The 10 Best Baby Bath Products of 2024

These baby bath products help make bath time easier and more fun

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Collage of baby bath products we recommend on a blue background

Verywell Family / Kevin Liang

Whether your baby loves or detests bath time, there are many products, like baby washes, lotions, a bathtub, and more, that can help make bathing easier and more enjoyable for you both. Some are necessities, and some help make bath time a better experience for everyone, like bath toys that are fun and easy to clean

Since wash, bubbles, and lotion will cover your baby’s delicate skin, look for natural ingredients to help avoid irritation. Also, consider items that don’t take up too much room, serve multiple purposes, or are easy to store away. 

To select the best baby bath products, we spoke with two dermatologists to find out what to look for in baby bath products, including ingredients, skin sensitivities, and more. We also reviewed guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) on how often you should bathe a baby and how to buy safer products for children. Additionally, we researched dozens of top-rated kids’ shampoos, some 2-in-1 shampoos and body washes, and some with 3-in-1 shampoos, conditioners, and body washes, and sent them home with our parenting editors to use with their children ages 3 months to 12 years. Editors and their children continue to use these shampoos, conditioners, and body washes to ensure quality over time. 

When reviewing products, we carefully considered ingredients, design, material, age recommendations, skin types and sensitivities, ease of cleaning, and value. A board-certified family physician on our Review Board also reviewed this article for medical accuracy and integrity surrounding baby bath products, as well as information regarding bathing infants.

A Note About Safety

A baby should never be left unattended in the bathtub, even if only for a minute. Practice infant water safety early and always keep bath supplies within arm's reach.

Best Shampoo

Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Wash & Shampoo

Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Gentle Bath Wash & Shampoo with Natural Oat Extract

Amazon

Pros
  • Three bottle sizes

  • Natural oat extract

  • Hair felt soft and looked shiny

Cons
  • Contains fragrance

The Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Wash and Shampoo features natural oat extract to clean the hair and skin without drying it out. We appreciate the gentle, tear-free formula that lacks parabens, phthalates, and other potentially harmful ingredients. A pump top makes it effortless to get the wash out of the bottle, even one-handed if necessary. Choose from three bottle sizes: 12, 18, or 33 fluid ounces. 

The consistency of the shampoo and body wash is thin, but it lathers impressively fast to create nice bubbles. While this baby wash and shampoo contains fragrance, the smell is light and natural and lingers in hair after bathtime. Kids’ hair felt soft and looked shiny and voluminous following each use, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself using this every now and again, too.

Best Toys

Munchkin Bath Toy, Little Boat Train

Munchkin Bath Toy, Little Boat Train, 6 Count

Amazon

Pros
  • Variety of colors

  • Trains link together

  • Easy to clean

Cons
  • Sink easily

All aboard the "little boat train" with these six lightweight boats that link together and float in the water. Each pack features several boats in different colors and scoop up or strain water. The boats also have funny faces and numbers for counting, so they’re a great learning toy, too.

Best Bubble Bath

Puracy Natural Baby Bubble Bath

Puracy Natural Baby Bubble Bath
Pros
  • Nearly all-natural ingredients

  • Lavender and vanilla scent is lovely

  • Tear-free

Cons
  • More product necessary to lather

This baby bubble bath isn’t just for the tiniest members of the family thanks to its nearly all-natural ingredients. The Puracy Baby Bubble Bath boasts a plant-based formula with ingredients like aloe vera, shea butter, and sunflower oil. The biggest downside is that it lathers slowly, meaning you may need more product than usual to create suds. On the plus side, it’s tear-free, so you don’t have to worry about it stinging or burning gentle eyes. 

Bonus: The lavender and vanilla scent is from essential oils and smells wonderful.

