What is The Best Travel Baby Bath From Infant to Toddler 2024? (Reviews & Guide For Collapsible and Inflatable Baby Tubs)

We all know it: kids can be messy and that doesn’t change when traveling – quite the opposite! At home, you probably have the luxury of an actual baby bath on top of a bathtub and/or shower. But in general, you won’t have that while traveling.

How are you going to get your little one clean?

Read on to find our information guide to bathing a baby while traveling and a comparison chart to find the best baby bath for travel for your family.

The best Travel Baby Bath 2023: top picks

• The best in-sink portable infant bathtub: Puj Flyte
• The most easy-easy-to-use infant bathtub: Summer Fold Away
• The baby travel bath you will use the longest (from 6m-5+ years): Fajiabao or Weylan Tec
• The cheapest portable baby bath: Mommy’s Helper Froggie
• The most lightweight and smallest to pack travel tub: Mommy’s Helper or Disney
• The best portable bathtub for twins: Weylan Tec

How do I bathe my baby on a trip?

🧼IN THE TUB: in case your hotel room features a bathtub, it is possible to bathe your baby in there. However, you might not always have enough room to kneel comfortably. An alternative might be to get in the tub with your little one.

🧼IN THE SINK/WITH A SPONGE: in case the sink is big enough, you can opt for bathing your baby over there. However, make sure to scrub it good really good first. Another option is to put your baby on a warm, flat surface (f.e. a thick towel) and use a sponge and the sink water to clean your baby.

🧼IN THE SHOWER: showering your baby might seem like the easiest option because you can always count on having a shower at your room and you don’t need to drag additional items. However, it is also the most dangerous way of bathing your baby! It is easy to slip or drop your kid. Always make sure to keep a tight hold and block the water from hitting your baby directly.

🧼WITH A SLING: if you are into babywearing or if you don’t want to drag along a portable babybath than this is a good option to bathe your little one. The downside is that you have to get wet as well. You can shower together without the risk of a slipping baby. Using soap might get more difficult as the fabric covers most of your child’s body.

TIP: If you’re interested in using a ring sling in the shower, take a look at our article on waterproof baby carriers.

WITH A PORTABLE BABY BATH: Not feeling comfortable with any of the above options? A travel baby bathtub might be the perfect solution! Yes, you have to take it along with you (though an inflatable infant bathtub doesn’t take up that much space), but it makes traveling with a baby that much easier!

Did you realize that a portable baby bathtub is right up your ally? Deciding which one you need, depends entirely on the way you like to travel.

👉Do you always take a flight out to a foreign country? Do you prefer to go on an RV road trip (read more about the best way to pack a motorhome here) or do you like to camping? Read on to find the best travel bath for your family!

Until what age do I use a travel baby bath?

How long you are going to use an inflatable baby tub evidently depends entirely on yourself. Some people never use one, others invest immediately in an inflatable toddler tub to last a couple of years.

We believe that those first 6 months are the hardest to cover without a portable baby tub. As long as your baby can’t sit independently, you’ll have the annoyances and dangers mentioned above.

But even if your baby is capable of sitting, you’re not out of the clear yet. You still have to hold your baby in the shower or sit on your knees in a too small hotel bathroom.

An inflatable or collapsible baby bath can generally be used until around 3 years old. This makes them an even better option if you’re planning to use an inflatable bathtub for toddlers as well. Some of the tubs we recommend can be used until the age of 5 or even older!

What type of travel tub do I need?

Whether you’re traveling by public transport, car or plane, you really don’t want to be carrying around an actual baby bath. They are not made to be transported and while not necessarily heavy they tend to be rather bulky. In fact, there are only 2 types of baby baths that are an actual options to add to your travel gear.

🛁 Foldable baby baths: this kind of travel bathtub generally folds flat. That way, it will never be really tiny, but it’s more durable than the inflatable baby baths. They’ll likely won’t break during the time you’re using it (so they might even last more than 1 kid!)

🛁 Inflatable baby bathtubs: this kind of travel baby tub can be inflated either by an air pump or by mouth. Like most inflatable products, it takes up very little space when deflated. The biggest con is the possibility of air leaks, especially when dragging it around in a suitcase.

