9 Best Baby Shampoo and Washes 2021
BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.
Ramsey et. al. 2019. Lavender Products Associated With Premature Thelarche and Prepubertal Gynecomastia: Case Reports and Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical Activities. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019 Nov 1;104(11):5393-5405. [Accessed December 2021]
AAD. 2021. How to Bathe Your Newborn. American Academy of Dermatology. [Accessed December 2021]
AAP. 2020. Bathing Your Baby. American Academy of Pediatrics. [Accessed December 2021]
AAP. 2019. Infant Water Safety: Protect Your New Baby from Drowning. American Academy of Pediatrics. [Accessed December 2021]
The Best Bath Products For Even The Most Sensitive Babies’ Skin—According To Experts
Bath time is one of the sweetest, more relaxing parts of the day for both new parents and babies alike. Infants and kids alike usually enjoy the ritual—it soothes them and at the same time can be super fun. They splish and splash, pop bubbles and get coddled by their adoring grownups. So the last thing parents want to do is rush through this special experience in fear of subsequent dry, itchy skin caused by harsh soaps.
We've rounded up the best soothing, gentle baby bath products according to experts. getty
“Kids and babies’ skin is super sensitive,” says Dr. Julie Russak, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Russak Dermatology Clinic. “Their skin hasn’t fully formed a protective barrier yet, therefore the ingredients used on it should take that into account.” Some ingredients she recommends watching out for include fragrances, dyes, lanolin, formaldehyde, sodium lauryl sulfate and methylisothiazolinone.
When shopping for baby bathing products, look for formulations that include soothing ceramides, oats, coconut oil, shea butter and aloe. “Products with fewer ingredients and ingredients you recognize are cleaner and have less risk,” says Dr. Nanette Silverberg, Chief of Pediatric Dermatology for Mount Sinai Health Systems. And if you or your little one are allergic to or irritated by even gentle product lines, Silverberg recommends seeing a board certified dermatologist to help with those tricky situations.
Ultimately, bath time is time to bond. Make it the best possible experience by picking the right products that meet your child’s needs for hydration or sensitive skin management. To help, we spoke to a few additional experts for their favorite baby bath products.
Sensitive Skin-Approved Bubble Bath
Babo Botanicals Babo Botanicals Sensitive Baby Bubble Bath, Wash and Shampoo Buy From Babo Botanicals Babo Botanicals’ new plant-based, EWG-verified bubble bath checks all the boxes. Made with nourishing organic shea butter and organic coconut oil, soothing oat, and healing organic calendula and chamomile, the formula makes exhilarating bubble baths a possibility for even those with the most sensitive skin. Bonus: The hypoallergenic and fragrance-free product works triple duty as a shampoo and body wash.
A Certified Organic Eczema Soother
MOST POPULAR Amazon California Baby Eczema Shampoo & Body Wash Buy From Amazon There are so many reasons California Baby is at the top of most expert lists. The woman-owned brand creates exceptional products in its certified organic solar powered facility. The company has formulated an exclusive, 100% plant-based preservative system using basil and anise, and grows its own calendula in order to be more sustainable. All the products are gentle and safe for sensitive skin, but we especially love the care that went into creating their eczema line. “For families with eczema, starting with fragrance-free, eczema-friendly products may help keep skin healthy longterm,” says Dr. Silverberg. And you can’t go wrong with this one: Founder Jessica Iclisoy searched long and hard for a colloidal oatmeal that’s not only certified organic but also gluten-free (eczema flare-ups are often triggered by food allergies so to reduce potential irritants, the brand wanted to select one without gluten, a common trigger).
Amazon Promo Codes | 20% Off In December 2021 | Forbes
Mommy-And-Me Self Care
Kiehl's Kiehl’s Mom & Baby Nurturing Baby Oil Buy From Kiehl's “Post-bath, I love to give my toddler a relaxing massage, and Kiehl’s Mom and Baby Nurturing Oil has been our go-to since she was just a few months old,” says Lauren Levinson, Editorial Director of Verywell Family. “It is composed of hydrating olive oil and skin-softening apricot oil, which also accounts for its very subtle scent.” Another plus: Levinson rubs it on herself after, too. “It’s great for helping with those postpartum stretch marks,” she says.
