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The best baby baths 2024: tried and tested by real parents
A good baby bath tub can take the stress out of bath time for you and your baby. Here’s our pick of the best baby bathtubs to buy this year.
By Jenny Wonnacott | Last updated Jun 11, 2024
If you’re pregnant, a baby bath may well feature somewhere on your newborn essentials list. You can certainly get by without one (and many parents have), but first-time parents often say they find a mini bath or bath seat useful for taking some of the worry out of handling a slippery baby. The best baby baths will allow your baby to enjoy bath time as they'll be able to freely play and relax in the water - and you’ll, in turn, enjoy it more too.
Shopping for baby products can feel overwhelming, and when it comes to products like bathtubs which have a safety element involved, it gets stressful. Here at Mumsnet we've been dedicated to making parents' lives easier for over 20 years - that's why we do the research for you, so you can make an informed decision without the stress. We've vetted everything from the best breast pumps to the best baby bottles, as well as baby essentials like the best changing bags and sippy cups.
There’s no reason why a bath time routine can’t be established from very early on in a child’s life. Our babies spent nine months growing and developing in water and having a bath can have a very calming effect on even the youngest of children. Just remember to always check the water temperature before you put your child into the bath, never leave your child unattended (even for a second), use a non-slip bath mat and wipe up any floor puddles straight away. And, of course, enjoy it!
It's important to remember that babies of any age can drown very quickly in just a few centimetres of water, with no noise or struggle. So it's really important to remember that you should never leave your baby unattended in the bath even if they're in a bath seat. New guidelines from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) actually advise against using one, because of the false sense of security a bath seat can give.
If do you choose to use a bath seat, here's what NHS England advise:
always keep your child within arm’s reach
never leave your child, even for a second
make sure your bath seat is stuck firmly to the bottom of the bath
Don't let bath seats give you a false sense of security (they’re not safety devices)
There is a huge range of baby baths, tubs and supports on the market so we’ve done the legwork for you, to find the best at every price point and for every lifestyle, to help you pick the right model. We’ve included recommendations of baths for tiny bathrooms, baths for homes with no bath at all, baths for travel, and even blow-up baths, so we think you’ll find the right option for you and your family here.
These are the best baby baths to buy.
Lightweight
Can be used anywhere
Baby can stay upright
It doesn’t fold to store, like some others
Possibly too large for some smaller sinks
If you have the Shnuggle bath stand, please be aware of this safety notice
Price: £21 | Type: Traditional baby bathtub | Suitable from: Birth to 12 months | Dimensions: 40 X 60 X 30cm
Award-winning and incredibly popular with Mumsnetters, the Shnuggle offers something a little different to most baby baths. This award-winning product is somewhere between a bucket-style and a traditional slipper-style bath – the best of both worlds, in fact! If a bucket bath feels odd but you want your baby to remain largely upright (perhaps if they have colic) and to feel snug and secure, this is the happy medium. The foam back rest is soft and warm for comfort and it has a nifty ‘bum bump’ - rather than a seat - on the base, so they can’t slide downwards. When they are tiny they can recline in it; as they get older they can sit.
It’s very lightweight and has a plug, so if you’re using it in the bath or sink you can let the water out. It can just as easily be used on the nursery floor or wherever your baby is happiest being bathed, and the rubber feet mean it stays steady on any surface. The Shnuggle holds two litres so it’s a great water-saver. It’s still light enough to carry even when full and its compact size means the water can come right up to your baby’s shoulders.
Read next: The best bath toys for babies and toddlers
Easy-grip handles for easy maneuverability
Anti-slip base
Built-in anti-slip seat
No frills or fancy features
Quite big to store
Price: £18 | Type: Classic baby bathtub | Suitable from: Birth | Dimensions: 68cm x 40cm x 23cm
Coming in at under £20, there isn't much not to like about this Nuby baby bathtub, which features easy-grip handles, an anti-slip seat and a soft foam headrest. Suitable from birth, it ticks all the boxes to provide a safe space for even the tiniest of bathers.
Although it's quite basic to look at and doesn't feature a range of colours like the Shnuggle, it's the little additions such as the no-slip bottom, the soft head rest and the easy-grip handles which make the Nuby bathtub shine.
Read next: The best changing mats, as recommended by Mumsnetters
Small and lightweight
Leaves you hands-free for wash and play
Comfy hammock made of rubber mesh for baby
Uses a lot of water
Only for under-6-month-olds
Price: £24 | Type: Bath support | Suitable from: Birth to 6 months | Dimensions: 33.5 x 58.5 X 22.5cm
The ergonomically-designed Angelcare Soft Touch is a bath support rather than a tub. This means it sits directly in your full-sized bath with the water at the desired level. Nicely, it has a comfy hammock for your baby to lie in made of a mildew-resistant rubber mesh that feels warm to touch. It gently cradles your baby’s whole body, leaving their legs free to kick away in the water. You’ll be hands-free too, as your baby is completely supported, so you can wash and play easily - more fun for both of you!
