Best Baby Shampoo & Body Wash of 2023
Best Baby Shampoo & Body Wash of 2023
Keep those little fingers, toes and hair squeaky clean with these shampoos and body washes.
By Babylist Team
Babylist editors love baby gear and independently curate their favorite products to share with you. If you buy something through links on our site, Babylist may earn a commission.
Whether it’s discovering self-feeding, adventurous outdoor playtime or your typical diaper blowout, babies can get pretty dirty.
Luckily, there’s no shortage of products to keep your baby’s delicate skin hydrated and squeaky clean. All it takes is a good scrub-a-dub-dub* to clean little ones up.
*Rubber duckie + shampoo mohawk: optional, but strongly preferred.
How to Choose a Baby Shampoo
There are lots of options and lots of ingredients to consider. So how do you know what products are safe for baby’s skin? Consider these three things:
- Fragrances. While added fragrances may smell nice, some might cause sensitive skin to get overly dry and irritated. Many brands use essential oils or botanical extracts to create natural fragrances, but they may still aggravate sensitive skin, so it’s best to test a very small amount of any product with added fragrance before applying it all over your baby’s skin.
- Harsh chemicals. Parabens, phthalates and sulfates can irritate or even harm your baby’s skin, and they’re often found in adult shampoos and body washes. So it’s best to stick to baby-specific or sensitive skin products for baby’s bathtime.
- No-tear formulas. “Tear-free” is a real thing that refers to the absence of eye-irritating substances. So if the shampoo or body wash you choose doesn’t claim to have a no-tear formula, be careful with it around baby’s eyes.
Quick Tips: How to Bathe Your Baby
- Newborns don’t need to be bathed daily, or even with soap (plain water works just fine for the first few weeks)!
- Stick to sponge baths until the umbilical cord falls off, which could take a week or more.
- For a good cleaning, gently scrub between all those cute baby creases, including under the chin, in the arm and thigh rolls, the diaper area and even between those teeny tiny toes (who knew babies could accumulate so much sock fuzz?).
- Get your little one all snuggled up in a soft towel as soon as possible so they don’t get cold. Any towel with gentle fabric will work, but hooded towels with animal ears provide maximum cuteness.
Here are our favorite shampoo and body wash combos created with baby-safe ingredients:
Best Shampoo and Body Wash for Babies
Each product is dermatologist-tested for sensitive skin and doesn’t contain any dyes, phthalates or parabens.
Aveeno
The oat extract is what sets Aveeno apart from other baby cleansers; it's a naturally moisturizing ingredient that won’t dry out skin even in the winter months.
Burt's Bees
Soy proteins are the secret behind this plant-based, tear-free shampoo and wash. Soy proteins are natural moisturizers packed with vitamin B and essential minerals to scrub away the day.
Cetaphil
Cetaphil is a trusted brand for gentle cleansers for all ages and skin types, even the most delicate skin. Extract from the calendula flower—a natural anti-inflamatory and calming agent—makes this wash perfect for babies with eczema or other rashes.
Cantu
Curly and kinky hair needs specific care in order to maintain its texture without over-drying. Products made specifically for Black hair are specially formulated to protect important natural oils and prevent breakage or other damage.
Earth Mama
Bathing baby right before bedtime? This gentle wash has a light lavender scent to help calm any fussy baby and get them ready for sleep. Keep in mind this is a castile soap and isn't tear-free, so don't use it near baby's eyes.
Noodle & Boo
This shampoo is best for babies with dry or dull hair. Protein and vitamins B and E keep hair healthy and shiny. Keep in mind: This formula has a pretty strong fragrance, so sensitive noses might want to pick a different baby wash.
Mustela
This no-rinse, newborn-safe micellar water uses natural ingredients like vitamin B5 and avocado to clean and hydrate. Since there’s no rinsing or scrubbing involved, it’s perfect for travel, in between baths or just a quick clean up.
Tubby Todd
Made with plant-based ingredients like avocado, mango and cucumber extracts, it’s free from toxins, parabens, gluten, sulfates, artificial color, artificial fragrance and BPA. All Tubby Todd products combat dryness and eczema to keep skin hydrated.
Baby Bum
This bubbly, foamy cleanser features Baby Bum's signature blend of sea minerals, coconut oil, banana, aloe and white ginger for a nourishing and totally tropical formula.
Dabble & Dollop
This 3-in-1 cleanser features a lightweight, whipped texture and a calming vanilla scent, plus it's certified tear-free and gentle on sensitive skin. Any of the Dabble & Dollop soaps can be mixed together to create fun scent combinations.
This information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. We do not accept any responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, from any information or advice contained here. Babylist may earn compensation from affiliate links in this content. Learn more about how we write Babylist content and review products, as well as the Babylist Health Advisory Board.
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