Travel & Portable Baby Bathtubs: Are They Worth It? Our Top Choices
Portable bathtubs for babies and toddlers have become increasingly popular among parents in recent years. These innovative products provide a convenient and safe solution for bathing infants and young children, both at home and on the go.
Over the years I’ve seen parents bringing portable baby bath tubes on cruise ships or even to the beach. Many people also tend to use them at home. Are they a must-buy and worth a purchase?
Is a Portable Baby Bathtub Essential?
While everyone will have an opinion on the subject, I think it depends on your situation. Our family moves all the time and it’s safe to say that we don’t always have a bathtub in a place we’re living in.
A newborn is obviously too small to be put in a big bathtub anyway until they can sit unassisted, so the most common practice was to bathe a baby without a bathtub, in the sink. They even got this cute flower to bathe a baby.
However, even after we bought a house and had a bathroom with a bathtub it seems unnecessarily wasteful to fill an entire bathtub of water for a short baby bath. Again, a little travel baby bathtub came in handy.
Is a baby travel bathtub a must then? No. I showered a squirmy and slippery baby in a hotel room with him slipping everywhere and that would have been so much easier in a little tub or at least by having a little infant insert. But alas, this insert didn’t fit in my suitcase. It is extremely handy though!
What About Toddlers? Do They Need Travel Baby Bathtubs?
If you asked me before I had babies if a baby bathtub is essential for a toddler I would have probably laughed and said “Of course not”. You can shower your child obviously, right?
Our firstborn child hated showers and they pretty much terrified him and our secondborn would not step a foot in the bathroom if the shower was on. We read numerous tips tell us to “get the child used to the shower” and trust me, we’ve tried and tried. Eventually, we succeded but it took 2 years and a broken tooth, after a child decided to run away from the bathroom terrified, slipped and broke his tooth on a marble floor.
That said for us a travel bathtub for toddlers was essential to keep our family sane.
Additionally, while we personally never used a bathtub in those circumstances many opt for a tiny bathtub if they take infants and toddlers on cruises where non-potty trained kids are forbidden from entering the pool. Or if you’re afraid that your toddler is going to walk into the ocean waves, it can be good to have a portable tub to cool them off.
Our Picks of the Best Portable Baby Bathtubs:
We tested numerous baby bathtubs and while many were looking cute, they were easily punchable, leaked, or took too much space. We ended up with 4 favorites and we recommend.
Best Foldable Bathtub: Stokke Flexi Bath
There is a lot to like about the Stokke Flexi Bath but one of its best features is how it folds flat which makes it super easy to store and transport. It will fit in a full-size suitcase in case you want to bring it somewhere.
This tub also has a temperature indicator that changes color to help you manage the warmth of the bathwater. The Stokke Flexi bath is good for babies who can sit on their own but I wouldn’t recommend it for infants as it’s quite deep without any support.
However, if you do want to use this bath with your youngsters, you can add the infant insert which can attach to the brim while resting on the bottom, cradling your baby as if in an arm. For bigger toddlers or even twins, there’s also an XL version of it.
I see this bathtub a lot on cruise ships and beaches, as it’s so lightweight and doesn’t require blowing it up and cleaning is super easy. It is not cheap though.
Best Inflatable Tub & Best for Travel: Goodking
Inflatable bathtubs are the best choice for traveling with kids as they are lightweight and pack down very small. The Goodking tub is a great example of a good inflatable tub as it is a decent size and provides all the features and comfort you need.
It comes with a pump, the nonslip design makes sure your children are safe while in the tub and there is even some built-in support for the head and back.
After bathtime, you can easily pull the plug to release the water, deflate it, and hang it from the inbuilt loop to dry.
Best Budget: Munchkin Duck or Mommy’s Helper
If you’re looking for a cheap yet portable bathtub, the Munchkin Duck is a good choice. This inflatable tub has an adorable yellow duck shape, which makes bath time even more fun for the little ones. It’s also the cheapest option and honestly works just fine. We had it at my in-laws’ house and it was easy to inflate and never broke, so it was 100% worth a purchase.
The duck has a textured bottom to avoid slipping and a handy color-changing disc that turns white if the water is too hot. Some people complain that it is a little difficult to blow up however I disagree.
Another alternative to the Munchkin Duck is Mommy’s Helper, it also comes in some fun colors but without the duck head sticking up
Most Multifunctional & For the Beach: Tolead Collapsible
The Tolead Collapsible bath is a great tub if you are looking for something portable which can be used for many different purposes.
Made from a combination of rigid plastic and softer material, the tub can easily be pushed down to flat or popped out to full size.
While it doesn’t have any head or back support (making it only suitable for children who can sit up unsupported), the tub has a convenient plug for easy emptying and is a decent size.
Other uses for this tub could include washing clothes, animals, dishes or even filling with ice for a cooler while camping.
