The infant market is filled with all kinds of must-haves when it comes to baby bath time—from things like colorful tubs, sweet and safe bubbles, fun water toys, and cute towels, where is a parent to begin?
If you’re looking for a quick registry add or an option that you can have delivered ASAP, our recap of Truly Mama’s best baby bath time essentials can help. But, be sure to keep reading on the nitty gritty of each of the products we tested, as well as a special starred budget pick since baby bath time is a relatively short season. Yes, that’s right, your little one will be splishing and splashing like a big kid before you know it!
Quick look:
- Best overall bath tub: The Angelcare Baby Bath Support takes first place overall thanks to its price and ideal newborn shape.
- Best overall bubbles: The point of bath time bubbles is BUBBLES and Alaffia Everyday Bubble Bath does not disappoint.
- Best overall towel: When it comes to baby towels, there is a relatively short season of need so the double pack from Burt’s Bee’s Organic Knit Terry Hooded Towels takes the cake for price, softness, and style.
- Best overall toy: Toss the mold-makers and rest assured that your kids can safely play with the Giggles & Pebbles Silicone Pop-Squirt Bath Toys
The Best Baby Bath Tubs
When purchasing a baby bath tub there are so many things to consider: How big is your home’s tub? What are your storage options? Are you looking for a newborn set-up or one that will accommodate a toddler too? Is it easy to drain and clean?
And perhaps most important, will it be the perfect baby holder for those precious bath time photos? Check out these top-notch baby bath tubs and see which one will be the best fit for your family.
Angelcare Baby Bath Support
At just $20, the Angelcare Baby Bath Support is both an affordable and practical win when it comes to bath time. With a soft cradle shape, the Angelcare bath has a full mesh back making draining a breeze. No worries about mildew or lingering water with this one. Perhaps best of all, due to its compact size (23 x 14 inches), the Angelcare Baby Bath Support might fit in your kitchen sink which means you won’t have to bend over while bathing your little one.
Boon Naked Collapsible Baby Bathtub
Boon tends to be the leader in chic and innovative baby products. They think through the details and aesthetic and their baby bathtub is no exception. It is one of the more expensive tubs available, but it’s transitional from newborn to toddler, so it an option that will grow with your child. With legs that fold in and out, the Boon Naked Collapsible Baby Bathtub also offers a large, safe place to bathe while easily flattening and storing until baby’s next bath time.
Puj Soft Foldable Infant Bath Tub
Puj wins when it comes to comfort and storage. This tub unfolds to be just one-inch thick, which means it can hang behind your bathroom door when not in use. The Puj Soft Foldable Infant Bath Tub is mid-range priced and cradles inside the bathroom sink for cozy newborn rinses. Caregivers can also stay comfortable since they can bathe baby from a standing position. The only downside to this tub is that your little one will age/size out around 6 months and potentially even earlier if you have a chunky cutie.
Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Sling ‘n Seat Tub
Leave it to Fisher-Price to dream up a baby bath tub that will see you through each phase of bathing. The Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Sling ‘n Seat Tub starts with a mesh insert for the newborn days, then a “baby stopper” piece to help hold baby in place before they are sturdy on their own, next, a sitting support, and finally, the main tub for toddlers who are ready to splash and play throughout their bath time experience.
This tub is $40 which works out to be just $10 per phase. And if you ask me, a tub that grows from newborn to toddlerhood is definitely worth the storage space. That perk is also the main negative with the Fisher-Price tub: this is not a tiny tub. But, if you have a place to store it, it sure has enough benefits to make bath time enjoyable through the years. It can even function for siblings if you happen to have both an infant and toddler.
The Best Bathtime Bubbles
We all know bubbles are an important part of bath time. They are often the ultimate fun of the whole scrub-a-dub party! From sudsing up to donning pretend beards, you can leave bubbles out of bath time, but bubbles can also make memories and these are the ones we love most.
Tubby Todd Bubble Bath
The scents alone from Tubby Todd have me ready to swipe my little one’s bath products. Their bubbles particularly are available in sweet quince and honeysuckle (dreamy!) and watermelon (so fresh!). Safe for sensitive skin, Tubby Todd is the elite bubble bath option due to its price point–$15 for 8.4 ounces or $42 for 25 ounces—but if you are looking for a splash-worthy splurge, you will probably fall in love with Tubby Todd and never turn back. With plant-based ingredients and a worry-free guarantee, get ready for some of the best bubbles in the history of bath time.
thinkbaby Baby Bubble Bath
When it comes to clean baby products (as in, no nasty chemicals), thinkbaby is one of the top rated by Environmental Working Group (EWG). And, since babies often consume some of their bubbles while playing, a clean option is a high priority. thinkbaby is also cruelty-free and comes in an easy-to-use 16 ounce pump. One note: If you’re looking for a potent bubble aroma, this bubble bath will not be a favorite, because it’s virtually scentless.
