The 7 Best Bath Toys

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Hopping in the bath for a scrub can be fun for little ones, and adding in bath toys that they will love makes the experience that much better. For kids that hate taking a bath, the toys can help ease the process and make it far more tolerable. Whether your kiddo loves soft and squishy toys or interactive options, there is one out there that will brighten their bath time session.

We've rounded up the best bath toys for kids.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Crayola Washable Finger Paint at Amazon

These stain-free tubes of colorful bath time paint won't leave a trail behind and wash off with ease.

Best Budget:

Munchkin Caterpillar Spillers Stacking and Straining Cups at Amazon

These simple and straightforward cups will provide children with hours of water fun at a super affordable price.

Best for Babies:

Munchkin Float and Play Bubbles at Amazon

Designed for tiny hands to grab ahold of, these sealed bath toys won't grow mold on the inside and are easy to clean.

Best for Toddlers:

Nuby Floating Purple Octopus Hoopla Toy at Amazon

A cheerful octopus that's great for developing hand-eye coordination while providing a fun challenge.

Best for Learning:

Nuby Bath Tub Alphabet Set at Amazon

Turn bath time into a learning session for your budding reader who will have tons of fun putting the letters together.

Best for Preschoolers:

Boon Building Bath Pipes Toy Set at Amazon

Help develop your little one's basic STEM skills with an easy-to-use tube set that they can customize on their own.

Best for Washing:

SoapSox Bath Toy Sponge at Amazon

This fun bath toy will actually help keep your little one squeaky clean while also encouragi ng them to wash themselves.

Kids of all ages will get a huge kick out of these washable finger paints by Crayola. They’re a great option for tub-time fun since kids can get as messy as they please, and it all washes off with soap and water. Each pack comes with five three-ounce tubes in a variety of colors—purple, red, yellow, blue, and green—so your little one can create artistic masterpieces or even work on writing and spelling.

Customers love that they're entertaining for a variety of ages and also say the colors won't stain your white bathtub.

Munchkin Caterpillar Spillers Stacking and Straining Cups

Sometimes the best toys are the most basic, and when it comes to bathtime, you can't go wrong with cups! This caterpillar-shaped set builds on that simple fun with seven different-sized, numbered cups and strainers perfect for pouring, stacking, and even counting. The cups can be linked to make a caterpillar or built into a tall tower, providing children with hours of water fun at a super affordable price. Plus, they easily stack back together to be neatly stored when bathtime is over.

Perfect for ages 9 months and older, the cups can even help teach hand-eye coordination, numbers, and colors. Parents say these cups provide tons of entertainment and can be played with outside of the tub, too.

Babies need simple bath toys that will keep them amused while you rinse them down. Anything too involved will either lead to disinterest or frustration. That’s why we love this set of four Float and Play Bubbles balls by Munchkin. Recommended for ages 4 months old and up, these toys are designed for little hands to grasp. Each ball features a textured ring on the outside and a fun toy inside that rattles and spins. Plus, they're sealed tight to prevent mold and mildew from growing inside, so they’ll last longer than other bath toys.

Customers say that these top-rated bath toys are fun to play with both in the water and out. Parents also love that they are durable and well-priced.

How about a little ring toss during bathtime? This fun bath octopus by Nuby floats in the water and includes three rings your little one can toss onto the tentacles. Designed for kids 18 months and older, the toy is great for developing hand-eye coordination and provides a fun challenge as your child grows. Bonus: It also doubles as a fun pool toy for toddlers!

Customers say it is a big hit with kids, but some wished it came with more rings. Some also warned that it's smaller than they expected, but overall, thought it was a fun toy that was perfect for bathtime.

We love any toy that doubles as a teaching toy, and these foam letters and numbers for bathtime are no exception. Your budding reader will have tons of fun putting the letters together, and the numbers are a great way to explore early math skills, too! The set comes with 26 letters and 10 numbers in fun, bright colors. They all stick to the wall of the tub when wet and also float.

Customers love how durable the letters and numbers are and the fact that they stick well. This is a toy that's perfect for kids just learning letters and numbers as well as more advanced children beginning to learn how to spell.

For little ones who are a bit older, these building pipes are the perfect way to get those mental gears turning! This unique five-piece set allows your preschooler to set up an entire water system, with pipes of different shapes and sizes, and even a spinning wheel. Each pipe can be used individually or connected to form a chain. They also suction to the wall of the bath.

The pipes are perfect for developing basic STEM skills and can keep kids entertained as they grow. Customers caution that you'll need to wash them periodically and air dry thoroughly after use to prevent mold from growing inside the pipes.

SoapSox Bath Toy Sponge, Harper the Hippo

Looking for a fun bath toy that actually helps get your kid clean? SoapSox has the perfect sponge that doubles as something to entertain at bathtime! These bath sponges come in a variety of adorable characters—shark, dragon, hippo, turtle, and more—that’ll help scrub your little one squeaky clean!

Covered in soft terry cloth with an antimicrobial sponge lining the inside, each one features an opening perfect for putting liquid or bar soap. There are also built-in finger pockets to make scrubbing super easy—for you or your child. The sponges are machine washable, too.

For a bath toy that's fun and useful, check out Soapbox Bath Toy Sponge, Harper the Hippo (view at Amazon). Covered in soft terry cloth with an antimicrobial sponge lining the inside, each one features an opening perfect for putting liquid or bar soap. There's also the Munchkin Caterpillar Spillers Stacking and Training Cups (view at Amazon). The cups can be linked to make a caterpillar or built into a tall tower, providing children with hours of water fun at a super affordable price.

Why Trust Verywell Family?

Katrina Cossey has been a digital content producer and news and feature writer for more than six years. She has covered topics ranging from local and national news as well as writing and researching parenting content. Katrina is a parent herself and owns the Nuby Floating Purple Octopus Hoopla Toy (view at Amazon). It helps promote hand-eye coordination and provides a challenge while having fun during bathtime.

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The 7 Best Bath Toys

Make washing up fun

Best Overall: Crayola Washable Finger Paint

Best Budget: Munchkin Caterpillar Spillers Stacking and Straining Cups

Best for Babies: Munchkin Float and Play Bubbles

Best for Toddlers: Nuby Floating Purple Octopus Hoopla Toy

Best for Learning: Nuby Bath Tub Alphabet Set

Best for Preschoolers: Boon Building Bath Pipes Toy Set

Best for Washing: SoapSox Bath Toy Sponge, Harper the Hippo