Not all bath toys are created equal when it comes to remaining mold-free and squeaky clean.
A recent study of flexible plastic bath toys found mold and bacteria flourishing after a couple dunks in the tub. While this news isn’t exactly shocking to anyone who’s witnessed a bath time blowout, the study also noted that it wasn’t just the moisture (or that adorable little baby bottom) causing the problem.
Researchers discovered that carbon leaching from flexible plastic provides an all-you-can-eat buffet for the trapped bacteria.
When coupled with moisture and warmth, the soft plastic of your rubber duck turns into the perfect environment for ample bacterial procreation.
Although this discovery is high on the ick factor, most people won’t need to worry about the extra dose of biofilm joining their kiddo in the tub. That said, if you’d rather just avoid the whole moldy, biofilm orgy debacle, these are some great, washable options.
Best Mold-Free Bath Toys
BOON – Marco
He floats, he lights up, he says, “bitch please” to bacteria and mold. Okay, to be clear he doesn’t speak, but if he could…
You can find him here
Fatbrain Toys – Waddle Bobbers
If their name alone isn’t enough, watching these tiny penguins plunge into the soapy abyss should be. And if you still need more convincing, they are completely washable!
You can find them here
Boon Splurt Squirties
Small enough for little hands, colorful, interactive and dishwasher safe. If bath toys had Tinder, you know you’d swipe right for these cuties.
Buy them here
Green Toys Boats
The older version of these bad boys couldn’t be taken apart and washed, but times have changed! Now every nook and cranny of these toys can be accessed to put the kibosh on any biofilm orgies before they get started.
You can find them here
Bath-Safe Books
Bath time and story time don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Books in the tub are fun to chew on, and easy to wipe slime off.
- The Rainbow Fish – Marcus Pfister
- Barnyard Bath – Sandra Boynton
- Bath Time – Sandra Boynton
- Found You, Magic Fish! – Moira Butterfield
- Color Me In – Who’s in the Ocean? Surya Sajnani
Munchkin Float and Play Bubbles
Each floating bubble has a unique center toy that rattles, bobbles, shines and spins. With these float and play bubbles, bath time fun is about to bubble up. You can find them here.
Fat Brain Toys Suction Kupz
Each of these six colorful, squishy cups features a suction cup on the bottom, a suctioning brim at the top, plus endless creative-play possibilities all around. You can buy them here.
Fleet Stacking Boats
They’re designed with wide decks for scooping and drain holes for a rain effect (it gets stormy on the high seas). So go full steam ahead…just watch out for soap icebergs. You can find them here.
Munchkin Baby Bath Ball
Keep your kiddo entertained during bath time shaking, straining, rattling and rolling this colorful bath ball. Great for play both in and out of the bathtub. You can find it here.
Skip Hop Zoo Stack and Pour Buckets
Kids can drain water in a variety of ways with three different sprinkle effects. When bathtime’s done, just stack and store! You can find them here.
That Random Old Plastic Container From The Kitchen
Toys are all well and good, but have you ever fished a ricotta cheese container out of the recycling bin? HOURS OF FUN, I tell ya.
Have you come across any great bath toys that don’t grow sea monkeys in the off hours? Let us know!
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The wiffle balls from Gymboree have also been great bath toys, and they come in a three pack. My two year old also loves the Skip Hop rubber ducky that tells you if it’s too hot. ☺️
Plastic Easter Eggs, after Easter they are cheap! They come apart, and have a hole for water to drip out of. They are great cups, floating toys, and sinking toys.
What a great idea!
We love all of Sandra Boynton’s books! I will definitely be adding Barnyard Bath to our list of bath time books. Thanks for the suggestion! 🙂