Bathtime can be stressful with a newborn. Many first-time (and even experienced) parents face wrangling a slippery infant into a tub of soapy water with a certain amount of trepidation. Eventually, though, most caregivers begin to enjoy the process of giving their baby a bath – and little ones grow to love it. Bath time is a wonderful opportunity for play. Even just splashing around teaches babies about how their bodies operate, different textures, and how cause-and-effect works. For many children, the bathtime ritual becomes an essential part of their nightly bedtime routine and an important bonding experience with their caregivers.

In the early days, you won’t really need bath toys. As your child gets older, however, bath toys are a great way to keep them entertained and content in the tub. Bath toys are available in a variety of styles and materials and for all different ages and skill levels – which can make choosing the best bath toys for toddlers and babies a little tricky.

Choosing the Best Bath Toys for Babies and Toddlers

When searching for bath toys for your baby or toddler, there are two important factors to keep in mind:

• Select materials and shapes that dry quickly. Despite spending lots of time in warm, soapy water, bath toys can harbor a lot of mold and mildew. This is especially true for toys that have lots of little nooks, crannies, and tight spaces that may not dry completely (we’re looking at you, squirty toys).
• Choose toys that offer educational benefits. Little ones spend a lot of time in the tub. Look for toys that help teach them colors, numbers, or letters. Bath toys that make interesting noises or have unusual textures are also fun for little ones.

Take a look at our picks for some of the best bath toys for babies, toddlers, 2-year-olds, and 3-year-olds that are certain to make their bathing experience even more fun.

Best First Bath Toy: Sophie La Girafe Bath Toy

The legendary Sophie La Girafe teether now has a bath toy look-alike that floats and is soft enough for your baby to grab, splash, and chew. Sophi is a perfect bathtime companion for teething babies!

Best Classic Bath Toy: Fisher-Price Classics Tuggy Tooter

You may have had this same toy yourself as a child! First introduced in 1967, the Fisher-Price Classics Tuggy Tooter quickly became a memorable toy from childhood. Squeeze the life preserver and watch the smoke stack go up and down and make a "toot-toot" sound. The boat has a non-removable captain figure. All aboard for this delightful water toy that’s perfect for little ones 12 months and older!

Best Practical Bath Toy: Skip Hop Foaming Soap Dispenser 

Streamline bathtime with this easy-to-fill, wall-mounted Foaming Soap Dispenser. Just fill it up with baby wash mixed with water to create a fun foamy soap! This adorable penguin makes washing fun and convenient since it’s perfect for both babies and toddlers. It allows one-handed use for parents while holding their baby, and older toddlers can press the penguin's belly to lather up all by themselves!

Best Wind-Up Bath Toy: Tomy Paddling Puppy

The Paddling Puppy really loves to splash and row! Wind him up and watch as his oars dip into the surf on either side of the raft. With fun colors and splashing action, the Paddling Puppy will be the star of your toddler's bath time! The large wind-up button underneath the boat is easier for little hands to turn. Specially designed for use in water – no batteries required!

Best Basic Bath Toy: Schylling Rubber Ducks

Who doesn’t love a classic rubber duckie? These blue-collar birds make bath time full of splashing and quacking fun! Available in assorted styles, each duck is sold separately and measures 3.5” x 3 x 3.5”. Perfect for babies and toddlers 18 months and older.

Best Eco-Friendly Bath Toy: Caaocho Mele the Sea Turtle

The Caaocho® 100% pure natural rubber bath toy Mele the Sea Turtle ("mele" means "song/poem" in Hawaiian) makes bath time a happy and fun time. Perfectly sized for baby's hands and soft enough for baby’s mouth, this bath toy encourages your baby to experiment with holding, squeezing, splashing, and turning which develop hand-eye coordination and gross motor skills. It also helps develop your baby's sense of cause-and-effect and spatial awareness. The bright colors provide a wonderful sensory experience and visual stimulation for your baby and the different textures encourage tactile exploration through the hands and mouth.

Mele the Sea Turtle is earth-friendly, produced sustainably, and entirely biodegradable. The toy starts as pure natural tree sap from the rubber tree Hevea that is minimally processed into durable 100% pure natural rubber. Painted with food-grade paints, this toy is completely non-toxic. Best of all, Caaocho®’s bath toys have a hermetically sealed design that makes them a great water play companion without any possibility of bacteria and mold growth.

Best Stacking Bath Toys: Fat Brain Toys Pail Pals

The FAT BRAIN Toys Pail Pals Bath Toys are two star-shaped buddies and three colorful, wavy rings, waiting for little ones to dump them out of their pail and into hours of creative exploration. Stack them, spin them, and set them adrift. Your child’s bathtime instantly overflows with fun!

Best Boats for the Tub: Boon Tones

Toddlers will love their bath time with Boon Tones, the boats with whistles! Each tone has a whistle with three volumes— Low, Medium, and High— that blows when the top of the toy boat is tapped. They even attach together by their rings for safe passage across Bathtub Bay. All aboard for fun!

Best Sensory Play Bath Toy: Yookidoo Submarine Spray Station

Best Bath Toy for Art Lovers: Schylling Tiger Tribes Bath Crayons

Little ones can channel their inner artist as they soak up some quality creative time in the bath with Tiger Tribe’s Bath Crayons. These vibrantly colored bath crayons are the perfect size for little hands and are made specifically for use on smooth wet surfaces like bathroom tiles and bathtubs. They're also easy to clean, washing off with a damp cloth (there's one included in the pack)! Your little artist will have loads of fun while working on their fine motor skills, color recognition, and imaginative and creative play.  

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