Maxi-Cosi Indigo Plus vs Nuby Newborn Baby Bath: Which Is Right for Your Family?

COMPARISON · BATH TIME

Choosing a baby bath feels like it should be simple, but anyone who has stood in a shop staring at a wall of plastic tubs knows it is anything but. Do you spend more on something that folds flat and lasts until your child is four? Or do you keep it simple with a lightweight tub that does one job brilliantly for those first precious months?

That is exactly the choice between the Maxi-Cosi Indigo Plus and the Nuby Newborn Baby Bath. One is a premium, foldable bath with an integrated thermometer and a newborn insert. The other is a compact, no-fuss tub with built-in anti-slip support that parents rave about for early confidence at bath time. We dug into the specs, tested the claims and gathered real parent feedback to help you decide which one deserves a spot next to your towel stack.

Lil' Bubba's verdicts

• Best Overall: Maxi-Cosi Indigo Plus · 8.0/10 - a bath that genuinely grows with your child from newborn to four years
• Best for Newborn Confidence: Nuby Newborn Baby Bath · 8.0/10 - unbeatable value with clever built-in support for nervous new parents

Quick comparison

	Maxi-Cosi Indigo Plus	Nuby Newborn
Price	~£40–£50	~£18–£22
Age range	Birth to ~4 years	Birth to ~6 months
Dimensions	86 × 51 × 24 cm	67.8 × 39.7 × 22.7 cm
Folds flat	Yes (10 cm folded)	No
Thermometer	Built-in (USB-C rechargeable)	No
Newborn support	Removable fabric insert	Moulded anti-slip seat + foam headrest
Weight	2.82 kg	Lightweight (~1 kg)
Plug	Yes	Yes (soft silicone)

How we picked these two

We started with the baby baths parents in the UK are actually searching for, cross-referencing product popularity on our Nest registry lists with independent editorial roundups and parent forum discussions. The Maxi-Cosi Indigo Plus and Nuby Newborn kept surfacing as the two baths parents most often weigh against each other when the question is "do I spend more for features or keep it simple?" We then gathered hands-on feedback, verified specs against the manufacturers' own data and read through dozens of parent accounts to check real-world performance against the marketing claims.

What to look for in a baby bath

Before you compare individual tubs, it helps to know which features genuinely matter day to day and which are nice extras.

Newborn support. A newborn is slippery, floppy and lighter than you expect. Any bath worth buying should keep them secure without you needing a third hand. Look for either a moulded seat with a non-slip surface or a fabric insert that cradles them at water level.

Longevity. Some baths are designed purely for newborns and top out around six months. Others adjust as your child grows and can last several years. Neither approach is wrong, but it is worth knowing upfront so you can budget accordingly.

Storage. A baby bath lives in your home every day. If your bathroom is compact, a bath that folds flat or hangs on a hook will save you a surprising amount of space.

Temperature monitoring. The recommended bath temperature for babies is 37-38 degrees. Some baths integrate a thermometer, while for others you will need a separate one. Either works, but built-in versions remove one more thing to remember during the bedtime rush.

Drainage. A plug at the bottom beats tipping and pouring every time, especially when the bath is full of warm water and your back is already tired.

1. Maxi-Cosi Indigo Plus / 10 · Best Overall

The Indigo Plus is the bath Maxi-Cosi built for parents who want to buy once. It spans newborn to roughly four years, starting life with a removable QuickDry fabric insert that cradles tiny babies at the water line, then converting into a spacious standalone tub as your child grows. At 86 cm long and 51 cm wide, there is room for a confident toddler to sit and splash without feeling hemmed in.

The headline feature is the HighSense thermometer built into the base of the bath, right where the water is warmest. It uses a colour-coded LED - blue for too cold, green for the safe 35-38 degree range, red for too hot - so you can check the temperature at a glance without fumbling for a separate gadget. It charges via USB-C, and a single charge lasts around 130 days on standby.

