Bath time is an essential part of life for kids, but some children love the water and some hate it. To help make bath time a bit more fun for kids (and easier and less stressful for parents) we found toys that young kids, from the toddler stage to the little kid stage) will absolutely love.
These toys — from fishing poles and magnetic fish to buckets and Baby Shark-themed rubber "ducks" (and squirt toys, too, lots of squirt toys) we found bath and water toys that will spark kids' imaginations — and maybe inspire some STEM play, too.
Munchkin Bath Crayons
Toddlers love drawing on everything but paper, it seems — walls especially. Which is why these bath crayons will make everyone happy. Kids can draw on the sides of the bathtub for extra bath time fun without doing any damage (drawings can be easily wiped away). They might just need to be reminded that what is drawn in the tub cannot be done on other walls.
Animal Bath Bombs
Bath bombs are all the rage for adults, mostly because they're like a grown-up bubble bath with ingredients that are relaxing and good for the skin. Kids can have bath bombs, too, thanks to this kit from KiwiCo that allows them to make their won. The kit makes four bath bombs in different animal shapes. The bath bombs fizz once dropped into the bath water, demonstrating the chemical reaction.
Cute Animal Bath Toys
Speaking of baby animals, you can't go wrong with rubber ducky bath toys. A rubber ducky is bath toy staple and tradition at this point. But this Etsy shop steps the bath rubber duck up a notch by creating rubber duckies, rubber starfish, rubber frogs, rubber pigs, rubber penguins, and more. Why have just one when your child could have a whole floating zoo to play with?
Munchkin Float & Play Bubbles Bath Toy
These bath toys are a different take on floating animals. Instead of just floating itself, the animal is inside of a clear bubble that floats in the bath water. The animals all look like they're floating in a giant soap bubble. The set includes two characters and two whirly toys that spin and rattle.
Baby Shark Bathtub Basketball
There's something about throwing a ball in a hoop that's fun for anyone, no matter how old they are. Now kids can practice their throws during bath time for some fun sports play. This set is Baby Shark-themed, and the basketball net comes with three different colored balls for kids to throw into it during bath time.
Stack & Pour Buckets
Buckets are some of the most underrated kids' toys, mostly because they're so versatile — there's a reason they're a classic beach toy. These buckets let the kids indulge in some water play, filling up the buckets and then watching the water pour out of the holes in the bottom. Each bucket is decorated with a cute animal face.
Rainmaker Waterfall Elephant
Speaking of mini shower heads, that's exactly what this mini elephant bath toy does. It's its own little rain forest shower that kids can use to play with, or parents can use to rinse the soap or shampoo off the child in as fun a way as possible. It's a lot less intimidating than a big shiny shower attachment.
Foam Bath Stickers
Stickers are fun on paper, but they are also fun in the bath. Yes, bath stickers exist — and not just regular bath stickers. These stickers allow children to create different characters and faces using stickers for hair, lips, eyes, ears, and mustaches. It's like the bath version of a Potato Head toy.
Submarine Spray Station
Engineering fun (yay STEM) can be found in bath toys, too, and it's as simple as getting the kiddo this Submarine water station bath toy. The water can be poured in using the attached spray hose or funnel on each side of the system for kids to watch the water filter through and start different reactions.
Dino Party Bath Squirties Set
Sometimes, the most fun and entertaining bath toys are ones that can squirt water out of them. That's the idea with these dinosaur squirt toys that come in a pack of six. It's a real dino party with each toy shaped as a different species of dinosaur. The toys can also be used in the pool for extra water time fun.
Crab & Fish Squirty Toy
There's no end to the bath time squirt toys out there (because they're simple and awesome). The cool thing about these two squirt toys, a crab and a puffer fish, is that they will also stick the side of the bathtub with their mini suction cups. They're also safe for little ones, "recommended for 18+ months. BPA-, phthalate-, lead- and latex-free."
Origami Color Changing Boats
Boats are made for the water, literally, so naturally they should be bath toys. These Origami Color Changing Boats from Fat Brain Toys change color with the temperature of the water. How? They feature temperature-reactive paint, so the boats change from one color to another when they hit the warm water of the bath. They're perfect for kids with active imaginations.
Ferry Boat
Kids who love to play with boats and cars will love this ferry boat and car set. They'll mostly love it because it also floats! And they can make the cars roll into the water from the boat dock. It comes with two cars (yellow and red) and the ferry. This toy is made from 100% recycled plastic milk jugs.
Unicorn Rubber Toys
Who needs a rubber ducky bath toy when kids can have a rubber unicorn? And not just one unicorn: a huge gigantic floating unicorn that has a bunch of smaller floating unicorns inside of it (three to be exact). The unicorn can also squirt water by sucking the water into its nose, then squirting it back out.
Crayola Color Bath Dropz
Coloring is fun in the bathtub, but what if the bath water could be a cool color, too? It can thanks to Crayola's Color Bath Dropz. The tub comes with 60 water-coloring tablets of the primary colors that can be dropped into the tub at each bath time. These bath drops will work for kids with sensitive skin because they're both fragrance-free and nontoxic.
Waddle Bobbers Bath Toy
Real-life water slides are so fun to play on, but this bath time water slide for a family of animal bobbers is the next best thing. The set comes with five animal bobbers that can float in water and slide down the slide that comes with them. The slide sticks to the side of the tub for kids to enjoy the experience to the fullest.
Pull & Go Submarine Monkey
Submarines are super cool vessels that go deep under water, and some kids are obsessed with them. Now kids can control their own mini submarine during bath time. This one really goes under water and can zoom around the tub while they're playing in it. Just pull the handle on the toy and watch it take off with its monkey commander.
Nuby Floating Purple Octopus
Hand-eye coordination games are not just for land. They can be for water play, too. This octopus not only floats but features tentacles that can catch colorful rings thrown by kids. It's a game that makes bath time more fun for the kids and easier for parents. The Octopus Hoopla has five tentacles for rings to go on and three rings to throw.
Baby Shark Bath Squirt Toy
It's not a bath toy list if Baby Shark toys are not on it. We love this pack of four Baby Shark squirt bath toys that come in four different colors and shark characters: "Baby Shark, Mommy Shark, Daddy Shark, and William." Now kids can sing the song while playing with the actual sharks in the tub.
Munchkin Fishin' Bath Toy
Fishing doesn't have to be outside! It can happen in bathtubs, too, where kids can practice their hook and line skills (sorta). This bath toy comes with a kid-sized rod with a magnetic part at the end to pick up the little toys (a little human, a fish and an octopus) that stick to the bottom of it. Kids can fish while they get clean.
*Psst: if you choose to purchase an item from this post, Cafemom may receive a small cut. Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.