There isn’t much more intoxicating than the smell of your baby after a bath. Parents love the smell of their sweet child after they are all clean. It is our responsibility, as parents, to ensure our children are clean until they are old enough to take care of it themselves. You may think selecting the best baby wash for your baby is easy, but many parents toss around which is the best option for their child.
How to Select the Best Baby Wash
Believe it or not, baby washes aren’t all created equal. Some contain ingredients that aren’t favorable. In fact, there is a lot of research coming out about the dangers of certain chemicals in our children’s body wash. Parents are concerned about the possible long-term effects on their children from the high levels of chemicals and toxins in their baby wash.
We all want our children to be healthy and safe. The last thing we want to do is wash them in soap we thought was safe, but navigating the waters of chemicals and toxins can be confusing. Our goal is to make it easier for you to know the best baby wash options on the market today.
You can use your child’s body wash as their shampoo as well. There is no reason to purchase separate soaps for your young child. It is usually better to go for the baby wash because shampoos have more ingredients and chemicals. So, let’s take a look at some of the chemicals that parents try to avoid in baby washes.
- Fragrance: We all love the smell of our baby after they have soaked in Johnson and Johnson, but many people believe the chemicals used to create those fragrances are unsafe for our baby’s delicate system. These chemicals can lead to skin irritation, eczema, and allergies. Companies add coal and petroleum based synthetic chemicals to create these fragrances. However, fragrance is in all kinds of products like disposable diapers, baby powder, baby lotion and baby wipes.
- Formaldehyde: Most of us have heard about the dangers of formaldehyde, but it is still hiding in many everyday products. Companies add it to their items to help decrease the formation of mold and to act as a preservative.
Even though it is commonly added to many products, formaldehyde is a known carcinogen, which means that it is known to cause cancer. This fact is baffling to parents who wonder why it is added to their child’s body wash. Formaldehyde is a scary chemical. Not only can it cause cancer, but it can also lead to allergy-like reactions, respiratory problems, nausea, and headaches.
Reading the labels on baby wash can be difficult. Not all containers will directly note formaldehyde on their label. You may notice other ingredients on the bottle such as:
- Quaternium-15
- DMDM Hydantoin
- Imidazolidinyl Urea
- Sodium Hydroxymethyl Glycinate
- Bronopol
- Glyoxal
- Triclosan: In our world today, people love anything that is antibacterial, but a young child doesn’t need antibacterial products. It is ideal for children to create natural immunities and resistance to bacteria. Triclosan is an endocrine disruptor, and it is a carcinogenic chemical.
- Phthalates and Parabens: You will notice these two chemicals in a lot of mainstream personal care products. They are a preservative. Phthalates are an endocrine disruptor, which can cause problems with reproductive systems such as decreased sperm motility. An endocrine disruptor can lead to asthma and cancer.
Parabens are endocrine disruptors as well. As parents, we need to work to avoid these chemicals because they may cause later reproductive problems, endometriosis, skin irritation, and developmental disorders. There are some other products that we should avoid such as DEP, DBP, DEHP and anything ending with the word “paraben.”
- Propylene Glycol: You will notice propylene glycol on many body products. It helps the product absorb into your skin easier, so it works as a penetration enhancer. It opens up your pores and lets the chemicals into your skin. Unfortunately, propylene glycol is also a carcinogen; it is also used in wiper fluid. That is not something you want to rub on your baby on a regular basis. You can find propylene glycol listed on the labels as PEG or PPG.
The Top 10 Best Baby Wash
Aveeno Baby Wash
Aveeno creates some of the best baby washes and shampoos on the market today. One of the best choices blends natural oat extract. This particular baby wash uses a tear-free formula that will gently clean your child with a soft fragrance.
There are some great features to know about the Aveeno baby wash, such as:
- Tear Free
- Allergy Tested
- Soap Free
- Paraben Free
Aveeno also means several other varieties of baby wash, such as their Calming Comfort Bath with lavender and vanilla. Pediatricians recommend using Aveeno, especially for children with sensitive skin. They use natural colloidal oatmeal that is an active ingredient meant to protect skin. It helps to restore your skin’s healthy pH level and helps prevent and protect dry skin. If you are looking for the best baby wash for your baby with a sensitive skin condition, Aveeno should be on your list to try!
