24 Must-Have Baby Bath Essentials Every Parent Needs

Looking for the ultimate list of must-have baby bath essentials that every parent needs to have on hand?! This post has got you covered for all things bath time!

If you’re a first time mama/parent or even if you’re a few kids in, these bath time essentials are a *must* for a smooth, safe, easy, and enjoyable bath experience for both parent any baby!

We are going to cover ALL things baby bath essentials from baby bath sponge, baby bath thermometer, bath mat, bath kneeler, towels, toys, and more! Many many years of being a nanny and being in charge of numerous bath times has really given me the insight on what works and makes it a smoother experience for all.

After learning about all of these baby bath products you will be prepped and ready for anything and everything that bath time will throw your way! Bring on the happy, clean, and content babies!

This post is all about baby bath essentials!

Must Have Baby Bath Essentials Every Parent Needs

1. Bath Kneeler

If I could recommend one baby bath essential that makes SUCH a difference for the parent or nanny, it’s easily a bath kneeler.

Kneeling on hard tile can be tough on your knees, and you are kneeling for a long time during baths. I’m not sure I could have survived as many bath times as I did without one! Trust me on this one and grab a kneeler, your knees will majorly thank me.

2. Elbow Rest

Perhaps you have a very plush bathmat and don’t need a kneeler, or have knees of steel and can go without it, but you may still want an elbow rest.

Lots of leaning over involved with bath time, and this can be great to protect your elbow from the bathtub, and to give you some protection from getting too wet. These have grips on them also so you won’t go slipping and sliding as you lean in.

Bonus – some elbow rests have storage in them as well, to organize bath toys, bath and body products, store wash cloths, your own valuables like a nice watch or your rings (if it’s water a like the one above), or whatever else!

3. Bath Kneeler + Elbow Rest Combo

Of course if you want double the protection, you can go with the bath kneeler and elbow rest combo! This way all is protected from the hard surfaces beneath it, and from slipping and sliding around. And you’ve got the option for storage in the elbow rest as well!

This one is machine washable which is a MUST to get out and funky smells from a product that is getting continually wet.

They can get quite stinky, so try to avoid anything that isn’t able to be thrown in the wash. As much as you want your knees protected from the hard tile, you want to avoid getting them all sticky and musty smelling too!

4. Baby Washcloths

I’ve used a handful of different baby washcloths during my nannying years, and these by far are the BEST. A good size, muslin, high quality, looooong long lasting, get softer with each wash, hold up in the wash, don’t fray, don’t slip out of your hand, and very gentle on baby’s skin while still doing a good job cleaning. What more could you want?!

You will end up going through and washing washcloths ALL the time once baby is born, so you’re going to want something that will hold up. Plus, they have loops on them so you can hang them up after the bath and dry them a bit before they go into the wash so they aren’t just sitting there all damp.

From newborn through the kid years, these are the best washcloths out there! Lots of different prints and patterns to choose from, too.

The aden + anais washcloths are 100% one of the top baby bath essentials I’ll be registering for when the time comes! Honestly, might pick some up before then because I want these for myself too!

5. Baby Bath Scrubber

In addition to a washcloth, you might also want a baby bath scrubber. Or perhaps you prefer to stick with the scrubber to the washcloth – your call!

Depending on just how dirty your little one is, if you’re wanting to scrub off some dry or flaky skin, or it’s just your preferred method for bath time, this little scrubber is a great tool to have in your bathroom.

This is especially good for dry skin, eczema, and cradle cap! Super gentle and has a suction cup to dry off and stay dry in the tub.

6. Shampoo & Body Wash

Mustela is a popular brand that creates gentle and effective bath and body products for baby. They have a wide range of products depending on skin type, so they are a great option for all needs.

I was a fan since they didn’t dry my hands out either and I deal with really dry skin, and of course were effective for baby as well!

Typically you use a shampoo and body wash combo, and these are a great option! They also offer products that are either just a shampoo or a body wash if that is your preference.

7. Bubble Bath

What little one doesn’t love a bubble bath!? While it might not be for newborns, it can be a fun additional to bath time as they get older!

I recommend going with something fragrance free and formulated for sensitive skin, just to be on the safe side and avoid any possible skin irritation. Then, bubble away!

