Raising Kids Gear and Products The Best Bath Toys That Kids Will Love From finger paint to fun bath sponges, these toys extend splish-splashin' fun By Christin Perry Christin Perry Christin Perry is a freelance writer and editor. Her work has been published in The Bump, The Knot, Scary Mommy, LittleThings, Parents, Qeepsake, and more. She has experience writing email marketing campaigns, website copy, and SEO-optimized content. Christin is also a mom of three. Learn about our editorial process Updated on April 07, 2022 Fact checked Verywell Family content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Emily Swaim Fact checked by Emily Swaim LinkedIn Emily is a board-certified science editor who has worked with top digital publishing brands like Voices for Biodiversity, Study.com, GoodTherapy, Vox, and Verywell. Learn about our editorial process Print We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Hopping in the bath for a scrub can be fun for little ones, and adding in bath toys they will love makes the experience that much better. For kids that hate taking a bath, toys can help ease the process and make it more tolerable. From soft and squishy toys to interactive options, there are plenty of options to brighten their bath time session. Reviewed & Approved The Crayola Washable Finger Paint provides fun for kids of all ages and washes off easily with soap and water. For a budget-friendly toy, we recommend the Munchkin Caterpillar Spillers Stacking and Straining Cups. Check the packaging for toys you're interested in to be sure they match up with your little one's age range. We carefully considered any age recommendations, design, value, and toy safety when reviewing products. Here are the best bath toys for kids. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Crayola Washable Finger Paint at Amazon Best Budget: Munchkin Caterpillar Spillers Stacking and Straining Cups at Amazon Best for Babies: Munchkin Float and Play Bubbles Bath Toy at Amazon Best for Toddlers: Nuby Octopus Bath Toy at Amazon Best for Learning: Nuby Bath Tub Alphabet Set at Amazon Best for Preschoolers: Boon Building Bath Pipes Toy Set at Amazon Best for Washing: SoapSox Bath Toy Sponge at Amazon In This Article Expand Our Picks What to Look For Best Overall: Crayola Washable Finger Paint Amazon View On Amazon The Crayola Washable Finger Paint is our top pick because they're washable and provide fun for kids of all ages. 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. The 9 Best Baby Bath Products of 2022 Best Budget: Munchkin Caterpillar Spillers Stacking and Straining Cups Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon 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. The 8 Best Developmental Toys for 6-Month-Olds of 2022 Best for Babies: Munchkin Float and Play Bubbles Bath Toy Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart 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. The 10 Best Baby Bathtubs of 2022 Best for Toddlers: Nuby Floating Purple Octopus Interactive Bath Toy Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon View On Buybuy BABY View On Walmart 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 wish 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. Best for Learning: Nuby Bath Tub Alphabet Set Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart 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. The 7 Best Developmental Toys for Babies of 2022 Best for Preschoolers: Boon Building Bath Pipes Toy Set Courtesy of Buy Buy Baby View On Amazon View On Bed Bath & Beyond 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. Best for Washing: SoapSox Bath Toy Sponge, Harper the Hippo Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart 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. The Best Baby Washes to Get Your Little One Squeaky Clean For a bath toy that's fun and useful, check out Soapbox Bath Toy Sponge, Harper the Hippo (view at Amazon). Covered in soft terrycloth 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. What to Look for in Bath Toys Age-Appropriateness All kids develop at different rates. However, there are some generally accepted guidelines for age-appropriate play. Check the packaging for toys you're interested in to be sure they match up with your little one's age range. Sensory Experience Kids, and babies in particular, learn about their environment through their senses. Try to find bath toys that encourage this, such as those that have squishy or squeaky features, encourage cause-and-effect water play, or have water-safe lights and sounds. Ease of Cleaning While it's true that baths are all about getting clean, toys that are repeatedly used without a good cleansing themselves can grow and harbor harmful germs and bacteria. Try to find toys that make clean-up a breeze, such as ones that you can toss in a dishwasher or scrub down easily, and that dry out fast. (Avoid toys with a singular hole in the middle, as they can be especially difficult to clean thoroughly.) Frequently Asked Questions What do I do if my bath toys get moldy? Try as we may, bath toys can collect mold over time. To help remove it and sanitize them, dunk them in a mixture of three-fourths cup bleach in a gallon of water, and let them soak overnight. In the morning, give them an initial drying, but then let them air dry for the rest of the day. How many toys should you allow your child to have in the tub at one time? Bath toys can be so much fun, it can be easy to overdo it. Remember, the goal here is to get your kid cleaned and entertain them in the process. So, limit your bath toys to a few items so you can focus on scrub-a-dub-dubbing your child while they're not distracted by too many oh-so-tempting playthings. How often should I replace bath toys? You'll only need to get rid of solid bath toys (with no holes at all) once they start to become damaged. For porous bath toys, if you've followed our cleaning advice and still suspect they're not up to par hygienically, it's always best to err on the side of caution and replace them with fresh ones you know are undoubtedly clean. 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 local and national news as well as writing and researching parenting topics. 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. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get expert tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit