The 11 best baby bath products your baby will love
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24 hours after my son was born, it was time for his first bath. This, I learned, is a big newborn deal. I had no idea this was such a major rite of passage, but, it turns out, I wasn’t completely wrong.
Prior to 2017, it was pretty common practice to bathe a baby fairly soon after birth. Birth, bath, bond, boom! Recent research has shown that not only is it okay to wait to bathe, but that the delay is really beneficial for both baby and mom. Studies have shown that babies that were bathed 14 hours after birth were less likely to have issues controlling their temperature and blood sugar levels and tended to be more successful in breastfeeding.
All these benefits were obviously a huge win for me and my son, but when the nurse came to hose my little guy off, I was a little nervous. Also, to add to my worry, I had never bathed a tiny baby before. What if he got soap in his eyes or I didn’t wash between his toes right?! As I am a visual learner, and a sports fan, I decided to treat my baby’s first bath like it was an instant replay at a football game. I needed video footage to refer back to once we had left the hospital. I also needed a detailed play-by-play of what was happening on the field. So I recorded my son’s first bath from start to finish, asking the nurse to narrate exactly what she was doing along the way.
Come to find out that bathing a baby isn't that hard, but it can be intimidating starting out. Babies are so tiny, so wiggly, and when hosed down, pretty slippery. My main takeaways after reviewing my bath time documentary were these:
Make it snappy. My baby is wet and cold, so he doesn’t need a luxurious and time-consuming bathing experience.
My baby is wet and cold, so he doesn’t need a luxurious and time-consuming bathing experience. No need to go overboard. Early baths are really pretty basic — all you'll need is water, wash cloths and extremely gentle soap. As your baby gets older, it will be time for bath toys, bubbles and light shows. But for now, he or she won't be super high-maintenance in the bath department.
Early baths are really pretty basic — all you'll need is water, wash cloths and extremely gentle soap. As your baby gets older, it will be time for bath toys, bubbles and light shows. But for now, he or she won't be super high-maintenance in the bath department. They don’t need a bath everyday. Since they're not doing much aside from wiggling around, babies don’t really work up a sweat. Every other day should get the job done, unless your baby has an accident.
It will be a little tricky starting out, but you will get the hang of it. Just breathe and bathe! Here are some mom-approved products to get you started.
Mom-approved baby bath products
If your house is like mine and you have two full showers and zero bathtubs, this is a great option for you. This bathing tub is foldable, easily transportable (AKA good for travel) and is great for newborns and kids up to age four.
Can babies get dandruff? Well, sort of. Most babies will have a bout of cradle cap, where they develop crusty little scales on top of their scalps. It doesn’t hurt and it’s not itchy, but it’s sort of gross looking and flakes off like dandruff. This three-step system will help nip the situation in the bud and will allow your little one to wear his or her favorite black onesie worry-free!
Something you will learn early on is that a baby’s nails are really thin, but they're sharp like daggers and will need to be trimmed. To overcome the initial fear of possibly maiming my baby, I needed the most optimal environment to cut my son's nails. The best tip I ever received was to trim my son’s nails after his bath. He will be completely zenned out from being in a nice warm tub, and thus less likely to wiggle about.
Aquaphor, a name you will get to know as well as your own. It’s the cure for everything: diaper rash, dry skin, chapped lips, you name it! This great gift set comes with healing ointment, diaper rash cream, wash & shampoo and water wipes. Everything you and your baby need before, during and after bathtime.
When your baby gets old enough to fight you on bathtime, throw these little guys into the water and await the positive attitude change. Great for ages three and up, these little light cubes get the fun glowing and fade away as the water drains away.
Moms in my network rave about this Fisher-Price tub. Durable and flexible, it grows with your baby from that first newborn bath all the way to that roomy toddler tub time.
Keep your baby’s bath water warm and their tub clean with this unique tub. This tub features an innovative design that allows for a constant flow of clean and warm water for your baby. This tub also includes a built-in digital thermometer so you know your baby’s bath water is just right.
Another great way to coax your little one into the bath is with a fun and friendly bath mitt. This mitt features an interior soap pocket for bar and liquid soap, and is also machine-washable.
A great alternative to traditional bathtubs, this tub fits nicely in most sinks and is good for newborns up to six months.
I am a sucker for baby hooded towels. Honestly, any hooded towel will get the job done, but one that wraps your baby in tiny little dinosaurs is super Instagrammable. This package comes with three towels and six washcloths.
They call it rinse and run technology, but I call it a godsend. This handy splash guard keeps water and soap out of your baby’s eyes and mouth and keeps never-ending whining out of your ears. Everybody wins!
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Baby Bath Essentials - Bath Products & Sets
How to Bathe a Newborn
Giving your newborn a bath is one of the many magical firsts that comes along with becoming a parent, but it can often bring about a bit of anxiety about “doing it right”. So, we’ve put together some helpful tips to make the process run as smoothly as possible for you and your newborn.
Read More
Natural Baby Bath & Skin Care Products 2022 Guide
Heading down the baby care aisle or browsing online can be overwhelming. How do you know which baby bath products will be best for baby’s delicate and sensitive skin?
To start, here are a few things to avoid when shopping for baby bath and skincare products:
Artificial fragrance (If your baby has very sensitive skin, you may want to avoid even naturally scented products and stick to unscented)
Parabens, sulfates, and phthalates
THE BEST BABY SKIN CARE PRODUCTS
We’re sharing some of our favorite natural baby bath and skin care products to keep baby clean and happy.
This baby gear guide contains affiliate links.