To be extra cautious , it is best to double check with your doctor to see when would be appropriate to introduce bubble baths.

8. Lotion

For those extra dry little babes, lotion can be a *must*. It’s one of those things you should have on hand just in case you need it, since you never know when dryness might occur and you want to avoid that discomfort that often happens alongside it.

This is a really great lotion for baby that’s clean, non-toxic, fragrance free and gentle. You’ll love it for yourself too! High quality stuff.

If you’re baby is dealing with ezcema and itchy skin and needs something a little more intense, this brand also carries an eczema and itch relief cream that you might want to try out.

9. Bath Product Set

Want to just grab an easy set that has all the products you need?! These three are all gentle and effective and has all the baby bath essentials you need to get baby squeaky clean!

10. Bathroom Caddy

Depending on the storage options in the bathroom you typically use for bath time, it might be helpful to have a bathroom caddy to store all the products you need in an organized way. You don’t need anything too fancy, just something waterproof and easy to transport.

You could store towels, toys, and more than just the bath products as well. Whatever works best for you!

11. Baby Bath Sponge

There are a few different options for how baby will actually be in the tub or sink, depending on age, preference, and what makes the most sense. But when baby is really little, having a soft place for them to lay down is SO helpful. They are very slippery, so holding them is an accident waiting to happen.

One option is a baby bath sponge! This can go in a sink, in a bathtub, or in a baby bathtub that you put within your normal tub. It helps baby stay put, supports their head and neck all while being soft and comfortable. They dry easily and all in all make the bath experience safer and more pleasant.

Plus, super affordable!

12. Bath Tubs

Like I said before, newborns are very slippery in the bath. I’ve bathed itty bitty guys in the tub with no insert for a baby and it’s scary! Not to mention hard to bathe them since you have to hold them with one hand. Even when they’re able to sit on their own, it’s just easier and safer to have some kind of insert for them to be in.

Lots of options to choose from between the baby bath sponge, a baby bath tub, a bath seat (for when they’re older) or a sink bath insert!

For the bath, you don’t need anything too fancy!

The Summer Splish ‘n Splash 3-Stage Tub is an awesome option that you can use for a long time! It has 3 modes – newborn, infant/baby, and toddler, with the proper support for your baby no matter their age. And super affordable too, especially considering how much use you’ll get out of this!

13. Bath Seats

For when they get a little older and can sit on their own, and are more ready to play in the bath, a bath seat for baby can be a great option to explore!

This bath seat suctions to your tub, and is super easy to install and uninstall. Baby is safe and secure so they can play all they want, and you can rest assured that baby won’t be roaming freely in the tub!

14. Sink Bather

When baby is really little, having a soft sink bather as their bath option can be great! You simply put this in the sink and bathe away! Baby is soft and comfortable with their head supported, and most importantly, safe.

Just make sure you properly dry it after bath time to avoid any potential mold growth!!

15. Bath Spout Cover

This might be an item that you don’t even think is necessary, but trust me, you’ll be glad you have one. Arguably one of my top recommendations on this list!

I never realized how easy it is to accidentally bump the baby’s head on the spout before putting in plenty of bath time hours! I luckily never ended up bumping anyone’s head, but having a bath spout cover in place provided some much needed peace of mind just in case anything were to happen.

Like I said, baby’s are SO slippery! And accidents happen. Prevent any potentially scary head bumps to the faucet with a cute faucet cover!

Beyond the infant and baby years, it’s an absolute MUST have once your baby is old enough to crawl and explore the tub more freely. Bumps happen in the blink of an eye! Add it to your registry and thank me later.

16. Drain Cover

A drain cover is another item that you might feel could be unnecessary, but once your little one is bathing straight in the tub and exploring around, you’ll be glad you have.

Depending on what your drainage looks like in your tub, some have little holes or spots where tiny fingers could end up exploring and even get stuck! I know it’s really easy to think that you’ll keep and eye out and that will never happen, but I swear, they’re always so sneaky, and things happen in the blink of an eye.

If your drain has spots that tiny fingers could end up going, I suggest grabbing a drain cover to prevent any tiny stuck fingers.