A Great Cradle Cap Treatment
Amazon Mustela Cradle Cap Foam Shampoo For Newborns Buy From Amazon To treat cradle cap, the scaly patches that appear on a newborn’s head during the first year, you generally don’t have to do much. “Cradle cap is often improved by daily shampooing,” says Dr. Dawn Marie R. Davis, a pediatric dermatologist with Mayo Clinic. Silverberg says one of the oldest therapies is to massage a bit of sterile oil on the scalp ten minutes before bath time and then gently brush off softened scale with a toothbrush. She also likes putting petroleum jelly on the areas overnight. For a product line that’s tested for cradle cap, Karen Reardanz, Executive Editor at Babylist loves this Mustela shampoo. “The foaming formula keeps the shampoo on baby’s hair (no running down into eyes), and it’s tear-free, non-toxic and safe for newborns,” she says. The fragrance-free shampoo is made with avocado extracts and sunflower seed oil, and gently exfoliates away flakes while hydrating and protecting the scalp.
Rigorously Tested Bodycare
EllaOla EllaOla Superfood Baby Shampoo & Body Wash Buy From EllaOla This best-in-class bath and skincare line doesn’t skimp on ingredients or looks. Developed with leading pediatric dermatologists, EllaOla products are science-backed and made from the best plant-based resources from around the world (think: algae from the seas of Brittany, France). The rigorously tested line is hypoallergenic and formulated without fragrances, essential oils, parabens or any other potentially irritating ingredients. Top it all off with stylish bottles and you’ve got yourself a perfect product.
The Sweetest Soak
Dr. Barbara Sturm Dr. Barbara Sturm Baby And Kids Bathing Milk Buy From Dr. Barbara Sturm “I like to take luxe baths, so why shouldn’t my baby, as well?” says Levinson. The editor loves Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Bathing Milk that’s made with soothing and nourishing calendula, chamomile, jojoba oil and sweet almond oil to soften and hydrate her toddler’s skin. “I simply pour the creamy formula into the water to create a milky bath,” she says. Plus, the product is fragrance-free.
Clean Beauty With A Side of Whimsy
Maisonette Paloroma The ABC Kit: For Pampering Little Ones Buy From Paloroma The brainchild of former style director at Architectural Digest Jane Keltner de Valle and award-winning architect Giancarlo Valle, you can guess that the packaging of Paloroma is chic. The natural and gentle formulas, however, seal the deal. Free of parabens, silicones, sulfates and fragrances, the idea for the clean beauty line came to the couple when their son developed eczema. Disappointed with options on the market, they set off to create their own. The result: a collection that includes body wash, cleaning bars and daily creams—made with nourishing ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, Roman chamomile extract and shea butter, and that’s packaged in whimsical Madeline-esque illustrations. It’s sure to upgrade any shower niche.
The Sleep Inducer
Little Yawn Collective Little Yawn Collective Soothing Shampoo & Body Wash Buy From Little Yawn Collective You know what’s even better than bath time? Bedtime. And Little Yawn Collective is here to help your little one wind down and drift off to a blissful night of sleep with their scientist-, pediatrician- and sleep expert-approved line of products. Research shows that fragrances can help for relaxation, and LYC’s natural, organic products contain their signature NaturalSnooze fragrance blend (a mix of sandalwood, jasmine, lavender and bergamot) along with soothing ingredients like calendula and chamomile. Warning: prepare to snooze promptly after tucking them in.
Reliable Relief
Target Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream Buy From Target If your child suffers from eczema, it’s not only important to avoid harsh soaps, fragrances and wool, but also to apply moisturizer to their skin regularly. “Moisturizing with thicker products like balms and ointments in winter and lighter agents for warm weather can maintain skin year round,” she says. One easy-to-find drugstore pick is Aveno’s Baby Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream. The paraben-free formula contains natural colloidal oatmeal and vitamin B5 to protect baby’s skin and relieve itching.
Luxurious Lather
Tubby Todd Bath Co. Tubby Todd Hair + Body Wash Buy From Tubby Todd Bath Co. With its clean graphic packaging and hypoallergenic formulations, Tubby Todd is a favorite gentle bodycare line of Reardanz’s. “Made with plant-based ingredients, Tubby Todd Hair & Body Wash was created by a mom of kids with sensitive skin, so it helps with dryness and eczema,” she says. “Though it’s pricier than a typical drugstore buy, you just need a small squeeze of this to get enough luxurious lather to clean baby from head to toe.” We also love that you can opt to get the hair and body wash either scented (with a blend of natural essential oils) or fragrance-free.
