Top and tail?

We ordered a top & tail washer from BabysRUs thinking it was some sort of bathtub.  Now that it's arrived, our preconceptions have been abandonned and replaced with bafflement.  The web has been useless in the endeavour to learn what purpose this oddly shaped, bifurcated utensil actually serves.  Would anyone know offhand what's meant to be done with a so-called top & tail washer?

Fill it with baby bath and baby temp water.  Use one half to wash baby's head and top half-use the other half to wash baby's bottom half.  It's mainly for teeny tiny babies, when you don't want to do the whole bath thing or if it's too cold.  Just a quick wash with nice clean water.   

It's for washing babies.  You put water in each of the little areas, then use one area for the top half of the body and the other half of the water for the tail (bum) area.

I'd never heard of it before moving here.  I just used plain common sense when washing (ie, don't wash the bum then the face).

I just used plain common sense when washing (ie, don't wash the bum then the face).

Ditto! I think the top & tail bucket gadgets are a bit weird...

My mum told me last night she has ordered us a whole lot of stuff from Mothercare which is being delivered tomorrow (yaaaaaaaaaaaay very excited!) anyway among the goodies  she got us one of these "top 'n' tail" things - I didn't know what it was so after I got off the phone I had a look in the M'care catalogue ... still couldn't quite work it out so I'm glad it's not just me. I can't really see why anyone would need one of those as well as a baby bath, maybe they are meant for taking on overnight trips? I have a feeling we're going to end up keeping Stu's sourballs in it.

Ditto! I think the top & tail bucket gadgets are a bit weird..

LOL, when I first saw it, I think I may have called it a gimmick! 

I can't really see why anyone would need one of those as well as a baby bath, maybe they are meant for taking on overnight trips?

I think it's like Mindy said, for mainly when you want to do a sponge bath without going the whole nine yards with a full bath.  To be honest, we never gave Niall a sponge bath.  He always had his nightly bath in his baby tub.

Well, my second one was a winter baby-and she hated to be undressed and she HATED the bath and it was easier and more peaceful to do a quick sponge down than the whole nine yards.    

We gave Philip songe baths (still do sometimes) but I just use a bowl of water, a baby washcloth, and work from the top down. Seemed better than spending money on another doo-dad, and the money I saved I spent on really cool smelling baby lotion.

Thanks to all for these replies.  As I understand it now, water goes in each of the wells, the pink'un sits on the divider, the sponge gets saturated in one well and rinsed in the other, right?  Armed with this new insight, I'll chalk up the top & tail as a 7 pound "learning experience".  It's astonishing to think somebody probably got rich for inventing this.  I'll just hijack a laundry basket and fill it with water...

If anybody wants a brand-new top & tail, FREE, except for postage, here's your chance!

Thanks to all for these replies.  As I understand it now, water goes in each of the wells, the pink'un sits on the divider, the sponge gets saturated in one well and rinsed in the other, right

Nooooo.  Soapy water goes in both wells,  you use one well to wash the top end of the baby, and the other well to wash the bottom end of the baby.  The reasoning being that no poopy water would get near teh baby's head.  Hence, the name 'top' and 'tail'. 

And a different wash cloth or spong for each side!

A marketing genius.

Thanks for all the helpful replies.  It's been dutifully rehearsed - this top & tail, more out of curiosity than anything else.   

actually I have an idea for another use - a footbath for Mum! the one we have is just the right size for my size 6 feet!!