One tiny human being called a baby can make a serious mess, from blowouts to spit-ups. And coming from every parent’s experience, washing up a small, slippery newborn isn’t without its challenges. Please make it easier with best baby bathtubs & bath seats.
Not all babies enjoy a bath. Some can’t stop giggling and splashing around, while others cry their lungs out the minute they hear water filling the tub up.
The best baby bathtubs can make the job easier. While you’ll probably only rely on an infant tub until the baby is about 6 months old or able to sit up, it is handy and sets the stage for making bath time fun once the baby gets older and graduates to the bigger tub.
Baby bathtubs come in all shapes and sizes from foldable to bucket and inflatable. Whatever your choice would be, the best baby bathtubs make the whole bathing experience fun both for you and your munchkin.
Before you hit the “Order Now” button for any particular tub, double-check that it has a drain with an attached plug for easy emptying and a hook or handle for quick storage. Some bathtubs have a temperature indicator that alerts you when the water is too hot, but some parents don’t trust thermometers but prefer to check the temperature using their fingertips or elbow.
Contoured design is a must to prevent the baby from sliding too much as is a smooth overhanging rim for increased portability.
Types Of Best Baby Bathtubs & Bath Seat
• In-sink baby bathtubs: Ideal for a newborn, smaller by size and fitting easily inside or over a kitchen sink. Typically made of mesh, foam, cloth or plastic, many of these baby bathtubs are collapsible and take up very little storage space.
• Basin baby bathtubs: Designed to be put on the counter, on the floor or in your own tub, these plastic baby bathtubs give you a lot of flexibility to place it wherever suits you most to give the baby a bath.
• Tubs that grow with baby: This is a transitional tub with removable infant inserts and with an adjustable backrest to grow bigger together with your baby.
Editor’s Choice
Blooming Bath – Baby bath
Why is it better?
- Both hands are free
- Terry-towel textured material
- Multipurpose
- The cutest accessory ever
The Lineup At A Glance
[supsystic-tables id=29]10 Best Baby Bathtubs & Bath Seats [year]
1. Blooming Bath – Best Baby Bathtubs for Sink
This sink insert is the most beautiful baby item I have seen! It is very soft and plushy (and can be a fantastic bath time photo session prop).
- Both hands are free
- Terry-towel textured material
- Multipurpose
- The cutest accessory ever
- Mildew spots
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Shaped like a flower, the petals help the Blooming Bath conform to different sized sinks. Terry towel-like texture prevents baby from sliding around and makes an excellent assistant in keeping a grip on baby, making your both hands free to move around.
This baby bath seat for tub can be either hung to dry or machine washed and dried, but I strongly recommend to use washer/dryer often in order to prevent mildew spots to grow on the back of your favorite bathing accessory.
It is the best option for infants and preemies, as it is mild, soft, calming. Also, during summer months, you can easily use Blooming Bath in a rubber made a container with some warm water as a little pool when going to the regular swimming pool in order to avoid contact with the tiny baby and chlorinated water.
2. Comfort Deluxe Bathtubs For Newborn
This tub is well-padded with mildew-resistant foam along with the interior.
- Great price
- Perfectly rounded curves
- Infant side and toddler side for sitting
- Mildew-resistant foam on the inside
- Needs a hanging handle
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The base of the tub, where the baby sits, puts them in an upright position, which provides more safety and support also makes babies feel more comfortable during bathing. The sides are smooth and soft, protecting the baby from slippery accidents while they enjoy giggling and splashing around.
The tub is perfectly designed to serve both newborns and toddlers. If you have a newborn, there is a mesh “hammock” that attaches on the inside, and using the baby as weight, sinks slowly to the water, soaking the baby wet, but having him protected from every side.
Your both hands are free to maneuver around so you’ll have your baby washed in a blink of an eye. What’s really nice about the hammock is that it’s adjustable, so you can raise and lower it, per your need.
What’s more?
The tub has a temperature-sensing drain, so if the water is too hot for baby’s sensitive skin it will turn red. Personally, I always check the temperature manually, don’t trust Artificial Intelligence.
