The Best Bidets For Postpartum: 4 Options To Leave To You Feeling Clean & Refreshed

You’ve just had a child. The last thing you need is to be worrying about going to the toilet. Bidets can help take the stress and discomfort of going to the loo postpartum away.

However, there are a few different types of bidet, all of which have different merits for postpartum use. In this article, I go through each type and discuss each bidet’s benefits and drawbacks. I then recommended my top pick in each category.

The types I go through are:

• Peri bottles
• Hand-held bidet sprayers
• Bidet attachments
• Electric bidet seats

The best bidet for postpartum will have gentle water pressure and be well-aimed for the feminine parts to minimize movement. The Brondell Swash 1400 is an excellent choice if you want a luxury electric bidet. For a cheaper option, check out the Frida Peri Bottle or the Luxe Bidet 185.

Portable

A great portable option for new mums. This peri bottle features a narrow angled spout making it easy to hit the right spot.

Best Overall

This electric bidet features a wide front spray with a low-pressure option. Perfect for postpartum mums.

Retrofit

This bidet attachment fits in between your current toilet seat and the bowl. It features a front spray setting with a gentle pressure option too.

The Peri Bottle (Portable Bidet)

This is the most basic type of bidet. At first glance, it might look similar to the hospital bidet you were given. But believe me, this one is 100 times more effective.

The hospital bidet (left) was impossible to aim and only produced a tiny trickle of water that wasn’t doing anything in the way of cleaning, let alone soothing my irritation. 

Peri-bottles (right), on the other hand, are specifically designed for their intended use. They have an angled spout, which is easy to aim, and the bottle produces a stream of water with enough pressure to reach your private parts without much squeezing.

One major advantage of the peri-bottle is that it’s portable. It’s not just at home you’re going to need the toilet, so it’s super useful having a bidet you can carry around with you.

You can also easily add things like witch hazel to the water to help calm any irritation you might have. This isn’t possible with bidets that are attached and feed off your house water supply.

The downside to a peri bottle is that you have to fill it up each time you want to use it. This means that if you need to take an unplanned trip to the loo, you might find yourself with an empty peri-bottle when it’s time to clean up. 

Also, the water supply in the bottle is limited and can sometimes run out. I found the water quite soothing and sometimes found myself disappointed when the water ran out. Kind of like when you stay in the shower for longer than you need, just because it feels nice.

Overall, if you have no interest in having a bidet past the postpartum stage, then a peri-bottle is a nice budget solution. But if you want something you and the whole family can continue to use, a peri-bottle isn’t the right choice.

Frida Mom Upside Down Peri Bottle

The best peri-bottle for new mums is the Frida Mom Upside Down Peri Bottle.

The bottle has a narrow angled spout, making it super easy to hit the right spot without stretching too much. It also comes with a waterproof bag so you can put it discreetly in your handbag for on-the-go use.

For more options check out my guide to the best portable bidets.

Bidet Sprayer

The second type of bidet I want to discuss is the bidet sprayer.

This is best described as a wall-mounted mini showerhead. Online you’ll find plenty of women recommending that you take a shower after using the toilet, but with a bidet sprayer, you can bring the shower to you. 

You aim the spray head where you want it to go and then press down on the lever to release the water. The water pressure depends on how strong your house water pressure is. 

If you know you normally have excellent water pressure, then be careful not to press too hard, or you might find the jet too strong.

A big plus of the bidet sprayer is that it can double as a cloth diaper sprayer, and you can even use it to clean your baby. Of course, this depends on how your bathroom is laid out and if the bidet can reach your sink area.

A downside of this type of bidet is that most bidet sprayers only support cold water. I personally don’t mind a bit of cold water. But I also know a few mums who couldn’t think of anything worse. Also, it can be slightly harder to aim than a peri-bottle at first, but after a few uses, you get the hang of things.

If you want to learn more, I have a guide on how to use a bidet sprayer which should help.

Purrfectzone Bidet Sprayer

The bidet sprayer I would recommend for postpartum is the Purrfectzone Bidet Sprayer.

It’s easy to control the pressure with the lever, and you can get an extended hose (link to amazon) with it. The longest hose option is 98 inches, so even if your toilet isn’t near your sink, the sprayer should be able to reach.

This is really useful when you have a spoiled diaper to rinse!

For more options, including one which has the ability to spray hot water, check out my article on the best hand-held bidet sprayers.

Bidet Attachment / Non-Electric Bidet Seat

If the thought of having to aim the water at yourself sounds like too much effort then you could opt for a bidet attachment instead.

These fit underneath your toilet seat and have a spray wand that cleans you. The spray wand is aimed towards your private parts so all you have to do is pick the pressure you want to use, no aiming involved.

Most bidet attachments only offer cold water but there are also a few hot water options. They connect to your sink line and draw the warm water from there. 

The vast majority of attachments will allow you to adjust the pressure of the water stream, so you can select whatever pressure is comfortable for you.

Non-electric seats are similar to attachments except they replace the whole seat (instead of just attaching between the bowl and the seat).

Luxe Bidet Neo 185

The best bidet attachment for postpartum is the Luxe Bidet Neo 185.

The bidet has dual nozzles, with one specifically designed for female parts. And there are four different pressure settings to pick from. The 185 model only offers cold water.

