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Rub-a-dub-dub, the best baby bath toys for the tub!

Everyone loves relaxing in the tub! Except for toddlers, who develop a rebellious streak around the year two mark and suddenly refuse to partake in pretty much anything you ask them to do. If your independent tot is steadfastly refusing to wash, worry not. We have a few bath toy tricks up our sleeve to lure them back into the water...

From the best rubber duckies to keep babies amused in the tub to interactive toys for toddlers, we've rounded up our pick of the best bath toys for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers, available to shop now.

Bath toys tend to be bright, colourful and fun, all of which will capture your little one's attention! But there are a few points worth considering before you make a purchase.

From multipurpose teethers to interactive and educational games, keep scrolling for our pick of the best bath toys to shop now...

When it comes to bath toys, a classic rubber duck is a great place to start. Kids love bright toys, "duck" is an easy word to master, and they're fun to dive bomb without being heavy enough to cause any damage! But this little duckie has gone the extra mile and doubles up as a thermometer to warn you if the bath water is too hot. To activate it simply pop duckie in the tub and then take a peak at his belly. If it says HOT, add some cold water. Genius.

In the early days it can feel like teething goes on forever! If you have a pink-cheeked and fractious toddler in the house, now you can double up bath toys with teethers thanks to this super-cool watermelon slice. It's light enough for little ones to hold easily, plus it's made from natural hevea rubber so it's kinder on the planet – and your baby's sore gums! We're quit partial to the radish version too.

You could probably pass your kid a plastic cup and they'd be perfectly happy playing in the tub. But this interactive bath bar from family-run Canadian brand Battat Toys takes playtime up a notch, and is guaranteed to keep your kiddies entertained for long enough to scrub their grubby necks. It comes in six removable pieces so it's easy to clean, while the fun watermill and scoop will keep curious minds occupied. And it looks super-cute to keep the parents happy too.

If you have a bookworm in the house, this super-cute ocean-inspired colour changing bath book will definitely keep them occupied in the tub. Our two-year-old tester is going through a defiant stage and currently hates bath time, but learning about the ocean and spotting his fave marine animals kept him in the water just long enough to wash his hair. We consider this a strong win!

If eco-credentials are a top priority for you, you'll love this planet-friendly bath boat from Danish brand Dantoy. The Blue Marine collection is made exclusively from recycled fishing nets, ropes and trawls found in the sea! These eco-friendly models are all cleverly brought back to life in a factory in Denmark. Due to its planet-friendly manufacturing, each toy looks a little different but they are all 100% unique and fully sustainable. We're also fans of this eco-friendly dinner set from the same brand, which could technically be used in the bath.

Encourage your little wordsmiths to learn their ABCs during bath time with these fun foam letters and numbers from Munchkin, that also provide a handy distraction while you're trying to scrub your grubby toddlers clean! They stick to tiled walls and float in the water too, so they're ideal for making learning fun. Our two-year-old tester is just starting to learn about the alphabet and loved these so much, he was completely absorbed in word play and refused to get out of the bath, which was a first!

This cool bee bath toy from Skip Hop is a big hit with babies and toddlers alike! Simply dunk the friendly bee underwater and let the cascading water umbrella do its thing. It was a big hit with our toddler-tester, who loves interactive messy play. Plus if your kids are averse to hair washing, this is a great way to get them wet without too much complaining...

Transform bath time into a real adventure with this beautifully-made fishing boat from quirky UK brand B.Toys. The 13-piece set includes funky fishes, nesting cups, brushes and combs and a captain, all designed to boost hand-eye coordination and encourage imaginative play. And everything fits neatly below deck when playtime is over. What's more, the brand uses 100% recycled and recyclable packaging and donates a portion of every sale to WE.org, a global initiative that educates and empowers young people.

If mouldy bath toys are your personal bugbear, this super-cute silicone cloud and rain droplet set will appeal. They come with tiny holes so your littlies can experiment with rain and messy play! And once it's time for bed, you can open them both up and dry them out easily to prevent mould build up.

Future scientists will love this ColourMix Lab bath toy for toddlers from Munchkin, that includes 12 tablets to experiment with. The toy is designed to teach tots about colour mixing and all of the ingredients are safe, non-toxic, and non-staining so you won't lose sleep about the mess. Simply stick the suction toy to your tub, add the coloured bath tablet and let the experiments begin!

If you have a pre-schooler in the house you will be familiar with Hey Duggee, so your little ones are bound to love this light-up boat based on the hit CBeebies show. It floats in the tub with Captain Duggee on board, plus it lights up underneath – perfect for growing tots fine-tuning their motor skills and having fun in the bath.

Transform bath time into a galaxy far, far away with this super-cool set of bath-friendly figurines from the coolest franchise on earth. The set includes all the best characters from your fave Star Wars films including Chewbacka, Darth Vadar, R2D2, BB8 and Yoda. And if your toddlers are resisting bath time? In the words of Yoda the Jedi knight, simply remind them, "Fear is the path to the dark side."

Another great toy with eco-credentials, this sea plane from The Green Toys Store is made entirely from (safe and phthalates free) recycled plastic, so mini eco-warriors can enjoy bath time without worrying about the future of the planet. It's also sturdy and durable so it will withstand any amount of undersea expeditions. And for additional brownie points, the packaging is also made from recycled materials too, helping the environment, saving energy, and reducing greenhouse gases.

Do you have a mini artist in the house who also makes an awful lot of mess? Kids love getting creative! But art also comes with a lot of cleaning up. The bath is actually the ideal place to get crafty without worrying about tidying up afterwards, so these washable bath crayons made specifically for use on bathroom tiles will be just the ticket! Simply let your little ones get to work, and then wash it all off with a damp cloth afterwards.

Sometimes all you need at bath time is a wind up toy that makes enough waves to distract your toddler long enough for a hair wash! We're big fans of this cheeky submarine monkey that comes with a moving propeller to keep things in motion. This whale shaped Bath Rinser from the same brand is also super-cute.

These spooky puzzle shapes made from soft EVA foam stick to the sides of the tub and float on the water, making them the perfect bath time distraction for little ones. They're also designed to fit together like a puzzle, and the soft foam won't withhold water, so they're less likely to attract mildew.