Bath ring/seat vs. baby bath tub (in big tub)?

[Tia38]

We still bathe DD in the kitchen sink. As she tried to walk her way out of the sink and across the counters earlier this week I realized.... maybe we should move her to the "big" tub in the bathroom.

We've done big tub when traveling, usually with me in the tub with her. The last time we tried her solo she was not happy at all.

But she loves the sink and water in general.

So, we have a baby tub (that we have not been using) that inflates and could go inside the big tub. So she'd be in a smaller tub in the big tub.... good for us, good for her, and a step towards just the big tub.

We don't have a bath ring/seat, but when she used one at my sister's house DD loved it. Of course it could have been that her cousin was in the tub with her. ;-)

Where and how do you bathe your kids? Baby tub? Big tub? Do you use a ring/seat (which one?!)?

Anyone bring them in the shower with them? I've only tried this once or twice a while back, and it was not good.

Any/all advice, comments, etc. welcome.

Cheers,
-Tia

[Adriana]

We use a plastic tub in our shower to bathe Sara. We actually don't have a regular tub, just a shower, otherwise I would throw in all my kids at the same time . If she wasn't too happy in the big tub, perhaps try the baby tub in the big tub. One benefit is using less water. Otherwise, if she is happy in the sink, I don't see why you should change anything. Plus it is much easier on the back, bending over the tub is a killer

[Ferret Mommy]

Umm.. we were given a bathseat chair thing.. and Ian got himself right out of it. He likes crawling in the water. We have it filled with enough water to splash and play with bubbles.

I would not invest in one if you child is able to stand and get right out...lol

[Tia38]

good point kat -- i don't know that DD would wiggle out... but she certainly wiggles out of enough things that it's likely.

adriana -- we like the kitchen sink, but DD is getting a bit big (which we can both deal with) but she wants to stand up and check everything in the vicinity, making it unsafe. we'll try for a bit longer... or see if we can otherwise distract her.

it hadn't occurred to me that we could use our baby tub in one of our showers.... interesting idea... not sure that's what you meant, but it would be a bit milder on my 40+ year old back!

i do like the idea of using less water...

small rant follows... feel free to stop reading now. :-)

-tia

<begin rant>

our water dept was delayed in reading meters by a few months... the result being SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS MORE on our bill because they have a tiered pricing system! so higher consumption costs you more on a per unit basis.

now, i know we used the water (and we use too much) but if they had read the meter anywhere close to on time we would not have triggered the highest tiered rate.

i take my case in person next week but am not optimistic that they'll do anything about it....

the nice lady (via email said) it wasn't there fault that (1) they upgraded computers in Nov [i think they had control on that, and not sure why it's relevant), (2) Dec was snowy (duh -- we live greater Boston!), (3) in general it's a difficult time of year to get the readings done (so why don't they schedule at another time? by the way, reading the meter means doing a drive by... no one comes in).


<end rant> sorry -- not the focus of the post!

[KCT]

Hmm. If she loves water, it's probably the size and depth of the big tub that scares her. I think it would be a great idea to try the inflatable tub that you have for awhile and then eventually move her into the big tub when she is more confident. We have been bathing Sylvie in the big tub with no "helper devices" for a long time. She does great -- I just never leave her side. Good luck with the transition, although if the sink works, maybe you should just stick with that.

Kristen

[KCT]

Just read your rant. You might point out, in response to (3), that in general, it's also a difficult time to pay unnecessarily inflated bills, as you're also paying for heat, etc. Grr. Good luck with your appointment tomorrow. Let us know the verdict.

[BethIL]

Tia, I would try the inflatable in the big tub - it's what we had ot do with C for the first 3 or so times. Now he's in the tub without it and LOVES every second of bathtime!

As for your water rant - that just sucks! Is there anyway you can sign up to do your own meter reading? I think we can do that here, we just never have (for gas though, we're on well water). At any rate, here in snowy ol' Chicago area even with our record snow this year, our gas guy has never missed a reading - and he has quite a way to go and bushes to fight to read our meter - so I think those excuses are pi$$poor IMO!!! You should NOT have to pay at the higher tier! KUP!

[Ferret Mommy]

Oh man that sucks about the meter. Where my parents live, they have a 300 dollar bill a month... very high rates!

As for the bath seat.. we couldnt find a way to tighten it, its just a standard seat thing? Maybe alittle inflatable will save you $$$!!

[Ferret Mommy]

Oh as for your case... bring this point up...

Its their job to read the meter. Monthly. Period.

If they can not read the meter, they need to do what the electric com does around here and "estimates" your usage. If they are off when they do come out here.. they adjust... but they usually go off the average bill.

Get all your bills in line and get an average...

Its not YOUR issue they got a new computer system.

Read your terms.. does it state that they will bill for months at a time if they are unable to read it.. Know YOUR TERMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tia38]

Originally Posted by BC-Ferret Mommy

Oh as for your case... bring this point up...

Its their job to read the meter. Monthly. Period.

If they can not read the meter, they need to do what the electric com does around here and "estimates" your usage. If they are off when they do come out here.. they adjust... but they usually go off the average bill.

Get all your bills in line and get an average...

Its not YOUR issue they got a new computer system.

Read your terms.. does it state that they will bill for months at a time if they are unable to read it.. Know YOUR TERMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Easier said than done. We are on a twice-a-year reading (they call it every 6 months) and as far as I can see there are not terms anywhere. If you don't like the town service I guess you can dig a well?

I am also a terrible record keeper, and they don't give any sort of history on their bills, so I have one past bill, which was a "winter" bill. I don't know that I can make a case with that, although I do plan to use it. I also plan to show relative usage since the last reading based on my own readings.

We also had two separate leaks this year (our problem, not theirs) but they did screw up our usage patterns. Oh yeah.... and a baby. :-)

I have my ammo, will make my case and hope to be pleasantly surprised.

In our last town they would leave a hang tag if they missed you, and if you didn't send it back (or they didn't make it out) they would do estimated bills.

That's one thing I didn't think of.... I guess I will make that polite suggestion to them for the cases where they can't get their acts together to read the meters. (ahem) Perhaps that is why they upgraded their computers? LOL.

It irks me the most because they don't come in or even up to the door... literally they drive by slowly -- not even sure if they stop outside?

Sorry to hi-jack my own thread.
-Tia