An Affordable Skincare Solution
15 of the Best Baby Bath Products, From Shampoo to Body Wash
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, WWD may receive an affiliate commission.
Your baby’s bathtime line-up makes up an important part of your child’s overall health, which is why it’s important to use the best baby bath products to ensure that their sensitive skin is receiving the proper care and nourishment.
Designed to deliver a gentle-yet-effective clean, these products are carefully formulated without known skin irritants and chemicals to protect your little one’s skin while also providing it with the ingredients required to sufficiently cleanse, restore, repair and moisturize their sensitive skin. Whether it’s a shampoo and conditioner or a body wash or bath oil, the best baby bath products are free of fragrance, parabens, sulfates and soap, as well as synthetic preservatives, thickeners and harsh foaming agents. Whenever possible, opting for a hypoallergenic or dermatologist-tested formula will prevent irritation and damaging of the skin.
To make bathtime easier for both you and your baby, many baby-safe products are available in convenient two-in-one formulas, which not only condenses your routine but also decreases your baby’s time in the water. Below, find the best baby bath products that cater to a variety of age groups and skin concerns while creating a fun bathtime experience.
Aveeno Baby Wash & Shampoo
Gentle enough for even the most sensitive of skins, the Aveeno Baby Wash & Shampoo creates a rich lather that doesn’t strip or overdry the skin thanks to its oatmeal-enriched and pH-balanced formula. Recommended by pediatricians and dermatologists alike, this fan-favorite baby bath product is hypoallergenic and free from soap, parabens, sulfates, phthalates and Phenoxyethanol.
Aveeno Baby Wash & Shampoo $10.39 $7 Buy Now
Mustela No-Rinse Baby Cleanser
Delivering a safe face and body cleanse for babies of all ages, the Mustela No-Rinse Baby Cleanser is designed for quick clean-ups whenever they arise. Suitable for newborns with its gentle and nourishing formula, just apply this baby micellar water with cotton around around the face, body and diaper area.
Puracy Natural Baby Shampoo & Body Wash
Powered by vegan, plant-based ingredients, the Puracy Natural Baby Shampoo & Body Wash creates a gentle foam lather that’s pH-balanced to ensure the health and safety of your baby’s skin. Suitable for eczema, cradle cap and sensitive skin, it imparts a subtle citrus and ocean wave scent.
Puracy Natural Baby Shampoo & Body Wash $16 Buy Now
Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Bar Soap
Available in eight baby-safe and kid-friendly scents, Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castille Bar Soap creates a moisturizing lather that leaves the skin feeling smooth and soft. Free of synthetic preservatives, thickeners and foaming agents, this top-rated soap is made with certified organic oils and is just as good for the environment as it is for your baby.
Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Bar Soap $5.95 $6 Buy Now
The Honest Company Everyday Gentle Sweet Orange Vanilla Shampoo + Body Wash
Designed to simplify your baby’s bathtime routine, The Honest Company Everyday Gentle Sweet Orange Vanilla Shampoo + Body Wash is a mild two-in-one formula that safely cleanses from head to toe. Fortified with naturally derived nourishing botanicals, it imparts a mild sweet orange vanilla scent.
The Honest Company Perfectly Gentle Sweet Orange Vanilla Shampoo + Body Wash $10.99 $9 Buy Now
Johnson’s Baby Soap Bar
Designed to keep your little one’s skin baby-soft for as long as possible, the Johnson’s Baby Soap Bar offers a hypoallergenic and dermatologist-tested formula that is enriched with mild moisturizers to protect against dryness. Delicately fragranced, this value pack comes stocked with six bars of soap.
Johnson's Baby Soap Bar $18 Buy Now
Cetaphil Baby Wash & Shampoo
An Amazon bestseller, the Cetaphil Baby Wash & Shampoo is enriched with calming organic calendula to deliver a gentle lather that is suitable enough for your baby’s skin. Dermatologist-tested, this two-in-one formula is tear-free, paraben-free, colorant-free, mineral oil-free and hypoallergenic.
