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?
I LOVE my tummy tub and so does my baby boy. He’s almost 10 months and still enjoys it very much. I’m from Canada and they are pretty accessable here. I bought mine online from the Canadian store you are referring to. I’m glad they’ve travelled south
They really DO stop crying… always a plus!
Well, the last time *I* got a sponge bath, it was cold as heck, even though the water was plenty warm, you’re sitting there in the open air, drying off as the wash cloth goes from one area to another. True, a baby is much smaller, but probably also more sensitive.
This tub makes perfect sense to me and seems like it would be nice a cozy warm solution, quick and efficient.
Has anyone used it to bathe 2 kids? I have a toddler and a baby and cannot find a good way to bathe them together. The seats are all awful and the baby cannot sit well. Thinking maybe I could put the baby in the “bucket” next to the bath while the toddler is in the tub. Hmmm. Thoughts?
The Tummy Tub debuted at our local hospital this past August and my daughter was the first to try it out! Apparently the hospital is not using it regularly, as my friends who have since given birth said they never saw it and their children got regular sponge baths.