Stokke Flexi BathTub

Oh the joys and terrors of bathtime! Either baby loves it, or she doesn’t. Our daughter’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 Stokki Flexi Bath.

Because baby girl is only 4 months old, we got the Newborn Support (sold separately), as well. The insert keeps her propped and reclined at an angle, so she’s comfortable in the bathtub. 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. That seems to make all the difference between a terrible bath and a wonderful bath.
The Flexi bathtub comes in pink, blue, white and transparent. There is no assembly required because the bathtub simply folds flat. For that reason, the instructional manual is just a short page of safety precautions.
When you’re ready to give it a whirl, expand the tub, pop the newborn insert in, and fill it with water. The first couple times, the bath 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. 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.

The bathtub folds when not in use, which is the main reason I was drawn to this one over other baths. 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 plug on the bottom so you can drain 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!
Price: $45; Newborn Support, $19
Where to buy: stokke.com