When we first covered the Tummy Tub two years ago (11 years after the thing debuted, incidentally), the upright bathing unit from Europe seemed like just another kiddie curiosity: Note our enthused observation, which still makes me laugh today, that the tub basically just lets you "dunk baby like a deep-fried turkey." Well, be that as it may, the Tummy Tub has finally made a splash in the U.S. -- amazing what a little Today show segment will do for you.
Janis McKellar, the star of Friday's Today segment, didn't invent the Tummy Tub, but after discovering the Dutch invention via a Canadian retailer, she did take the initiative to start selling the Tummy Tub in the U.S. Today, McKellar is the sole Stateside distributor of Tummy Tubs and their accompanying stool sets (see above) via her website, Bathed With Love, which also sells a variety of other unique, hand-picked bath goods for babies.
As for the Tummy Tub itself, not much has changed since 1996: The ergonomically designed, non-toxic tub allows babies to sit upright in the fetal position, surrounded by warmer water for longer periods of time and generally feeling more at ease at bathtime. Yes, it still brings to mind a turkey fryer/paint bucket, but given the tub's mounting worldwide success, who's laughing now?
Tummy Tubs start at $44.95 (clear design) at Bathed With Love -- and if you already own one, you tell us: Is the Tummy Tub hype justified?
