Baby & Family · Head-to-head
Stokke Flexi Bath X-Large vs Angelcare Soft Touch Baby Bath Support
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Baby Bathtubs: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Flexi Bath X-Large wins because it removes the failure mode that ruins most baby bathtubs: it has no fabric or foam, it drains through a large centre plug and it folds flat so it can hang somewhere airy. The Angelcare support is the value answer for the newborn months, with an open mesh deck that dries faster than anything else here, though you will need something larger once your baby can sit.
Stokke Flexi Bath X-Large
Buy itA folding hard-plastic tub with no fabric anywhere, a large centre drain and enough length to carry a child well past the toddler stage.
- All hard plastic and TPE, so there is no sling or foam pad to grow mould in
- Large star-shaped drain plug in the middle of the floor empties it quickly, and the plug changes colour if the water is too warm
- Folds flat to hang on a hook or slide behind a door, which is how most owners keep it dry between baths
- The X-Large size stays usable long after a standard infant tub is outgrown, which spreads the cost over years rather than months
- Costs several times what a basic plastic tub does, and the newborn insert is a separate purchase on some listings
- Owners in humid bathrooms report mould in the fold hinge and around the plug seat if it is stored damp, so the design reduces the problem rather than removing it
- Reviewers consistently note the plug is stiff to seat and to pull out
Angelcare Soft Touch Baby Bath Support
Buy itA one-piece moulded support with a quick-drying mesh deck that holds a newborn at an angle in the big tub or a sink, and dries faster than anything else here.
- The mesh deck drains as you lift it and is dry within a couple of hours, which is the single biggest reason owners report no mould after months of use
- One moulded piece with no straps, clips or removable pad, so there is nothing to disassemble and nothing that traps water inside
- Costs very little and works inside a full-size bath, a shower base or a large sink, so you are not storing a second tub
- Light enough to lift one-handed with a wet baby in the other arm
- Covers roughly the first six months only, so most families still buy something bigger later
- It holds the baby, not the water, so you either fill the adult tub or top up with a jug
- Owners note the moulded frame has crevices along the rim that will bloom black spots if it is left lying flat in a wet bath
Side by side
| Stokke Flexi Bath X-Large | Angelcare Soft Touch Baby Bath Support | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Parents who want one tub for the whole run from newborn to preschooler, especially in small bathrooms where it has to fold away. | First few months on a tight budget, and anyone who would rather bathe the baby in the family tub than store a second plastic shell. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $ · budget |
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Stokke Flexi Bath X-Large - A folding hard-plastic tub with no fabric anywhere, a large centre drain and enough length to carry a child well past the toddler stage. Choose the Angelcare Soft Touch Baby Bath Support instead if first few months on a tight budget, and anyone who would rather bathe the baby in the family tub than store a second plastic shell.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Baby Bathtubs: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).