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The 7 Best Baby Bath Tubs, Tested by Experts and Parents

How do you safely and easily clean a wiggly infant or an impatient toddler? Try one of these baby bath sink inserts or baby bath tubs built to help make bath time a breeze.

By Jessica Hartshorn
Reviewed by Rachel RothmanChief Technologist & Executive Technical Director
Best Baby Bathtubs
Courtesy

Bath time can be bonding time, sure. But sometimes it's a little fraught with your slippery newborn, wriggling older baby or splashing toddler. A sturdy baby bath tub can make the job easier. There are three different types: a basin (placed on a flat surface, ideally the floor or in the big tub, so your baby is not up high on a counter), a bath support seat (used in a big bath tub or large sink) or a sink insert (for use in your kitchen or bathroom sink). Then just grab some bath toys and a bath towel and you're ready.

Many of the parenting pros at the Good Housekeeping Institute have had personal experience using baby bath tubs with their own children. This list is based on our experts trying out 15 infant tubs in the Lab and in their homes. We've also had feedback on 10 of those tubs from consumers who report on how the tubs have worked for them over time.

Our top picks:

  • 1
    4-in-1 Sling 'n Seat Tub

    Best Overall Baby Bath Tub

    Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Sling 'n Seat Tub

    $45 at Amazon
    Read more
  • 2
    Baby Bath Support

    Best Value Baby Bath Tub

    Angelcare Baby Bath Support

    Read more
  • 3
    Tub

    Best Foldable Newborn Bath Tub for the Sink

    Puj Tub

    Read more
  • 4
    EuroBath

    Best Wide Baby Bath Tub for Babies and Toddlers

    Primo EuroBath

    Read more
  • 5
    Splash & Store Bath Tub

    Best Baby Bath Tub for 6 Months+

    OXO Tot Splash & Store Bath Tub

    Read more

You'll start bathing your newborn after the first week or two at home, once their umbilical cord stump falls off naturally. Until then, a sponge bath is sufficient. Even once you start to use a baby bath tub, you don't need to dip your baby in water every day; every other day is enough during the first year, as we explain at the end of our list.

If you're still figuring out your baby registry, we have other great gear guides as well, including our favorite convertible cribs and the best infant car seats. At the end of this list, we include more on bath-time safety, the best way to clean a baby bath tub and what we look for in an infant tub.

1
Best Overall Baby Bath Tub

Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Sling 'n Seat Tub

4-in-1 Sling 'n Seat Tub
1
Best Overall Baby Bath Tub

Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Sling 'n Seat Tub

$45 at Amazon
Credit: Fisher-Price
Pros
  • Transitions through babyhood and works for a toddler
  • Comes with a squirt bottle and toy
  • Hook allows you to hang it to dry
  • More than 11K five-star Amazon reviews
Cons
  • More parts to clean and keep track of than others

This convertible tub with more than 11K five-star Amazon reviews grows as your child does: With four stages of use, it transforms from a supportive newborn sling to a sit-up toddler tub. Testers like that you don't have to buy anything else; you can use this baby bath tub until your child is ready to sit in the regular tub.

"As a new mom, I felt secure using the sling insert and my baby looked comfortable in it," said Rachel Rothman, Chief Technologist & Executive Technical Director of the Good Housekeeping Institute. "As my first child grew, the versatility of the tub was evident. I eventually used the tub for all three of my children and loved how it could continue to adjust through the years until it wasn't needed anymore."

You get a water scoop and squeeze bottle to jump-start bath-time fun. A hook on one end allows you to hang it from the shower rod or the back of the bathroom door so it dries completely, which helps prevent mold growth. The only downside is that there are several parts to keep track of and to keep clean.

