Baby bath time shouldn’t be a stressful time, but you’ve got to make sure you’ve got your bases covered. Safety first! The last thing you want is for your little one to slip and slide in the tub. But with so many bath mats available, how do you choose? We tried to take the guesswork out of bathtime for you by suggesting the best baby bath mats for your bub in the tub.
From simple and practical to cute and colorful, here are our 11 favorite bath mats for your baby or toddler:
Why it’s great: This eco-friendly bath mat is made from TPE material, which is a silicon alternative that meets EN71 standards. TPE is phthalate, latex, and BPA-free, and has no unpleasant smells or odors, making it perfect for your baby. This mat comes in 12 fun colors, so you can choose the one you like the best. It also has a soft, thick texture that is more than .25 inches thick, which is very comfortable to stand or sit on. It has excellent suction and adheres to all smooth surfaces.
This mat comes in two sizes, measuring 30×17” or 35×16”, and is machine washable. Pro tip: attach to the shower wall to dry after machine washing or bathing, and your mat will maintain its quality and cleanliness much longer!
Keep in mind: Some parents complain of color transference onto their tub, so choose your color wisely!
Good for: The eco-minded parent.
Why it’s great: This bath mat offers the best overall value for the price. Made with durable, natural rubber, it is naturally latex, phthalate, BPA, and PVC-free, making it a safe choice for your baby. It comes in a bright yellow with a whimsical mama and baby elephant design on the top, so it will appeal to your little one. The strong suction feet on the bottom ensures it will stay in place for your baby.
This mat measures 23×13” and weighs a little over 1 pound. While it claims to work on smooth-surfaced tubs only, some customers claim it works just fine on their tiled tubs. As a bonus, this mat is easy to care for: just throw it in the washing machine and then hang it to dry.
Keep in mind: Due to its smaller size, this may be better for babies than toddlers, as it will not give your tub bottom full coverage.
Good for: Parents that need a bath mat on a tight budget.
Why it’s great: This simple bath mat has a textured seashell pattern and is made from natural, flexible, rubber. Due to its textured surface, the mat is very slip-resistant, as well as quite durable, and claims to be heavy-duty. Its plentiful suction cups will stick to any smooth surface when dampened before applying. It is latex, phthalate, BPA, and PVC-free, and has drainage holes around the perimeter of the mat. Its neutral design will complement nearly any bathroom and children of any age, which means your baby will be able to use this as long as they want.
This mat measures 28×16”, which will fit most standard-sized tubs with room around the edges. It is conveniently machine washable and it is recommended you hang it to dry to maintain quality.
Keep in mind: This mat is more of an off-white color than white, which may clash with a bright white tub. Also, its design and pattern are a bit on the bland side, so it doesn’t exactly appeal to little ones, but it definitely serves its purpose if functionality is what you are looking for!
Good for: Parents looking for a neutral bath mat that works for babies and adults.
Why it’s great: This extra long bath mat is made of phthalate, latex, and BPA free PVC and comes in multiple colors. It has a raised pebble-like textured surface, for tush cushion comfort, and has 200 big suction cups that will stick to any smooth surface tub. Some customers say it even works well on their lightly textured tubs.
This mat is the largest mat on this list, measuring 40×16” and offers the best coverage, making it ideal for large bathtubs. It is machine washable and also has a 10-year warranty.
Keep in mind: This mat may be too long for a standard tub; be sure to measure your tub before purchasing as it will not deliver on its safety features if not allowed to lay flat on the bottom of your tub.
Good for: Parents with larger or longer bathtubs.
Why it’s great: The Gorilla Grip bath mat offers the best all-around quality, as its patented design is made with antibacterial and mildew-resistant plastic material that is non-toxic, phthalate, latex and BPA free. This mat has 324 suction cups, to ensure super suction, and hundreds of drainage holes to help prevent mildew growth. This mat also comes in 23 different colors, so you are sure to find one to suit your style!
Measuring 35×16”, it offers excellent coverage with its rectangular shape. The Gorilla Grip mat is machine washable. The best thing about this mat is that it comes with a 10-year warranty, so if you’re not satisfied, just contact the manufacturer.
Keep in mind: Due to its plastic material, it is recommended you machine wash before first use to remove any plastic smells.
Good for: Parents that want a high quality bath mat.
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Why it’s great: This is an adorable mermaid bath mat that’s sure to grab your child’s attention. It also comes with washable bath crayons to keep your baby entertained while they’re getting washed. The top is textured and non-slip to keep your child from having any accidents. It also has 200 suction cups to keep the mat in place. This mat can be machine washed and comes with suction hooks so you can hang it on the bath wall to dry. It measures 15.35×30.7”, which is a great size for a standard bathtub. It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee!
Keep in mind: It’s best to wash the crayons off the tub quickly, as they take a little more scrubbing the longer you leave it on.
Good for: Parents looking for a bath mat that offers extra entertainment to keep bath time fun!
Why it’s great: This bright blue bath mat contains with 200 suction cups is certain to stick to your smooth-surfaced bathtub. Its textured surface provides added comfort underfoot (or bottom). It is longer than most bath mats, so it should cover most of the floor of your bathtub, which is great when your baby becomes more mobile in the bath. With more than 176 drainage holes, this mat is easy to care for and stays cleaner longer. You can also just throw it in the wash and hang it to dry until you need it next.
Measuring an extra-long 40×16” with a scooped-out shape to accommodate your drain, this mat should provide generous coverage of your bathtub, protecting your little one against slips.
