Bath toys

[TheMindfulMum]

My two children (4 & 6) are absolute water babies. They have asked for some new bath toys for Christmas. They currently have none as the ones they had they'd had since they were babies but had gone all black and scummy inside. Can anyone recommend any good bath toys for children the same age as mine? The only ones I see in the shops are aimed at babies. I'm not really sure what I'm after but I'm sure there must be something out there suitable for bath time for kids who love the tub!
They've had bubble blowers before (rubbish, didn't last long), squirters, water towers. Just after some inspiration please 🙏🏼

www.amazon.co.uk/Boon-Accessories-Toddlers-Multicoloured-Suitable/dp/B00R0V7PUU?th=1&psc=1
These are great (and currently 1/3 off usual price).

My 5 year old also has foam letters (to help practice spelling), plus we have the playgro brand mini ducks as they’re completely sealed so they don’t go mouldy inside, and we have the skip hop dunck bath ducks which are great for open ended play and very easy to keep clean.

@SBAM thank you. The boon pipes look good. Can you add to them to build a longer pipe or would I just buy multiple versions of the link to make it bigger?

Boats might be different to what you've had before. Green toys do lovely water vehicles.

Great, thank you. You're right, we haven't had boats before. I'm off to take a look. Thanks

@TheMindfulMum they also do a set called tubes and one called cogs, I think on Amazon you can get the whole lot as a bundle. The pipes don’t slot together but trying to get it setup so the water flows through them all is a fun challenge.

Mine just used to take some of their little figures (solid plastic no hole ones!) In the bath with some tupperware tubs for boats!! They liked a jug, halloween cauldron, mini spray bottles and a hand operated whisk for making huge bubbles. They made many potions and perfumes in the bath!!

They had a set of stacking cups and old tea set that lived in the bath too. They liked a bath storage thing that went across the bath to play in too, it was sometimes a bridge or castle!

Most fun was a whole load of bath bombs and fizzers that made it different colours or glittery! (Even if occasionally it stained the bath and I would be scrubbing it for ages after!!)

My then 4 yr old asked for bath toys last Christmas. I got her the nuby ice cream shop amzn.eu/d/bgD75vi
I also found a few things by Janod- a hook a duck set, a map of the world jigsaw which sticks to tiled walls, a whale and some wee figures that light up and squirt water. (I also considered bath crayons but decided against it when I saw the mess they made of a friends bathroom!)
The ikea stacking cups have been a bathtime staple here for years too.

For my dd 6 I am putting together a treasure chest. I found a plastic pirate storage box on Amazon and have started getting bits to fill it. So far I’ve got:
New swimming goggles, which she likes to wear in the bath
Bath bomb wand & bath bombs
A mermaid that “hatches” in water
Bath foam
Glitter & colour change bubble bath
Childrens test tubes & pipets meant for science activities but large and made of sturdy plastic (for making potions)
A paper jellyfish just for decoration in the box
A pirate sticker book just for the theme
A pirate eye patch
Still to get:
Character towel
Bath playmobil (they have a water range)
A plastic water sprayer for plants/cleaning as she stole my old one for the bath and the sprayer stopped working

Going to wrap everything in gold paper so it looks like treasure

Watching this thread for more ideas

I've got my little girl bloopies mermaids, currently she plays with the shampoo bottles ha. She also loves playing with her little water can in the bath but I am thinking of getting her more bath toys, she will spend hours in the bath.

Dgd (6) has asked for new bath toys, she's getting the playmobil mermaid and police bath advent calanders and a little plastic box to put them in. She's not getting them for advent but for christmas day. Lots of role play to be had with the sets and they do well in the bath, the police dive one comes with a motorised boat thing. Picked them up earlier in the year from Amazon for £10, but they may have jumped up in price now with then being an advent calander.

my kids love their bath toys- we currently have and recommend: Nuby ice cream maker, Tomy bath and bake, plastic tea set, ducks with a fishing net, a selection of zoggs soakers (currently batman, wonder woman and Peppa pig) and bloopies. We often have Duplo/Lego make an appearance too.

Oh aldi had bath snap cards in, and hits in the bath have been bath crayons (wilko or home bargains) dgd had lots of fun colouring the bath with scenes of fish and boats!

You definitely need a bottle of pirate or mermaid matey bubble bath to go with this!

I’m also trying to find more bath toys suitable for bigger kids. I’ve ordered terra tropical fish tube and some silicone suction toys as well as a couple of those wind up bath toys. We already have a playmobil rescue boat with a motor that’s fun for bath time and we had cool Dino bath fizz which I might get again, it turns the bath green and has dinos hidden in it.

Argos chad valley dinosaur waterfall toy comes up on all the most wanted Christmas toy lists this year. Dd got it for her birthday. It's actually quite fun.

Where do pp's store the bath toys?
I love the treasure chest idea

@greenisblack my dh wisely pointed out that the treasure chest can’t be used long term because bath toys need to be stored in a transparent box - if no light gets in they will go mouldy. So once the gimmick wears off we will use the box for playing and go back to a transparent washing basket/ikea container

This was the box but I am not in uk so best trying to find a uk vendor for something similar

I found some good bath toys for my 6 year old here: sparkbubble.co.uk/blogs/news/what-are-the-best-bath-toys-for-older-children. He enjoys the foam building bricks and we also got some 'Silly Monster bath stickers' on the site that he plays with and net little rack thing to store everything in without messing up the bathroom.

Mine play with schleich sea creatures mainly plus those babyborn mini dolls and a plastic science set they got from a magazine and the learning resources test tube in holder.

Another vote for Green Toys boats, they're really easy to keep clean and don't get gross and mouldy - we have the submarine, but the ferry with cars looks fun too. Also bath crayons - Kitpas do a really nice set and they've lasted a lot better than the Wilko/poundshop ones, and are plastic free.

Hit post too soon! But our favourite bath toy is definitely this underwater disco light. It's really fun and can either be flashy or just a soothing glow, I even have it on sometimes for a spa vibe!

There are some truly brilliant suggestions there. Thank you so much everyone. I have loads of options now. Truly grateful 🙏🏼

Hi @TheMindfulMum Thanks for posting. I just wanted to pop in and share the link to our article on the best bath toys as you might find the perfect thing for your water babies. The page was created with the help of the recommendations made by Mumsnet users and consumer reviews. Do let us know if you find it useful.