When you’re finished, this bath support rinses easily and you can hang it by its hook to dry. Some parents have complained that the design of the support and the low water fill line makes it seem like baby is sitting in a puddle. And as it’s only suitable up to around six months, it’s not a product you’ll be using for very long. Still, we like that it’s easy, lightweight and - most of all - comfortable.
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Folds down for easy storage and travel
Grows with your child
Heat sensitive plug
Quite expensive but we think it's good value
Price: £54 | Type: Collapsible baby bathtub | Suitable from: Birth to 4 years | Dimensions: H35 x W24 x L66cm | Extras: Newborn insert
You read that right: this bath can fold flat! There’s plenty of room for splashing and playing but, once emptied, it folds down like a cardboard box to be neatly tucked away. Tidy-lovers, rejoice!
You can buy a newborn insert with the bath, which acts as a sling for your baby to lie in, leaving your hands free. A plug means you can empty the Flexi easily if you’ve used it in a bath or shower tray; and the plug is heat-sensitive so will change colour to warn you if the water is too hot (but always check yourself). Mumsnet users say it’s very handy for camping and holidays too. Though it’s more expensive than others on our list, we think it’s great value as your little one can grow with it.
Fun design
Three-stage = grows with your child
Hands-free sling insert for newborn
Whale-themed accessories available to buy separately, such as a hair rinser
Quite small so not loads of play room
Price: £52 | Type: Bathtub with sling insert | Suitable from: Birth to 6 months+ | Dimensions: 70 x 48 x 29
We love the look of this whale-themed baby bath and we reckon your child will too. Popular brand Skip Hop offer this fun bath that grows with your child in three stages. At newborn stage, there’s a mesh sling insert for your baby to lie back in, leaving you hands-free. As they are growing and learning to sit, the sling rolls into a cushioned seat. Once they’re able to sit unaided, remove the insert completely for room to splash and play!
A plug makes emptying the tub easy if you’ve used it in the bath or shower tray. Handily, it’s very lightweight and compact so can be used almost anywhere. Be aware that some parents have complained that the safety stickers are on the inside of the bath and become messy when they disintegrate and leave a sticky residue.
Read next: The best baby wipes, tried and tested
Little one will be sat in a comfy position
Drain holes in seat
Suction cups to hold secure
A bit pricey but a trusted brand
Price: £24 | Type: Bath seat | Suitable from: 6 months, when the child can sit unaided | Dimensions: H12.6 x W33.6 x D33cm
Our Mumsnetters seem to like this bath seat and the Angelcare brand is appreciated amongst parents - that’s why it’s on our list twice! It’s got lots of handy functions too. There are drain holes in the seat so bath water can pass through as you rinse your little one and suction cups to hold it secure.
It’ll leave your baby sitting in a lovely position for play too, to get both them and you excited about bath time, and they should be super comfy.
Aqua Scale 3-in-1 Digital Baby Bath
Displays weight on LCD screen
Built-in thermometer for water
Good longevity
Most expensive on our list
Price: £70 | Type: Digital baby bath | Suitable from: Birth to 2 years old | Dimensions: 74 x 42.5 x 24 cm
If you’re willing to fork out for all the frills to support you at bath time, this one’s pretty special. This multi-tasking baby bath is an ergonomic tub that will weigh your baby (with or without water!) on a digital scale and remember previous weight to track weight gain. It can also take the water’s temperature with its built-in digital baby thermometer, alerting you if the water gets chilly, so you’ll always know it’s just right for your little angel.
It doesn’t forget about the basics, though. This bath is light to manoeuvre with a plug for easy emptying. It has a non-slip base to keep it steady on hard surfaces (like your bath) and an insert that stops your baby from slipping down. It also has pretty good longevity and should last up to around two years of age, with two different bathing positions for newborns and toddlers. It’s pricey but, we think, worth it to support you and your baby.
Folds flat: easy to store and transport
Adjusts in size as baby grows
Great for those without a bath at home
Only suitable up to 12 months
Price: £30 | Type: Baby bath sink insert | Suitable from: Newborn to 12 months (max 9kg) | Dimensions: 53 x 38 x 15cm folded; 53 x 38 x 30cm unfolded
This innovative bath product fits into most standard kitchen or bathroom sinks, thanks to its extendable base and non-slip extendable arms. Bathtime will no longer be back-breaking work and the cocooning design will be cosy for your baby. Plus, super cute! The bum support in this bath is reassuring for younger ones, plus it's adjustable as your baby grows (though it’s only suitable up to 12 months).
There’s lots of convenient features too. Water drains away easily as there’s a perforated base, reducing mess. It’s lightweight and folds flat so it’s easy to store and transport if you’re away from home - without any inflating or deflating, like some others. A fab all-rounder!
Do I need a baby bath tub?
A baby bath isn’t a necessity and many parents will tell you that they got by just fine without one. However, some do find them to be very useful. If you have any issues with your back, a freestanding bath offers you the freedom to bathe your baby wherever you like. Alternatively, a bath support or baby bath sink insert, designed for a kitchen or bathroom, will allow you to be completely hands-free and bathe your baby while standing up.