Weleda Calendula Baby Shampoo and Body Wash
If you live in Europe, you are more than likely familiar with Weleda; they are one of the leading brands of natural baby products. Now, they are branching off into the USA and bringing their great items. Their calendula baby shampoo and body wash is certified natural by the European Organization NaTRUE.
Our babies have such delicate skin and hair; it is important that our body washes clean gently while maintaining moisture on their skin and hair. This helps everyone’s skin, even adults, feel smooth and clean.
Containing organic calendula grown in Germany, the baby shampoo has some excellent details that parents love!
- Does not contain mineral oils
- No parabens and phthalates
- Free of sulfates
- Tear Free
When you use the Weleda baby shampoo and body washes, you don’t have to purchase separate products. It is a two in one product that will clean and moisture your child’s hair and skin together. It has a gentle surfactant made with sugar and coconut. Weleda uses natural ingredients, like almonds and sesame seed oils, to moisturize and nourish skin and hair.
I am thoroughly impressed by the ingredients used by Weleda. They aren’t going to burn their eyes or dry your child’s skin. Calendula is an anti-inflammatory ingredient that will reduce any redness or swell. For babies with eczema and dry skin, Weleda’s baby shampoo and body wash is the perfect option!
Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Shampoo and Wash
When one thinks about natural skin care products, Burt’s Bees is one of the brands that many people cite as being one of the best. Their products are safe and delicate on a baby’s skin. There are some great details that parents need to know!
- No Formaldehyde
- Tear Free
- No Petroleum Based Products or SLS
- No Parabens and Phthalates
The EWG gives Burt’s Bees Baby Bee shampoo and wash a rating as a 2 out of 10, which is an excellent score! You can feel confident using it on your child. The shampoo and body wash is made with soothing vanilla and lavender. These are my favorite ingredients to help my young babies relax and drift into a peaceful sleep.
Burt’s Bees doesn’t use chemicals to create their fragrances. Instead, the scents come from their natural products such as rosewood, sweet almond, coriander fruit oil, and other lovely ingredients. Something that parents need to know is that their shampoo and body wash contains sodium benzoate. This is a chemical that some folks prefer to avoid as well. If you don’t mind sodium benzoate, Burt’s Bees has one of the best baby wash and will leave a delicate scent on your child.
Puracy Natural Baby Shampoo and Body Wash
Before purchasing a body wash, I encourage parents to check the rating by EWG. The rating of Burt’s Bees was mentioned above, and it is important to know what this rating means. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is an organization that advocates against toxic chemicals and rates products based on their toxicity.
The Puracy Natural Baby Shampoo get a green rating means it is very safe for your child. You should have no worries about toxicity. These are some of the reasons why Puracy received such ratings.
- It has absolutely no sulfates – SLS, SLES, SCS.
- Puracy uses only natural preservatives.
- Free of chemicals such as sulfates, triclosan, formaldehyde, salicylates, parabens, phosphates, petroleum-based products, perfumes, and dyes.
- Hypoallergenic
- Vegan
- Gluten Free
- Made in the USA!
Puracy consulted a team of doctors to create their natural baby shampoo. Puracy refused to use an artificial fragrance. Instead, they used a subtle blend of pink grapefruit and natural botanical extracts for a delicate yet intoxicating scent.
The Puracy Natural baby shampoo contains no allergens or irritants. It is a great option for all types of skin. If your child has eczema, cradle cap, or sensitive skin, little cleaning bubbles will use a pH balanced formula and sea salt to purify and balance your skin. Puracy also uses vegetable-based moisturizers to retain your skin’s softness.
Many parents are concerned about animal usage in the production of body care products. Puracy contains no animal byproducts. The company never tests their products on animals and promises to be cruelty-free. So many people find that an important detail for the product they select.
Puracy has a 100% satisfaction guaranteed. If you are looking for a natural product with great ingredients, Puracy Natural Baby Shampoo is a fabulous option!
Mustela 2 in 1 Hair and Body Wash
Mustela is made up of skincare experts about babies, and they create a range of specially formulated skin care to address the delicate skin of young infants. The Mustela 2-in-1 is a tear free, cleansing gel that can be used for both your child’s hair and body. It is a soap free designed for the delicate skin of babies. You can have no worries using this from birth.
- Hypoallergenic
- Paraben free
- Phthalate free
- Phenoxyethanol-free
- Biodegradable
- Alcohol free
Mustela worked with pediatricians to test the products on 60 children for three weeks for any dermatological reactions. The results show that it is gentle on skin, scalp and cleanses the skin, leaving a fresh result. They use gentle surfactants to cleanse the skin without stripping away the natural essential oils of the skin.
