A baby bath seat is a seat-like device that is fixed onto the side of a bath tub and allows your infant to sit without assistance while bathing.
The seat is best for babies aged six months to two years old, though you can switch to an old fashioned, seatless bath once the child is strong enough to stand.
While you should never leave your baby alone in the bath tub in any situation, using a bath seat for babies offers a measure of enhanced safety while boosting the fun factor for you and your child.
Does your back suffer as you stoop low into the tub to cradle your baby's head with one hand while washing him or her with the other? Place your baby into this specially built chair and you no longer have to bend over to prevent the child's head from submerging under water.
You simply fill the tub to a reasonably shallow level and sit on the edge comfortably while the baby splashes around happily.
Your back remains straight and free from pain.
You also have your hands free to soap and wash your child properly.
The key concept of a baby bath seat is that the apparatus remains firmly attached to the side of the bath tub so that the small chair doesn't slide into the water or tip over.
Manufactures have devised a number of ways in which baby bath tub seats stay still.
- Suction cups: the seat is fitted with suction cups on the back and the bottom so that it remains affixed to the tub surface.
Some types also come with adhesive pads in case the bottom of your bath tub has a rough or bumpy surface.
- Legs: some models are fitted with legs that have suction cups at the bottom of each leg so that the seat stays in one place during a bath.
- Arm: Newer toddler bath seats come with a sturdy arm that drapes over the side of the bath tub and keeps the baby seat firmly fixed.
However, such structures may be obsolete if your tub is of the sunken type.
It is important to make sure that you wet the suction cups before attempting to stick them on to the tub.
Do not rely on the bath water to moisten dry suction cups, which may cause the seat to slip.
Apart from strong adhesive components, a quality bath seat is also has a T-shaped front bar so the little one can stay comfortably in an upright sitting position without slipping off while you wash the body.
The top of the T-bar can pop open to make it easy for you to place and remove the baby rather than having to awkwardly slip the child into position.
For a dream baby bath seat in terms of fun for your baby and convenience for you, look for models that are lightweight, durable, compact and folds neatly for easy storage.
You may even prefer bath time seats that come with spinning toys and push buttons to enhance the baby's bathing experience.
A baby bath seat is an excellent addition to bath time but remember, safety comes first.
The seat cannot look after your baby.
Only you can do this so never leave your child even for a few seconds.
In addition, do not use the seat for very young babies who are unable to sit upright by themselves.
If you follow these guidelines, you can look forward to a fun and safe bath for your baby and less pain for your back.