How Safe Is The Safety 1st Bath Seat?

First off, as I said before, it's important to realize that having infants around water is dangerous.
So if you're going to use the Safety 1st bath seat, then follow the instructions and don't use it if you have a non-traditional bath tub.

The U.S. CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) issued a safety alert in 2005 for the tubside bath seat.

"Consumers are urged to ensure that these bath seats are used in accordance with the instructions:

* This product is NOT for use with the following style tubs:
o Tubs with edge width less than 3 ½ inches or greater than 5 ½ inches.
o Tubs with depth (top to bottom) less than 12 inches or greater than 15 inches.
o Free standing (legged or pedestal), oval, drop-in, or spa type tubs
* DO NOT use the bath seat if the Red Warning Label on the arm is exposed.
* ALWAYS keep child within arm's reach. Children have drowned when left unattended in bath seats."

The safety alert, with pictures of bath tubs that don't work with the Safety 1st tubside bath seat, in its entirety can be found at Safety 1st tubside bath seat.

Here's some statistics from a past study:

"CPSC to date has reports of 96 drownings and 153 non-fatal incidents involving bath seats that occurred from January 1983 to December 2002."

You can read the full article at bath seats.

I don't mean to sound so negative about bath seats in general, but if you're going to use one, you need to do it responsibly.

I'm a proud parent. My son is now 4, and I wish I had used something like the Safety 1st bath seat to make giving him baths easier. He liked to splash and move around making bath time difficult.

The Safety 1st bath seat makes it easier to give your little one a bath. If you're using the tubside or ring, you'll find that having your baby seated makes it less difficult to get him or her clean. And your baby can sit and play in the water, without you holding them, while you wash them. It also helps to stop strain and a sore back associated with stretching and holding your baby in the bath tub while washing them.

Pregnant mothers have found that using the Safety 1st bath seat makes it easier for them with their limited mobility.

Since the baby is seated, you need to wash his butt either before you sit him down or after.

The ring bath seat uses suctions, so make sure they stick to the bottom of your bath tub. And again, make sure you have the correct type of tub for the tubside clamp.

Here are some reviews for the Safety 1st bath seat. Remember before purchasing, make sure your bath tub can handle suction cups or is the right size for the tubside bath seat. For some reason, the tubside bath seat is very expensive on Amazon.com (see below) and Ebay has the best deal.

5.0 out of 5 stars These reviews are crazy!, December 12, 2009
By J. Oliver (Fort Montgomery, NY, US)
(REAL NAME)
This bathseat does its purpose, supports baby in the tub with CONSTANT parental supervision in SHALLOW water which is recommended for any child.

I cannot believe the ratings and the reasonings for the ratings on this product! Giving it a 1 or a 2 because the product doesn't fit in your tub? The product is the one that is consistant in size, it is your bathtub that doesn't fit the product! Low rating because after months and months of GOOD use, your child randomly poops in the tub and you can't get the bath seat clean enough? List the lack of ability to come apart as a con, but to tank the whole rating because your child made a mess in the tub? And a low rating because of the people out there who fill their bathtubs too high and may leave their child UNATTENDED for a moment? Common sense, your not supposed to do that!

I looked over this product for a month because of its low rating, come to realize that most of the bad ratings don't rate the functionality of the product at all, just "user errors". I had to weed threw them all to find genuine product reviews.
Does your baby enjoy his or her bath in this seat? Is the seat easy to store away? Is your baby safe in the seat, in the recommended shallow water and an adult ALWAYS near by? Any improvements that can be made on this seat? Does it break easily? Anything happen at all during typical use that could make this seat unsafe? These are the most important questions that should be answered when it comes to any baby/child product.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great buy, October 24, 2009
By monkeys mama
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This seat is sturdy and comfy....she loves her bath tubby time and this seat has made it easy for us too. She sits in it happily and her 6 year old brother fits in the tub with her very easily. As any seat I would not leave her unattended but it lets her play without restrictions. She is now 11 months old and still has no problem sitting and playing with no fears of a tip over.

2.0 out of 5 stars Only for standard, flat sided tubs!!, October 4, 2009
By Amanda Rogers (GR, Michigan)
(REAL NAME)
Great idea, especially if the bottom of your tub is textured as suction cups do not always adhere well to it. However, the only tub we have in our house is an oval shaped garden tub. The sides of the tub are slanted and therefore this seat is useless!

To read more reviews, check out Safety 1st bath seat at Amazon.com.