The 5 Best Rubber Ducks

Rubber ducky, baby, and bathtime: the three go together like peanut butter, jelly, and bread. Like ice cream, cones, and...well, you get the point. Every baby needs a rubber duck. Believe it or not, there are some that clearly rise above others in terms of quality and materials. Not every rubber ducky is made the same. So whether you're on the lookout for a hundred rubber ducks for a baby shower, or just the perfect rubber ducky for your little one's bath time, we know the importance of finding exactly what you're looking for. And while you might think that one is just as good as another, we've done the legwork to weed out the good from the bad, ensuring that you're purchasing the safest, highest quality rubber ducky you can find. Here are the top 5.

Munchkin White Hot Safety Bath Ducky

The Perfect Rubber Ducky

Looking for a classic rubber ducky? This sweet little rubber duck from Munchkin is the winner.

Best Overall

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Made with the original rubber duck bath time toy in mind, this sweet little rubber ducky is made with even the smallest bathers in mind. With a safety disk on the bottom (it’ll literally say “HOT” if the water is too hot), this easy-to-grasp rubber ducky is ideal for infants just learning how to grasp and splash. It’s also water-tight and hole-less, making it a mold-free toy that will not sink or squirt.

These ducks do have a bit of a smell to them upon first purchasing, but over a bit of time this goes away. You can shorten that time by simply boiling in water and vinegar prior to using.

Pros:

Safety feature allows caregivers to easily gauge if the water is too hot.
Traditional rubber ducky features.
Water tight.

Cons:

This rubber ducky is not BPA-free.

Wild Republic Rubber Duck

No Mold, No Mildew

No mold, no mildew...just a cute little rubber duck all dressed up. This fun twist on the classic bath time toy is a new favorite.

Runner-Up

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These unique rubber ducks are a bit larger than the traditional 2″ rubber ducky, coming in at around 4 inches. But that’s not all: these ducks are made with a mold-free design (no hole), yet still manage to float around in the tub. What’s more, they’re different characters are even a bit artistic (just check out that octopus!), making these a truly fun take on the classic bath time toy.

So, back to the above mentioned mold-free design: these rubber ducks are made without a hole. And the seal on the seam? It’s incredibly durable. Even after repeated use and heavy play, these ducks remain mold-free.

Pros:

Large size.
Unique characters.

Cons:

Depending on the character, they may or may not float so well. Some are top-heavy, and will not float upright.

Kicko Assorted Rubber Ducks

Pick A Duck, Any Duck

Why choose one when you can have 50? This 50-pack of rubber ducks includes every kind of rubber duck you can imagine for a fun take on the original.

Best Assortment

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If you don’t need 100 rubber ducks (it’s a thing, keep reading…), but more like, say, 50, then Kicko’s rubber ducky assortment is the perfect set. Included in this unique set of 50 are everything from zoo and farm animals, superheroes, and even aliens, to name a few. Made with a hole on the bottom, these rubber ducks squirt water for bath time fun, as well as float upright.

Pros:

Regular size rubber ducky (2 inches) that is perfect for small hands.
Float well.

Cons:

Each package of assorted ducks can include multiples, so you may or may not receive 50 unique rubber ducks.

Liberty Imports Jumbo Rubber Duck Bath Toy

Large and in Charge

This jumbo rubber ducky is about to be your kiddos new favorite bath friend.

Best Jumbo

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Although the classic rubber ducky tends to be sized perfectly for a child’s small hand, this jumbo rubber ducky is about to take over your kiddo’s bath time. Measuring in at a whopping eight inches, your little one will adore using this rubber ducky as a fun tubby toy…it even squeaks when pressed.

For those of us concerned with safety features: this rubber ducky is made with 100% safe, non-toxic materials. This means no lead, no BPA, no Phthalates. It has also been AASTM CPSC tested and is certified to be safe.

Pros:

Strong and durable rubber ducky.
Squeaks, floats, and is a great addition to pool toys, as well.

Cons:

Duck does not float upright.

Kangaroo Rubber Duck Bath Toy Assortment

Something for Everyone

Planning a baby shower and using rubber ducks as a gift? Just really love rubber ducks? Either way, we've got you covered.

Best in Bulk

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Whether you’re planning a baby shower or just really, really love rubber ducks, this 100-pack assortment of rubber ducks has you covered. With the idea that there’s no one single duck alike in this package (there is a possibility for duplicates), you’ll have one hundred different rubber ducks to hand out, display, or play with.

Each rubber ducky is about 2 inches big and made from high quality, non-recycled rubber. This is quite an assortment of rubber ducks…everything from simple colored ducks (such as orange, blue, and yes, even plain ol’ yellow), to rubber pigs, chickens, and unicorns.

Pros:

Made to float.
Wide assortment of rubber ducks in each 100-ducky package.

Cons:

These ducks will take in water, so you’ll have to watch for mold.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a way to keep your rubber ducky from molding?

Have you heard of that experiment where you cut a rubber duck open to expose how much mold is growing on the inside? It’s a disgusting, albeit enlightening, little experiment, and we don’t blame you if you suddenly want to rid your house of all bath toys. But before you do, there are some tricks to keeping a completely mold-free toy zone. First, you can buy a rubber ducky that does not have any holes in its surface–usually on the bottom, or sometimes even in the beak. Second, you can semi-frequently boil your rubber ducky. You can use just plain water, or equal parts water and vinegar. This is an easy solution for most of your bath time toys, by the way…as long as they are toys that will hold up to boiling water temperatures.

What was the original rubber ducky?

Now synonymous with bath time, our favorite tubby toy has not always been a rubber ducky, believe it or not. When rubber ducks first came about, they were made out of vulcanized rubber. This did not float, and was actually meant to be a chew toy. At some point in the 40s, the floating rubber ducky bath toy was invented, and now here we are, all these decades later, still playing with this classic bath time toy.