Accessories

The baby travel bathtub guide isn’t complete without mentioning some cute accessories. We weren’t able to resist some mentioning some of these cute bath toys. Check out these adorable floating ones from Munchkin or this one that automatically sprays water from Agedate.

For your baby, we recommend a travel set of baby products, like this one from Puracy has everything you need)! This will be good for your baby’s skin and smells amazing.

We also used fast-drying – absorbing and super soft washing cloths, like the ones from Arus. The cloths can also be used as an instant bib or even as a baby wipe.

1. The best portable infant bathtub

Blooming Bath Lotus – baby bath in sink, tub or shower

The flower travel bath baby measures 33 inches (84cm) from tip to tip, while the centre of the flower is 8″ (20 cm). Because it is this big, the portable baby bath tub will take up quite some space in your suitcase.

You can use this fold-up baby bath in the sink or regular bathtub of your accommodation. In the shower is possible as well, but keep in mind that it’s not recommended to run the water directly on your baby (because the temperature might change at all times).

Another way to use this portable bathtub for baby is as a washing pillow. You can put your baby down and bathe them with a sponge.

When you’re finished bathing your baby, wring out the excess water and hang it up to dry (or put it in the tumble dryer for 10-15min if you have one available). Unfortunately, even when you wring it as hard as possible, it will still take quite some time to dry, especially in a more humid climate. And when it doesn’t dry properly, the travel baby bath support might become smelly.

You can put the travel infant bathtub in the washing machine and dryer, but on a gentle cycle only. Many parents recommend washing it after every other use to prevent mildewing.

For our Canadian readers: Click here to buy the blooming bath tub / For our readers from the UK: Click here to buy the blooming bath tub

Puj Flyte Tub – in sink baby bathtub

It’s a great travel companion because it folds flat so you can put it into your suitcase (not in a carry-on!). This makes it convenient for storage as well (at home or away)! It measures 24″ x 10″ x 1.5″ (61 x 25.4 x 3.8 cm) when folded. At 1.23 pounds (560g), it’s pretty lightweight as well.

This baby fold away bath is made from a sturdy (but soft!) closed-cell foam which is toxic-free. Therefore, it is mold-resistant. The bottom has a grippy texture that prevents the foldable tub for babies from sliding around.

Cleaning the fold up baby bath is simple with some soap and water and you can wipe it dry in a couple of seconds. There is a little hole in the corner that you can use to hang it (use a hair tie to make a loop so you can attach it to something in the bathroom of your accommodation).

Because the travel bath for baby can’t hold much water, it tends to cool off quickly. It’s a little inconvenient to have to add warmer water frequently – or you can just keep it running.

Many reviews mention that your baby doesn’t have much room for splashing and playing, but since we’re looking for the best travel baby bathtub, this gets the job done.

The Puj Flyte travel infant bathtub is suitable for babies from birth to about 6 months or until 17 pounds (7,7 kg) according to the firm. However, many parents report that bigger babies outgrew this tub at the age of 3 months.

For our Canadian readers: Click here to buy the Puj Flyte / For our readers from the UK: Click here to buy the Puj Flyte

2. The best collapsible baby bathtub

Stokke flexi baby bathtub foldable

It was designed to save space and thus folds flat so you can store it easily and even put it in your suitcase (although it would take up a lot of space and it won’t fit in a carry-on of course!). This results in dimensions of 26″ x 9.4″ x 13.7″ (66 x 24 x 34.8 cm) when in use and 8″ x 9.4″ x 3.9″ (20.3 x 24 x 10 cm) when folded.

A heat-sensitive rubber stopper makes it easy to drain the water. If you put the stopper under a corner it will be even easier. Many people choose to just dump the water because taking the stopper out and putting it back in is a bit of a hassle. The locking hinge holds the tub down when it’s folded, but might break after a while. The travel tub for baby is very easy to clean.

You don’t have to use this portable baby bath solely while traveling, it is perfect at home as well! Babies tend to outgrow their baby baths quickly but are still too small for that grown-up bathtub. That’s where the Stokke bath can come in. It’s the perfect size for an in-between baby tub and it fits perfectly in a standard bath.

This foldable bathtub for baby is suitable from birth to 3 years, which makes it an excellent portable bathtub for toddlers too. However, when you use it for your newborn, you’ll need the newborn support, which isn’t foldable and thus not travel-friendly at all!

