Whether your little one is a reluctant bather and you need to find a distraction, or whether they just need something to keep them occupied when they are having a scrub, bath books are a great way to amuse your baby or toddler in the bath.
A lot of babies love to look at books and be read to, so why not make the most of their time in the tub and combine bath time with some reading.
Here we take a look at what bath books are, what to look for when buying a bath book and pick out the best waterproof bath books from those available.
Table of Contents
What are Bath Books?
Bath books are waterproof books that are designed to keep your little one entertained in the bath. They are normally made from smooth plastic that won’t soak up any water.
Many parents love using bath books for babies as it is a great way to keep them occupied in the bath while at the same time fostering a joy of reading. It is a good way to calm your little one down before bed and it also encourages them to read and interact with books from a young age.
Best Waterproof Bath Books for Babies
We’ve found some of the best waterproof bath books around to help you find one that your little one will love. Just keep one, or more, of these in your bath time storage so it’s close at hand when needed.
The Pigeon Needs a Bath Book!
The Pigeon Needs a Bath Book is one in a series of books featuring a quirky pigeon who gets into lots of amusing scrapes. Your little one will LOVE the funny story which involves the cheeky pigeon finding every excuse he can to not have a bath (this may resonate with you!).
It features some lovely illustrations and encourages your little one to interact as the pigeon asks questions on every page. It is also useful for encouraging your baby to read as it contains very little text. It is made from soft plastic and is easy to clean.
The Pigeon series of books are also available as paperbacks and hardbacks.
Check The Pigeon Needs a Bath Book! price at: Amazon
First Steps - Set of 4 baby Bath Books
The First Steps set of bath books for babies focuses on letters and numbers and are bright and cheerful with simple child-friendly pictures.
Some users have complained that the edges are quite sharp on the pages which could leave your little one with a few scrapes. Another issue that some customers have mentioned is that you may also not get 4 different books. Some people have noted that they have received duplicate copies of 2 books rather than 4 different designs.
These books are bright and inexpensive, but check with the seller that you are getting what you have paid for.
Check Price of First Steps Bath Books at: Amazon
Colour Me: Who's in the Water?
What a fabulous idea! This book is like magic painting but re-usable. Genius! When you get the pages wet the illustrations come to life in an array of beautiful colours. You could use a little brush if you wanted to or just let your little one spray the pages with water to see them magically change before their eyes.
There are three books to choose from in the Colour Me series – you will probably want to get them all! It may seem a tad more expensive than some of the other bath books for toddlers but it is definitely worth spending the extra pennies.
Check Price of Colour Me at: Amazon
Melissa & Doug Playful Penguins
Melissa and Doug are a trusted baby brand and their Playful Penguins book does not disappoint. This cute book comes with three little penguins which your little person can use to act out the story while they are reading. The penguins are stored in a handy mesh tube that is attached to the side of the book, so they don’t get lost between baths.
This waterproof bath book is a lovely way of helping your child understand the story they are reading by acting it out.
The penguins have a hole in the bottom to release the water so just be mindful that they might gather mould if they are not cleaned regularly. Make sure they are totally empty at the end of bath time to avoid mould building up.
Check Price of Playful Penguins at: Amazon
Galt Toys, Bath Pop Book
This Galt Toys, Bath Pop Book is slightly different to the standard plastic book. For a start it isn’t made of plastic but a lovely, soft, quick-drying fabric. It has 4 pages which are popped together so you can un-pop them to change the sequence of the pages.
This may be more suited as a bath book for babies as it doesn’t have a story and just consists of pictures, but the pictures are bright and the soft material is easy for younger babies to grip.
On the plus side, due to the clever popper design it doesn’t have any seams so there are no corners or edges for mould to build up. Because it is made of fabric it is easily popped in the washing machine to keep it clean and fresh.
Check Price of Galt Toys Bath Pop Book at: Amazon
Bath Time! By Sandra Boynton
Bath Time is a four-page book featuring cute illustrations of a mischievous pig. He starts off covered in paint and then has a good scrub to get him clean. It’s a very simplistic story but does feature a squeaker on the last page which your little one will no doubt enjoy.
It is a good size and is nice and squashy so your little one will be able to hold onto it fairly easily and it is perfectly safe to shove in their mouth!
Check Price of Bath Time! at: Amazon
Munchkin Soapy Stories Finger Puppet Bath Book, Space
Your little one is sure to LOVE this cute duck and his adventures in space. The duck in question in this Munchkin Soapy Stories Finger Puppet Bath Book is a fabric finger puppet that is really durable and easy to clean. It will withstand any amount of biting and pulling (let’s face it they will want to bite it!) and dries off really quickly.
Like many of the other best waterproof bath books it is made from nice, soft plastic with no rough edges so is perfectly safe for your little one to grab and bite. It is more expensive than many of the other books but it is great quality and the finger puppet will delight your little one.