Alaffia Everyday Bubble Bath
32 ounces for $15? Yep, this bottle of baby bubble bath might very well last you for your child’s entire babyhood! With Alaffia Everyday Bubble Bath, a little goes a long way and you get lots of bubbles. Your only problem might be choosing between the natural scents of coconut strawberry, eucalyptus mint, and lemon lavender. Alaffia also has a relatively clean rating of “1” from the EWG, so you can rest assured that your little one will be safe while enjoying their bubble bliss.
Hello Bello Tear-Free and Ultra-Mild Bubble Bath
Hello Bello is the new kid on the block in regard to many baby products (including diapers) and time and time again they are sweeping categories as everyone’s new favorite product. With their plant-based formula, Hello Bello boasts organic aloe, jojoba, calendula, and avocado and cucumber extracts in two enticing scents: calming lavender and not-too-sweet birthday cake. They promise bubbles that are built to last in a 10-ounce bottle for just $6. You can try out these EWG-verified bubble from Hello Bello’s site or Walmart.
The Best Baby Bath Toys
From the earliest days into the preschool years, a solid line-up of bath toys is a must. With a combination of longevity, learning, and fun, these baby bath toys will surely provide laughs bath after bath.
Boon Jellies Suction Bath Toy
For years, my kids have been laughing through bath time thanks to the Boon Jellies Suction Bath Toy. They suction to the bath tub walls, to other jellies, and to little one’s bodies, and for nine non-stinging jellyfish, you really get a bang for your buck.
Giggles & Pebbles Silicone Pop-Squirt Bath Toys
Take it from a mom who has tossed more bath toys than I can count due to mold—the number one thing you want to look for in a bath toy is how well it drains, and thus, how well can it be cleaned. The Giggles & Pebbles Silicon Pop-Squirt Bath Toys offer the absolute best when it comes to bath time toys. They easily pop into two pieces for drying and cleaning, making this pink pig, yellow lion, and blue elephant trio the perfect bath time friends. Plus, they’re affordable for the whole set.
Boon Blobbles Bubble Wand Bath Toys
We know that bubbles are a big part of bath time joy, so why not enhance the bubble fun with some special bubble wands? We have found the Boon Blobbles Bubble Wand Bath Toys to even double as “cooking” utensils when whipping up bubble pies and stirring up other imaginary concoctions. The only downside to the Boon Blobbles is if you have two kids in the tub, these harmless looking bubble wands can easily turn into swords! With their low price, however, whether used as wands, stir sticks, or swords, these bath toys from Boon are quite the deal.
Munchkin Fishin’ Bath Toy
As with all activities, our little ones have the opportunity to learn and develop skills as they play in the tub. The Munchkin Fishin’ Bath Toy is a perfect example since kids can practice dexterity, hand-eye coordination, color identification, and more while they “fish” in their little sea. The fishing rod has a strong but safe magnet and each of the air-tight characters (that means no mold potential) bobs while waiting to be “caught” by your sweet little fishermen. It’s affordable, and will offer buckets of focused bath time fun.
The Best Infant Towels
Of course, you can use a regular towel to dry off your baby, but why stay plain when there are so many quaint and cute infant towels instead?
With sweet patterns and cozy hoods, definitely plan to spoil your baby with at least one baby towel made just for them, like any of these adorable options:
Natemia Bamboo Hooded Baby Bath Towel
Bamboo is perfect for little ones with sensitive skin and the simple design of the Natemia Bamboo Hooded Bath Towel with its neutral colors and bear ears make it a simple option for sweet after bath snuggles. Plus, the generous 35 x 35 size will grow well into toddler years.
Little Unicorn Cotton Hooded Bath Towel and Wash Cloth Bundle
For years, I’ve swooned over the prints at Little Unicorn. They are not your typical baby patterns make a gorgeous addition to your home’s linens, whether you are looking for blankets, towels, or bedding.
True to form, the Little Unicorn Cotton Hooded Bath Towel and Wash Cloth Bundle delivers a cozy swaddle with cotton muslin backing and terry inside for drying, while still offering style. This towel even has hand pockets for little ones to better wrap themselves. At 30 x 30 inches, the Little Unicorn Hooded Bath Towel works well into the toddler years and you can’t beat the matching wash cloth that comes with this set.
Burt’s Bee’s Organic Knit Terry Hooded Towels
This Burt’s Bee’s bundle comes in a two-pack of 29 x 29 inches hooded towels, so you always have a cozy wrap ready after the bath. The neutral colors and organic material ebb perfectly between siblings over the years as well. Burt’s Bee’s has always come through with durable and soft basics and they did not waver from their commitment to parents and children with their bundle of hooded towels. Plus, that bee print? How can you resist?
No matter which options you choose for your little one for bath time, make it a memorable one—because chances are, you’ll be going from splish-splash bathtime fun to begging your teen to take a shower before you know it.
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