If you want warm water, then you can opt for the Neo 320. This is the same as the 185 but also comes with a hot water connection pipe.

Electric Bidet Seat

The electric bidet seat is the best option if you want something that offers more luxury. You can use your electric bidet well after you’re out of the postpartum phase, and all your family can enjoy it too.

Because the seats require electricity, they offer a lot more features than a non-electric option. The most useful one for postpartum is warm water. The warm water can really help relieve any discomfort you have.

Other features that I found handy postpartum included the nightlight.

Brondell Swash 1400 Luxury Bidet Toilet Seat

The bidet I found that fits all these criteria is the Brondell Swash 1400. This is more of a high-end bidet but comes with everything you’re likely to want. It even offers width adjustment on the spray, which isn’t something I’ve personally seen before.

Postpartum, I recommend using the widest spray with the lowest pressure. This makes for a perfect and gentle clean.

As you’re buying the electric bidet for long-term use, I think it’s worth spending a bit extra for one that has everything you want.

If that one is out of your budget, then the Alpha JX Bidet is also fantastic. It comes with an aerated spray and a nightlight. Plus it has a child wash setting that will come in useful in later years.

However, it lacks the ability to change the width of the spray and only has one (adjustable) spray wand.

Both offer elongated and round options.

I also recommend the Brondell Swash 1400 in my article on the best bidets for women.

How to choose a bidet for postpartum use

Choosing a bidet is difficult at the best of times, and adding postpartum needs into the mix complicates matters even more. 

Here are my top tips for things to look out for when buying a bidet for postpartum use.

Type of bidet

First, pick the type of bidet you want to have. The different types are explained in detail above, but the main things that should inform your decision are:

• Do you want the bidet only for postpartum use, or do you want to continue using it afterwards?
• How much do you want to spend?
• Do you want something installed on your toilet or separate to the toilet?

Spray Pressure

Normally when shopping for a bidet, you want the highest spray pressure you can find. But postpartum needs are different, and you want more of a gentle spray. If the spray is too strong, the bidet can end up making things worse rather than helping.

Look for a bidet that offers adjustable pressure and read the reviews to see how people rate the pressure.

Cold or warm water

Not all bidets off hot water as standard. If you’re sensitive to cold water and live somewhere cold, a hot water bidet is probably best. But some people find cold water quite soothing.

It’s really up to you and what you’d prefer.

If you’re not sure, you can test yourself with the shower. If you don’t mind a cold rinse, then a cold water bidet is probably fine. But if you hate it, look for a warm water option. 

Movement required

Moving too much postpartum can be painful and difficult. Different bidets require differing amounts of movement. The less movement needed, the better.

Built-in bidets require less movement, while bidets installed outside the toilet require more movement. However, none require as much movement as using toilet paper or the shower.

Benefits of a bidet for postpartum

After giving birth, you’re going to be a bit of a mess down there.

Even if you gave birth via a cesarean section, you’ll have a few stitches and your movement will be restricted. In both of these situations, a bidet can help. 

Here are some of the postpartum problems that a bidet can help fix.

Lack of mobility

Bidets drastically reduce the amount of movement required when you’re going to the toilet. They take away the need for you to reach down and wipe yourself. The more expensive ones can even dry you as well.  

Lochia

After giving birth, you’ll have a discharge (kind of like a period) for up to six weeks. This is called Lochia and contains blood, mucus, and uterus tissue. 

Washing with water will make you feel so much cleaner than using toilet paper. Toilet paper will smear the discharge around, whereas water will quickly wash it away. 

The advice on how to wash your vagina stays the same during the postpartum period.

Use water to wash and avoid any soaps. This keeps the pH balance in check and is more than enough to keep bad bacteria away and prevent infections.

Discomfort from swelling, bruising or cuts

After childbirth, your perineum is likely to be pretty sore. Water can help soothe this and reduce irritation, while toilet paper will increase irritation. Think about that time you used toilet paper to blow your nose when you had a cold. The result is never good!

Make sure you’re using your bidet on the lowest pressure setting as sometimes the high-pressure settings can be too hard.

Warm sitz baths are often recommended to help with discomfort, but finding the time to fit these in regularly can be a challenge. Having a quick water bath every time you use the toilet is much more convenient. If you have a bidet that offers warm water, even better. 

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are a common issue both during and after pregnancy. They’ll mostly go away on their own, but using a bidet can help to reduce any symptoms you have. 

The advice from Healthline is to

1. Keep the area clean
2. Use wet wipes rather than toilet paper because they’re gentler
3. Have warm baths.

All three of these things can be achieved using a bidet. The water stream will clean the area, is gentler on your private parts than toilet paper is, and if your bidet offers warm water, this will have a similar effect to having a warm bath.

Benefits of a bidet during pregnancy

It’s not just after having your baby that a bidet becomes useful. You can also use it during pregnancy. As you get bigger, it will become more and more difficult to reach down and wipe. Plus, you’ll be going to the toilet much more than usual! 

If you have a bidet, this takes away the need to wipe, making your trip to the toilet a lot easier. Also, the amount of discharge you get generally increases during pregnancy, so using water will help you feel cleaner. And you can avoid irritation from using too much paper. 

Summary

Ultimately, whatever bidet you get it’s going to help make postpartum life a little easier.

Think about what exactly you’re looking for in the bidet and match this up to the types I’ve outlined here.