Bathing Baby on the Go

While it is true that most hotel rooms come standard with bath tubs, any parent of an infant can tell you that the first time you bathe your little one in a full size tub, it will be an adventure! If you are used to giving your baby baths in a sink or infant tub, a little bit of preparation can simplify things for you while you are out of town.





Family Bath Time

By far the cheapest and easiest way to bathe an infant on the road is to plop them right into the bath tub with you. There is bending, no awkward manuvering, and no special equipment needed. If it makes you more comfortable, you can swear a swimsuit in the tub or at the very least, give yourself a quick shower first so that you won't be "dirtying" up the water for your baby. Keep the water level low, the temperature moderate, and try to avoid lots of sudsy bubbles if you can. It is one thing to rinse all those fun bubbles off of your baby. It is quite another trying to rinse them off of yourself as well.

Obviously it is ideal to have two parents at bath time so that one can be free to grab forgotten supplies (towels, soap, wash cloths, etc.) and to lift the baby in and out of the tub for you. It can be a little tricky to stand up dripping wet in a tub while holding a wet and squirming baby, but it is by no means impossible! As with any new task with your infant, take your time and think it through. You will be fine! We promise! :)


Inflatable Tubs

If your infant is the sort who actually enjoys his or her bath time, you might want to consider a small investment to increase their enjoyment and your sanity. These cool little inflatable tubs are perfect and serve a double use (which is vital for all travel gear!). You can use them in a larger bath tub OR you can fill them up and use them as a little inflatable pool in situations where babies are not welcome (*).

Hard plastic tubs that we use at home are illogical for travel because they don't pack well. Inflatable tubs are easily folded down into almost nothing and tucked away at the bottom of a suitcase. While it is possible to use a kiddie pool, we suggest purchasing gear made specifically for use as a tub for the simple fact that they are smaller.



The tub featured here measures at a mere 31" x 19" when inflated and 2.9 x 8.8 x 9.3" when deflated. When empty it weighs about 2 lbs. Try to find something with similar dimensions to make for easy packing. This one also happens to have a skid proof bottom and a color changing detector for water temperature. Those are handy features and all, but in the end, you just want something that inflates to a small size, packs flat, and can hold water! No need to get fancy. Your baby will never know the difference.



Hop in the Shower

Everyone remembers that scene from the movie "Three Men and a Baby" where Ted Dansen holds the baby in his arms while singing in the shower. For infants who don't startle easily, this is a perfectly suitable option. Especially on cruise lines and European budget hotels where you are unlikely to have a bathtub in your en-suite bathroom.

Just keep in mind the slip and fall accidents in the shower are all too common and holding a baby means you have one less arm to help steady yourself in a fall. Keep the shower duration to a minimum and exercise caution. Also keep in mind that finicky plumbing can spray super hot or super cold water on you and your baby unexpectedly. Keep the baby out of the direct water stream as much as possible to avoid burns or just a scare.

This is also a great option because you can practice it at home ahead of time. And of course, it doesn't reqiure the purchase of any extra gear (which is always a plus!!)



Bathing Bath on the Go Gear Recommendations:








(*) Most diapered children are completely unwelcome in adult pools, kiddie pools, and dipping a diapered baby into a lake or ocean can also get you some pretty wicked glares. An inflatable tub placed strategically near the action means your infant doesn't have to be left out. He might even make a friend of two as other curious babies ask to join in the fun. The suggested one above takes up less space than a beach chair and can easily be filled with water from a borrowed sand bucket.