The Best Bath Toys to Keep Babies and Toddlers Engaged

Sophie la Girafe So'Pure Sophie Bath Toy

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Chances are you’ve heard of Sophie, the Giraffe teether, which has been a sensorial treat for babies and toddlers for over 55 years. Great news—the beloved teether is now a bath toy. Tastefully hand-painted and crafted of 100 percent natural rubber, the new Sophie bath toy floats and is soft enough for your little one to chew on. The paint is food-grade, so no worries if some gets in your baby's mouth.

The hygienic product is completely waterproof, which is ideal for quick and easy drying. The rubber material is easy to spot clean or wash with soap and water. The buoy shape is easy for little ones to grasp and splash around with.

Also, there is no way for water to get inside—which means no bacteria or mold can grow in there either. This toy can entertain your baby for years and grow with them as they become curious toddlers. It will quickly become a staple of bath time, making it our favorite pick.

Price at time of publish: $24

_{Dimensions: 3.7 x 5.9 x 7.3 inches | Material: 100% natural rubber | Age Range: 0 months and up}

Melissa & Doug Float-Alongs Playful Penguins

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An ideal bath toy for infants of 4 months to toddlers of 2 years, the Playful Penguins Float Alongs from Melissa & Doug allow babies to play with three happy little penguins while reading along with the story in the six-page waterproof book. When bathtime is over, the penguins fit right back into the attached mesh tube for safe-keeping.

Price at time of publish: $25

_{Dimensions: 8.5 x 6 x 2.75 inches | Material: No | Age Range: 4 months to 2 years}

Ubbi Cloud and Droplets Bath Toys

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Designed for ages 12 months and up, the Ubbi Cloud and Droplets Bath Toys let your baby make gentle rainstorms in the bathtub without the worry of water causing mold or mildew inside the toys. Both the cloud and droplet open up, fill with water, and close easily, and they’re easily washed in the dishwasher. Leave them open to dry completely once washed.

Price at time of publish: $10

_{Dimensions: 4.25 x 2.5 x 2.25 inches (cloud) and 2.5 x 2.5 x 3.5 inches (droplet) | Material: Silicone | Age Range: 12 months and up}

Boon Marco Light-Up Bath Toy

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This little scuba diver sets the tone for deep-sea adventures as soon as he hits the bathtub! When Marco jumps into the water, his helmet lights up and starts to change colors. And when you take him out? The lights immediately shut off. He even floats with his head held above the water.

Price at time of publish: $16

_{Dimensions:  6.5 x 2.76 x 2.05 inches | Material: Silicone, plastic | Age Range: 3 years and up}

Alex Rub-a-Dub Star Crayon in the Tub Bath Activity

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Go ahead—let them color on the walls. The bathtub walls, that is! And don’t worry about them misplacing any of their bath crayons during bathtime—it’s a cinch to keep them together when they’re all stashed inside this cool star crayon. This easy-to-grip star crayon from Alex includes six vibrant colors—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet—and works best for kiddos ages 2 and older.

Price at time of publish: $12

_{Dimensions:  5.25 x 1.00 x 7.00 Inches | Material: Plastic | Age Range: 2 years and up}

3 Bees & Me Bath Toy Basketball Hoop & Balls Set

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Let your little shoot and score to their heart’s content with this handy basketball hoop and balls set from 3 Bees and Me. The hoop attaches to the bathtub faucet with this set instead of using suction cups that don’t always stay attached to the wall—and the balls have no holes, so there’s no chance of mold or mildew growing inside.

Price at time of publish: $25

_{Dimensions: 13 x 8 x 3 inches | Material: Plastic | Age Range: 2 years and up}

Dabble & Dollop Bubble Box

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When it comes to mixing up their own bath soaps and shampoos, creativity brims over with the Dabble & Dollop Bubble Box. They’ll get two 10-ounce pump bottles of strawberry and tangerine gel, and a 12-ounce pump bottle of vanilla whip, plus a mixing bowl and recipe cards for six custom creations. The best part is that every element is safe, i.e. dermatologist-tested, ophthalmologist-tested, allergen-free, cruelty-free, and using only proprietary scent formulas crafted according to strict European standards. (While their products are said to be safe for ages 2 to 12, we’d probably stick with the older kids for this one).

Price at time of publish: $50

_{Dimensions: Not listed | Material: Plant-derived surfactant | Age Range: 2 to 12 years}

Yookidoo Submarine Spray Station

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Best for ages 2 to 6 years, the Yookidoo Submarine Spray Station has won numerous awards for its innovative bath play design. Offering several different activities for the imaginative mind, this bath toy is never boring. It starts with drawing up bath water using its battery-operated pump (batteries not included), which flows into the diver shower head. From there, the sky’s the limit. There’s the googly-eyed water spinner, the hand shower, the removable funnel, and much more.

