For babies and toddlers, a warm bath is about so much more than just getting clean and relaxing. It's a mini adventure, and with the right bath toys, it can also be educational. Which bath toys are suitable for which age groups, and why? Below you will find everything you need to know about bath time fun for children aged 0 to 3 years.
Bath toys for 0-6 months: calm and sensory stimulation
For the very youngest, bath time is all about safety, calm and security. In the early days, the experience is mainly about getting used to the warm water – not every baby is (immediately) a fan of that feeling. (By the way: getting wet becomes a little easier with our 3 tips for babies who don't like bath time.)
Bath toys are not a must, but after a few months you can start using them to boost your baby's sensory development. The key words at this stage are bright colours, contrasts and soft materials that are pleasant to touch.
A colourful bath book with cute characters, for example, works wonders for their sight and sense of touch. Soft, interactive and easy to clean – a great combination for an exciting bath time and easy cleaning afterwards.
- Safety first: with a cute bath thermometer, you can ensure that your bath water is at the ideal temperature (max. 37 °C) and stimulate your baby's curiosity.
- Stress-free shampooing: with a watering can with a soft edge, you can gently rinse the shampoo out of your baby's hair without touching their eyes.
Bath toys for 6-12 months: grasping and squeezing
At around 6 months, your baby will usually be able to sit up independently, giving them more space to move around and play. Your little one will also learn to grasp objects (including your hair), squeeze them and (hopefully) let go again.
Bath time is the ideal training ground for those growing motor skills and curiosity. Squeeze toys – also known as squirters – are often a favourite: they come in many colours, squirt water when squeezed (pure magic for your baby) and are good for hand muscles. They can also float on water, so your baby never has to search far for that beloved duckling.
Mini watering cans and cups invite children to scoop and pour to their heart's content. These interactive bath toys stimulate hand-eye coordination, improve fine motor skills and teach your baby their first playful lesson about cause and effect. It's also a good idea to upgrade your bath books to ones with sound effects or multiple textures at this stage: a richer play experience guaranteed!
Your baby really doesn't need a bath every day. But when is the right time? You can read about the ideal frequency in our article 'How often should you bathe your little one?'.
Bath toys for 12-24 months: learning and imitating
As soon as your little one reaches the age of two, they become a real explorer. Everything that floats, sinks, splashes... it all needs to be studied closely. Your child is also becoming more dexterous, developing more control over their movements and starting to recognise and imitate sounds. At this stage, choose high-quality bath toys that support this curiosity and language development.
Bath letters and numbers, for example, are real classics. They stick to the edge of the bath and are great for discovering sounds, words or numbers together. Remember that exploration and recognition are the most important things here – your child doesn't need to be able to name the letters yet. But you are already laying the foundations for language and numeracy skills in a playful way.
From 18 months onwards, you can introduce your child to throwing rings. By aiming at a floating toy and throwing accurately, your little one will learn to coordinate their movements precisely. Be sure to describe what your child is doing (‘You're throwing the rings at the octopus’). This way, you can practise vocabulary and encourage your explorer to try new things.
Bath toys for 24-36 months: creativity and imagination
In their third year, the bath becomes a stage for stories and imagination. Your toddler not only discovers the world around them, but also begins to shape it themselves. The bathtub then becomes a vibrant fantasy world. Bath toys that stimulate creativity and independence are a perfect fit.
Water pencils, for example, are a hit. Your toddler can use them to draw on the edge of the bath or tiles, giving free rein to their imagination (while you can easily rinse everything off afterwards). Small watering cans are suddenly not only fun to scoop with, but also to try and rinse out those hairs (carefully) yourself.
Top sellers such as bath books and playful thermometers remain valuable. They stimulate the imagination and help your child make connections between objects and their functions (“the penguin says the water is warm enough”). Familiar toys from earlier stages thus take on new meaning in their play.
For you as a parent, bath time is also a precious moment of contact, during which you actively build your bond. Would you like more inspiration for fun activities at home? Read more in our article ‘Fun activities at home with your child for the homebodies among us’.
Play, grow and enjoy
Every bath time is an opportunity to grow, learn and have fun together. With Nûby bath toys, you can get more out of those precious moments. Our bath toys combine playfulness and quality and support every step in your child's development – from the first sensory stimuli to creative role-playing. This makes every bath not only a moment of relaxation, but also of discovery and connection.
