The Best Travel Baby Bathtub: Our Top 12 Favorites
Infant bathtubs are classically one of the bulkiest and most difficult baby items to travel with. Although you can always fill your large basin-style tub with baby clothes, toys, and other essential travel gear to throw in the trunk of the car, it can help to find more compact bath time solution for travel, especially when you need to fly with your infant. To help you find the best travel baby bathtub for your family’s next adventure, read on for our 12 favorites.
The Winning Lineup
Along with their approximate costs, here are the top 12 bath time solutions for traveling with baby:
- Best for road trips: OXO Tot Splash & Store Bathtub ($70)
- Road trip runner-up: Boon Naked Collapsible Bathtub ($70)
- Best for flying: Puj Soft Foldable Infant Bathtub ($45)
- Flying runner-up: Contours Cozy Infant Sink Bather ($34)
- Softest material: Blooming Baby Bath Lotus ($40)
- Best budget buy: The First Years Sure Comfort Folding Baby Bather ($20)
- Budget buy runner-up: Summer Infant Deluxe Baby Bather ($20)
- Best for toddlers: Skip Hop Non-Slip Baby Bath Mat ($18)
- Longest lasting: Stokke Flexi Bathtub Bundle ($80)
- Roomiest design: Summer Infant Foldaway Baby Bath ($35)
- Best inflatable tub: Mommy’s Helper Inflatable Baby Bathtub ($20)
- Inflatable runner-up: Boon Puff Inflatable Baby Bather ($22)
Detailed Buying Guide
Here are all the features you’ll care about when deciding which travel baby bathtub is the best for your family:
Best for road trips: OXO Tot Splash & Store Bathtub
- Approximate price: $70
- Dimensions: 30.8″ by 17.8″ by 9.3″
- Weight: 4.8 pounds
- Age range: Birth to 18 months
The OXO Tot Splash & Store Bathtub has been our family’s go-to baby tub for almost four years. Its narrow end is designed to cradle newborns and younger infants, eliminating the need for a separate infant insert. Once babies are strong enough to sit in the water unsupported, they can switch to the wider end of the tub, where they have more room to splash and play.
The Splash & Store has a wide support post to prevent little ones from sliding downward. A quick-release drain is also located at the center of the tub.
When not in use, this bathtub collapses completely flat. Its legs fold underneath it for storage and for travel. Although it’s too large for flying, it’s a great option to throw in the trunk of the car for road trips or weekends away. The Splash & Store has a rotating hook that’s perfect for hanging to dry in the shower or on a towel rack, making it an ideal tub to tuck out of the way in smaller spaces.
Road trip runner-up: Boon Naked Baby Bathtub
- Approximate price: $70
- Dimensions: 30.4″ by 17.9″ by 6.7″
- Weight: 6.4 pounds
- Age range: Birth to 18 months
Boon’s Naked 2-Position Collapsible Baby Bathtub‘s design is similar to that of the OXO Tot Splash & Store. The body and legs of the tub collapse flat for storage and for travel, and a rotating drying hook lets parents hang it up and out of the way.
A narrow end is suitable for newborns and young babies who need more support in the tub. Once they can sit on their own, babies graduate to the wider end of the tub where they have more space. One of the most notable differences between the Boon and the OXO Tot is that the sidewalls of the Boon tub are almost three inches shorter, making it less effective for containing splashes.
The Boon Naked has a ridge in the center to keep babies from sliding around too much. As a unique safety feature, the tub’s drain plug turns from gray to bright white to signal to parents when the bath water is too hot.
Best for flying: Puj Soft Foldable Infant Bathtub
- Approximate price: $45
- Dimensions: 26″ by 25″ by 1″
- Weight: 2.6 pounds
- Age range: Birth to 6 months
The Soft Foldable Infant Bathtub by Puj is an innovative sink bather that uses durable magnets to hold its sturdy seat in place. It cradles small infants and protects them from hard surfaces. While most parents picture needing a large kitchen sink to run a baby bath, the Puj tub works with most pedestal and countertop bathroom sinks.
