Your 29-Week-Old Baby
Bathtime is much more fun now, but safety is still the most important thing.
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At this stage, your baby’s growing strength and balance are unlocking brand-new experiences, including having way more fun during bathtime. It may seem like a small shift in your baby’s routine, but letting them explore more in the bath can do a lot to encourage your baby’s sense of independence, as well as their fine and gross motor skills (yes, splashing and bath toys help!).
To help you understand how bathtime may evolve with an older baby, we spoke with Dr. Chris Klunk, a board-certified neonatologist with Pediatrix Medical Group, about how to keep baby entertained in the tub, what safety considerations matter most and how to switch to the big tub.
🚼 Baby’s Development
Bathtime 2.0: Sitting Up + Playtime
Once your baby can sit up independently, bathtime shifts from a quick, functional task into a much more fun and interactive experience. Many parents notice this is when baby really starts to enjoy taking a bath—splashing, playing and exploring as far as their tub will let them—so it’s totally fine (and encouraged) if baths are more play-focused and take a little more time than they used to.
One of the biggest changes with this stage of bathtime is the type of tub you use. By this age, babies who were previously supported by a sling or reclined infant tub are usually ready to transition to a less supportive, upright infant tub. You might also choose to move them into the main bathtub to give them more space, but Dr. Klunk notes that infant tubs can still be helpful for keeping baby comfortably positioned.
And of course, with sitting comes the ability to truly play in the tub. Dr. Klunk says that bath toys aren’t necessarily a must-have, since many babies are entertained by just splashing in the water, but they don’t hurt either. “Lots of fun can be had when your little one has head control and can hold onto things like waterproof floating toys and books,” he says.
Bath toys can encourage important developmental skills while also keeping baby engaged, which can help if bathtime typically comes with a bit of fussing. Dr. Klunk recommends sticking to toys that be easily drained of water and cleaned thoroughly in order to prevent mold growth.
Even though your baby is much more stable and sturdy now, bath safety should still be a top priority. You’ll still need to supervise baby closely the entire time they’re in the tub, Dr. Klunk says, and even if you’re still using an infant tub, keep the water level low (one to two inches only) and ensure the water temperature is comfortably warm (around 98 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit).
Moving Baby to the Big Tub
If you’re transitioning baby to the adult tub, Dr. Klunk strongly recommends using a non-slip mat on the bottom to prevent slips. Even babies who have perfected the ability to sit up on their own will still be slippery in the bath, so having that extra safety measure is important.
And being in the big tub also means baby can more easily get within reach of the faucet, so you’ll need to keep watch there, too. “Tub faucets are potential sources of injury both because they are often hard and metallic, causing injury if bumped into or fallen on, and because they may be hot to the touch,” Dr. Klunk says. Faucet covers can help prevent bumps and keep baby from touching hot metal, but it’s also important to keep baby away from the running water, he says, especially if it’s hot.
Thinking about one of those pressure-mounted bath seats? While they might seem convenient for keeping older babies more contained within the big tub, Dr. Klunk cautions against them, saying they’re at risk of tipping over. It’s best to stick to an anti-slip mat and always keep at least one hand (and both eyes) on your baby at all times.
👀 Looking Ahead
Baby sign language: Before they begin to say real words, babies can understand (and even use!) simple gestures. Teaching your baby sign language right around this age can support their early communication.
🛍️ Panic Order
Ingenuity
Tuckaway Toddler Tub, Converts Shower to Tub
Ubbi
Bath Mat
Dreambaby
Anti-Slip Bath Mat with Too Hot Indicator
Skip Hop
Moby Spout Cover
Ubbi
Interchangeable Bath Toys
Baby Einstein
Rainbow Bath! Waterproof Bath Book
Lalo
Bath Toy Bin
Milou
Modern Elbow & Knee Rest
Expert Sources
Babylist content uses high-quality subject matter experts to provide accurate and reliable information to our users. Sources for this story include:
Dr. Chris Klunk, board-certified neonatologist at Pediatrix Medical Group
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