FlexiBath - Review

The FlexiBath is the brainchild of Danish company Real Cool World, established in 2006, and is now selling all over the world. Quite simply, it is a foldable baby bath. Brilliant.

Twenty two years ago, struggling to find somewhere to keep my first baby bath, why on earth didn't I think to myself "Wouldn't it be great if I had a baby bath that folds up flat so I can tuck it away easily when not in use?" I could be a millionaire now! My thoughts must have been far too preoccupied with being a first time mum to launch myself into entrepreneurial greatness.

In theory, a fold up bath seems like a fantastic solution to an annoying storage problem but the question is, have the innovative designers at Real Cool World got it right? Is the FlexiBath a product that has real value or is it just a gimmick?

I was sent a FlexiBath to try out with my two little ones aged 9 months and nearly three years. I usually just put both of them in the big bath together now (having gratefully banished my storage nightmare baby bath to the loft) so I wasn't quite sure how they'd adapt to the confines of a baby bath.

I was impressed with how easily the FlexiBath unfolded and how solid it felt. The gorgeous shade of purple was a bonus. It was surprisingly capacious (39 litres apparently but I didn't check!) and much deeper than my old baby bath. The nearly three year old was very intrigued by it all and couldn't wait to get in.

For the purpose of this review, we waited for a nice sunny day when my conservatory heated to a good temperature, cleared a space and filled the FlexiBath with warm water. I made no attempt to actually wash either child as they both wore swimming costumes. You will see from the video that there was plenty of room for the pair of them to fit comfortably and splash like crazy!

The bath has a plug for easy water drainage but I found I could carry it and tip the water out with no problem when it was about a third full (which it was after all the splashing). Once dry, it flattened easily into its folded form with a neat clip to keep it together.

The folding design is ingeniously simple and in terms of functionality, the bath is great. I love the shape of it, the feel of the plastic and how comfortably it accommodated my rather lively bathers.

As well as providing an everyday solution to the problem of how to store a baby bath, I can also see the potential for camping and travelling and hope to put that to the test before too long. In addition, it would make a great alternative to a paddling pool for outdoor water fun.

In case it isn't obvious, I am really impressed with the FlexiBath.  I'm dreaming now of a long hot summer  so we can put ours to good use!

Find FlexiBath on Facebook and Twitter

Available in six colours for £29.99 from www.johnlewis.co.uk

Tippitoes Seaborne Baby Bath Sponge - Review

Tippitoes have introduced the Seaborne Baby Bath Sponge to their bath time collection and I have been sent one to review.

The sponge comes in its own little container which instantly makes it feel special.

I remember being fascinated by sponges as a child. I loved the feel of them, the way the air bubbles stream out when you squeeze them underwater, the weight of them when they are saturated, the amount of water that they hold and the way you can create an astonishing amount of lather from a very small amount of soap. A lot of that fascination remains with me as an adult!

The question for me now is would I be happy to pay £7.49 for this Seaborne Baby Bath Sponge rather than using a cheaper synthetic alternative.

There is no denying that aesthetically, this:

is far superior to this:

Not wanting to wax too lyrical but the natural sponge is a beautiful, organic, piece of sea sculpture compared with the homogenous textured, bland, synthetic alternative.

But I'm not buying artwork, I want to know how well  it performs in the bath, how pleasant it is to use and the effect on baby's delicate skin. There was only one way to find that out.

The Seaborne Baby Bath Sponge was a perfect size for using on a baby. After a good rinse, it felt very soft and had amazing absorbency. We only needed a tiny amount of bath product to generate enough lather to give baby a really good wash. My slippery, splashy little man had a lovely time and I was confident that he was thoroughly cleansed.

The sponge was easy to rinse out and once dry could be return to its container.

I'm going to be in danger of sounding like I'm exaggerating now but once my little boy was dried, I had never seen him look so clean and his skin felt beautifully soft. I pointed this out to his daddy who had to agree. Of course, it won't take him long to get scruffy again but it is reassuring to know that my Seaborne Baby Bath Sponge is ready and waiting for the next bath time and many, many, many more after that.

From an ethical viewpoint, the Seaborne Baby Sponge is 100% natural and "extracted directly from the seabed in specially controlled extraction areas". Clean baby - clean conscience.

In summary, a superior product, lovely to use and very effective.

http://www.tippitoes.com/seaborne-baby-bath-sponge.html