Stokke Flexi Bath Review
Oh the joys and terrors of bathtime with newborn babies! Either my daughter loves it, or she doesn’t. Our newbi’s first couple baths, which took place in the sink, elicited shrieks and her trying to wriggle away. The next couple, which occurred lying down on a towel in the big bathtub, were calmer but still only barely tolerated … then came the Stokke Flexi Bath bundle, featuring the optional infant seat.
Because baby girl is only 4 months old, we got the newborn support as well. The Stokke Flexi Bath newborn support keeps her propped and reclined at an angle, so she’s comfortable. Suddenly there’s water in the bottom to kick at! The safety water fill line seems low, even for baby standards, but it’s at least enough to cover her bottom and give her some warmth from the water temperature. That additional comfort seems to make all the difference between a terrible bath and a wonderful bath.
The Flexi comes in a few color combinations like transparent pink, transparent blue, white aqua and more. There is no assembly required for this baby product because the tub simply folds flat, which is a great feature. For that reason, the instructional manual is just a short page of product info and safety precautions.
When you’re ready to give it a whirl, expand the tub, pop in the newborn insert, and fill it with water. The first couple times, the tub didn’t stay expanded very well; the folds naturally want to spring back into folded position. After a bit of use, it stays open more easily, and the non-slip base helps to also keep it in place. Plus, as baby gets heavier and learns to sit up, I think that will add enough weight to make it more stable. Until then, we just keep an eye on the rim to make sure it’s steady.
This is a foldable baby bath when not in use, and accessibility to get it up and running is super quick, which is the main reason I was drawn to this one over other options. Space is at a premium in our apartment, so I didn’t want something bulky. The Flexi Bath is quite the opposite. It folds up to about 4 inches thick, so I can stick it under the bathroom sink when we’re not using it. It’s entirely plastic, so if I’m in a hurry and don’t want to wait for it to air dry, I can wipe it dry with a towel.
There is also a drain plug on the bottom so you can empty it directly into the bathtub or sink without having to turn it over to dump it out. The size and portability mean I could even use it for a small play pool during the summer months if needed. Plus, as she grows older, I can give her baths using less water than it would take to fill the big bathtub. Score!
There is also a Stokke Flexi Bath X-Large model (around $80 for the total price of tub and newborn support) if extra room is needed.
Price: from $45; Newborn Support, $20
