At a glance:
This cute little octopus definitely makes bath time more fun, with an interactive, engaging game for little ones to play. Fun, durable and suitable for babies over one and a half, it can easily be turned into a competition to keep older kids entertained at bath time.
What they say:
“Make bath time an enjoyable experience with the bright and colourful Octopus floating bath toy. Throw the hooks onto his tentacles as the octopus floats in the bath. Also great for improving hand-to-eye coordination.”
Tested by mum Sian Milton for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
The price is the first reason I would recommend this product as it is amazing! The octopus is a bit small but, then again, what do you expect with the price tag it has? The little activity with the hoops that go around the tentacles means children are having to engage in role play to play with this bath toy.
How did this product make your life easier?
As a mum of three children (two being eight and six), I wanted to see if my children could still play together when in the bath. When bath time came along I put my two eldest into the bath with their baby brother and I've never heard so much laughter out of all three of them! They were all splashing and playing with the octopus – we love him!
Would you choose this product to win?
Personally, having two older children, I have purchased a lot of toys and baths toys that I’ve had to chuck out eventually, as their durability wasn’t the best. But this Nuby octopus gives you confidence that it won’t break any time soon. Mold isn't going to be springing up from nowhere and it isn't so big that it's going to take up the whole of the bath.
What changes would you make to this product?
The size could be a little bigger, but not enough that it would cost more. At the moment I love it anyway, as it can be taken away on holiday and is a fun toy for sure!
Tested by mum Stephenie Beaumont for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I think the character and shape of the product was great – my children loved the face of the octopus and trying to put the rings on his tentacles. It was a great size - big enough to handle, but not too huge to store away. It was easy to clean too. Although it is a bath toy, we certainly played with it in and out of the bath - so it’s pretty adaptable in that way!
How did this product make your life easier?
My children loved this toy and played with it in and out of the bath. It definitely made bath times more fun, and they loved getting it out of the bath toy box while we were running the bath - it helped hold their attention - so this was very helpful.
Would you choose this product to win?
I’ve often had a problem with bath toys either breaking really easily, or getting damaged over time (the paint coming off after use in the water etc.) but so far, this toy is still in great condition even with a lot of use. It is pretty robust and that for me is really important in a toy. I think the characterisation is great, and I like the fact that it is a toy with an activity - not just a toy to float in the water.
What changes would you make to this product?
My main concern about the design (and this is referenced on the toy safety notes, which I thought was good too) was that if my child fell on the octopus (in the bath or out of it) that the tentacles could hurt. This worried me a little because of the pointed ends of them - although I realise this can be an issue with any toy to some extent.
Tested by mum Jemma Matthews for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
This product is good for hand-eye coordination, it helps little hands practice accurately getting the hoops over the tentacles. It is durable and suitable for a range of ages. Although recommended for age 18months+ my daughter is 13-months-old and really enjoys playing with this toy. I feel the octopus has dual purposes as a fun bath time toy but also good for development.
How did this product make your life easier?
This product has not made my life easier for bath time as my daughter needs me to hold the octopus whilst she is playing with it in the bath (she is only 13-months-old), however I have used this toy for her to play with on the floor whilst I am doing something else. As the toy requires concentration, this keeps her occupied.
Would you choose this product to win?
I am not sure what else there is on the market that is similar to this. I don’t think this toy should win as it is difficult to use as advertised. The octopus is floating in the bath and therefore it is hard to get the ‘hoops’ over the tentacles without someone holding it still – even my six-year-old found this a struggle.
What changes would you make to this product?
As the octopus is floating this makes it difficult for small hands to get the 'hoops' over the tentacles, in order to improve this product, maybe a suction pad could be added in order to stick to the side of the bath and keep it still whilst being played with, although this may change the whole idea of the product.
Tested by mum Leah Wickson for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
Yes, I would recommend this to mums with older children as well, because this toy definitely helps develop hand/eye co-ordination. The fun colours and design of it is something kids will love and enjoy. It's a never ending game when you can't get the hoops on the tentacles! It's soft too so if it was to fall on a child it wouldn’t hurt like other hard plastic toys. It also is easy to carry round and store.
How did this product make your life easier?
I absolutely loved this product. My daughter is still a bit young to use it properly, but the colours and sitting on my lap in bath time watching me do it makes bath time so much easier as she finds it funny when I miss! It means no more fighting at bath time and we also get some lovely bonding time together.
Would you choose this product to win?
Most definitely! I find toys that are too colourful to be garish, so I loved that this was a normal colour and still interesting for my baby. It's a fun game for parents to play with their kids, even in the pool on holiday, and it keeps little ones busy when they can't get the hoops on!
What changes would you make to this product?
One of the hoops is an exact fit on the tentacle of the octopus – I struggle to get it on myself whilst playing, so that doesn’t give the children much of a chance and this can be disheartening. The big ring is perfect, but I think the star is a bit too small – it’s far too precise for a two-year-old. It would also be great to have a little bag to keep the hoops in, as with no storage bag they can easily get lost.
Tested by mum Gemma Gooch for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I would recommend this product, as it is excellent value for money and a reasonably simple, but an attractive design. It seems easy to keep clean and dry, which is obviously crucial for bath toys. It is particularly suitable for families with more than one child, as they can play together and have a competition.
How did this product make your life easier?
This product amused my nine-year-old for a few minutes in the bath, as he liked the design and competitive nature. As my baby grows older I can see him enjoying this product too, and competing with his brother, which will amuse them both, making bath time easier.
Would you choose this product to win?
I had picked out this product as one I would purchase when my baby was older as I think it is the best bath toy available in this price bracket. It is a competitive price, with a design that means babies can hold it and play interactively as they get older. The sealed design means water cannot get inside and it will likely last years for multiple children.
What changes would you make to this product?
If we could change anything, we would probably make the product a little smaller as it takes up most of the room in our bath toy storage, leaving little room for other toys. It is also quite bulky in the bath, and a bit tricky with more than one child in the tub, with the potential for children to end up throwing the hoops at each other in the absence of space!