9 of the best no-mould bath toys
Worried about mould growing in your child's bath toys? Check out our pick of mould-resistant rubber ducks, floating shapes and stackables - from UK brands like retailers Amazon, Edushape, Munchkin, Cuddledry and more...
There are some fun, splashy, budget-friendly bath toys on the market right now - but they might not necessarily be 'mould-free'.
Usually, a little bit of mould in a bath toy is not a huge problem, and can easily be solved with some cleaning.
Related: MadeForMums Toy Awards 2024: Winners revealed!
However, we totally understand that some parents would prefer to purchase bath toys that do not allow a build-up of mould inside...
Jump to 9 of the best no-mould bath toys
Best no-mould bath toys at a glance
- Great for newborns: Cuddledry CuddleDuck, £12.99
- Great for encouraging imagination: Boon Fleet Stacking Boats, approx £14
- Great for gifting: Hevea Kawan Mini Rubber Duck, £13.94
- Great for hand-eye coordination: Ubbi Squeeze N Switch Bath Toys, £9.99
- Great for parent-child interaction: Edushape Floating Blocks Bath Toy, £22.99
- Great for vibrant colours: Munchkin Caterpillar Spillers, £6.99
- Great for stimulating the senses: Munchkin Float Play Bubbles, £13.99
- Great for visual learning: Edushape Magic Creation Jungle Fun Bath Shapes, £14.99
- Great for sensory learning: Matchstick Monkey Bathtime Slide Set, £16.99
How do you know if a bath toy is a no-mould bath toy?
Usually, if a toy is mould-resistant, that'll be one of its clear selling points - so it'll be pretty obvious in the retailer's description online.
With bath toys, a good indicator is whether or not the toy is all one piece. If so, there's no room for water to get inside the toy, and potentially develop mould.
For example, bath toys with little holes in the bottom aren't mould-free, as water can enter the toy and stay there.
Is it no-mould if it's BPA, phthalates or PVC free?
A fair few of the toys in our list are proud to call themselves BPA, PVC, and phthalate-free, in addition to being mould-resistant.
BPA is a chemical that is used in certain types of plastic, and phthalates are added to plastic to make it more flexible. Both carry possible health risks - so are sometimes avoided. For example, you might've heard of BPA-free baby bottles.
PVC is an environmentally-questionable material we know some parents would rather opt to avoid.
So, just because they are free of these things doesn't mean they're guaranteed to be no-mould. Technically, though, it does make them 'non-toxic'.
Now, check out 9 of the best no-mould bath toys…
1. Cuddledry CuddleDuck, £12.99
– Great for newborns
Age suitability: From birth | Best for age: From birth | Batteries: None
A classic duck made with natural rubber, with no hole in the bottom. Available with pink or blue dots, to suit your little one's preference.
The claim is that this duck is naturally antibacterial and anti-mould, as well as phthalate-free and non toxic. The paint is also safe according to the EU Toy Safety Directive (EN71).
It's all lovely and soft, too, and comes in a sweet organza bag which makes it an excellent gift for new babies.
Available from: Not On The High Street
2. Boon Fleet Stacking Boats, approx £14
– Great for encouraging imagination
Age suitability: 9 months + | Best for age: 9 months+ | Batteries: None
A set of 5 colourful boats which your child can use to scoop up, pour and sprinkle bath water, or stack into a pile.
These boats def promote interactive play, and are BPA, Phthlate and PVC free. There are little sprinkle holes, but nowhere for water to get stuck - something parent reviewers really enjoyed.
They do need a bit of hand washing with warm and soapy water, though. But then... don't most toys need taking care of?
Available from: iHerb and fruugo
3. Hevea Kawan Mini Rubber Duck, £13.94
– Great for gifting
Age suitability: From birth | Best for age: From birth | Batteries: None
A stunning hand-painted, off-white, natural rubber duck that is all one piece, so no holes for water to creep inside and get all germy.
Yes, £13 for a floaty rubber duck may seem a little on the expensive side, but you're guaranteed a bath toy free from PVC, phthalate and BPA.
We also like that it's A-OK for teething too, making it multi-purpose. And it's another duck that we think would make a charming gift for a newborn in your life.
Available from: Babipur
4. Ubbi Squeeze N Switch Bath Toys, £9.99
– Great for hand-eye coordination
Age suitability: 9 months+ | Best for age: 9 months+ | Batteries: None
4 interchangeable (mix and match!) bath toys, including a green seal, orange octopus, yellow crab, and a blue whale.