Mustela uses 94% ingredients of natural origin. For example, their natural patented specific ingredient, Avocado perseose, is meant to reinforce the skin barrier and preserve the skin’s cells. They focus on using ingredients from plants that are safe. For parents that want a product that has natural ingredients and is safe for their child, Mustela is one of the best baby wash on the market.
Babo Botanicals Moisturizing Baby Shampoo and Wash
For parents that focus on the ratings by EWG, Babo Botanicals are rated #1 in safety by EWG. Their entire collection is created by a certified organic farm in upstate New York. The products are made in small batches because they focus on details.
- Paraben and phthalate free
- Formaldehyde free
- Sulfate free
- Pure flower and plant extracts are used for fragrance.
Babo Botanicals offers a gentle, plant-based baby wash for children with dry or fragile skin. They created a sensitive soap for kids, in particular with those who are prone to eczema. It can be so hard to find the right soap in these situations! You have to find a product that uses no chemicals, synthetic fragrances, and artificial colors. Luckily, Babo Botanicals offers these features to parents, so they don’t need to worry about reactions and harsh products.
Babo Botanicals products are dairy and soy free as well, which is perfect for babies. Soy is linked to many disorders as well. Parents should be pleased that they use no nut oils, and they are vegan products. When you use Babo Botanicals Moisturizing Baby Shampoo and Wash, you decrease the number of chemicals you are introducing to your children.
Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Chamomile and Argan Oil Baby Head to Toe Wash and Shampoo
Years ago, Shea Moisture started in Africa and had grown to a fair-trade business. They use natural ingredients in a lovely smelling blend for babies with delicate skin. Shea Moisture has an extensive list of amazing features that parents will love!
- No animal testing
- No parabens and phthalates
- No paraffin
- Gluten Free
- No propylene glycol
- No mineral oil
- No added fragrance
- No sulfates
Shea Moisture uses some of the best ingredients they can find in their products. Instead of a long list of used parts, their eliminated chemical list is much longer. If your child has damaged skin, Shea Moisture will help to moisturize and repair the damage with vitamins and essential fatty acids.
They added chamomile, due to its anti-inflammatory properties, to help soothe your baby’s damaged skin. Chamomile is a great sleep aide as well! Argan oil was added because it has high levels of Vitamin E that softens and soothes the skin.
Shea Moisture added frankincense and myrrh extract to their Head to Toe Wash and Shampoo. They added them to help protect and soothe the skin. Together, they create a soothing and calm bathing experience for your child. One look at the long list of excluded chemicals, it is no wonder that Shea Moisture is one of the best baby washes on the market!
Baja Baby Night Night Lavender Shampoo and Body Wash
Parents know the benefits of using lavender to soothe and relax our little ones before they head to sleep. The smell is fabulous and helps to relax your child without having to absorb unnecessary chemicals.
- Sulfate Free
- Paraben Free
- Phosphate Free
Baja Baby uses only the best natural ingredients in their lavender shampoo and body wash. In this product, parents will notice that Baja Baby uses glacial water, pro-vitamin B5, and hemp seed oil. They created a vitamin enriched formula that is perfect for young children. Parents have tried it on their hair and skin; they rave about the great results! It leaves their hair smooth and shiny.
Pro-Vitamin B5 is quickly absorbed by the skin, even into the lower layers. It helps to retain moisture deep in the tissue. Over time, Pro-Vitamin B5 will contribute to reducing inflammation and relieve systemic itching while soothing dry skin. It protects and moisturizes skin. Hemp seed oil prevents water loss and adds a softening effect. It is a natural moisturizer that increases your scalp’s health.
If you are looking for a product that smells lovely and helps send your child off to sleep, you can’t go wrong with the Baja Baby Night Night Lavender Baby Shampoo and Body Wash. The smell is light lavender with touches of citrus. If your child gets it in their eyes, it is gentle enough not to burn.
Wash with Water – Certified Organic Infant Ultra Luxe Foam Cleanser
If you want an organic alternative for your baby’s bath product, the Wash with Water’s 2 in 1 Newborn Ultra Luxe Foam Cleanser was made with your child’s skin in mind. They made the soap with all skin types in mind.