Best Lotion

Dove Baby Soothing Cream

Dove Baby Soothing Cream

Amazon

Pros
  • Free of dyes, parabens, fragrances, and more

  • Contains 1% colloidal oatmeal

  • Great for baby eczema, dry skin, or as a regular lotion

Cons
  • Thick consistency

The Baby Dove Eczema Care Soothing Cream is great for baby eczema, dry skin, or as a post-bath lotion. It’s free of dyes, parabens, fragrances, and other ingredients that can irritate the skin. You can thank the colloidal oatmeal (the cream’s active ingredient) for hydrating your baby’s skin. To use, warm it in your hands and then massage it into your baby’s skin.

Best Baby Bath

4moms Cleanwater Tub

4moms Cleanwater Tub

4moms

Pros
  • Grows with baby

  • Removable insert

  • Holds fresh water and drains dirty water

Cons
  • Requires batteries (for thermometer)

  • No head support for newborns

The 4moms Cleanwater Tub boasts a smart design that grows with your baby via three stages. Fully support newborns with an included insert and remove it for older babies to lay or sit up. Regardless of your baby’s age, the company says you can use the baby bathtub in a sink or adult bathtub. 

The clean water area holds fresh water for rinsing, while dirty bathwater flows out the side drain. A built-in, color-coded digital thermometer on the tub ensures the water doesn’t get too hot. To avoid burns, it's best for bath water to be lukewarm, so test it on the inside of your wrist first.

Best 2-in-1 Shampoo and Body Wash

Tubby Todd Hair + Body Wash

Tubby Todd Hair and Body Wash

Tubby Todd

Pros
  • Fragrance is from natural ingredients

  • Leaves hair looking glossy

  • Lathers well

Cons
  • Slightly thin consistency

If you’re looking for a baby wash that does more than clean skin, you’ll love the Tubby Todd Hair + Body Wash. In addition to hydrating skin, it doubles as a kids’ shampoo. It’s full of natural extracts and natural ingredients and comes in an 8.5 or 25 fluid ounce bottle. 

The shampoo and body wash’s consistency is slightly thin but easy to pump and lather well. We had no issues using the pump top, which also locks for to prevent leakage. Kids’ hair looked noticeably glossy after each wash and smelled delightful (even several days after their last bath).

Best Accessory

Skip Hop Moby Baby Kneeler Pad

Skip Hop Moby Baby Kneeler Pad

Source: Skip Hop

Pros
  • Non-slip backing

  • Cushiony feel

  • Quick-dry fabric

Cons
  • Not machine washable

Parents and caregivers, rejoice! Give those achy knees a break while you kneel at the tub to bathe your baby. The bright blue whale has a non-slip backing and a soft, cushiony feel. The quick-dry fabric is much appreciated, especially after lots of splishing and splashing. The whale’s strap makes it easy to hang up and dry, too.

Best Towel

Pottery Barn Gingham Baby Hooded Towel

Pottery Barn Gingham Baby Hooded Towel

Pottery Barn Kids

Pros
  • Four trim colors

  • Add a name or monogram

  • Use for newborns up to 2 years old

Cons
  • Towel itself comes in one color (white)

Your bathing beauty will look so cute and stay nice and dry in a sweet gingham hooded towel. Choose from four colors of gingham trim and add personalization for a custom touch. The Pottery Barn Kids Hooded Towel is big enough that it’s appropriate for newborns up to 2 years old, providing a warm welcome after bath time for years to come.

Best Tear-Free Hair Rinser

Skip Hop Baby Bath Rinse Cup

Skip Hop Baby Bath Rinse Cup

Source: Skip Hop

Pros
  • Stands up or hangs on hook

  • Soft rubber lip

  • Easy to use

Cons
  • Large size may be too big for small babies

So simple yet life-changing, parents will appreciate how quickly and easily hair rinsing will go with this cute whale rinser. Interior fins channel a steady flow of water while the soft rubber lip fits snuggly up to your kiddo’s forehead, preventing water from flowing into sensitive eyes. 

Bonus? The Skip Hop Moby Rinser stands up or hangs on a hook for easy storage.