Twist, squeeze and pop the lids on different bottoms - there's lots of colourful, splashy fun to be had with these cute toys.
They do allow water inside but as the water stays inside with a lid, it's easy to pour out and see when it's been left inside. As its not being hidden in a little hole, you're not at risk for a mouldy build up.
They're free from BPA, PVC and phthalates, and you can pop 'em in the dishwasher to clean. Nifty!
Available from: Amazon
5. Edushape Floating Blocks Bath Toy, £22.99
– Great for parent-child interaction
Age suitability: 18 months + | Best for age: 18 months + | Batteries: None
Bright-coloured and super chunky building blocks made of foam. Comes with a foamy base, and a net bag to help drain the foam once playtime's done.
It's "extraordinarily resistant to mould and mildew and will not absorb water or misshapen" - handy!
These blocks, which DO float in the water, also won Silver in our previous MadeForMums Toy Awards, and are standing the test of the time.
Our child testers really enjoyed it, and we like that it's a mould-free option for toddlers, not just little babies.
Available from: Amazon
6. Munchkin Caterpillar Spillers, £6.99
– Great for vibrant colours
Age suitability: 9 months + | Best for age: 9 months + | Batteries: None
7 cheap and cheerful rainbow-coloured caterpillar cups that can be stacked, linked and used to pour/strain water.
It's value for money - providing bathtime fun time and time again at a very low price point.
The cups all fit into each other so are pretty compact when stacked, perfect for storing away. And there's a little spinner on one of the cups. An added bonus!
Available from: Amazon
7. Munchkin Float Play Bubbles, £13.99
– Great for stimulating the senses
Age suitability: 4 months + | Best for age: 4 months + | Batteries: None
You get 4 'bubbles' per set, which are little plastic spheres containing 2 fun bathtime characters and 2 devices which whirl around.
Designed to stimulate a bright-eyed baby's senses of sight, sound and touch, these floating bubbles certainly do the trick.
They're bright and engaging when spinning and rattling - and floating - away in the tub. They're also quite textured, so are good for your baby to grab and hold.
Notice there's no entry point for water to get in, making them no-mould, as far as we can tell!
We like that there are a couple of animal characters, too - as opposed to one caterpillar or one duck!
Available from: Amazon
8. Edushape Magic Creation Jungle Fun Bath Shapes, £14.99
– Great for visual learning
Age suitability: 2 years + | Best for age: 2 years + | Batteries: None
18 decent-sized (ranging from 8cm - 23cm) animal and jungle-themed shapes that stick to smooth surfaces when they're wet! Comes with a net bag to keep 'em stored.
These jungle bath shapes are chunky, floaty and super fun to stick on bathroom tiles after being dipped in the bath.
Ideal for toddlers who are learning about animals, creating stories with pictures and LOVE to grab a hold of as much as possible.
Plus, there's no hole in these toys and as one mum says: "they seem to be chew proof (in spite of numerous attempts to eat them!)"
Available from: Amazon
9. Matchstick Monkey Bathtime Slide Set, £16.99
– Great for sensory learning
Age suitability: 12 months + | Best for age: 12 months + | Batteries: None | Awards: Gold, MFM Awards 2023
This bathtime slide can be attached to your bath using its suction grips and comes with three colourful animal rocks. It’s simple for little hands to play with and will add a splash to their tub as they place the lion, giraffe and monkey rocks on the slide and watch them dive into the water.
It’s all made from BPA silicone and ABS material, and contains BioCote Antimicrobial Protection for safe bathing (and mould prevention). The balls also don’t have holes in which means no need to fear the dreaded bath toy gunge.
Our parent tester Brenna, who tested this with their 18 month old, commented that “it’s made bathtime much more enjoyable for him”, and she “loved the fact the slide could be twisted and altered to fit the bath better, and you can place it under the tap for an added effect.”
Available from: Baby Mori, Amazon
Image: Retailer websites
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Authors
Cordelia Aspinall is a Digital Writer for Immediate Media, working across brands including The Recommended, RadioTimes.com, MadeForMums and BBC Gardeners’ World. She has previously worked and written for digital publications including Condé Nast Traveller, The Evening Standard, Cosmopolitan, and several other lifestyle brands.
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