AN ALTERNATIVE REVIEW ON A PARENTS ESSENTIAL TODDLER BATHING AID! (Clippasafe Shampoo Shield)

Member Name: totalserenity

Product:	Clippasafe Shampoo Shield
Date:	01/04/09 (253 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: KEEPS SOME WATER OFF THE FACE AS IT IS DESIGNED TO DO

Disadvantages: WRONG SHAPE TO DO ITS JOB PROPERLY - AND BORING TOO - WHERE'S THE FUN IN IT?!

Finding myself in Mothercare yesterday was a novel experience I can tell you. After all, my 'baby' is sixteen now, and as far as I know there are no mini-people due in the land of 'totalserenity' any time soon!

Actually I was in there for myself to try and find a baby shampoo shield to protect my own face in the shower, rather than for a 'munchkin' shopping trip.

Confused yet?

Well I will try and explain!

In February I was bending over the bath rinsing my bottled red hair dye off, and stupidly ended up aggravating my already arthritic 'bad' back; so much so, it went into total muscular spasm over the next two days.
To cut a long story short (to quote a blindingly iconic song), the long tram-like muscles from the base of my neck to my already tender lumbar spine utterly seized to prevent me from doing anything else so reckless to an already damaged area.

Two weeks of my life wasted once again - bed-ridden and bored (this happens quite regularly, sad to say), therefore once back on my feet I had to think quickly of another way to rinse the chemicals off my hair, without chocking on them whilst stood upright in the shower.

Are you with me now, fellow dooyoo'ers, as to why I am prepared to try a baby's hair rinsing guard?

So back to Mothercare write up then, with an unusual twist.

I explained to the lovely lady assistant why I needed such an item, and she duly led me to this natty little product splinter-wrapped upon a white card - a reversible 'shampoo shield in two colours' stating 'suitable from six months'.
Hmmm, I could feel a little scissor action coming my way then with this two-tone green rubber thingamajig!

Made in Taiwan (Tut tut Mothercare, we need the work here you know!), and costing £3.99 I thought it was definitely worth a go.

The lovely lady assistant recommended soaking it before use to soften it up, so I tried it in the shower this morning - it seems ok once I've made the head hole somewhat bigger!

Now from a parental point of view; remembering back in the day, my little girl had a flat plastic flying saucer see-through shield with an elasticated hole in the middle, I wouldn't say this new-fangled shape is a great design for a nipper.

Straight away I could see some flaws with the invention if using it with babies and toddlers.

The front cap-like peaked design is fine; however the side panels are far too thin in my opinion, to keep enough water off a wee one's face enough for them not to panic.
My baby Goth used to scream the place down if even a droplet hit her face (hmm, tempted to day nothing's changed there - but she reads my stuff, so daren't!), so I just don't rate the modern shape of this so-called 'shield'.

The oval shaped hole for the baby's head is rather firm due to the density of the rubberised material, nowhere near as flexible as the old design that seemed a kinder grip on a delicate skull.

Back to the original packaging a bit more in depth. On the back you find a list of instructions, etc, with the feature being: 'Helps protect your child's eyes from shampoo suds', whilst also offering a local rate 'customer care' advice helpline, plus Mothercare's company address.

There is also advice on how to keep the shield clean. Personally, I would have though the amount of gentle shampoo suds that will wash over the thing would do that itself, but hey ho...

The product itself doesn't seem child-friendly - where are the little cartoon-like figures or little animals that make a bath-time accessory more fun to use? It seems as though it's just a functional product packaged in a very boring way. Visually it is unappealing - even to me. No vibrant colours, nothing to distract an infant or encourage them to wear such an article.

Where's the child appeal, again I'll say it - where's the fun element?! I'm not asking for a Chav-logo'd cap here Mothercare, but come on!

Why even the cardboard packaging is plain white with boring light grey writing on it. Am I being a tad sceptical when I say minimum effort for maximum return? There are cheaper versions out there via the internet of course, but sometimes you just can't beat the 'instant shopping experience' if you need something ultra-quickly.



Obviously I do realise I have bought this item for a very unusual reason, but still...I find it boring, so am sure an active young mind would.

Now I know I could be opening a huge can of worms up for writing a review on a piece of merchandise that is supposed to have a more convention use, but I think that even as a parent I can offer an opinion that there must be a better version of this type of thing out there...and if I find one I'll be sure to let you know!


NB: The more hard balls 'Arthur' (my nick-name for my detested osteo-arthritis nemesis) throws at me the more ways I will find to duck and dive... and if this review has helped anyone at all with a bad back like me - or a parent who's looking for such an addition to the kiddies bath times, well then I've done okay :o)

Summary: NOT OVERLY ENAMOURED WITH THIS PRODUCT BUT HOPEFULLY IT'S OF SOME USE...