Flexibath - folding baby bath January 2011

The Flexibath folds up flat to be stowed away after bathtime

The Flexibath claims to be the only hard plastic baby bathtub on the market that can fold up flat 'with the simple touch of your hand'. 

It aims to help solve an age-old parent complaint - lack of space to store all those extra baby necessities. After you've used the Flexibath, it can be folded up and tucked away discreetly in a corner or cupboard.

Using the Flexibath

Our tester liked the idea of a compact folding bath to save on space - and on first impressions, thought the Flexibath felt well-made and looked attractive.

Putting the baby bath up and down proved no problem. Our tester found it very easy to unfold and fold away afterwards: you simply undo the plastic clasp holding the folded bath in position, let it spring out then pull it into its full-sized shape by pushing down on the base. You then reverse those steps to fold it up again.

As promised, the Flexibath is certainly easier to store because it's foldable - making it a good option for families with small bathrooms or a lack of storage space at home. Our tester thought the bath could also come in handy for families who are often away from home or to take on holiday, for example.

There's a tight-fitting plug on the base, which pops open to empty the bath with water. According to the instructions, the Flexibath 'isn't guaranteed to be non-slip' and children shouldn't be allowed to stand up in it.

The Flexibath folds down to fit into narrow gaps

You should only use water with children's soaps or shampoos in the tub - not baby oil or other liquids, which might erode the plastic. 

We've got more tips on bathing your baby in our baby bath time essentials guide, plus more baby product reviews - including Which? verdicts on the latest pushchairs, child car seats, high chairs and baby monitors.

Flexible baby bathtimes?

Our tester was disappointed he wasn't able to use the Flexibath with a baby bath stand (as he does with the bathtub he normally uses) to elevate it to a more comfortable position. 

According to our tester: 'The Flexibath was too flimsy to use on a stand, meaning you have to bend over the bath, which can give you backache.'

He also felt the Flexibath's claim that the product can be used to bathe more than one baby at the same time - a picture of two children in the bath is used on the packaging - was dubious, given the size of the bath. In his words: 'My daughter is only two months old and there's definitely room for her only.'

The Flexibath is recommended for use with children up to four years old, which again seems rather ambitious considering the dimensions of the bath (just 66.5x38.9x23.8cm). 

On the plus side, when your baby outgrows the Flexibath, it can double up as a toy storage box.

Overall, our tester said the Flexibath's attributes probably wouldn't be enough to entice him to part with his cash. While the Flexibath is priced at around £30, you can buy a basic bath from under £10.

Buying the Flexibath

The Flexibath comes in a range of colours including purple, green, blue, pink, white and clear and is available to buy at Mothercare and John Lewis for £29.95. Also keep an eye out for cheaper deals - we've previously spotted the bath with 50% off in a branch of discount store TK Maxx, for example.

A bathtime play set, consisting of colourful cups, jug and a small table that attaches to the Flexibath using suction pads, is sold separately.

Pros Stores away tidily, doesn't take up much space, travels well, easy to use

Cons Expensive for what it is, not big enough to comfortably accommodate two children as advertised