10 Toys for a Terrific Time in the Tub

When children reach 9 months it’s time to start getting them tub toys. It’s no longer good enough simply to get them clean. You have to find a way to keep them occupied in the tub. Or, if they’re like my boys, find a way to get them in the tub. These toys are great for the tub-time adventurer who is just starting out, to the older sibling who’s getting ready to ditch the tub for the shower. Guaranteed to turn your child into a chubby raisin in no time!

Tub Puppets: Sea Life
““ by Rich Frogg

These plush sea animals will be a bonus at tub time. Made of terrycloth, they can easily double as a wash mitt for your child. Even the most finicky child may not balk at having one of these water friends “kiss” the dirt off her face.

Bathtime Shower
by International Playthings

It’s one of the laws parenting that if you get water on their head they’ll scream at the top of their lungs. However, if you provide them with an implement so they can do it themselves, they’ll giggle for hours. This shower accessory is toddler/preschool sized to let your child control when and where the water sprays.

Explorer 420 Wind-up Submarine Vehicle
““ by Accoutrements

I’ve found, as the mother of two boys, the older they get the more intricate the toy needs to be. My 3 year old no longer plays with the bath squirts that his brother loves. Instead, he’s fascinated by how things work and in particular how things move. This Submarine is one of his favorite toys, and I’ve found that unlike other windup toys, this one is easy enough for his small hands to handle.

Bath Toy, Tubfun Traffic Fun
““ by Edushape

This tub toy has multilevel fun. The roads float on water or can stick to smooth surfaces when wet. If you have a little car lover, this will keep him/her entertained for hours. Each time you start up the bath, rearrange the tracks to delight your child.

Gone Fishin’ Bath Toy
““ by Round Table Toys

Another technique to getting your child to remain calm in the bath is to give them something to concentrate on. The Gone Fishin’ Bath toy requires your child to concentrate in order to “catch” the fish by connecting magnets. Your child will be concentrating so hard on catching the fish they may not notice you scrubbing behind their ears.

Bathtime Play Center
““ by Shelcore

This play center stretches across the length of a standard tub and has several water activities for your child: a water slide, igloo shower, fish strainer, whale cup and a spinning water wheel. As an added bonus, you can use it as a dividing line for two kids sharing a tub!

Tub Tunes Water Drums
““ by Alex

These drums are perfect for the tub. By changing the water level, children can create five different pitches. Both of the drums float and come with waterproof sheet music. The music teaches 5 different rhythms by using hand signs. (Use the other instruments by Alex and you can have quite the water symphony.)

Bathtime Beaker Playset
““ by International Playthings

Children are fascinated by water. How it moves, how it fills up, and how it drains out. These beakers have different holes for pouring and sprinkling. As a bonus for parents, all four beakers nest together for easy cleanup.

Bath Crayons
““ by Bath Toys

Both of my sons love bath crayons and we’ve tried a few sets. Some of them color the water (and your child!) while others run. These crayons are our favorites. They have a hard plastic shell so that your child won’t end up with crayon pieces under their nails. After tub time is over, these crayons are very easy to clean up.

Car Wash Bath Toy
““ by Sassy

This is a great multi level floating bath toy. Comes with a handle for hanging on the shower head when not in use and is made of mildew resistant foam. Quality construction makes sure ti doesn’t come apart in the water (a problem I’ve had with other multi level float toys.) Comes with three different cars that squirt pour or sprinkle and a netted garage underneath.