A small bathroom can hold a baby's bath routine if everything has a home: a caddy for what you carry to the tub, hooks for what dries, and a high or closed spot for anything a toddler should not reach. This guide goes through the steps in order, starting with deciding what truly earns a place. It works for apartments, condos and shared bathrooms alike.
Take stock of what you actually use
Empty the baby shelf onto the counter and sort it into three piles:
- Every bath: washcloths, baby wash, a rinse cup.
- Sometimes: a hairbrush, nail tools, a thermometer, a balm.
- Rarely or never: duplicates from gifts, nearly empty bottles and anything your baby has outgrown.
The first pile gets the best spot. The second needs a small, closed home. The third leaves the bathroom: unopened duplicates go to a closet or a donation bag, and nearly empty bottles get used up first or recycled where your municipality accepts them. A useful test is whether you have touched an item in the last few weeks. Check labels for storage directions and dates while you are at it.
A caddy you can carry to the tub
A caddy keeps the every-bath pile together, so you make one trip. Look for a handle, compartments tall enough to keep bottles upright, and a base you can wipe or wash. Dividers help bottles stay put when you pick it up.
One option is the KiddyCare Diaper Caddy with 4 Dividers, Large, Tan. It is listed as a diaper caddy, but a caddy with dividers can hold bath items too, as long as you dry bottle bases before they go in and set it down on a dry surface instead of a wet floor. Check the product page for the material and the handle, follow the maker's cleaning instructions, and browse more styles under diaper storage and organizers.
Hooks, rails and over-the-door storage
When the floor and counter are taken, use the walls and the back of the door. An over-the-door organizer with pockets keeps small, dry items visible and off the counter; the Vesta Baby Over-the-Door Nursery Organizer with Clear Pockets is one example. Use the lower pockets for dry, harmless items such as spare washcloths or a brush, save the top row for nail tools and anything else a child should not reach, and keep damp things out.
For adhesive hooks, check the weight rating and whether the product is made for damp surfaces, and test with something light first. Before you hang anything on the door, make sure it still closes. If you rent, check your lease before drilling. Over-the-door and freestanding options leave no holes.
Where washcloths and towels dry
A damp washcloth balled in a caddy stays damp. Hang cloths flat over a rail or on a hook so air reaches both sides, and run the bathroom fan after the bath if there is one. Give each towel its own hook, and put used ones in the hamper rather than back on the shelf.
If you carry damp cloths to the laundry or on a trip, a separate waterproof bag keeps them apart from the rest of your things. The Bumkins Waterproof Wet Bag is listed as a waterproof wet bag.
Keeping bottles out of a toddler's reach
Once a toddler is walking, or a visiting child comes over, bath bottles, creams and tubes become interesting. Put them on a high shelf or in a closed cabinet, and consider a child-safety latch on a low cabinet. A caddy left on the floor beside the tub is within reach, so lift it up when the bath is done.
Store cleaning products away from baby items so the two are never mixed up. For any medicine or medicated cream, ask your pharmacist how to store it safely. A woven basket with a lid on a high shelf can hold the sometimes pile neatly.
A dry spot for grooming tools and the thermometer
Nail tools, a brush and a thermometer do not need to live beside the tub. Gather them in a small zippered pouch and keep it in a drawer or a high over-the-door pocket, away from splashes and steam. Dry each tool before it goes back in, since a pouch closed over a damp tool stays damp.
Sharp tools belong out of a child's reach, with any caps or covers on. Store battery-powered items and thermometers the way their instructions say, and keep the instruction leaflet in the same pouch so it is there when you need it. If you own both a bath thermometer and a body thermometer, give each its own clearly separate spot so one is not picked up for the other's job.
Shop this guide
- Momcozy 4-Layer Cotton Baby Washcloths, 5-Pack, Yellow (ships via Amazon)
- Wooden Baby Hair Brush Set for Newborns, Toddler Comb, Regular Walnut (ships via Amazon)
- Hanging Diaper Caddy Organizer, 2 Pack (ships via Amazon)
- UNIMADE Baby Washcloths, Microfibre Coral Fleece (ships via Amazon)
- See all: Baby Bath & Skin Care
- See all: Baby Health & Grooming
- See all: Diaper Storage & Organizers
Prices are on each product page. Free shipping on orders of $100 or more within Canada.
A weekly reset that takes five minutes
- Empty the caddy and wipe it dry.
- Put back only what you used this week, and set aside anything that is almost empty.
- Launder the washcloths and towels, and hang the next set.
- Check that hooks and pockets are holding up, and that nothing damp is sitting in a pocket.
- Restock the dry side so tomorrow's bath is ready.
Common questions
Do I need a caddy made for babies?
No. Any basket or bin with a handle that you can wipe dry will do. A caddy is a convenience, not a requirement.
Can I hang things in a steamy bathroom?
It depends on the hook. Check the instructions for the surface and the damp conditions, and use items made for them.
What if I have no cabinet space?
Use the top of a door, a high shelf or a closet shelf for the sometimes pile, and keep only the every-bath items in the bathroom.
If you would like help picking storage for your space, send us a note through the contact page. We reply within one business day.