If you take a closer look at the tub, you will notice some extra storage space, that comes handy when you have to grab a sponge or a shampoo instantly. You can find the best shampoo for your baby here. It’s perfect for absolutely everything else from washcloths, soaps or rubber duckies.
The one thing I had to complain about was the drain that doesn’t remove all of the water; it leaves a little bit on the bottom, like the after-wash residue. This tub fits in just about any sink. It’s well worth money spent, it’s extremely popular and it is one of the best baby bathtubs for sink on the market.
3. Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Sling N Seat Tub
This four-stage bath-space-shuttle has all of your bath time needs covering.
- Newborn sling clips on easily
- Has an attached hook to hang the tub to dry
- The green seat has drain holes that drain the entire tub
- Sturdy plastic
- Easy to clean
- Sitting support is hard to take out
- Bad position of drain plug
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There’s a newborn hammock, aid for unsteady sitters that can be removed for toddlers, additionally a squeeze bottle and a slotted whale scoop for rinsing. The built-in hook allows you to hang the tub up for easy drying and space-saving storage
Stage 1 soft mesh sling gently cradles newborns in just the right amount of water, giving little ones a sense of security.
Stage 2 Just remove the newborn sling and add the “baby stopper” insert. It puts infants at a gentle recline on a soft-foam surface, preventing slipping and sliding, making bath time less stressful and more fun.
Stage 3 “Sit-Me-Up Support” is what helps unsteady sitters to sit comfortably allowing parents full access for washing. And when the baby grows to
Stage 4 Toddler, “Sit-Me-Up Support” is no longer needed, so there is a whole spacious tub that’s just the right size for the messy toddler.
The big downside is that the green seat (Sit-Me-Up Support) is pretty hard to take out. You have to use quite a bit of force. Not a huge deal, just loud and annoying. Also, the drain plug is located under the green seat. So you have to remove the not so easy green seat every time you want to unplug/plug it.
4. Shnuggle Baby Bath Tub
This sleek bathtub is quite versatile; it can be used in the shower, bath, kitchen sink, on the floor or even outside in your backyard.
- Stylish and attractive
- Not slippery
- All curvy, no edges
- Affordable
- No hanging handle
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A bucket-shaped tub with a smooth flowing top is a great tub for babies from birth to one-year-old. It has a soft and warm foam backrest that supports the baby and avoids slippage. The great thing about this tub is that it is very easy to carry around because of the ergonomic shape. The material of the tub keeps the water warm for a longer time so that the baby can enjoy the bath.
The bathtub also has an integrated bum bump that supports the baby during the early months, thereby, making sure you have both hands free and available for washing.
The bucket-look-a-like Shnuggle is very compact as it uses only two liters of water, and it’s very light with the total weight (together with the water) of 7.3 pounds, meaning you can actually carry your chunky monkey in it from the kitchen to the bathroom.
The Shnuggle is an outstanding choice if your little munchkin has mobility issues, low body tone or needs support as he develops core muscles to sit on their own.
5. Munchkin White Hot Inflatable Duck Tub
This Munchkin pick isn’t very newborn friendly, but it works great for infants and toddlers and uses less water than filling the big bathtub every night.
- Very cute
- Lightweight
- Portable here and there
- Very affordable
- Not suitable for newborns
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It has a temperature sensor on the bottom that shows “hot” when the temperature is too high. It’s handy for travel since it’s inexpensive and can deflate and fold up. Fully padded contoured headrest helps promote superior comfort. It is perfect for babies between 6 to 24 months. Duck Tub bottom is textured, so baby won’t slip
Its shape is ideal to be placed anywhere, either on the counter or in the tub. Be careful, as it will not fit into the kitchen sink.
Doesn’t ask much maintenance, spot cleaning will do the job.
Seeing a duckie shaped tub brings kiddos to smile, so there will be no wry faces when bath time comes.
6. 4 Moms Baby Bath Tub
This is one superb and innovative baby bathtub that has revolutionized how and what you use to clean your baby.