Made of soft foam that’s resistant to mildew and mold, the bather hangs flat for drying and for storage. Because of its light weight and compact size, the Puj is a good option for parents who need to fly with their babies.
Flying runner-up: Contours Cozy Infant Sink Bather
- Approximate price: $34
- Dimensions: 17″ by 16″ by 8.5″
- Weight: 1.1 pounds
- Age range: Birth to 6 months
The Contours Cozy Infant Sink Bather is a soft mesh bather that weighs just over a pound. It has a small seat with a cushy bottom and a supportive seat back, and it comes in an attractive turquoise color. The Contours is made of breathable material to help it dry quickly. It’s also safe to put through the washer and dryer to clean and eliminate moisture.
The Cozy Infant Sink Bather is suitable for infants who weigh less than 20 pounds and cannot yet sit on their own. It offers head and neck support for growing littles, and it contains non-slip material on its underside to keep it stable in the sink. While it doesn’t collapse flat like the Puj Infant Bathtub, the Contours is easy to stuff into a suitcase if you’re checking a bag for your next flight.
Softest material: Blooming Bath Lotus Baby Bath
- Approximate price: $40
- Dimensions: 33″ by 33″ by 1″
- Weight: 0.9 pounds
- Age range: Birth to 6 months
Unlike any of the other bath solutions on our list, the Blooming Bath Lotus Baby Bath is a soft, plush bather that comes in an array of calming colors and resembles an adorable flower. The Blooming Bath fits most sinks and contains non-stick dots under its petals to hold it in place. It helps cradle young babies and protects them against sharp edges in the sink around them.
Because the Blooming Bath is so lightweight (less than a pound!), it’s a good option for traveling families. After bath time is over, simply wring out excess moisture and hang it to dry or throw it in the dryer. Some parents recommend putting the bather through both the washer and dryer after each use to prevent mildew.
Best budget buy: The First Years Sure Comfort Folding Baby Bather
- Approximate price: $20
- Dimensions: 13″ by 12.3″ by 2.8″
- Weight: 2.4 pounds
- Age range: Birth to 6 months
The Sure Comfort Folding Baby Bather by The First Years is an excellent low-cost baby bath solution, although its weight limit of 15 pounds can be limiting. This bather has a sling-style seat with a thin mesh back and sides. It folds easily into thirds for compact storage or travel.
Although the Sure Comfort Bather fits in most sinks, we’ve found it easier to use in a large kitchen sink than in smaller bathroom vanity sinks. In our experience, it’s better to use this bather when you have an extra set of hands to help you keep baby securely in place.
Budget buy runner-up: Summer Infant Deluxe Baby Bather
- Approximate price: $20
- Dimensions: 22″ by 13.5″ by 12.5″
- Weight: 3.4 pounds
- Age range: Birth to 6 months
The Summer Infant Deluxe Baby Bather is similar in design to The First Years Sure Comfort Folding Baby Bather, but the Summer Infant model is heavier and slightly bulkier when collapsed. It has a removable mesh seat cover that parents can put through the washing machine between uses.
The Summer Infant has a soft, wraparound headrest that keeps your baby’s noggin protected and securely in place during bath time. It folds flat for travel, and it even has three recline positions to adjust based on baby’s development.
Best for toddlers: Skip Hop Non-Slip Baby Bath Mat
- Approximate price: $18
- Dimensions: 30″ by 15.5″ by 0.5″
- Weight: 2.2 pounds
- Age range: Not specified
As our kids grew older and could sit upright in the tub without assistance, we rejoiced in no longer needing to travel with a full infant bathtub or sink bather. Instead, we now travel with our Skip Hop Non-Slip Baby Bath Mat. At a reasonable price, this mat comes in a cute whale design and sticks to the bottom of any full-size bathtub or large kitchen sink.
