Cold evenings call for warm baths! A few bath time picks to make getting clean just as fun as getting messy

Tea Time!

MUSHIE SILICONE BABY TEA PLAY SET / MUSHIE, AMAZON

I’m spilling the tea on our absolute favorite! Although this wasn’t designed as a bath toy, I’m simply not relaxed enough to allow water play in our playroom — so into the tub it went. The best material for bath time is silicone — it’s durable, easy to clean, and not too susceptible to mold. Mushie is the king of silicone toys and baby products, and this tea set of theirs is one of their best. So set the ledge, fill the kettle, and start the party!

Rinse Without Wince

MUNCHKIN RINSE SHAMPOO BATH RINSER CUP / MUNCHKIN, AMAZON

Finally, a way to stop my dramatic little girls from shrieking for a towel to dry their eyes! The Munchkin Rinser Cup’s soft, flexible rim hugs your child’s forehead to keep the suds out of their eyes. The cup is easy to clean, and its slim design fits perfectly on most bathtub ledges.

Rubber Ducky 2.0

MUNCHKIN WHITE HOT SAFETY BATH DUCKY / MUNCHKIN, AMAZON

I couldn’t write a column on bath toys without a rubber duck! This Munchkin Safety Duck features a temperature sensor that lets you know if the water’s too hot for your child. Just place the duck in the water, and watch if “HOT“ turns white. Bonus: it has no holes — so no squirting, no mold, and no surprises when you squeeze it!

Splash and Store

UBBI FREESTANDING BATH TOY ORGANIZER BATH CADDY / UBBI, AMAZON

I’ve tried plenty of different bath toy storage options, but this remains unmatched. The Ubbi Bath Toy Organizer has a large opening and the capacity for many toys. The caddy’s user-friendly handle allows you to easily scoop up the toys after bathtime, and it’s designed with large draining holes and a separate freestanding base to allow everything to dry outside the tub — a cleaner (dare I say mold-free?) storage solution.

Rubber Trucky

TUB WORKS VEHICLES BATH CARS MOLD-FREE BATH TOYS / TUB WORKS, AMAZON

You can finally retire your rusting matchbox cars — Tub Works Bath Vehicles feature realistic designs, making playtime just as authentic. These durable, squeezable city cars are sealed to keep moisture out. So get the boys involved and bring some traffic to the tub!

Bubble Bestie

MR. BUBBLE EXTRA GENTLE DYE & FRAGRANCE FREE BUBBLE BATH / MR. BUBBLE, TARGET

This is the best bubble for your buck! Mr. Bubble is gentle on skin and eyes and provides a super-sudsy experience you won’t find elsewhere. A little goes a long way — just two ounces of the solution can give you a tub full of bubbles.
Tip: Pour Mr. Bubble under running water for the bubbliest results!

Stick and Spell

ALEX BATH ABC STICKERS IN THE TUB KIDS BATH ACTIVITY / ALEX, AMAZON

These are a classic and always fun for bath play! Alex Bath ABC Stickers are appealing and durable — sticking to all tub and tile surfaces when wet. These can last quite a while, though after enough spots and teeth marks, you may want to replace them sooner than some of the other picks here. Great incentive to practice those spelling words!

Ask the Toy Maven!

I think my 14-month-old is bored. Not that she’s told me, but I can tell my basic ring stacker and baby toys just aren’t cutting it for her anymore. She loves the different “lights and sounds” toys we have, but on Shabbos, we like to keep those away. She’s my oldest, and I don’t feel she’s ready for any of the big-kid toys just yet. Any Shabbos-friendly suggestions to keep this in-between-age engaged?

Thanks in advance,

New Mommy

B. TOYS RAINBOW GUMBALLS — COLORS & NUMBERS GUMBALL MACHINE / B. TOYS, TARGET

Dear New Mommy,

This gumball machine by B. Toys is quite popular in our house! Not only do babies love chasing the colorful balls as they roll down the chute, but it’s great for refining fine motor skills and learning to follow a cycle (insert ball, push coin, remove ball, repeat). The fun doesn’t stop there — this will grow with your daughter and help with color recognition and counting (the balls are numbered). The toy is sturdy, durable, and very well priced. Sold at your local Target or online — designed for ages 12 months and up.

Have a ball next Shabbos!

Adeena

Looking for toy suggestions? The Toy Maven can be contacted through Family First.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 974)