Best Baby Bathtubs 2023

Picking out the best baby bathtub for your family is surprisingly personal. Parents might look at a number of factors, including how much space they have in their home (or bathroom), parental mobility issues, as well as comfort levels around how best to bathe infants.

“From a safety issue, babies are slippery when wet, so to me having a secure base is really important,” says Shannon Willett, a mother of two who reviews baby items online as Parenting Products Guru on TikTok.

The best baby bathtubs provide a stable, approachable bathing station for your new infant.

In addition to safety, portability was top of mind for Willett and her husband when they first searched for a baby tub for her oldest child two years ago. Their baby would be using a guest bathroom, so the tub needed to be stowed away when not in use. After much searching, the couple landed on the Oxo Tot Splash and Store Tub, which they continue to use with their second baby.

Like Willett, you’ll want to choose a bathing setup that best fits your family. I’ve compiled this list of the best baby bathtubs for various preferences, according to recommendations from parent reviewers, bestseller lists, my experience as a mother to two young children and safety standards. (Read about more infant bathing best practices from the Consumer Product Safety Commission that monitors baby tubs, among other items, below these product picks).

Amazon

The unique design of the backrest of this tub allows for babies to remain seated upright during bathtime. Parents have noted that it’s not the best for newborns since they cannot sit up easily. However, the size and shape are suitable for babies up to 12 months. The tub is lightweight and can be used on the countertop, and it also features a drain, which makes it easier for parents to empty. The simple lines and lack of crevices make it easy to clean, and the handle doubles as a hook for simpler storage in crowded bathrooms.

Amazon

Adorable and functional, the whale tail on this baby bathtub is actually an infant seat for smaller babies that can be removed once they get bigger. The tub also features a drain and the infant insert includes a padded headrest. Unlike some other baby tubs, this one doesn’t fold down for storage, but it is petite enough to fit into some sinks. Take a closer look at the dimensions if this important to you.

Amazon

This origami-like, foldable foam tub can fit into most sinks. The best part of the Puj tub is that, for those who may not have a lot of space for storage, it folds flat and can hang off the wall. That design element also means that the Puj can drip dry without ever growing moldy. Our parenting editor used this simple tub in her Brooklyn apartment’s kitchen sink and loved its simplicity and flat storage. “I had big babies, so we couldn’t use this tub for long, but it was so ideal for our teeny city apartment and its galley kitchen,” says Rose Gordon Sala, baby and kids gear editor at Forbes Vetted. “It’s made of foam, so it feels a bit flimsy but it provides just the right amount of support and padding and is easy to tuck away afterward.”

Amazon

Newborns can be wriggly and make bathtime genuinely scary to attempt, but the infant hammock in this tub safely cradles them to keep them in place. The sling itself can be laundered along with other baby items. The tub also gets bonus points for accessibility, because it can be used inside an average-sized tub or placed in a sink. As baby grows, remove the sling for a slightly reclined bath for your older baby or let them sit up on the more upright side of the tub. Amazon customers have overwhelmingly rated the tub positively with a 4.7 out of 5 and nearly 25,000 reviews.

Target

This non-slip bath seat is an affordable option for parents looking to keep baby reclined during bathtime. The seat features BPA-free netting that drains out water to prevent mold and mildew buildup. It’s also easy to clean and dry in the tub itself, and it includes a hook to hang it out of the way for storage. It holds babies up to 20 pounds and fits in many sinks.

Target

Although the Splash and Store is collapsible for storage purposes, it’s certainly not flimsy. The tub narrows at one end, where newborns can be placed securely for bathtime, and widens into a larger space ideal for toddlers. With drains on both sides, parents can easily empty the tub even with their infant still in the tub. This tub is on the pricier end of the spectrum for baby bathtubs, but parents say it’s worth it. “All the water drains really easily and efficiently,” says Willett.

Amazon

The two-sided design of the Primo EuroBath includes a reclining seat for newborns on one side and an upright seat for toddlers on the other. It’s sturdy and a bit larger than some of our other picks, so it will work well for older or larger babies, too. It can hold babies up to 30 pounds. Featuring BPA-free and phthalate-free polypropylene, the whole thing is recyclable, too. Cleanup takes just a quick and easy wipe down. Keep in mind that it’s a bit bulkier than some options, and it doesn’t fold for storage.

Amazon

In-sink baby tubs can be great for parents recovering from c-sections or who have back problems because they reduce the amount that you have to bend down. The Blooming Bath Lotus is made from soft polyester that nestles babies in sinks. Clean-up is a little unorthodox, but maybe ideal. Simply rinse the petal or hit the gentle cycle on your washer, and then throw it in the clothes dryer for 15 minutes (or air dry it), eliminating the opportunity for mold to grow. The Bath Lotus is best for babies under 6 months old and less than 25 pounds.

As a journalist and mother to two young children, including a young baby, I researched this story with interest, seeking out safety considerations and guidelines first and then considering the baby bathtub features parents appreciate the most, including a supportive structure, portability and storability, as well as products that can pull double-duty. I spoke with Willet to get her thoughts as a product reviewer and also researched bestselling baby bathtubs, analyzing the customer reviews and noting dimensions, features and materials used in these tubs before compiling this list. I also considered which tubs might work best in certain homes or with certain ages.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC) released its guidelines on baby tub safety back in 2017 and warned that the biggest danger to infants was drowning when left unattended.

“Young children can drown quickly, even in small amounts of water,” the CPSC report stated.

To that end, the CPSC outlined several rules to make sure that parents keep their babies safe.

When shopping for a baby tub, the Commission also recommends buying brand-new tubs instead of secondhand so that you know the tub meets the latest standards and is in good working condition.