Now that my children are a bit older, I miss the days when I needed to stand by while they took a bath. I don't miss the mountains of bath toys, though; here's a selection of bath toys that have stood the test of time.
Above: Winner of the Duke of Edinburgh's Design Award in 1970, Patrick Ryland's bird and fish bath toys have recently been reissued by the Victoria and Albert Museum; £19.90.
Above: Toy and sponge in one: made in Greece, this natural Wooden Duck is available at Brook Farm General Store; $22.
Above: Simply adorable, this little canoe is handmade in Quebec, using natural oils and non-toxic water-based dyes, by L'Atelier du Cheval de Bois, which has making toys for 40 years. Also available in sailboat and kayak from Ava's Appletree; $19 - $24.
Above: Made in German, the beechwood and natural bristle nail brush is great for bath time play and scrubbing those little toes. At Brook Farm General Store; $12.
Above: Kid O's Bath Time Ducks have a timeless appeal (my kids love them); available through Amazon; $10.15.
Above: Combine bath time with early reading or just some goofy fun with Milliwik's Splashimals, which allow tots to mix and match to create their own fantasical critters; $9.72 at Amazon.
N.B. Looking for more creative play for tots? Browse our selection of the most imaginative building blocks.