Their whole skin and hair care line can help with all skin types and conditions, such as eczema, cradle cap, keratosis pilaris, and dry skin. The lack of harsh chemicals will help to heal. Then, the conditioning properties will help keep your baby’s skin and hair nourished.
- BPA Free
- PVC Free
- Phthalates Free
- 100% recyclable
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free – PETA certified
The organic ingredients that Wash with Water uses is amazing! The use some of the best natural botanicals they can find such as Moroccan Argan Oil, Calendula, Vitamin E, Meadowfoam, Roman Chamomile, and Orange Blossom. They also added organic aloe vera and organic rosemary extract. The products used to make the Ultra Luxe Foam Cleanser are 100% natural and help to support the health and development of your baby.
Wash with Water is safe to use. They added no harsh chemicals or irritants. Also, as noted above, parents should be happy to see that this product is 100% vegan and cruelty-free. Also, Wash with Water is made in the USA. It is important to remember that Wash with Water didn’t add any eye anesthetizing or eye film coating chemicals, so it is important to keep soapy water out of your baby’s eyes.
If you want to find a certified organic baby shampoo and body wash, the Wash with Water Ultra Luxe Foam Cleanser is a great option with a great price tag.
California Baby Calming Shampoo and Body Wash
When a mother was frustrated by a number of chemicals in her child’s bath products, she developed the brand we now know as California Baby. She created a calming shampoo and body wash with a delicate and crisp French lavender scent, perfect for lulling your baby to sleep or relaxing them during those dreaded witching hours.
- Tear Free
- No Glute, Soy, Oat, Dairy or Nuts
- No Sulfates
The first thing noted is that the California Baby Calming Shampoo and body wash is tear free. This may be concerning because it does require a toxic chemical to make products tear free. However, California Baby doesn’t use 1,4 Dioxane to create the tear-free detail. However, it does contain sodium benzoate. As we mentioned before, some parents prefer to avoid this controversial food grade preservative.
California Baby Calming Shampoo and Body Wash is made with natural ingredients to create a lovely fragrance. They use French Lavender and Clary Sage essential oils instead of synthetic materials. However, some parents prefer to have no scents and will be pleased to know that California Baby makes a Super Sensitive version with no scent at all.
California Baby offers several different products that parents may enjoy. Their organic products are made from sustainably grown, vegan ingredients cultivated in the USA. You can even purchase in large sizes!
Selecting the Best Baby Wash
As you can see, there are several choices for the title of the best baby wash. They are all great choices with positives and negatives. The final decision is based on what suits your family. What works for your child may not work for another family. You may have to try a few different baby washes to find the right one. If you are stumped about which one to select, here is what you should consider.
- Ingredients: Your first focus should be on the ingredients. The best baby wash will exclude some harmful chemicals. You want the safest body wash you can find your newborn. Chemical toxins are dangerous for a growing child, and the chemicals can be too harsh on their delicate skin.
Besides the exclusion of chemicals, you should look at the included ingredients. Ideally, they will be all natural ingredients that are organic or fair trade and are cruelty-free. The ingredients should be somewhat recognizable. If you know what the ingredients are, you will feel more confident slathering it on your child.
- Formula: Some of these options for the best baby wash come out like a foam. Others are similar to a lotion. You have to decide if you want a soapy lather. Another thing to consider is if you want a tear-free formula. Remember, it does take a chemical to make baby wash Tear-free, so you have to weigh the pros and cons.
- Scent: Not every parent wants to have a scented baby wash. It is fine if you do and if you don’t want a scent. If you prefer your baby’s bath products to have a scent, it is important that the scents come from natural ingredients, like essential oils or vegetable based oils, rather than perfumes and petroleum-based products.
- Pricing: Another consideration is your budget. This is something every parent has to think about before purchase. Some baby washes are more expensive than other products. If you have a tight budget, you may want to avoid the most expensive soaps. A few of them can reach upwards of $20 per bottle. If you have more than one child, a bottle can last only a week. Price is a factor.
Our goal for this review was to help parents find the best baby wash for their child. Whether you were looking for a natural soap under $10 or wanted an organic baby wash for your baby, this review included something for everyone. All of the products listed are safe, and that is the most important factor of all. The last thing any parent wants to do is use a product that is unsafe for their child. We took care of the research for you. You can trust these products.
Do you have a favorite baby wash? We want to hear what you use on your baby. Let us know in the comments!