Be aware that Stokke states it is suitable up until 4 years, but many parents say it is too small for their preschooler. Don’t forget it is only 26″ (66 cm) long, which is not big at all! A toddler won’t be able to swim in it, but because it is quite deep, it will still be a comfortable bath.

The Stokke Flexi Baby is the best foldable bathtub for toddlers!

For our Canadian readers: Pick your favourite Stokke Flexi bath here / For our readers from the UK: You can buy the Stokke Flexi bath here

3. The best inflatable baby bathtub for travel

Fajiabao baby bathtub inflatable

And they even add a small tube of glue to your package, to make sure you can keep on using your baby bath even if problems should arise in the future.

The outer size is 38.5″x25″x11″ (97.8 x 63.5 x 28 cm) while the inner size is 30″ x 15.5″ x 10″ (76.2 x 39.4 x 25.4 cm) and you can easily put it in your suitcase when folded. Because of this large size, it is suitable for kids until 3 years, but parents state that even kids up until 5 years fit in this baby inflatable tub!

The Fajiabao inflatable bathtub for kids is made from safe and non-toxic materials. Unfortunately, it smells quite a bit at the beginning, but the odor fades quickly. The bottom of the tub holds a special drainage outlet for easy emptying.

The ribbed design should prevent your child from slipping, but it still is quite slippery. An inflatable pillow in the middle makes it easier for your baby to stay upright. It has a separate inflation valve so you can just leave it flat for bigger kids, it won’t hinder them.

A storage pocket on the side and a loop to hang it to let it dry, makes this baby inflatable bath even more convenient. As does the curved back, which makes rinsing hair a lot easier.

You can use this inflatable bathtub for shower or you can put it in the regular tub. You can use the 3 valves to blow it by mouth or with an air pump. The high walls will prevent your little one from tipping over, unless they are into wall climbing for toddlers.

The Fajiabao travel bath weighs 2.4 pounds (1.1 kg) and is available in blue and pink. There are many baby tubs for showers available on Amazon with a very similar design.

It is suitable for children age 6 months to 3+ years. Although it states to be an inflatable infant bathtub, parent reviews mention that it is too big for a newborn. It is better to wait until a baby can sit independently because the inflatable travel baby bath is that large.

It is the perfect travel bathtub for toddler, as a 3 year old will still have a lot of space and even older kids will fit in. It’s a great transitional tub as well!

The Fajiabao tub is the best inflatable baby bathtub for toddlers!

The Fajiabao inflatable bathtub baby isn’t available on Amazon Canada and Amazon UK. There are a lot of similar (or even exact) designs. You can check them out here for Canada or click here for the UK.

Mommy’s Helper Froggie inflatable tub baby

The main feature of this simple rectangular baby travel bath tub is the saddle horn. This obstacle can be inflated to prevent your little one from slipping and sliding. Inflating is optional, so when your child is bigger, you can choose to use it as a toddler bath tub (for shower) without the saddle horn.

It is easy to inflate through the 3 valves (bottom, sides and saddle horn) and deflating goes very quickly. Therefore, it’s a great travel companion!

It’s a great tool to use as a baby bath for shower, but it fits snuggly into a regular tub as well. You can use the large drain hole to let the water out or you can just lift it up and top it over – as it is small enough to do so. Also, don’t forget to stuff something (a bath toy for example) underneath the bottom to make the draining process easier.

As with many products made from plastic, there is a chemical smell when opening the package and for the first couple of days.

The inflatable bathtub for babies is easy to tip when empty, so make sure to fill it enough to prevent that from happening while you are bathing your baby while traveling.

The Mommy’s Helper baby tub for shower or travel is suitable for babies and toddlers age 6 to 24 months. Make sure that your little one can sit up on their own more or less stable because if not, this travel bathtub for baby will not offer enough support.

For our Canadian readers: Click here to shop the Mommy’s helper inflatable tub for toddlers / For our readers from the UK: unfortunately, the Mommy’s helper inflatable bath baby is not available on Amazon UK

Disney baby bathtub inflatable

Bear in mind that this isn’t a large inflatable baby bath. The inside compartment measures 19″ (48.3 cm) but it comes with a non-detachable support pillow which limits the actual bathing space to 16″ (40.6 cm).