This adorable bathmat is perforated to allow for drainage and faster drying. The whale’s tail unhooks and can be secured to any bath hook or shower rod, allowing us to hang it up to dry completely after each use. The non-slip mat coordinates with Skip Hop’s Moby Bathtime Essentials Kit, which includes a whale-themed rinser, bath spout cover, elbow pad, and knee pad.
For a simpler alternative that covers a larger area of the tub, check out the XL Non-Slip Bathtub Mat by Slipx Solutions.
Longest lasting: Stokke Flexi Bathtub Bundle
- Approximate price: $80
- Dimensions: 26″ by 15.4″ by 9.4″
- Weight: 2.9 pounds
- Age range: Birth to 4 years
Unlike the other travel tubs on our list — with age ranges up to 24 months at most — Stokke’s Flexi Bathtub Bundle was designed to last little ones from birth to four years of age. The bundle comes with a newborn insert that cradles and supports smaller infants. Once baby can sit upright unassisted, parents can remove the insert and give their child the entire rectangular tub space to splash around.
The Flexi has a color-changing drain spout that signals to parents when the bath water is too hot. Despite its roomy size, the Flexi folds completely flat between uses (without the infant insert), making it a good option for travel and for tight spaces.
Roomiest design: Summer Infant Foldaway Baby Bath
- Approximate price: $35
- Dimensions: 34″ by 20″ by 7″
- Weight: 4.0 pounds
- Age range: Birth to 2 years
At 34″ in length and 20″ in width, the Summer Infant Foldaway Baby Bath is the largest tub on our list. Despite its ample size, the entire tub folds in half with legs that collapse flat for convenient storage and easy travel. Its folded dimensions are 20″ by 17″ by 6″.
The tub features an inflatable base with an adjustable infant positioner. Parents can set the positioner at an incline for younger babies, or lay it flat on the bottom of the tub for older babies. The Summer Infant brand specifies that families should only use the Foldaway Baby Bath inside an empty adult bathtub.
Best inflatable tub: Mommy’s Helper Inflatable Baby Bathtub
- Approximate price: $20
- Dimensions: 19.5″ x 10″ x 7.5″
- Weight: 1.0 pounds
- Age range: 6 to 24 months
The Mommy’s Helper Inflatable Baby Bathtub is the only tub on our list that’s not appropriate for babies under six months, but it’s a reliable travel bathtub for infants and toddlers who can sit unassisted. Suitable for children who weigh between 16 and 34 pounds, the Mommy’s Helper includes an inflatable center saddle horn to prevent younger babies from slipping.
Similar to a miniature kiddie pool in design, this nontoxic inflatable tub features an easy-release drain plug for when bath time is over. Between uses, parents can wipe it clean and set it out to air dry.
Inflatable runner-up: Boon Puff Inflatable Baby Bather
- Approximate price: $22
- Dimensions: 9.3″ by 9.0″ by 2.5″
- Weight: 1.1 pounds
- Age range: Birth to 6 months
For parents needing an inflatable travel bath solution for infants under six months, the Boon Puff Inflatable Baby Bather checks all the boxes. The bather cradles and protects babies up to 20 pounds in weight. It fits in any adult bathtub and in most sinks. The Boon Puff’s micro-fleece cover, which is safe to run through the washer and dryer, holds onto water to provide warmth and softness.
For about $10 more, families can purchase the Boon Puff+ bundle, which includes a storage bag. The fabric cover of the Puff+ also has attached wings to blanket baby with extra warmth.
The Final Verdict: Finding the Best Travel Baby Bathtub
We hope our detailed guide help you narrow down the search for the best travel baby bathtub, sink bather, or bath mat for your family adventures. Although all 12 products on our list are great, we think you can’t go wrong with the OXO Tot Splash & Store Bathtub, the Puj Soft Foldable Infant Bathtub, or The First Years Sure Comfort Folding Baby Bather if you’re shopping on a budget. For more help with keeping baby clean on the go, check out our list of baby bath essentials or our tips on how to bathe your baby while traveling.
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