What parents love

• Built-in thermometer removes guesswork. One parent told us: "It's a really good, practical design whilst also being aesthetically pleasing. It costs more than typical baby baths but will last for many years with features well worth the extra money."
• Genuinely folds flat. At 10 cm folded, it slides behind a door, under a bed or onto a shelf. Retractable legs and a hanging hook make storage effortless.
• Newborn insert inspires confidence. A parent shared: "He didn't slide or slip at all while using the insert, which made him feel well supported."
• Premium build quality. The large cushioned silicone anti-slip pad covers the entire base, and the non-toxic polypropylene construction feels robust enough to justify the price.

What to know before you buy

• Width may not fit inside a standard UK bath. At 51 cm wide, the Indigo Plus is designed primarily as a floor bath or for use on the optional stand - it will not sit inside many standard baths or shower trays.
• The stand is sold separately. At roughly £54, the stand pushes the total cost above £100. Without it, draining means lifting and tipping.
• Premium price point. At £40-50 for the bath alone, it is two to three times the cost of simpler alternatives.

Best for

• Parents who want one bath from birth through toddlerhood
• First-time parents anxious about water temperature
• Families with limited storage space who need a fold-flat option
• Parents who bathe baby outside the main bathroom - kitchen, bedroom or living room

2. Nuby Newborn Baby Bath / 10 · Best for Newborn Confidence

The Nuby Newborn does not try to be everything. It is a compact, lightweight bath built specifically for the first six months, and it does that job remarkably well. The moulded anti-slip seat holds your baby in place without you needing to support them constantly, while the soft foam headrest cushions the back of their head so they can relax into the water.

At roughly £18-22, it is one of the most affordable baby baths on the market from a name parents trust. Nuby has been making baby products for over 45 years, and the design philosophy here is all about simplicity: easy-grip handles for carrying, a water level indicator for safe filling and a soft silicone plug for mess-free draining.

What parents love

• Builds real bath-time confidence. One parent told us: "The bath gave me confidence to bathe my baby alone - I was relaxed so bath time became enjoyable rather than a dreaded chore."
• Lightweight and easy to manage. Particularly helpful for parents recovering from birth - you can fill, move and empty it without strain.
• Compact footprint. At 67.8 cm long, it fits inside a standard bathtub, on a kitchen worktop or on the floor. We hear repeatedly from parents that it stores easily between uses.
• Simple, sturdy design. A parent shared: "It's sturdy, not too big, and easy to clean."

What to know before you buy

• Limited lifespan. Most parents find their baby outgrows it by around six months, which means buying a second bath for the toddler stage.
• No temperature indicator. You will need a separate bath thermometer - the plug does not change colour and there is no built-in gauge.
• Standard plastic construction. Several parents have noted they would prefer recycled materials, though the build quality itself is solid.

Best for

• First-time parents who want extra confidence during newborn baths
• Parents bathing baby solo who need a hands-free solution
• Families on a budget who want reliable quality without the premium price
• Space-conscious households that need a bath fitting inside a standard tub

What about the Shnuggle Baby Bath?

If you have been researching baby baths for more than five minutes, you will have come across the Shnuggle. Its clever bum bump support and compact design have made it one of the most popular baby baths in the UK. It sits between the Nuby and Maxi-Cosi on price (around £17-25) and shares the Nuby's newborn focus, lasting to around 12 months. If you already know you want something with a moulded seat but prefer a slightly longer lifespan than the Nuby, the Shnuggle is well worth a look.

How to choose

The Maxi-Cosi Indigo Plus is the bath to choose if you want to buy once. Its foldable design, built-in thermometer and birth-to-four-years range mean you will not need to replace it as your child grows. The trade-off is price - especially if you add the stand - and a wider footprint that may not fit inside your existing bath. If storage space is tight and you have the budget, this is the one.

The Nuby Newborn Baby Bath is the bath to choose if you want simplicity and value. It does one thing brilliantly: keeping a tiny baby secure, comfortable and supported while you wash them. You will outgrow it by around six months, but at under £22 that feels fair. If you are a first-time parent who just wants bath time to feel manageable, the Nuby will get you through those daunting early weeks with confidence.

Add it to your Nest

Whichever bath you choose, you can add it to your free BubsNest registry so friends and family know exactly what to get. Both the Maxi-Cosi and the Nuby are available through our joined-programme retailers with the best prices we can find.