The Best Baby Shampoo & Body Wash to Keep Them Clean From Head-to-Toe
Keep those little fingers, toes and hair squeaky clean with these shampoos and body washes.
By Latifah Miles | Medically Reviewed by Brittany DiBardino DO
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, a healthy amount of bath toys (and maybe a sudsy mohawk) to keep clean. But unlike adults, babies have thin, delicate skin, including their scalp, that is highly sensitive. This means their skin needs gentle, nourishing body wash and shampoo that won’t strip away their natural oils while also locking in moisture.
Keep your little one clean with these baby washes and shampoo combos.
Babylist’s Top Picks for the Best Baby Shampoo & Body Wash
- Best Moisturizing Baby Wash and Shampoo: Aveeno Baby Wash
- Best Calming Baby Wash and Shampoo: Cetaphil Baby Wash
- Best Baby Wash and Shampoo with Vitamin E: Noodle and Boo Hair and Body Wash
- Best No-Rinse Baby Wash and Shampoo: Mustela No-Rinse
- Best Hypoallergenic Baby Wash and Shampoo: Tubby Todd Hair and Body Wash
- Best Baby Wash and Shampoo for Sensitive Skin: Baby Dove Sensitive Skin Care Baby Wash
- Best Tear-Free Baby Wash and Shampoo: Cerave Baby Wash & Shampoo
- Best Castile Baby Wash and Shampoo: Dr. Bronners Pure-Castile Liquid Baby Soap
In This Article
Babylist’s Picks for the Best Baby Shampoo & Body Wash
Best Moisturizing Baby Wash and Shampoo
The oat extract sets Aveeno apart from other baby cleansers; it’s a naturally moisturizing ingredient that won’t dry out skin even in the winter months. My kids are a decade apart and I’ve used Aveeno Baby Wash and baby lotion for both because it works so well. Even with my son’s sensitive skin and eczema flare-ups, Aveeno baby soap is soothing without irritating baby’s delicate skin.
Best Baby Wash and Shampoo for Eczema
Cetaphil is a trusted brand known for gentle cleansers for all ages and skin types, even the most delicate. Extract from the calendula flower—a natural anti-inflammatory and calming agent—makes this wash perfect for babies with eczema or other rashes.
Best Baby Wash and Shampoo with Vitamin E
Packed with protein and vitamins B and E, this shampoo will help dry or dull hair maintain a healthy shine. The tear-free formula is gentle and won’t strip your baby’s skin of its natural moisture. Keep in mind: This formula has a pretty strong fragrance, so sensitive noses might want to pick a different baby wash.
Best No-Rinse Baby Wash
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 a perfect option for traveling, post-meal time clean-ups and any other time when you’d rather skip filling up the tub for a traditional bath.
Best Hypoallergenic Baby Wash and Shampoo
Made with plant-based ingredients like avocado, mango and cucumber extracts, Tubby Todd’s products are free from toxins, parabens, gluten, sulfates, artificial color, artificial fragrance and BPA. This body wash and shampoo gently cleanses while leaving your baby’s skin and hair feeling soft and conditioned. For newborns, you can choose the fragrance-free version and as your baby moves into toddlerhood, you can opt for one of their delightful scents.
Best Baby Wash and Shampoo for Sensitive Skin
Babies have thinner, more delicate skin compared to adults. This means that they are susceptible to skin irritation, dryness and rashes so their skincare products should be nourishing without being harsh. Baby Dove’s Sensitive Skin Care Baby Wash is fragrance-free, hypoallergenic and ultra-gentle. Even though it is designed for baby’s delicate skin, the wash has a thick and creamy texture that is super moisturizing and nourishing leaving your baby’s skin feeling soft.
Best Tear-Free Baby Wash and Shampoo
Bathing your baby daily with a harsh soap can dry out their skin, causing irritation and rashes. But, if you prefer to give your baby a dip once a day (which you totally don’t have to according to the American Academy of Pediatrics), the three essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid in CeraVe Baby Wash will seal in moisture while protecting their delicate skin barrier.
Best Castile Baby Wash and Shampoo
This do-it-all concentrated baby soap is made of 70 percent organic and fair trade ingredients, including organic coconut oil, organic hemp oil, and organic olive oil. The highly concentrated formula is made to be diluted which means this one bottle will last quite a while. And why is it a do-it-all? It can be used as a baby wash, baby shampoo, to clean toys, or even as a face wash for yourself—the potential uses are endless. As far as baby, the unscented soap creates a thick bubbly lather that is gentle on skin and non-stripping.
How We Chose the Best Baby Shampoo & Body Wash
- We reviewed customer reviews from hundreds of real Babylist parents.
- I utilized my own insights as a mom for more than a decade, with two children, and over five years of experience researching, reviewing, and writing about baby products.
How Long Do Babies Need to Use Baby-Specific Wash?
During the first year of your baby’s life, their skin’s barrier is still developing, which means they need gentle skincare products. After the first year, you can opt to use mild soaps that are not baby-specific, or you can stick with your baby wash—it’s up to you!
Can I Use a Separate Baby Shampoo?
While the baby wash and shampoo combination will work fine for your baby’s hair, it’s also OK to choose a baby shampoo that’ is designed specifically to cleanse their hair and scalp. For babies with textured hair, baby shampoo tends to be less drying than the wash and shampoo combos, making detangling and hair management easier. But, just like baby wash, make sure you review the ingredients and avoid strong fragrances and harsh additives that can cause an irritated scalp or dandruff.
What to Look for in a Baby Wash and Shampoo
- 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.
Latifah Miles
Senior Commerce Editor
Latifah Miles is the Senior Commerce Editor at Babylist.
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