Anything that sits in water runs the risk of becoming mouldy so you'll need to wash your child's bath toys regularly.

Our favourite toy for 18-month-olds is Happyland - tough, durable and super cute, it’s ideal for small hands to hold, whilst encouraging creativity, imagination and role play activities. It’s also a toy that can be played with for years and saved for future generations! How we chose our recommendations Recommendations from real Mumsnet users The alternative for those who are mould-averse is to simply replace your bath toys every few months, but the impact on the environment and your budget could be off-putting. What is the best bath toy?Educational benefits - What learning experience does the bath toy offer? Will it help with a new skill or experience appropriate to your child’s age? The benefits of educational bath toys can include everything from developing and encouraging imagination and creativity to motor skills, understanding cause and effect and communication skills. Is it appealing to your child? - The best toys will offer enticing elements such as bright colours, moving parts or familiar actions to attract and hold your child’s attention. We've got round-ups of the best toys for a range of ages, all based on authentic recommendations by real parents. Here are our guides to the best baby toys, best toddler toys, the best toys for 2-year-olds and the best toys for 3-year-olds. The Tomy Toomies Foam Cone Factory is a big hit with Mumsnet users thanks to its ability to banish boring bathtimes. Encouraging imagination and role play, all whilst developing fine motor and communication skills, this toy attaches straight to the side of the bath or wall tiles using suction cups.

The boat also has a shape-sorter with foam shapes that float in the water, and Iggle Piggle himself also comes in two parts to act as a water-pouring toy.As with the best baby toys, different bath toys will be enjoyed at different ages and development stages and will boost different skills. Some baby bath toys are suitable from birth, so you can start with some straightforward floating objects to catch your newborn’s eye.