- Side drains let dirty water out
- Modern and elegant design
- Digital thermometer with color-coding
- Limited use (Birth – 6mo)
- Expensive
- No batteries included
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Unlike most common bathtubs for babies, this model contains lots of advanced features that make it a more comfortable and convenient choice. Not to mention the design itself fits beautifully into every modern concept space.
4 Moms BathTub features side drains which allow dirty water to pour out while clean water flows in. It also has a built-in digital thermometer with a color-coded temperature display. Different colors show different temperatures: Blue – cold. Red – hot. Green – perfect.
The digital thermometer needs 3 AAA batteries, so you’ll need to buy them separately, as they are not included (true downside, it’s like 4-5 USD expense)
Like an additional feature, 4moms BathTub comes with a rinse cup and an assimilated rinse cup holder.
It also fits for most double and single sinks. It has cushioned sides to prevent your baby from injuries when they are having a bath.
With all these features and safety measures, 4 Moms BathTub could easily be the best choice for your infant.
7. Summer Infant Deluxe Baby Bather
This is an amazing transition piece for the bathing baby who’s getting ready to sit in the regular tub!
- Easy to handle
- Lightweight and portable
- Price
- Poor color choice
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It is very comfortable and handy, the soft mesh is supportive and soft but not slick. The headrest is neat when babies are a bit taller to reach it but the mesh is so flexible it is not necessary for the early (or later) days.
This baby bathtub insert grows with your child. The seat has three different recline positions and is safe to be used for the first bath up until 12 months or more, individually depending on a child.
It is very easy to use. You can use this bather a couple of ways. One option is in a sink or tub by pouring water over your baby. Another option is filling the sink or tub with a low level of water and placing the seat in the water to create a more typical bath environment.
Either way, you shouldn’t leave your baby unattended (as you never should while bathing) as you also never allow other children to substitute for adult supervision (when an adult is on the phone, answering the doorbell, etc)
This seat is incredibly easy to store as it folds nearly flat. It is very lightweight and easy to move around the house so it is a great piece of baby travel accessory.
The mesh seat dries quickly after use. The seat is made with machine-washable fabric, which is suitable to wash/dry once a week. Even though the fabric is mildew resistant and stays pretty clean with regular use, machine washing gives that extra safe mildew-free sense.
8. Boon Soak 3-stage Bathtub
Boon Soak 3 – Stage Bathtub has numerous advantages and useful add-ons that will make the whole bathing experience feel like a breeze.
- Rubber drain plug pulls out easily
- A nice handle for carrying
- Draining plug is attached
- Easy to clean
- Affordable
- No hanging hook
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It has a slip-resistant base and a backrest, also a drain plug can be used in different sinks or in the bath. The design is very modern and sleek. It can be used well into toddlerhood, making it a long-lasting investment.
The plug is great for draining without having to tip the whole thing over. The reclining position helps when washing the infant’s hair, again, leaving your hands free to wash and leaving you worries free that baby is unstable or not safe. Additionally, it changes colors to tell you about the water temperature. There are no areas where the water can collect and it can grow mildew which is always an issue with these tubs. So from the hygienical point of view, 10/10 score!
A tub that conforms to suits newborns, infants, and toddlers is just what busy and moms on a budget need. This tub has an adjustable non-slip bump which can help to position the baby correctly. This tub is a great piece to invest in as it can be used by babies of all ages.
9. Puj Flyte
I love, love, love Puj design! So cleverly done. It is soft and spongy, foldable, fits in every sink, after bath you simply hang it to dry.
- Super easy to tote around and travel
- Foldable, fits almost everywhere
- Light material
- Ergonomic and minimalistic
- A bit pricey
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The Puj Flyte is the travel version of the original Puj. This ultra modern-looking sink/bathtub insert makes an awesome option for families that travel frequently or live in small spaces. It hangs flat when not in use, so it won’t take up any precious bathroom space we all lack so much. When traveling, simply fold it flat to fit in a suitcase
On the obvious downside, any Puj won’t last too long: once the baby can sit up well on his own, the tub will be outgrown.
