When your baby is tiny bath time is about bonding, keeping them clean and the wonderful sensory experience of being surrounded by warm water. You don’t need to think about buying a single baby bath toy just yet! Just enjoy the calm moment with your baby.
Newborn babies don’t really get that dirty so there’s no need to bath them every day, and in fact, spending too long in the bath can dry their skin. They don’t even need baby bath! But as they get older bath time can be a wonderful time to connect and bond. These toys helps develop fine motor skills, hand eye coordination, and learning of colours etc. The best bath toys for 6 month olds are often the simplest!
You may find you want to introduce toys for the bath in the first few months but there’s no real need to do this until they are six months plus. However, every child is different so see how you feel.
If bath time is a struggle for your baby or toddler introducing bath toy sets and games for the bath can be a great way to get them excited and help make it a more enjoyable experience for everyone and these would be one of the best toys for a 1 year old.
Bath toys for new babies
In the first few months there’s not really any need to introduce bath toys for 10 month old but a simple set of cups that can be used to pour or shower water over them can result in the most delicious giggles and smiles. And a natural rubber teether they can chew on if teeth are coming through also doubles as a great bath toy for teething babies.
Be aware of toy safety – for hygiene reasons, avoid toys that allow bath water to get trapped insider. Rubber toys without holes like the Oli and Carol natural rubber toys are great because they are easier to keep clean and you won’t end with mould inside.
Soft ball toys for babies are a perfect choice! They’re soft, fun and gentle on little hands, again helping with hand eye coordination. The best bath toys will help your little one learn as well as being fun toys.
Introducing bath toys from 6 months
Around the six-month mark, when babies have good head control, are able to sit up by themselves and are showing more interest in toys generally is a great time to start introducing bath toys. A bath seat can be helpful in giving you your hands free to introduce bath toys for babies.
Having a few toys in the bath makes bathtime fun and is a great opportunity for learning and exploration. At this stage, babies love bright colours, filling and emptying containers, things that float and of course making and playing with bubbles. Green toys are a great brand for plastic bath toys. You can also find bigjigs toys from us.
Bath toys for toddlers and older children
Once children get a bit older pretty much anything goes when it comes to bath time. So long as toys don’t mind getting wet, definitely no battery toys, and are safe you can choose bath toys according to your child’s interests. Avoid toys made from wood- they don’t tend to do well with water!
Additionally, plastic toys tend to wipe clean- just ensure that they are phthalate free and ideally dishwasher safe if you’re keen to keep bath toys squeaky clean for those precious tiny hands!
Toddler bath toys are often highly overrated and yet are unnecessary. Toys they have anyway can be great bath toys, think ball pit balls, plastic figures or animals, diggers and dump trucks, or a toy tea set- and they fit perfectly with your child’s interests! A watering can is actually a big hit as a bath toy for little hands in place of a sprinkle shaker. Stacking cups outgrown? Repurpose them as bath toys! These household items can often be more fun than other options touted as the best toys for bath time.
Boats are always a winner and we love the plan toys and green toys ranges. But cars are also great fun for playing in the bath. The Way to Play flexible road can go just about anywhere and that includes the bathtub and surrounding tiles. And adding a toy like this can really turn bath time around for reluctant washers.
Everyday items as bath toys
Baby bath toys don’t need to be expensive! Simple bath toys like a rubber duck and pouring cups remain hugely popular and can be picked up at a super affordable price. Bath crayons and foam letters are also popular.
There are also plenty of everyday items that make great bath toys. Empty bottles and cups can provide hours of filling and emptying fun, and nothing makes a rain shower quite like a colander. Children are normally in owe when it comes to water play, so simple is best!
Your child’s own plastic sea creatures will feel right at home in the tub at tub time! Never underestimate the value of imaginative play for babies and toddlers. Older kids often love to build a scene using their other toys, perhaps dinosaurs, sharks or boats. Consider your child’s age and how they like to play when picking up new bath toys.
If you are feeling creative you can make little boats from bottle tops and race them in the bath by blowing them. And old medicine syringes make great water shooters.
If you are as passionate about sustainable living as we are, consider ethical brands such as green toys. Natural toys made of rubber or repurposed jugs, measuring cups etc are a great idea.
With so many options you’ll have a bathroom full of toys in no time. Now the only thing you need to think about is how to store bath toys. You can pick up some very handy nets which attach to the wall with suction cups, that let you store all the toys while facilitating air drying.
Fun Bath Products for kids
Another great way to get your little one interested in bath time is to brighten up their bath with bright colours and enchanting scents. Natural Living is at the heart of every thing we stock, so you can trust that our beautiful range is safe for your family.Our natural bath bombs for children are a great option, formulated specially for sensitive young skin. We also stock several kids soap bars, including dinosaur soap and rainbow soap, along with a kids shampoo bar and body wash. We also have adorable little nail brushes by Eco Living to help encourage your little one to scrub their nails in the tub.