TypeBaby bath tub basin
Age and weight limitsBirth to 3 months or up to 15 lbs for sling; 3 to 6 months or up to 20 lbs for the inclined side of the tub; 6 to 9 months or up to 25 lbs with the sit-up insert; 9 months+ or up to 25 lbs for the wide end of the tub
Dimensions‎31.4" x 18" x 9"
2
Best Value Baby Bath Tub

Angelcare Baby Bath Support

Baby Bath Support
2
Best Value Baby Bath Tub

Angelcare Baby Bath Support

Credit: Angelcare
Pros
  • Inclined support holds a baby up to 6 months old
  • Mesh makes it easy to rinse grime away from your baby
  • The tub dries quickly
Cons
  • Only good for the first 6 months

With its grippy mesh backing, the Angelcare bath seat simplifies early wash-time because you're not lifting your baby in and out of a tub, you're setting them on and taking them off a mesh infant bath seat within the bath tub or a large sink. All the mesh holes let you wash grime out and away from your baby. After the bath, this can dry fast because water doesn't pool inside of it. This tub, too, has a hook so you can hang it to dry completely.

The Angelcare is a great solution for infants but is only age-graded up until 6 months. After that, your baby will want to sit up and will be too active to safely rest in this baby bath support, so you'll need a regular baby bath tub.

TypeBaby bath support seat
Age and weight limitsBirth to 6 months or 20 lbs
Dimensions23" x 13.5" x 8.75"
3
Best Foldable Newborn Bath Tub for the Sink

Puj Tub

Tub
3
Best Foldable Newborn Bath Tub for the Sink

Puj Tub

Pros
  • Space-saving newborn bath solution
  • Allows C-section moms to give early baths standing up
  • Dries quickly
Cons
  • You need the right-sized sink for this
  • For the first 6 months only

Fold this soft foam sink insert into a sort of tulip shape and sit it in the bottom of the bathroom sink for early infant baths. It weighs almost nothing and hangs to dry quickly, so it's easy to use and takes up little room in your home. We also hear that C-section moms are grateful for this so they can easily do newborn baths at the sink while standing up.

Online reviews sometimes mention this not working in certain sinks. The brand says the ideal sink for the Puj is a bathroom sink about 15" x 12" and at least 6.5" deep. Most kitchen sinks will be too big for this and it could unfold if you're using it in a sink that's too large. That said, some families do make it work in their kitchen — give it a dry run to see how it fits before you put your baby in it.

TypeSink insert
Age and weight limitsBirth to 6 months or 16.5 lbs
Dimensions25.2" x 26.38" and less than an inch thick
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4
Best Wide Baby Bath Tub for Babies and Toddlers

Primo EuroBath

EuroBath
4
Best Wide Baby Bath Tub for Babies and Toddlers

Primo EuroBath

Credit: Primo
Pros
  • Long-lasting, from birth through toddlerhood
  • Deeper end for toddlers who love to sit belly-high in water
  • Holds bath wash supplies on one end
Cons
  • Larger, so takes up more space and there's more surface area to clean

Not everyone wants a small baby bath tub. This large EuroBath provides your baby more space to stretch out and gives you room to reach all around them. Plus it will last all of babyhood without you needing to swap in or out any accessories. The molded bottom supports your reclining infant when you use one end of the tub and gives your splashing toddler a deeper basin when you use the other side later on.

The tub itself is a full foot deep. Infants only need an inch or two of water, but some toddlers like to sit up to their bellies so they're warm. Because the EuroBath is bigger, it is harder to store and it has a large surface area to clean. On the plus side, indentations on one end offer a place to store soap and shampoo so everything is within easy reach.

TypeBaby bath tub basin
Age and weight limitsBirth+ or up to 30 lbs
Dimensions36" x 21" x 12"
5
Best Baby Bath Tub for 6 Months+

OXO Tot Splash & Store Bath Tub

Splash & Store Bath Tub
5
Best Baby Bath Tub for 6 Months+

OXO Tot Splash & Store Bath Tub

Credit: OXO Tot
Pros
  • Folds nearly flat and hangs to store
  • Two-sided tub works from birth to 18 months
  • Nonslip interior
  • Modern look that's easy to keep clean
Cons
  • Take extra care with the folding legs to be sure its sturdy

A winner of our 2021 Good Housekeeping Parenting Awards, this is an easy baby bath tub to store if you are short on bathroom space. The legs fold in and there's a hook to hang this on the shower head or the back of your bathroom door. Our testers told us this is simple to use and nonslip for the babies. "It's also easy to clean — and it looks good," one parent said.