Plus, if you have any tiny toys in the tub, it will prevent any from going down the drain resulting in a heartbroken baby and even worse, a clogged drain!

17. Bath Mat

Another great safety and comfort item to have in your bathroom for your little guy or gal!

Having a bath mat in the tub makes for a more comfortable bathing experience when they’re sitting and crawling around. More importantly, it helps to prevent too much slipping and sliding. Have I mentioned just how slippery babies are enough yet?!

A bonus for this particular bath mat is that you can throw it into your washing machine to clean!

18. Baby Bath Thermometer

This is a good item to have on hand for peace of mind as well so you know the temperature isn’t too hot or too cold but juuuuuust right for baby.

This baby bath thermometer can display temperature in Celsius and Fahrenheit. It will alert you if water is too hot or too cold. By default, it alerts you when the water temperature is outside of the recommended 35-39 degree range (or 95-102 degree range in Fahrenheit)

19. Rinse Cup

I’m guessing this is another item that you’re probably thinking…okay do I really need this?!

Need, well, no. I’m sure you can get away with a regular old cup from the kitchen. But once you switch to a rinse cup specifically made for baby bath time, you’ll wonder why you didn’t make the switch sooner.

This cup is great because it’s a soft material, so if baby accidentally hits their head, no worries. This is a good size as well, so you don’t have to rinse and refill over and over and over again (a BIG plus for babies who HATE the rinsing part of bath time.) And it has a comfortable handle for mom or dad!

20. Shower Cap

This will completely depend on your baby/child, but some little ones absolutely HATE being rinsed. Either they scream and cry, or when they get older and are much more mobile, they can fight you and move all around to avoid it. It’s stressful and not to mention the fact that water likely will get EVERYWHERE in an attempt to rinse them.

If that’s your child, I highly recommend getting a shower cap/visor to help with the experience. They simply wear this, and it helps water avoid their eyes and face, hopefully making for a much more calm (and less wet) bathing experience for everyone!

Pro tip – if you’re little one is showing signs of hating being rinsed off, I would suggest grabbing this sooner rather than later. The more their fear and anxiety grows the harder bath time will be, and likely the less open they will be to trying something like this out. I’ve found that in all cases really, the sooner you can calm fears the better!!

21. Bath Toys

What bath isn’t complete without a few bath toys?!

Of course there are SO so so many options out there for all ages, but here are a few that for sure were fan favorites back in my nannying days.

A few tips when it comes to bath toys:

• Wait to see what type of toys your little one likes before buying a whole bunch. Not all will be winners. If they are gravitating towards the boats, maybe grab a few more. But don’t buy a ton of bath toys because what I’ve found is that they like a few and the rest go ignored.
• You don’t need a ton!!! They will be happy to play with a few. Trust me and watch their imaginations run wild with how they can entertain themselves with literally just the rinse cup 😂 and maybe a few other toys too.
• Read reviews and search for toys that are MOLD free. Bath toys are notorious for being mold breeding grounds. Be careful!

22. Toy Storage and Organization

You can’t have bath toys without a way to store them! Well, you could, but it would just be a big mess of bath toys everywhere.

Having a place to hang them up so they can dry and avoid any mold or gross smells is SO necessary too!

I really preferred having a bath toy scoop because it cut down on time having to pick up each toy individually.

Pro tip – hang it higher than you think so your little one can’t easily grab it. Otherwise they’ll constantly be pulling at it and dumping it and that can be especially challenging when you’re trying to wrap up bath time but all they want to do is stay and play.

23. Hooded Bath Towels

Bath time is over, time to dry off! Two main options when it comes to towels – hooded or regular.

I personally preferred hooded bath towels to help dry their hair faster and keep them warm, but it comes down to personally preference!

24. Regular Bath Towels

More of a regular bath towel kinda person or is that what your baby seems to prefer?! Not a problem. Plenty of options! (although the hooded options are more common so if you’re doing you’re own searching you might need to dig a bit!)

Now you’re all set with all the baby bath essentials you could possibly need! From getting squeaky clean, to playtime, to a safe bath experience, and drying off, you’ve got it all. Happy bathing!

This post was all about baby bath essentials!