First-time parents often like the security of using a baby bath and, if your bathroom only has a shower or you’re going to be staying somewhere with no bath, it can come in very handy. While parents can get by with using a sink or a washing-up tub to bathe their baby, many parents will prefer shelling out for something designed specifically for the job. And as we’ve demonstrated above, there are options out there for all budgets.
How long can you use a baby bath for?
That depends on the bath product. Some bath supports or sink inserts are only big enough to last until around six months, while others can be used all the way up to six years of age. Once a baby can sit unaided, many parents move onto a non-slip bath mat.
Types of baby bath
Bucket-style
These look like a large bucket and you simply pop your baby in it in a seated position. Lots of babies with colic prefer this as they remain upright and newborn babies find this soothing as it reminds them of the womb.
Inflatable
You can buy baby baths that are a bit like mini paddling pools. These can then sit inside your full-sized bathtub or on your bathroom floor.
Traditional baby bathtub
Shaped like an old-fashioned metal tub, these are small baths, usually made from sturdy plastic that you can use on the bathroom floor or in your baby’s nursery. They are typically shaped to support your baby’s head and shoulders and sometimes have a built-in seat for extra comfort.
Baby bath support
These are used in a full-sized bath and are more like a bath seat, but they allow your baby to lie back on a specially-shaped base.
Bath supports or inserts for the sink
Usually made out of something squishy like foam or soft plastic, these fit straight into the sink.
What to look for in a baby bath
Make sure it’s safe, solid and unlikely to tip over. Although you’ll never leave your baby in the bath, drowning can happen in a matter of seconds.
Many baby baths have supports for the head and shoulders or come with a sling to keep babies secure. Gently curved supportive areas will also make the experience more comfortable for your baby. The more comfy your baby is, the more likely they are to take to bath time happily.
Look for non-slip areas on any hard plastic parts so that, as they get bigger and move around, they're less likely to wriggle and slip. Also check the base to make sure it’s not going to slide about on a hard surface. Some baths have built-in temperature checks so you know the water is at optimum temperature, which is a useful feature if you’re nervous about getting the elbow test right.
How do you bathe a newborn?
The NHS has a good step-by-step guide on how to bathe a new baby, but the key things to know are:
Have everything (baby shampoo, a baby towel, nappies etc) to hand first because you mustn’t leave your baby in the bath unattended, even for a second.
Ensure the room is warm enough.
Fill the bath with 8 to 10cm of water, running the cold first and then adding hot. Make sure it’s the right temperature (37 to 38 degrees Celsius) and that there are no hot patches.
Strip your baby down to their nappy and wrap them in a towel while you first wash their face and then hair, leaning them over the bath. Dry their hair off gently with the towel, then remove their nappy, clean the nappy area and get ready to lift them into the bath.
Gently lower them into the water, with one hand under their bum and one arm behind their head and shoulders, supporting the arm furthest from you. Keep this arm around them while they're in the bath if you aren’t using a tub that supports them with a sling or similar.
Using a flannel, muslin, sponge or your hand, clean your baby gently from top to bottom. You don’t need to use any soap for a new baby.
Lift them out onto a towel, wrap them up then dry them quickly so they don’t get cold. Apply nappy rash cream if needed before putting a new nappy on.
How do you stop a baby from slipping in the bath?
Using a baby bathtub with some kind of support and a non-slip floor helps with this, but if you don’t have one with those features, just keep one arm behind their head and shoulders at all times, with your hand supporting them.
How often should you bathe a baby?
It’s up to you. New babies don’t need a proper bath more than once a week – a top and tail will do. But as they grow, three times a week is fine. If your child loves having a bath, you might want to do it every night as part of a relaxing bedtime routine.
What’s the best baby bath to buy?
This will of course depend on your lifestyle, budget and home. We hope our list gives you some options of what could work for you and your baby. We chose the Shnuggle Baby Bath as the best baby bath of 2024 as it’s lightweight, easy, comfy, can be used anywhere and popular with Mumsnetters.
About the author
Mum-of-three Jenny Wonnacott is a Content Editor for Mumsnet, specialising in writing, editing and optimising baby, pregnancy and general parenting-related articles, guides and reviews.
Before joining the content team at Mumsnet, Jenny worked as a journalist for newspapers, radio, TV and b2b trades magazines for over a decade. She is also a bestselling sci-fi author (writing as J M Briscoe) and parenting blogger.
As mum to three primary school-aged children, Jenny is passionate about making parents' lives easier through rigorous research of all items recommended in Mumsnet buyers' guides, reviews and articles.
How we choose our recommendations
Because we believe parents who have been there before know best and are honest about what they like, we looked at recommendations from Mumsnet users themselves. We trawled the Mumsnet forums for posts about which baby baths they rated highly and why, and which left them a little lukewarm.
We also consulted consumer watchdogs such as Which?, and took note of what they looked for in a baby bath and which brands they were recommending to their readers, weighing up which ones we think will appeal most to Mumsnet users. Additionally, we collated information from other review websites to see how the baby baths they featured had performed in testing, had impressed parents and were bestsellers. Then we looked at advice from the NHS and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) to check that the baths we were looking at complied with their bath safety advice. We pooled all that information and research to come up with our final list of the best baby bathtubs right now.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.