Price at time of publish: $35

_{Dimensions: 9.45 x 2.56 x 12.99 inches | Material: Plastic | Age Range: 2 to 6 years}

SoapSox Bath Toy Sponge, Harper the Hippo

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Washing up is lots more fun when Harper the Hippo is making the suds. This soft bath buddy is made of terry cloth on the outside with plenty of squishy sponge on the inside to get things lathering up.

There are lots of alternative options, including a blue whale, sea turtle, hedgehog, gator, lion, beaver, shark, unicorn, or dolphin for starters. These sponges work well for all ages—it’s true—your newborn might like a hippo to hang out with while having their bath.

Price at time of publish: $23

_{Dimensions: 7 x 6 x 5 inches | Material: Polyester | Age Range: 0 to 8 years}

Green Toys Fire Plane

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The newest addition to the popular Green Toys collection, the Fire Plane actually works, taking in water in the front and letting it stream out the back as it flies. When the fire-extinguishing work is done, to prevent mold and mildew, the plane’s bottom floor opens, allowing a full cleaning and drying out between baths. It’s also dishwasher-safe. Created in California, a portion of the proceeds from sales of the Fire Plane goes to California-based fire relief organizations like the California Fire Foundation.

Price at time of publish: $15

_{Dimensions: 11 x 11 x 3.5 inches | Material: Plastic, polyvinyl chloride | Age Range: 6 months to 6 years}

BathBlocks STEM Discovery Blocks

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Even a basic set of bath blocks can be educational when little ones set their creativity free. Designed for toddlers age 3 and older, these floating STEM discovery blocks encourage building, pattern-making, counting, geometry, and more.

_{Dimensions: 11 x 3 x 8.5 inches | Material: Ethylene vinyl acetate | Age Range: 3 years and up}

Corolle Baby Bath Alyzee

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Sometimes a bath is lonely without a friend—that’s where Alyzee comes in! Soft and poseable, Alyzee is 12 inches long and equally suitable for companionship in the soapy bathtub, salty ocean, and chlorinated swimming pool. There’s also a helpful tab sewn onto her back for hanging and easy air-drying between baths/swim lessons.

Price at time of publish: $43

_{Dimensions: 4.33 x 7.87 x 13.39 inches | Material: Ethylene vinyl acetate | Age Range: 18 months and up}

PlanToys Sailing Boat with Penguin

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Well-known for their eco-friendly, sustainable toy-making, PlanToys creates the majority of their products with chemical-free, kiln-dried recycled rubberwood. This sailing boat with its penguin passenger floats steadily, even in the choppiest of water, and is the ideal bath toy for toddlers one year and older.

Price at time of publish: $15

_{Dimensions: 3.46 x 4.72 x 3.98 inches | Material: Recycled rubberwood | Age Range: 1 year and up}

Dove Kids Care Hypoallergenic Slime Wash

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Sometimes it takes a little slime to prompt a good, thorough cleaning—especially the kind that smells like a berry smoothie. Made with 100 percent natural ingredients, Dove Kids Care Slime Wash works well for all skin types. It starts out as slime, and as you massage and add water, it turns into a light, sudsy soap.

_{Dimensions: Not listed | Material: Natural ingredients | Age Range: 0 to 8 years} 

Glo Pals Sesame Street Light-Up Water-Activated Cubes

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Inspired by a child with autism, liquid-activated Glo Pals recently became a hit, and shortly thereafter the Glo company developed a partnership with Sesame Street, featuring their characters on Glo Pals—in this case, it’s Elmo, but others feature Julia, Sesame Street’s autistic character, as well. Glo Pals drop into the water and light up, which appears to help relax autistic kiddos and other young children who otherwise may not feel secure in the bathtub.

Price at time of publish: $16

_{Dimensions: 4 x 0.75 x 4 inches | Material: Plastic, LED lights | Age Range: 3 years and up}

MoraBaby Baby Bath Stacking Toys with Organizer Bag

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Fun for both the bath and the beach, this enormous set of bath toys includes everything a little could want to play with in the water (or sand!) To elaborate, there are eight stacking cups, four floating squirts animal balls, one floating blue octopus, and an organizing bag with sticker hooks and suction cups. 

Some fit into each other i.e. nesting, while others have holes in the bottom for water to trickle through.  The organizing bag is substantial at 15.5 x 14 inches and high quality to hold all the pieces together while the mesh fabric allows them to dry. 

Price at time of publish: $19

_{Dimensions: 15.5 x 14 inches (organizer bag) | Material: Plastic | Age Range: 1 to 3 years}

Tikiri Ocean Buddies Whale Rattle

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These little whale rattles not only bring your child "closer" to the sea, they also make gentle sounds that put your baby at ease. Each one is made from rubber, which is easy to clean and for little ones to grab. Other friendly sea animal toys include sea horses, crabs, turtles, and dolphins.

Price at time of publish: $18

_{Dimensions: 1.9in x 3.9 inches | Material: Natural rubber | Age Range: 0 years and up}