Its nearly impossible to hold onto a squirming baby while trying to wash him at the same time. If he cant sit on his own you have to get that killer grasp from the back, under the arm, to hold onto him. While doing that how are you supposed to apply the soap to the washcloth? Its a challenge that can have serious consequences if he or she slips away from you. Forget all that! Make baby much safer and give yourself a break by making a simple floatation device for the tub. Place baby on the float and youll have both hands free to bathe him.
Youll need a piece of Styrofoam to start the project. Find assorted sizes at most any craft store and choose one thats at least three inches thick. The slab you select doesnt have to be huge but craft stores often have limited selections of large Styrofoam pieces. Another option is to save Styrofoam from packages. Often, these are large and thick enough to be suitable for a baby tub float.
Cut the Styrofoam to a shape thats rectangular and an appropriate width and length for the child. The width should be at least as wide as the babys shoulders or hips but a little wider than that is nice. The length of the Styrofoam should be approximately 20" for a newborn and a little longer for a slightly older baby. Youll find the Styrofoam much easier to cut if you use a serrated knife. Cut an old candle with the knife a few times and it will pass right through the Styrofoam. This is the best way to get a nice, smooth edge. There are lots of things you can use to create a rounded edge at the end where the babys head will go. Use a large bowl, a round fan cover, a hula hoop or similar object to draw an arch on one end of the board. Use the wax-coated, serrated knife to cut the rounded shape. Leave the opposite end with its squared corners. At this point, the flat is finished, but you can take it a step or two further to make a more elaborate tub float for your baby. Styrofoam can be painted in any number of vivid or subdued colors for the baby. Check the label to see that the paint is suitable for Styrofoam. Some paints actually melt Styrofoam. Also, check that the paint is non-toxic. A small-diameter pool noodle or even a large-diameter pipe insulation tube works great to create a ridge around the float. Use waterproof adhesive (youll find it at a home improvement store) to attach the tubular piece up the side, around the arch, and down the opposite side. Do not place any across the squared end of the float where the babys feet will go. This ridge gives the float color and creates a protective guard against the baby rolling. Instead of tubular foam pieces you can also glue on Styrofoam balls or blocks that are placed side-by-side or evenly spaced around the three sides. Another option is to purchase several rubber duckies or similar toys and attach them around the edges of the float. These dont have to be side-by-side; you can leave gaps between the toys. If you dont make a ridge around the float you have the option of creating a fabric cover for the float. Choose a thin material and cut it to the size and shape of the float but an inch or so larger, all the way around. Now cut an arch shape and a squared shape that are partially the size of the ends of the float. Sew these shapes to their counterparts and turn them right-side-out. These work somewhat like a pillow sham. Place the main part of the fabric over the float then tuck the ends of the float into the pockets made from these additional fabric pieces. Styrofoam doesnt give like a pillow does, though, so make these pockets much shorter so that they do not meet on the back. The cover should be removed after ever bath, wrung out, and hung to dry. It should also be laundered regularly. Making a bathtub float for your baby is a wise idea. The child will be much safer and youll easily be able to bathe him and shampoo his hair. Styrofoam dries very quickly so you can just leave it standing in the tub for awhile and the next person to shower can simply set it out of the way. The entire project takes a shor
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