It is somewhere between 14 months and age six that parents everywhere realize bath time is actually a break. Sure, I am still in the bathroom with them, but once that water hits the base of the tub, a silent hum of independent play arises. And after years (like nine years of baths over here) I’ve got a few bath toys for kids that take the lead on fun. Bath time is a great time to explore and engage in sensory play and if you need a little reboot on bathtime, you’ve come to the right place. Make your child’s time spent in the bath more joyful and relaxing with our list of 15 fun bath toys and other bath time essentials!
The best part? Taking a bath is one of my favorite ways to help my child hit restart after a long school day.
RELATED: Looking for an easy low-prep after-school activity? Try moving bath time to after school to allow your child to decompress and enjoy some open-ended play.
Are bath toys even necessary?
Yes! Bath toys may not feel necessary to some, BUT they can inspire so much imagination, creativity, and independent play. (cough, like play until your fingers look like a prune play). I have found that investing in a few quality bath toys that have held over the years is essential to making bath time a success.
Spending time playing in the bath is like diving into a giant water table for kids. With some fun and simple water toys, your child will learn to entertain themselves by experimenting with all types of fine motor development and sensory play:
- Building
- Pouring
- Scooping
- Stacking
- Squirting
RELATED: Many of our water sensory activities can be used in your bath! This reusable water balloon sensory play activity is one of our favorites.
15 fun bath toys
Our list of bath toys includes our favorite open-ended tools and toys for scooping, pouring, and experimenting with!
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Boon Bath Gears
We love these bathtub-spinning gears made by Boon! Introduce your little one to early STEM ideas as they learn to connect and spin the gears to make water flow.
Boon FLEET Stackable Boats
These multi-purpose bath boats are wonderful for stacking and pouring, and are also equipped with drain holes for all those necessary rain shower bath moments.
USA Map in the Tub
This USA map in the tub is a HUGE hit with my three boys. We received it as a gift a few years ago, and they still enjoy putting it together. A great addition to bathtime!
Collapsible Silicone Funnel Set
This cute set of 4 funnels is excellent for pouring and playing. They come in bright colors, are easy to wipe down, and take up very little space since they collapse for easy storage.
Fat Brain Toys Squigz
Squigz are such a fun way to build! We had these awesome silicone Squigz for a few years before we realized how fun they would be for the bath. Use these squigz for STEM building and learning in and out of the bath tub.
Green Toys Submarine
This submarine is the perfect bath toy for pouring and rinsing with your toddler. It has a handle for easy holding and a spinning propeller for a little real-life excitement. This submarine is made out of sustainable, earth-friendly materials, which makes it super easy to clean.
Jumbo Colorful Eyedroppers
Looking for a way for your toddler to practice fine motor skills in the bath tub? These jumbo eyedroppers are a must-have for learning how to pinch, squeeze and squirt! Sensory play is never complete in our book without these giant eyedroppers that we use both in and out of the bath.
Learning Resources Kitchen Set
Inspire your little one’s imagination in the bathtub using this kitchen essentials set for bath time cooking. Note: this kitchen set is large, so we like to designate a few items for bath time and use the rest outside of the bath.
Learning Resources Jumbo Test Tubes
Another favorite sensory play essential! We LOVE using these giant test tubes in our tub for measuring and pouring bath water and bubbles.
Munchkin Bath Toy
This classic ring toss and stack style bath toy is great for practicing hand-eye coordination and color sorting.
Magnetic Baby and Toddler Bath Toy
We love this cute magnetic fishing toy that will help your little one develop early awareness of magnets and connection in the tub.
Bath Letters and Numbers
Working with your toddler on the alphabet and number recognition? Why not continue their learning in the bath?! These foam bath letters and numbers can help develop letter and number awareness and color sorting.
Watering Can Bath Toy
Watering cans make for the best bathtime toys for rinsing and pouring! You can use this cute watering can outside to water your garden or for fun sensory play in the tub.
Reusable Water Balloons
Reusable water balloons for the win! These reusable water balloons have become my kids’ favorite water toy (maybe of all time)! We LOVE using them outside in the summer, but they make for the perfect bathtime sensory toy for scooping, filling, and popping in the tub.
Funnel Stem Learning Bath Toy
Watch the water spin and pour with this cute funnel toy for the bath that helps to develop hand-eye coordination, motor skills, and early STEM learning.
Bath time accessory essentials
After 3 kids, I have finally narrowed down our favorite bathtime essential accessories that will stand the test of time!
Anti Slip Shower Stickers
After many years of dealing with yucky silicone bath mats that needed to be replaced every 6 months from mold and mildew buildup, we have found the best solution! These super-affordable anti-slip shower adhesives come in a 24-pack and prevent mold or slippage.
Hanging Bath Toy Storage
A mesh bag is THE best way to drain and dry your bath toys and prevent them from getting yucky and slimy between baths. This mesh bag from Munchkin comes with a handle for easy scooping to store all your bath toys.
Universal Drain Stopper Plug Cover
Keep your bathtub water from draining with this silicone suction cup-style drain stopper that is guaranteed to keep your little one’s bath warm and full.
Swap out bath time toys
Bath toy swapping is a must! Even with this list of 15 favorite toys, I do not recommend keeping all of your bath toys in the tub at once. Just like with most things, LESS IS MORE! Keep a few current favorites in the tub for your child to explore, practice and play with. After a few days or weeks swap out the toys with a few you have set in storage to create a whole new learning and play experience!
So, stop dreading bath time! You can make bath time enjoyable for your little one and help them develop lots of independent play, sensory, and motor skills in the tub using all of these fun and open-ended bath toys for toddlers and big kids.
Empower your child with skills to thrive.
24 low-prep activities and relatable conversation starters that equip kids for life.
- Order the easy-to-follow activity cards.
- Build the foundation for social-emotional learning.
- Notice a shift in self-confidence and self-regulation as you and your child implement what you practice.
Bath toys FAQ
The best way to clean and disinfect bath toys is by using equal parts vinegar and water and then setting them out to dry. We try to avoid unnecessary chemicals in our home so this non-toxic and inexpensive way is effective all around!
The short answer is yes! Bath toys offer opportunities for learning, development and independent play. Don’t overwhelm your child or the bathtub with too many toys at a time, so we like to swap them out every few weeks.
Our favorite way to store bath toys is using a mesh-style basket or bag that allows for full drainage and air circulation for drying.
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