Puj Flyte is slightly less expensive and slightly less luxe, but a great option for the frequent flier baby. It has magnets that make the tub hold its shape when you are bathing the baby. Another good thing about this tub is that it is mold and mildew resistant which helps give the baby a clean and hygienic bath.
10. Original Tummy Tub – Cheap Baby Bath Tub
This bucket-shaped tub mimics the womb and puts the baby in the fetal position for bathtime.
- Keeps the water warm longer than a normal bath
- Lasts from babyhood into toddlerhood
- Uses very little water
- Can be used for anything a bucket is used for
- Baby’s floppy head needs additional support
- Pretty expensive (for a bucket)
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You’ll still need to support a newborn’s head, but those who have this tub love how it calms and soothes their baby, even if the diaper area is a little hard to reach. Baby feels warm, safe, eased from gas and colic, calmed and relaxed within soft boundaries. Its width is just right for them to sit in and allows their chest to be covered in water so they stay warm and happy.
The Tummy Tub is made of see-through material, which is quite convenient for parents to see the baby’s sitting position and to know that they are safe. The bathtub is made from environmentally friendly, recyclable materials and uses less water than other baths, saving you energy and money. Ergonomic hand grips and a wide rim make it easy and safe to maneuver
Its original design is used by midwives and maternity hospitals throughout the UK so you can trust it to the Tummy Tub is equipped with non-slip rubber bottom meaning that it is difficult to tip over.
How to choice best baby bathtubs
1. Size
Buy a size that will suit your baby’s age and body shape perfectly to avoid any accidents. Larger tubs have a risk of drowning if newborns are bathed in them. Foldable tubs are easy to carry and occupy less space if you have a small bathroom. Hard tubs made of plastic are easy to clean but occupy more space. Look for convertible/growing tubs which can be used for babies of all ages from newborns to toddlers as it saves a lot of money.
2. Functionality
Choose a model which is efficient to use and can easily fit anywhere you want in order to make the bathing experience comfier both for you and the baby. Some tubs come with a hammock that can be removed when the baby outgrows the mesh. A drain plug that changes color when the temperature of the water changes is an easy way to ensure that the baby is always comfortable during the bath.
You can bath your baby easily by giving them a bath toy. We have a list of bath toy for you here.
3. Low Maintenance
Cleaning the bathtub is very important as the growth of mold and mildew can be the cause behind many diseases. Some tubs come with mildew-resistant pads that don’t let mold grow inside the tub. Plastic tubs are easier to clean as compared to fabric or mesh tubs. Portable tubs are easy to travel with and can prove to be very useful for loving parents.
4. Price
Some baby bathtubs come with additional special features like water jets and temperature controllers which can make the tub more expensive as compared to normal models. Choose a model that suits your budget and has all the necessary safety features for your baby like a comfortable and supportive shape and anti-slip matting.
some safety precautions you should always bear in mind while using baby bathtubs for your baby
- Never leave your baby unattended while in the tub as this can lead to many injuries and accidents. Drain the water out completely before leaving the baby in the tub, or simply carry the baby out with you.
- Keep the tub positioned sturdily on a flat surface in order to avoid toppling over the tub.
- Clean the tub regularly by using a soft and gentle cleanser to avoid any skin rashes to the baby and prevent mold/mildew from growing.
- Make sure that the baby’s neck is constantly supported in the tub as the neck muscles of newborns are not strong enough to support the head of the baby.
- Investing in a convertible tub is a better option as it can be used by babies of all ages.
In the end, I would like to thank you for reading my reviews for 10 Best Infant, Baby, Toddler Bathtubs in 2018. I hope it was helpful and that you’ll enjoy bath time moments with your little darlings.
And, don’t forget: Don’t trust your baby bathtubs so much to the extent of leaving your baby alone in it. You are your baby’s best safety check, no matter how cool or safe your new baby bathtub is.
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Happy splashing!
