Whilst some bath toys can be used from birth, to get the most out of your bath toys, we recommend introducing them from around six months of age. Whilst all babies differ in terms of their development, at six months your baby is likely to be able to sit up (either unaided or with support) and have good head control. This allows them to really play and explore their surroundings – and is often the turning point for babies who are more reluctant bathers! Which bath toys are safe for babies? If you’re on a tight budget, proprietary bath toys aren't a necessity and lots of parents will say they did perfectly well with just a couple of plastic cups, a colander and a whisk to whizz up the bubbles – which, incidentally, is great for helping young children strengthen their wrists in preparation for mark-making and early writing. We love this set of five colourful plastic pipes – a fun STEM-themed bath toy that will encourage would-be plumbers and tiny engineers everywhere.

Anything that sits in water runs the risk of becoming mouldy so you'll need to wash your child's bath toys regularly. Start looking for bath toys that do things now, like light up, make a noise or move around, to capture your child's attention. Educational benefits - What learning experience does the bath toy offer? Will it help with a new skill or experience appropriate to your child’s age? The benefits of educational bath toys can include everything from developing and encouraging imagination and creativity to motor skills, understanding cause and effect and communication skills.Bath time can be a special time for you and your baby. A bath can not only help to calm and relax your baby before bed, but it can be a great bonding experience too. The best baby bath toys will encourage babies to learn, experiment, and have fun from the earliest weeks, while the best bath toys for toddlers will continue the fun and learning for years to come. As parents and guardians, we put a lot of energy into teaching our kids to read, and the best alphabet learning toys engage your child with interactive and educational activities, keeping them entertained as they learn. This can be through songs, books, and even (the ever-dreaded) screen time — but independent play and parallel play can also have important roles in your child’s alphabet learning journey. As you shop, choose toys that match your child’s developmental stage and will be safe for them to use.

With colourful features and a friendly face as well as a large button that’s easy enough even for small fingers to work, he makes an ideal bath time pal for children aged one and above.Also, make sure anything you give your child is safe to go into their mouth as the reality is, that that's the first place it will go. Look for lightweight objects that they will later be able to grab. Simple bubbles blown in the bathroom will catch their eye, and they might also like toys that light up underwater. The boat also has a shape-sorter with foam shapes that float in the water, and Iggle Piggle himself also comes in two parts to act as a water-pouring toy. As with the best baby toys, different bath toys will be enjoyed at different ages and development stages and will boost different skills. Some baby bath toys are suitable from birth, so you can start with some straightforward floating objects to catch your newborn’s eye. Each pipe does something slightly different to keep their interest. If they’re popular, you can buy a couple of sets to expand the play and increase learning – they work particularly well with the Tomy Boon Cogs set. Is there anything more relaxing than In the Night Garden’s Iggle Piggle floating down the river in his boat? It’s a sight that has reduced most parents to tears of gratitude at least once in the early evening.