The TummyTub is a deep, tub-like baby bath designed to keep your young baby in a foetal position. While it’s an award-winning bath, not all parents will like the way it works.
The TummyTub is a bath that’s only suitable for babies from birth to 6 months. The design of the tub is meant to allow your baby to be in a natural, familiar foetal position, with the water level up to their shoulders. The aim of this is to make wash time less stressful, and a bit womb-like.
The TummyTub has won a TIPS Award and is said to be endorsed by maternity hospitals throughout Europe. It touts itself as being great for premature or colicky babies.
Made of plastic, the deep tub is meant to be light enough to handle even when full, with ergonomic handgrips and a wide rim for your arms to rest on. It also has a non-slip base for safety.
The tub has diagrams on the side and a frosted water level marker to show you how to use it.
Our tester mum Sally tried it out with her 9-week-old son, Milo.
What we love
Stable and durable, the TummyTub can fit in your bath or be used as a stand-alone tub. The fact your baby can be immersed up to shoulder level will keep some babies feeling more settled and cosy than in a traditional baby bath.
What to watch out for
Sally found the TummyTub difficult to use, especially when trying to wash her baby Milo’s hair. Milo seemed pretty baffled by the whole thing. While the instructions on the tub show your baby should be sitting on the bottom of the tub, Milo wouldn’t sit down. When Milo’s feet touch a hard surface, he tries to push off and “jump up”, so it was difficult for mum to Sally to hold him and wash him at the same time.
While designed for use from birth, Sally found that, at 9 weeks, Milo didn’t have the control over his neck to comfortable hold it while he was being washed. His head flopped about and Sally was worried about him banging it against the side of the tub.
Who is the TummyTub best for?
Parents after a womb-like bath experience.
You’ll either love or loathe the TummyTub. While some people will swear by it for stress-free bathtime, you could find your baby doesn’t want to be in a foetal position and that hair washing is hard. While it’s meant for use from birth, your baby’s neck control and possible head banging could also put you off.
