DONT' THROW THE BABY OUT
WITH THE BATH WATER
Elizabethans bathed infrequently.Usually,a traditional bath was taken in May, and from that we get the expression "Spring Cleaning."
Tradition also tells us that the baths taken during May required one big tub filled with clean water. Everyone in the household would take a bath in the same tub with the same water .This included the servants and the children. By the time the servants and children went into the bath the water was quite dirty. The idea that a little baby might not be seen in the dirty bath water could result in the baby being thrown out with the bath water. This probably never would have happened, but it generated the expression which has come to mean--watch what you are doing--don't be careless.A similar expression to arise from this yearly ritual is " don't throw out the dirty water until you have clean water." This means, keep what you have,until you have something better.