This is age-graded from birth, though we especially love it for transitioning after using one of the more supportive birth-to-6-month infant options, once your baby has better head control. Sit your baby in the narrow side for 6-month-olds and use the wider side later, when your baby is between 9 and 18 months old. The American Academy of Pediatrics just asks parents to take extra care with any tub that folds down. You want to be sure it's in place and won't collapse down while the baby in inside.

TypeBaby bath tub basin
Age and weight limitsBirth to 18 months or up to 50 lbs
Dimensions30.8" x 17.8" x 9.3"
6
Best Baby Bath Sink Insert With Padding

Skip Hop Moby Softspot Sink Bather

Moby Softspot Sink Bather
6
Best Baby Bath Sink Insert With Padding

Skip Hop Moby Softspot Sink Bather

Now 40% Off
Credit: Skip Hop
Pros
  • Plush spot for infant sink baths
  • Can be machine-washed
  • Mesh helps you clean and helps this drain
Cons
  • Babies outgrow it by 6 months

This infant tub solution in a fun blue whale-shape is perfect for giving your newborn baby a wash in the sink. After you're done, hang it by the strap to dry and then when it needs a wash, run it through the washing machine for an easy clean. The mesh bottom helps the product drain and lets you easily wash dirt away from your baby.

Your infant's head rests on the whale tail and their bottom sits on the mesh. Parents say their newborns are comfortable in this plush option but that they do outgrow this sink insert by the 6-month mark, at which point you'll want a baby bath tub.

TypeSink insert
Age and weight limitsBirth to 6 months
Dimensions19" x 16.75" x 7"
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7
Best Baby Bath Tub for The First Year

Munchkin Sit & Soak Baby Bath Tub

Sit & Soak Baby Bath Tub
7
Best Baby Bath Tub for The First Year

Munchkin Sit & Soak Baby Bath Tub

Pros
  • Lets a baby sit more upright
  • Fits in many big kitchen sinks
Cons
  • Will need another tub after the first birthday

If regular sink inserts don't fit in your big kitchen sink or your baby is fighting being reclined you might try this small but deep baby bather for use during your baby's first year. It can sit in the big tub, too. It's great for babies who like to sit more upright than reclined because leaning back in the water makes some little ones upset. This soak tub supports a baby under age 1 but let's them see more of the water in front of them than the ceiling above.

The hole in the handle works as a hook so you can hang this to dry. We like that it works through all of the first year but you will need to get a larger tub for your 1-year-old after the first birthday.

TypeBaby bath tub basin
Age and weight limitsBirth to 12 months
Dimensions25.5" x 16.25" x 15"

How we test baby bath tubs

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The Parenting Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute regularly reviews and tests baby gear including the best car seat stroller combos and the best baby monitors.

Our experts tried out 15 infant tubs in the Lab and in their homes. We've also had feedback on 10 of those tubs from consumers, some as a part of our annual Parenting Awards. When looking at bath tubs, we consider how easy they are for the parent to use, how comfortable the baby seems, how long the tub stays useful and how easy the baby bath tub is to dry and keep clean.

What to look for when shopping for the best baby bath tub

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Bath time can be fun when you feel your baby is safe and you are comfortable while tending to them. We've got some things you can think about before picking out the best baby bath tub for you:

✔️ Type. Decide if you need the product to work in your sink or in the big bath tub and pick accordingly.

  • Sink inserts: After the initial newborn sponge baths, many parents bathe their infant in the bathroom or kitchen sink, sometimes until their baby can sit up at about 6 months. A soft sink insert gives your baby some padding and support so you have at least one arm free to wipe and rinse them off.

If you've had a C-section, sink baths might be necessary while you heal, so you can stand up while you give the bath. But not everyone has a sink that's easy enough to use with a baby bath sink insert and so some opt for an infant bath tub placed in the big tub or on the floor.

