Nine Best Toddler Bath Toys and Bathtime Guide
Splish Splash in the Bath. Here are some of the Toddler Bath Tub Toys that we can find. We think all of these will lead to fun in the Bath. Bathtime can often be difficult – but hopefully these will lead your toddler to have more fun in the tub and to look forward to getting clean! In addition – we have added a full bathtime FAQ!
- Nubla Octopus
We love the Nubla Octopus for playing in the bath. The toy is soft and colorful and has ring attachments for creative play. It also is easy to wash and keep clean.
2. Fishing Toys
For the aspiring fishermen or fisherwomen in your household, this toy is a treat. We like that you can wind up some of the fish and then they can swim around the tub. Actually hooking the smaller fish with the fishing line was beyond our toddlers ability (and beyond the reviewers ability – but it was still a lot of fun to try.
3. Letters and Numbers
These are great to stick to the sides of the bathtub. We are impressed that the stickiness lasts so strong – we have had ours for over a year and they are still going strong. It can be a fun learning activity to dump all the letters and numbers into the bath and then call out specific letters to help your child learn to identify.
4. Ferry Boat
This toy again can lead to a lot of fun as your child loads the cars into the ferry. One caution we have about this toy is where you can store it so that it can air dry naturally and be easily put away. It is a little large to fit on a bath tub sill.
5. Basketball Hoop and Balls
Who doesn’t love working on hand-eye coordination in the tub? We like how strong the suction is on this toy even after moving it around a few times. We find that just playing with the balls is as popular as shooting hoops (in fact our reviewer has put up significantly more shots than our toddler)
6. Toddler Watering Can
We think the watering can is great bath toy because it encourages the pouring out of water in the bath. There are sometimes when our toddler doesnt want to get wet and the toddler watering can is a great way to start slow in those bath nights. We think this is an essential toddler bath tub toy.
7. Bath Books
We like to have these books on hand near the tub as they can be a soothing presence. We find that starting to read can calm everyone down. It’s also always a good time to read a book! We also like the sturdiness – you can throw them in the washing machine!
8. Toy Organizer
Maybe not a toy in the traditional sense – but we have plenty of fun with our bath tub organizer. It can be great to teach your child clean up skills and we find that in the tub it can be a fun game to pick up all the toys and put them in the container to dry. This also helps keep the bath toys clean.
9. Bubble Toys
Especially for toddlers who are just starting to splash around in the bath – these toys can be fun to play around with.
Keys for Toddler Bath Time Fun
While all these toys will be fun in the bath – we think the most important thing is to just engage your child in the tub. With an excited parent – even just one toy can turn bath time into a blast.
FAQ:
Question: How often should toddlers take a bath?
Answer: We recommend at least 2 – 3 times per week. If a toddler is getting dirty or engaging in a lot of sweaty activities – more often can be good. Harvard Medical School actually recommends not bathing everyday as it can remove some of the bodies natural oils.
Question: How long should a toddler stay in the bath?
Answer: We recommend keeping the bath length to 10 -15 minutes. Get in, do some playing, wash hair and body, a little more playing and get out. Prolonged exposure to bath water can irritate the skin.
Question: How hot should I make the water for my toddler bath?
Answer: We recommend keeping the water at a warm temperature rather than a hot temperature. Your child will let you know when it is too hot – but we recommend something in the 90 – 100 degree fahrenheit range. Above that can cause irritation, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Question: How much water should I put in the tub for my toddler?
Answer: In all cases – you should be with your toddler and supervising at all times – but even with that precaution – we recommend erring on the side of caution and not overfilling the tub. The American Association of Pediatricians recommends 2-3 inches. That might not seem like a lot – but if you are using a cup to pour water on your child to clean them it should be fine.
Question: How many toddler bath tub toys should I have out at once?
Answer: While we recommend having a variety of bath tub toys (variety is the spice of life!) we recommend just playing with a few at a time on most occasions. That allows bath time to remain a relatively quick and easy affair. The focus should ultimately be on cleaning your child after all.