BUY IT AT EARTH MAMA This baby wash is Castile-based, which means it’s real soap and doesn’t require preservatives, emulsifiers, or surfactant chemicals like detergent-based soaps do. It also contains soothing calendula, and has no artificial fragrance, triclosan, phthalates, parabens, or sulfates. We love that it comes in a bulk size, so you use fewer plastic bottles. Use code GCLove20 for 20% off your purchase at EarthMamaOrganics.
BUY IT AT AMAZON Another amazing Castile soap option. Found in liquid or bar form, Castile soap is one of the best choices for babies. It cleans (and gently foams) naturally, so it’s effective for removing dirt and germs. And it’s made with vegetable oils, so it doesn’t dry out baby’s skin. A little goes a lot way – especially when you add this + plain water to make DIY foaming soap.
BUY IT AT AMAZON Plant-based and hypoallergenic, Babo Botanicals’ moisturizing baby shampoo and wash is free of harsh chemicals and irritants, and can be used on eczema-prone and sensitive skin. Their organic “nutri-soothe” blend contains calendula, chamomile, kudzu, watercress, and meadowsweet. Other ingredients include colloidal oatmeal, coconut oil, and shea butter for moisturizing.
BUY IT AT EARTH MAMA Soothe any dry skin or chapped cheeks, nose, or chin after bath with a safe balm. Earth Mama’s Organic Baby Face contains ultra-rich calendula coconut balm to soothe and protect delicate skin. Both EWG verified and Leaping Bunny Certified, it contains zero petroleum. Use code GCLove20 for 20% off your purchase at EarthMamaOrganics.
BUY IT AT AMAZON Wipes can help keep little hands and faces clean or provide a gentle cleansing between baths. Made of rayon-free, organic and sustainable bamboo fabric infused with non-synthetic vitamin E, rosemary oil extract and aloe. Doctor Butler’s wipes are sturdy and have no petrochemicals, chlorine, alcohol, phthalates, parabens, SLS, or lanolin.
BUY IT AT AMAZON With natural vitamin E and certified organic rosemary extract, almond and jojoba carrier oils, this sulfate and paraben-free baby oil is the ideal emollient moisturizer for baby’s delicate and sensitive skin and is perfect for baby massage.
BUY IT AT EARTH MAMA This moisturizing blend of gentle ingredients comforts and soothes sensitive skin. Organic herbs and oils provide a scrumptious scent, without petroleum, mineral oil, parabens, or artificial fragrance.
BUY IT AT AMAZON This unique baby balm soothes, heals, protects and moisturizes delicate skin. Containing just five simple ingredients, this balm is safe for use with disposable or cloth diapers. If your baby suffers from persistent irritation, try to find the cause of diaper rash and eliminate it.
BEST BABY BATH PRODUCTS
BUY IT AT AMAZON Some baby tubs are just too big for a newborn, and it can be easier to handle a slippery baby in the sink. This soft, foldable bath tub allows you to bathe your 0-6 month old baby in the sink. It hangs flat for easy storage and is made of mold and mildew resistant BPA/PVC free material.
BUY IT AT AMAZON For homes with a stand up shower only or for those who don’t want to bend down to deal with baby in a big tub, a portable tub is a great option. This foldable bathtub is lightweight, portable, and can be used for newborns through 48 months. Use the included newborn support for babies up to 8 months / 17 pounds. With a non-slip base and heat-sensitive drain plug, this tub is perfect for at home or travel.
BUY IT AT TARGET The Ripple bathtub mat from Boon offers a safe, kid-friendly alternative to traditional bath mats. Made without BPA and phthalates, this mat is large enough to ensure your baby is on a safe, non-slip surface in case they crawl across the tub. This versatile mat features drain holes that expel water and a convenient built-in hook for hanging, so you don’t have to worry about trapped water turning into mold.
BUY IT AT TARGET Soft and absorbent, these knit terry towels are smooth on one side and loop on the other. They are perfectly sized to keep baby snuggly without the hood covering their face. 100% combed, ring-spun cotton, these adorable hooded towels are durable and will stay soft without pilling after washing.
BUY IT AT TARGET These 100% organic cotton washcloths are perfectly sized for babies. Made of super soft muslin gauze to be gentle on sensitive skin, with a handy loop for hanging and drying.
BUY IT AT TARGET Keep baby warm and cozy before and after bath time. This darling bath robe has a bear face on the hood and is made of soft, plush OEKO-TEX certified fabric.
DO I REALLY NEED SEPARATE SKIN CARE ITEMS FOR BABY?
In our eco-friendly baby gear guides, we always encourage the “less is more” philosophy. It can help lessen your environmental impact and it’s also gentler on your bank account.
If you’re already using Castile soap and unscented, organic products for yourself and your family, by all means, use them for baby as well. But if you haven’t swapped your personal care items for safer alternatives, opting for as few ingredients as possible is always best when it comes to baby’s delicate skin and developing brain and body. The danders of endocrine disruptors are real, and we all want to give our child the healthiest start possible.
WHEN IS IT WORTH IT TO SPEND MORE?
The good news about most of the products above is that they’re not much more expensive than their conventional counterparts. A baby is much smaller in surface area than an adult, so a little bit of shampoo or body wash goes a long way!
When the budget allows, we try to opt for as much organic and toxin-free baby gear as possible. These little steps go a long way toward lessening your family’s chemical body burden. For us, the peace of mind is always worth a little extra expense.
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU’RE FINISHED WITH YOUR BABY ITEMS
The consumable items can’t go into the donation pile, but be sure to reuse or recycle the containers.
When your child outgrows their tub or those darling hooded towels, pass them along to a friend or family member, or be sure to donate them.
