How to Lift a Baby Out of the Bath Safely

Bath time is going great. Your baby is clean, happy, splashing around. Then comes the moment every parent knows: it's time to lift them out.

Your baby is wet, soapy, and wriggling. You need two hands on them, but you also need the towel. So you do what every parent does. You bite it, tuck it under your chin, stuff it in your bra strap, or drape it over your shoulder and hope for the best. Sound familiar? You're not alone, and it turns out, this moment is more dangerous than most parents realize.

Is Baby Bath Time Actually Dangerous?

Most parents know bath time requires supervision. But the actual numbers on bath time incidents are eye-opening.

A peer-reviewed study published in Health journal surveyed 304 families about bathing incidents in their baby's first year. The findings: 71% of families experienced a dangerous bath time incident. The most common were near-submersion of the baby's face, full submersion of the face, and falling into the water.
The top three situations when incidents happened?

• Bathing alone
• The baby moving unexpectedly
• Taking care of another child at the same time

That's basically a description of a normal Tuesday for most parents. Perhaps most striking: nearly 71% of those families had never received any guidance on bath time safety or how to prevent these situations.

The Riskiest Part of Bath Time

The biggest danger is always leaving a baby unattended near water, even for a second. Drowning can happen in as little as two inches of water, in the time it takes to leave the room to grab a forgotten towel.

Rule one: never leave your baby alone in the bath.

But even when the towel is nearby, most parents are still tucking it under their chin, biting it, or draping it over their shoulder to free up their hands for the lift. The towel slips. Your grip shifts to catch it. Your baby squirms at exactly the wrong moment.

That's the gap no one talks about. Parents know the right way to lift their baby. The standard baby towel just makes it hard to actually do it.

How to Lift a Baby Out of the Bath Safely

The correct technique is straightforward. Use both hands when lifting your baby out of the bath. If they need neck support, always make sure one hand is one supporting the back of their neck. Then bring them to your chest. 

The problem? That technique requires both hands to be free at the moment of the lift. And if you're mid-grab for a towel, they're not. That's the gap no one talks about. Parents know the right way to lift their baby - the standard baby towel just makes it hard to actually do it.

The Hands-Free Fix

The Lift, Unsnap & Wrap Towel by The Fuzzy Sprout was built for exactly this moment.

Before bath time starts, you snap the towel behind your neck. It stays there; no tucking, no biting, no hoping it won't fall. When it's time to lift your baby out, both hands are completely free to support them properly.

Once your baby is on your chest, you unsnap the hood and wrap them up. The towel was already there.

Made from 100% organic cotton and sized for newborns through toddlers, it also doubles as a splash guard during the bath. There are up to 10 ways to use it so it can accommodate whatever method works best for you and your baby. 

Other Bath Time Safety Tips Worth Knowing

Never leave the room. Lay out your towel, pajamas, and diaper before the bath starts. If you've forgotten something, bring your baby with you.

Use non-slip mats. One inside the tub, one on the floor outside. Both matter to prevent any slipping incidents. 

Drain the tub before you lift. Less water resistance, less slipperiness, easier lift.

Kneel at the tub, don't bend over. You get more control over the lift and protect your back at the same time.

The Bottom Line

Bath time incidents are far more common than most parents expect. The good news is that most of them are preventable with the right preparation and the right setup.

Getting both hands free for the lift-out isn't a luxury. It's just safer.

Once you try it, you'll wonder how this wasn't always the standard.