Keep in mind: This mat is for smooth surfaces only.
Good for: Parents looking for the most coverage at a moderate price.
Why it’s great: This mat comes in three different prints – zoo animals, ocean creatures, and the alphabet – all of which will help to teach your child something. Not only are they educational, but they’re also adorable! The mat itself is extra long, measuring 35×16”. It has hundreds of suctions cups to keep it in place and a textured surface to keep your baby from slipping on it. It’s made of high-quality PVC material, which is durable and soft and cushioned for your baby’s bottom.
Keep in mind: This mat only works on smooth surface tubs, not on tile or textured tubs.
Good for: Parents looking for an adorable bath mat that is also educational.
Why it’s great: This bath mat has a unique, ripple design with built-in drain holes to allow the water to flow through it. This means that you don’t have to worry about mold and mildew building up in/on the mat. It’s BPA and phthalate-free, so you can feel confident in your baby’s safety. This mat is thicker and gives plenty of cushion for your child’s bottom too. Plus, it has hooks on each side for easy hanging when you want to let it dry. It measures 15.75×36.5”, so it covers the majority of a standard size tub, without leaving a ton of extra space. It comes in two colors and is stylish enough to use for babies or adults.
Keep in mind: It is recommended to soak it in hot water for 5 minutes to get the suction cups softer and to get them to adhere to the tub correctly. Also, this mat only works on smooth surfaces.
Good for: Parents that want a mat with a unique design.
Why it’s great: This mat is super adorable and the colorful dots are sure to get your baby’s attention. It is BPA and latex-free, has a non-slip texture, and measures 30.5×14.25”. This mat is on the smaller side but gives your child plenty of room to sit and play in the middle of the bath. The small size is also great for portability, in case you need to take a mat with you on vacation or visiting relatives. You can even purchase a matching kneeler to protect your own knees while washing your child.
Keep in mind: The dots are raised, so it may be a little more uncomfortable, although they are soft!
Good for: Parents that want a smaller mat that’s also adorable.
Why it’s great: This super cute crocodile bath mat is sure to entice your tot into the tub. With its bright green color and crocodile shape, it will add an element of fun to every bath. Made of rubber, it is phthalate, latex, lead, and BPA-free. The surface of the mat has textured “crocodile scales” to keep your baby from sliding around in the tub.
Measuring 35×13”, this mat is great if you have a smaller tub or just one baby to bathe at a time. The crocodile has eye holes and a tail hole from which it can be hung out to dry.
Keep in mind: This mat is not machine washable. You will have to clean the mat and hang it to dry after each use to prevent mold and mildew from developing around the suction cups.
Good for: Parents that want to make bath time more fun!
The Mantto Non-Slip Extra Soft Eco-Friendly Bath Mat is our overall top recommendation. It's the highest quality product we have found with the most affordable price making it the best value on our list..
This really depends on your bathtub. Bath mats provide a non-slip surface for your baby, so you don’t have to worry about them falling in the tub. They also give a little cushion for your baby, so they have a softer surface to sit and play with while bathing. However, if you have a textured tub or one that has built-in anti-slip dots, you may not actually need the bath mat. They are usually made for smooth surface tubs only.
Bath mats should really be washed, or at least rinsed, after every use. They also need to be hung to dry to prevent mold and mildew from growing around the suction cups or on the mat itself. Most are machine washable, but not all, so you may want to take that into consideration when choosing a bath mat.
Your baby should be able to sit up unassisted before using a bath mat. They are not meant to support your child in any way, so they need to be able to handle that on their own. Before that, you should use a special bath chair or baby bath tub to wash your baby.
Bath mats see a lot of dirt and grime and can get pretty dirty. Plus they are likely to grow mold and mildew the longer you have them around, even with regular cleaning. Because of this, it is recommended that you get a new bath mat at least every two years. You may want to get one sooner than that if you don’t wash it after every bath. Keep an eye on the high traffic areas and on the suction cups and throw it out if you notice any mold or mildew on it.
The most important thing to know is that the majority of bath mats only work on smooth surface tubs. If you have a tile or textured tub, it’s likely that a mat won’t work. If you have a smooth surface tub, you’ll still need to soak your bath mat in hot water for 5 minutes to get the suction cups ready. Then you should be able to get them to adhere to the tub. Just getting them wet first doesn’t always work, so keep that in mind.
This depends on the size of your bathtub and how much area you want to cover. For a younger baby that’s just sitting up, a smaller bath mat is fine because they’re not moving around the tub. Once your baby gets a little more mobile, you may want something that covers the majority of the tub bottom. Your best bet is to measure your tub and make sure that you don’t get one that’s too long. If it is, it won’t be able to suction properly and won’t be as safe.
Bath time can be a fun and exciting time for the baby! Splashing around, discovering the joys of water, encouraging sensory exploration, and learning self-care skills are all important developmental benefits of bath time. Bathing can also be a relaxing way to wind down your little one at the end of the day, as you ease into your bedtime routine. What bathtime should not be is stressful!
Making sure your baby is safe in the bath is your number one priority as a parent. Equipping your bathtub with a safe and slip-resistant bath mat is a smart way to ensure that you have one less thing to worry about when bathing your little one. While it can be daunting at times to try and choose the right product for your baby, it’s best if you try a more methodical approach so as not to get overwhelmed. First, list out your top priorities and desired attributes. Then, come up with a budget or price range so you know where to start looking. Then narrow it down from there. You are bound to find the bath mat suited to fit your needs.
Hopefully, this list proves helpful to you in your search for the best baby bath mat.
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