spinner to dry her off?
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kim 12-22-2007 @ 3:45PM
lmao.
ninainindia 12-19-2007 @ 11:14AM
Nothing new her in NL, only the stand is new I think. I'm not sure washing the baby is the main aim of this bucket it can just be used for relaxing.
Even if you think it's strange that does not mean it's dangerous.
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Pavlina 12-19-2007 @ 11:23AM
I like it. If I had known about or (or if it was available) when my babies were small, I would have gotten it. It would make for some interesting pics, to say the least.
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Ximmus 12-19-2007 @ 4:39PM
First of all, what's the deal with everyone trying to remind baby of "the Womb?" They were in there for 9 long months and part of life is growing-up and progressing. You know, I'm gonna' design a pair of undies to remind me of the good ol' days of soiling myself! Come on, design things we need, not crap we don't!
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Rose 12-22-2007 @ 2:13PM
I first read about this here http://shiveredsky.blogspot.com/2006/12/top-10-most-ridiculous-products-for.html and thought it was ridiculous.
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ray 12-22-2007 @ 2:22PM
thinks the agitator could be a bit traumatic and painful
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Toriluve 12-22-2007 @ 2:22PM
You can get a 5 gallon bucket at Lowe's for $2.50 and it even comes with a lid.
Why not just use that?
LMAO
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Mikkey 12-23-2007 @ 6:10PM
I can see why shes washing him in a blender. Look at her, shes an alien!!!
But personaly, I'd use the dishwasher.
Because it even comes with a drying cycle.
And also, I don't think the baby is enjoying it too much either... Look at his face. What do yu think?
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johnjmaes 12-22-2007 @ 2:28PM
VERY WIERD, Throw the kid in a lake and run downstream!!!!
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dude 12-22-2007 @ 3:08PM
The best way to wash a baby is to just throw them out in the yard and hose them off.
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dude 12-22-2007 @ 3:06PM
That reminds me of a joke... a guy tells his date... "I sure would like to have a little pu**y." The girl tells him, "So would I, mine is as big as a bucket!!"
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