  • Baby bath tub basins: Mini tubs are what many people think of when they hear "baby bath tub." Our favorites have a sling to hold a baby during the infant months when the baby has little natural head control. Most have one side that's slanted for young babies and another side that's deeper for an older baby or toddler.

A baby bath tub must be placed on a level surface. It's safest to have it within the big bath tub or on the floor, or inside your kitchen sink if it's a large sink. We know it's tempting to sit the bath tub on a counter, but that's not the safest place.

  • Baby bath support seats: This third option is a bit newer — bath support seats are similar to baby bouncer seats but are waterproof and meant for baths. You sit the seat inside the adult tub or inside the kitchen sink if it fits. You'll run water over your baby to get them clean.

These don't work on the floor or counter, they need to be in a basin that drains, and there are no safety straps so they should not be used on a counter or as a baby seat outside of bath time. As your baby approaches the 6-month mark, getting active and wanting to sit up, there's an increased chance that your baby could tip the seat over. Be extra vigilant and be ready to say goodbye your bath support seat at 6 months.

✔️ Age and weight limits. Check the age and weight grading of any baby bath solution. Sink inserts and support seats are usually meant for the first 6 months. Baby bath tubs can usually be used longer. Read the packaging carefully and hold on to the manual. You'll want to refer to how you should be sitting and positioning your baby in the bath tub as they reach each new age and stage.

✔️ CPSC standards. If you're accepting a hand-me-down, be sure the bath tub was made later than October 2017 (in other words, in the past five years). That's when new CPSC standards for infant bath tubs came out mandating, for instance, that a tub have very clear safety guidelines printed on the product.

✔️ Skip an inflatable tub. Inflatable baby bath tubs are both flimsy and slippery, as explained by pediatrician Harvey Karp, MD, who offers other bath tips such as having a towel next to you for when bathtime is over, so you don't have to even step to the other side of the bathroom to go get one.

✔️ Take a pass on upright bath seats. Inclined bath support seats for young babies, like the Angelcare, can be used safely with constant parent supervision. It's the upright bath seats, with leg holes and marketed for toddlers, that have a history of problems tipping over and entrapping children. (See this bath seat recalled by the CPSC as just one example.) Such bath seats might also provide parents with a false feeling of security but, at the risk of repeating ourselves, you still have to stay right next to your baby when they're in the tub.

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Baby bath time safety, from the American Academy of Pediatrics

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A few baby-bath safety notes from the pediatricians at the American Academy of Pediatrics:

• You can set the maximum temperature of your home's hot water heater to 120 degrees F. That helps prevent accidental scalding burns in the sink or tub.
• Never leave your baby's side during bath time. Yes, it can get boring when they are toddlers and just sitting in there playing, but it's possible for a child to drown silently in even an inch of water, so you must stay within sight and reach.
• Don't trust an older kid to watch the younger one.

Here are a few tools to make bath time easier for parents and safer for babies:

• Put a bath spout cover on the faucet so there are no bonked heads.
• Get a comfy kneeling pad to cushion your knees as your tend to your child.
• Use a bath rinse cup to get shampoo out of your baby's hair without water going in their eyes.
• Add a bath thermometer as an additional check that the water isn't too hot or getting too cold. About 100 degrees is what's recommended.

When can I start bathing my newborn?

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This is a great question to ask your pediatrician at the hospital or at your first well visit, so the doctor can walk you through what to expect, especially if you have a preemie. But, in general, these are the guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Mayo Clinic:

Wait until the umbilical cord stump naturally falls off before submerging your newborn in a tub or giving them a sink bath. Until then, stick to sponge baths (with your newborn laying on a towel, while you wiping them with a wet washcloth). The cord usually comes off after a week or two.

Infants probably only need a bath every other day, maybe for all of the first year. Young babies especially are not doing anything to get too dirty, and their skin can dry out easily. With a baby older than 6 months, you'll be able to make the call based on whether they were playing in the dirt, dealing out some especially filthy diapers and so on.