Check Price of Munchkin Soapy Stories Finger Puppet Bath Book at: Amazon
Indestructibles: It's Bath Time!
The Indestructibles books really are just that – indestructible! They are made from a super clever material that feels like paper but is water-proof and non-toxic. They can be submerged in the bath, will withstand being chewed, are impossible to rip (literally impossible!) and can be washed in the dishwasher.
All this and they are pretty cheap compared with the other waterproof bath books on the market too. A total winner!
Check Price of Indestructibles It’s Bath Time at: Amazon
Simba ABC Magic Bath Book
Similar to the Colour Me book, the Simba ABC Magic Bath Book changes colour on contact with water. This book is made from soft plastic (and importantly has no sharp edges) and is super colourful.
There are plain patches in all of the pictures which gradually change colour in the water and then fade back when the book is dry. It also features a cute seal toy that is attached to the book and will squeak when squeezed.
There are no words so it is more suited to younger babies but they will love to watch the colours changing and squeaking the squeaker. Inexpensive and easy to clean too!
Check Price of Simba ABC Magic Bath Book at: Amazon
Peppa Pig: Peppa's Magic Bath Book: A Colour-Changing Book
Another lovely colour changing book – this time featuring everybody’s favourite character – Peppa Pig! Like the other colour changing books, Peppa’s Magic Bath Book changes colour when dipped in water.
Your little one will no doubt be delighted to see Peppa get up to her adventures and watch the pictures magically change colour before their eyes. It is made from soft plastic and easily wipes clean after use. Once it is dried the colours fade so it can be enjoyed again next bath time.
Check Price of Peppa’s Magic Bath Book at: Amazon
Squirty Fish Bath Book
The Squirty Fish Bath Book for toddlers will provide you with hours of fun in the bath thanks to its inbuilt squirter! Your little will enjoy the bright colours, and the pages are super tough nice and soft with no rough edges.
The story is very simple but they won’t care about that once they discover that the cheeky fish in the story can squirt them with water! A lovely fun idea and a great addition to bath time.
Check Price of Squirty Fish Bath Book at: Amazon
Waterproof Bath Book Buying Guide
What to look for in a Bath Book
The main features to look for in a bath book are:
- Made of waterproof, smooth and safe material with no rough edges (it will go in their mouth lets face it!)
- Non-rip
- Easy to clean
You will have your own personal preference about the style of illustration the book contains and what the stories are about.
You may also look for extra features such as changing colour, or the addition of toys. You also need to consider whether you want it to have an actual story if whether you (or more importantly your baby) are happy with just pictures, as some books don’t have any text at all.
How to read books in the bath
How you read books in the bath is really up to you (or your little one!). When they are very little you will probably hold the book for them and read out loud to them. As they get older and start to memorise the stories (which they most definitely will!) you can be a bit more hands off and let them turn the pages and read themselves.
How to clean bath books
The best way to clean a bath book after the bath is to give it a rinse under a warm tap ensuring that all the soap and bubble bath is rinsed off. Make sure you clean each page and then leave it dry, stood up with the pages fanned out so stop any moisture getting trapped and it going mouldy. If you have a fabric book they can be popped in the washing machine to keep them fresh.
For a deep clean, you can follow the same process as cleaning bath toys.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age are bath books for?
You can introduce bath books at any age, although until they can sit up independently there is a limit as to how interactive they can be. Most bath books carry a recommendation of between 1-3 years of age, but younger babies often love bath books and plenty of older children continue to enjoy bath books until they are 7 or 8.
What are bath books made of?
Bath books are normally made of a smooth, soft plastic material. You should look out for sharp edges on plastic bath books as some may have smooth pages but sharp corners. Some bath books are made of quick-drying fabric or other durable material.
How do you keep a toddler entertained in the bath?
There are loads of ways to keep a toddler entertained and happy in the bath so they don’t hate bath time. If you switch it up and try some different things every few days then, hopefully, they look forward to bath time and what it might hold in store. Try a few of these:
- Sing songs – if you don’t fancy yourself as a singer then you could invest in a shower radio or waterproof smart speaker that you can use to play their (or your!) favourite tunes and nursery rhymes. There are lots of speakers and music players out there but this cute penguin is not too expensive and a portion of the money spent on the speaker goes towards helping the animal featured on the product.
- Bath books – as mentioned in this piece, bath books are a great way to keep your toddler entertained in the bath.
- Bath crayons and pens – if you have a budding Van Gogh on your hands, they will love getting creative with bath crayons or pens at bath-time.
- Bath toys – there is a huge array of bath toys on the market for all ages. Find a bath toy of your little one’s favourite TV character and you may never get them out of the bath!
The Bottom Line
With such a huge selection of bath books out there it is sometimes hard to know which ones to plump for. The main factors should be whether they are safe (no sharp edges and rip-proof) and if they appeal to your little person. You are sure to find the best waterproof bath book that your little one loves from the selection above. Happy bathing!
