The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?
9 best baby baths that support your newborn while bathing
Take the stress out of wash time, with one of these essential tubs
Bathing your baby for the first time is a beautiful yet terrifying experience. How hot should the water be? How deep? How hard should you scrub them? Can you use soap?
Babies are so ridiculously slippery and wriggly that you need eight hands to hold them securely and another three to wash and entertain them. But finding the perfect baby bath can make things a whole lot easier. During the first six months after birth, we recommend bathing little ones with a newborn bath or bath support, leaving your hands free for washing. Once your baby can sit up unassisted, they can go into a bigger tub with a non-slip mat.
Need some tips from us old pros? Keep bath times to a maximum of 10 minutes for the first six months, and get everything you need to hand before putting baby in the bath, so you don’t have to leave the room for anything.
Baby bath manufacturer Shnuggle has some advice on choosing a tub: “Some are standalone baby bathtubs while others are bath positioners that are placed into your bath. Standalone tubs will give you a lot more flexibility to bathe baby anywhere in the home, or indeed in a home that does not have a bath. It can also be portable, meaning trips away and grandparent visits are catered for.
“A bath that offers as much support as possible will really help give you the confidence needed and also keep baby comfortable and happy. Babies prefer a slightly more upright position for bath time, especially if they suffer from a little colic and, as they become a little more alert, they like to be able to see around them.”
How we tested the best baby baths
We tested these baths on babies of varying ages, looking for ease of use for parents, comfort and safety for babies, quality and value. Keep reading to find out which tubs got top marks.
The best baby baths are:
- Best baby bath overall – Skip Hop Moby smart sling three-stage tub: £43, Amazon.co.uk
- Best budget baby bath – Boots baby bath: £8.49, Boots.com
- Best baby bath for comfort – Anglecare soft touch bath support: From £21.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best baby bath for fun in the tub – Munchkin White Hot inflatable duck tub: £17.99, Munchkin.co.uk
The verdict: Baby baths
We found the most important factor for us was longevity – a bath that would adapt to suit our little bathers as they grow. This is why the Skip Hop Moby smart sling is our winner, as it adjusts to fit three different stages perfectly.
If you’re after something a little more basic, the Boots baby bath is a great bargain pick. Meanwhile, Munchkin’s and Infantino’s inflatable baby baths bring the fun factor.
Keep an eye on little ones, with our pick of the best baby monitors