Not all infants love baths, especially early on. They have to lean back, they get wet, you're within sight but not holding them — so they might get mad. Toys can help but sometimes they just make a baby even more furious. Feel free to keep bath time short. Try playing music if that helps (for you or your baby!) and maybe even switch up what time of day you give a bath. Baths are great as a wind-down before bedtime but if a bath gets your baby amped up, work it into the morning routine instead.

How to clean a baby bath tub

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Anything that spends a lot of time being wet, whether it's your baby's bath tub or their baby bottle or sippy cup, needs to be occasionally sanitized to avoid mold and germ buildup.

Good Housekeeping's Home Care & Cleaning Lab Executive Director Carolyn Forté reminds parents that with hard, plastic toys or something like an infant tub, bleach is your best sanitizer. "To protect against mold, washing occasionally with a bleach solution is best. That's why they put chlorine in swimming pools," Forté says. She recommends a solution of 1/3 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water, the same ratio she recommends for cleaning small, hard toys prone to mold (which includes bath toys).

Forté says you can let the tub remain wet with the bleach solution for 6 minutes, then rinse it thoroughly and allow it to air dry. If the mold is not coming off, even with bleach and some scrubbing, it's time to toss the tub.

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Our chemical engineer on what to add to your baby's bath

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Do you wash with just water, or add a little baby bath wash to get your little one clean? We asked Sustainability Lab Executive Director Birnur Aral, PhD, a chemical engineer and mom who helps lead our Sustainable Innovation Awards.

"Once they were out of the newborn phase, whenever I bathed my babies I always used a gentle yet foaming cleanser as opposed to washing them in plain water," Aral says. "I found that that plain water wasn't enough to wash away the messes that baby skin can come in contact with due to eating solid foods. Their chest, neck, hair and hands may need special attention, as well as their diaper area." Truly, baby food can get everywhere! And does have to come out the other end.

Aral is not afraid of baby products that add a few suds. "The bubbles generated can make bath time a pleasant sensorial and playful experience for both the parent and the baby," Aral says. "My kids tolerated most fragranced baby washes as well, so the aromas helped make the bath time extra relaxing."

Finally, rinsing all soap off your baby and drying them thoroughly are musts for skin wellness, Aral says. Take your baby out of the bath if you see their fingers or toes getting pruney, which is a normal phenomenon but means that the skin barrier is starting to get irritated. The Cleveland Clinic explains how anyone's skin gets wrinkled after too much time in the water.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

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The Good Housekeeping Institute has been reviewing, testing and spelling out the pros and cons of thousands of consumer products for more than 100 years. Parenting products is just one corner of what the engineers, chemists and registered dietitians rate and rank; you can also find lists like the best shower filters and best dish soaps as well as our accolades such as the Beauty Awards.

This ranking of baby bath tubs was overseen by Chief Technologist & Executive Technical Director Rachel Rothman, a 15-year veteran of the Institute and mom of three kids ages 6 and younger. She also collects and analyzes data for major family-oriented programs such as the Good Housekeeping Family Travel Awards and Kids' Book Awards.

Contributing Writer Jessica Hartshorn, a mom of two, wrote these reviews. She's a journalist who previously covered the baby-gear market for American Baby magazine and Parents magazine, and she also worked on-staff at Parenting magazine and Woman's Day.

Headshot of Jessica Hartshorn
Jessica Hartshorn
Contributing Writer

Jessica (she/her) is a freelance writer with several decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home and parenting products. A mom of two teens and two cats, her previous work can be seen in American Baby and Parents.

Headshot of Rachel Rothman
Reviewed byRachel Rothman
Chief Technologist & Executive Technical Director

Rachel Rothman (she/her) is the chief technologist and executive technical director at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she oversees testing methodology, implementation and reporting for all GH Labs. She also manages GH’s growing research division and the analysis of applicants for the GH Seal and all other testing emblems. During her 15 years at Good Housekeeping, Rachel has had the opportunity to evaluate thousands of products, including toys and cars for GH’s annual awards programs and countless innovative breakthroughs in consumer tech and home improvement. 

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