Cetaphil Baby Wash & Shampoo $5 Buy Now
California Baby Super Sensitive Hair Conditioner
Gentle enough for those with sensitive skin or eczema, the California Baby Super Sensitive Hair Conditioner restores moisture to your baby’s hair to keep it healthy and soft using a blend of natural and organic ingredients. Designed to soothe and relieve itchiness with aloe vera and calendula extracts, this fragrance-free conditioner is allergy-tested and tear-free.
California Baby Super Sensitive Hair Conditioner $18 Buy Now
Mustela Cradle Cap Shampoo
Specifically designed to treat and relieve the symptoms of cradle cap, the Mustela Cradle Cap Shampoo rinses away flakes while protecting your newborn’s scalp. With natural avocado Perseus as its main ingredient, this 99 percent natural shampoo is gentle and tear-free.
Mustela Cradle Cap Shampoo $13 Buy Now
Burt’s Bees Baby Nourishing Baby Oil
Designed to be used in and out of the bath, Burt’s Bees Baby Nourishing Baby Oil protects your baby’s skin from dryness using a blend of naturally derived hydrating oils that create lasting moisture and softness. Rich in antioxidants and vitamins from apricot and grape seed oil, add it to your baby’s bath water to nourish the skin during bathtime or apply it directly onto their skin afterward to lock in moisture. This value pack comes stocked with three bottles of this hypoallergenic, phthalate-free, paraben-free, petrolatum-free and SLS-free bath oil.
Burt's Bees Baby Nourishing Baby Oil $26.97 $20 Buy Now
Go-to Skincare Sud Bud
Nourishing by design, the Go-To Skincare Sud Bud body cleanser features a plant-based formula that is gentle and suitable enough for all skin types. Made with a kid-friendly scent and adorable packaging, this top-rated baby body wash and bubble bath moisturizes, softens and soothes for healthy skin.
Go-To Skincare Sud Bud $19 Buy Now
Tubby Todd The Toddler Gift Set
Stocked with all of your little one’s bathtime essentials, the Tubby Todd The Toddler Gift Set is a collection of natural and organic skin-care products that cater to your child’s skin needs from the moment they step into the tub to when they get dressed. The six-piece set includes the brand’s Lavender & Rosemary Hair & Body Wash and Yummy Lemon Natural Conditioner for bathtime, plus the Lavender & Rosemary Natural Everyday Lotion, Natural All Over Ointment and Lip Balm in the flavors Orange & Vanilla and Pineapple & Coconut.
Tubby Todd The Toddler Gift Set $70 Buy Now
Eczema Honey Fragrance-Free Oatmeal Comfort Bubble Bath
Ideal for when eczema flare-ups occur, the Eczema Honey Fragrance-Free Oatmeal Comfort Bubble Bath is made without skin-irritating agents and contains plant-based ingredients to create a soothing and nourishing bubble bath. Key ingredients include colloidal oatmeal, honey, aloe vera and green tea extracts to soothe, condition and calm, plus moisturizing glycerin and gently cleansing cocamidopropyl betaine.
Eczema Honey Fragrance-Free Oatmeal Comfort Bubble Bath $15 Buy Now
BEB Organic Bubbly Wash
Specifically crafted with sensitive bathers in mind, the BEB Organic Bubbly Wash is a soap-free, tear-free, pH-balanced cleanser that delivers a safe and gentle lather for babies. Featuring a combination of maidenhair, marigold and coconut oils, this purifies, softens and soothes the skin to create smooth and perfectly hydrated skin. Versatile by design, this mandarin-scented formula can also be used as a shampoo.
BEB Organic Bubbly Wash $14 Buy Now
Pipette Baby Shampoo + Wash
Available in a fragrance-free and aromatic rose, patchouli and geranium-blended scent, the Pipette Baby Shampoo + Wash balances the natural moisture of baby’s hair and skin without causing irritation. Using a gentle blend of plant-derived cleansers and emollients such as sugar-derived glycolipids, glycerin and squalene, this two-in-one formula is clean, non-toxic, tear-free and doesn’t contain synthetic fragrances.
Pipette Baby Shampoo + Wash $12 Buy Now