The features officially include a non-slip surface, a water temperature display and large storage pockets for soap and shampoo. Many parents report that it is very slippery, so make sure you always stay near to your child! Also, buying some non-slip bathtub stickers won’t hurt. Check them out here.

The temperature display works but with very subtle shading, making it very hard to see. You should not rely on this! The large pockets are usually a big success and great for some baby play time.

You should inflate this infant travel bath by mouth. If you find it hard, make sure you squeeze the inflaters because they are self-closing and only open up if you squeeze while blowing. The baby inflatable bath tub comes with two valves: one for the bottom and one to inflate the sides.

Unfortunately, there is no drain, so you’ll have to push it over to get the water out. Because the sides stick out a bit, the inflatable baby bath tub is hard to fill without a shower head or bucket.

The Disney inflatable tub for baby has a suction cup so you can hang it out to dry. Make sure to dry it really carefully afterwards, because all the holes and nooks make it attractive for mold.

Please note that this is an inflatable bath tub for baby and thus susceptible to air leaks. Some parents manage to keep it over a year, while others mention it already started deflating after a couple of days. But in any case you probably won’t be able to use this tub for your child’s whole infancy and toddlerhood.

The Disney travel bathtub can be used for children from 6 months to 18/24 months. Toddlers that are over 18 months won’t have a lot of space in the inflatable infant tub.

Parents report that it is bigger than the duck inflatable tub we mention below. Your little one can choose their favorite Disney character: Mickey Mouse, Nemo and more.

For our Canadian readers: you can find the Disney inflatable bathtubs for toddlers here / For our readers from the UK: the Disney portable tub for toddler is only available in an expensive princess-version. You can find it here. We recommend choosing another baby bath (inflatable) such as the Tiny Tots, Munchkin or Infantino whale tub

Munchkin white hot inflatable bathtub baby

The Munchkin white hot inflatable duck tub should be inflated by blowing into the 2 valves (one for the bottom and one for the sides and head). It is recommended to use an air pump as many reviewers say that it takes ages and is a lot of hard work to get it filled by mouth. You should always squeeze the valves when blowing, but it might still take up to 30 minutes.

Deflating the inflatable duck bath isn’t that easy either. It might be useful to open the valves and let it deflate naturally overnight. This will save you a lot of time.

The White Hot safety technology tells you when the water is too hot for your baby’s skin. However, it doesn’t seem to work adequately for everybody. Some parents mention it already shows HOT with lukewarm water, while others say that the letters become unreadable when the water is too hot.

The bottom of the duck inflatable tub is textured, making sure the child doesn’t slip. However, parents report that it still is quite slippery.

It comes with a removable plug for easy emptying, but it is so small that it can be tipped over as well. Because of the form, it’s a little difficult to fill without a removable shower head.

The Munchkin inflatable duck comes with a suction cup at the back, which you can use to attach it to the large bathtub to prevent it from sliding around. Furthermore, you can hang the Munchkin inflatable tub to dry, but the suction cup doesn’t work all too well.

The material is a sturdy plastic, so normal bathing shouldn’t get it punctured easily. The reports on air leaks are so-so, meaning that some people get an inflatable duck bath tub that doesn’t stay inflated from the very start, but others use it for a couple of months without problems. However, don’t expect it to last all of your kids. The price makes up for that though.

The Munchkin inflatable safety duck tub was voted the best baby bathtub 2016 by Babycenter. The bathtub weighs only 1.6 pounds (0.7 kg). Inflated it measures about 31″ x 19″ (78.8 x 48 cm), although the inner size is only 19″ x 10.5″ (48 x 26.7 cm). It deflates to a package of about 9.3 x 2.9 x 8.8 inches (23.6 x 7.4 x 22.4 cm).

The Munchkin travel bath can, in theory, be used from 6 to 24 months, but is actually perfect for babies between 6 to 15 months. It is too small to suit a toddler and very few people can use it for kids over 18 months. The inflatable bathtub for shower or traveling is available in a duck or swan design, although, keep in mind that the latter is smaller.

For our Canadian readers: you can find the Munchkin inflatable bathtub toddler here / For our readers from the UK: Buy your Munchkin duck tub here