Best Robe

Burt's Bees Baby Absorbent Terry Hooded Bathrobe

Burt's Bees Baby - Bathrobe, Infant Hooded Robe, Absorbent Knit Terry, 100% Organic Cotton, 0-9 Months (Heather Grey)

Amazon

Pros
  • Two styles

  • Soft material

  • Fabric is absorbent

Cons
  • Tie closure only (no snaps)

Adults will be jealous of how cozy this 100% cotton, knitted terry robe is, especially since it gets softer with each wash. The extra absorbent fabric is appreciated to help dry littles after bathtime, while the hood keeps heads warm. This Burt’s Bees Baby Bathrobe comes in two styles: heather gray and rubber duckies.

How We Selected and Tested Baby Bath Products

In order to find the best baby bath products, we spoke with Debra Jaliman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and an assistant professor of dermatology at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, and Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and an associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, to learn more about what to look for in baby bath products, such as ingredients, skin types, and more. We also reviewed guidance from the AAP and AAD on how often to bathe a baby and how to select safe products for children. 

To further ensure we’re recommending the best baby bath products, we researched dozens of kids’ shampoos, shampoos and conditioners, and 3-in-1 formulas (shampoos, conditioners, and body washes or bubble bath gels) and sent them home to our parenting editors to use with their children, ages 3 months to 12 years. Throughout a four-week period, editors (or their children, if old enough to wash independently) used a quarter-sized amount of the products and washed kids’ hair. During testing, editors smelled the product, considered the consistency of the shampoos and body washes, and evaluated how it made children’s hair feel. Editors also evaluated each product on effectiveness, ease of use, comfort, quality, and overall value. Beyond the initial four-week testing period, editors continue to use these kids’ shampoos to help determine quality over time. 

Throughout our research process, we studied the design, material, ingredients, and purpose of each product while considering skin types and skin sensitivity issues, such as eczema or cradle cap. In addition, we also researched reviews from customers and competitors while monitoring shopping trends to bring you the best and most up-to-date offerings on baby bath products.

What to Look for in Baby Bath Products

Ingredients

Delicate baby skin should be treated gently. Since bubbles and lotion will cover your baby’s skin, look for natural ingredients that won’t cause irritation. Too much soap can be drying, so a mild, neutral-pH soap without any additives is your best bet. 

Dr. Zeichner, Dr. Jaliman, and the AAP recommend avoiding bath products with fragrances, as they can cause skin irritation. Moreover, Dr. Jaliman says triclosan and parabens are two other ingredients that may result in irritation of the skin, so it’s best to avoid those, too. When reading an ingredients label, remember that less is more. Dr. Jaliman says the more ingredients you use on a child’s skin, the more exposure to potential chemicals and allergens. 

According to Dr. Jaliman, look for ingredients that soothe the skin, such as jojoba, avocado, and coconut oils, aloe, and shea butter. 

Space

Most bathrooms don’t have unlimited space and storage. Opt for items that don’t take up too much room, serve a few purposes, or are easy to store away. For example, look for two-in-one products, like the Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Wash and Shampoo, so you don't have to buy two separate bottles. Just remember: Too much soap can be drying, so a mild, neutral-pH soap without any additives is your best bet.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How often should I bathe my baby?

    For the first two weeks, before the umbilical cord falls off, give your baby a sponge bath every few days. After that, you can bathe your baby in the tub a few times a week (or even less often; just keep baby's diaper area, face, and neck clean in between baths).

  • What bath products does my newborn need?

    You’ll want a few key products when giving your newborn baby a bath. Depending on your bathroom set-up, you may need a baby tub with an infant insert. You’ll also need shampoo and body wash, which usually comes as a combo; lotion; and washcloths and towels. Bath toys aren't necessary for newborns (the bath itself is stimulating enough!) but will make baths more fun when your baby gets a little bigger. Consider adding any or all of these bath items to your baby registry.

Why Trust Verywell Family

Maya Polton is a former marketing manager and current freelance writer who covers food, home, and parenting. She’s also the mom of an 11-year-old son, a 7-year-old son, and a 3-year-old daughter. Two of her three children still prefer baths over showers, so there’s a lot of bath-taking going on in her house.

Additional reporting by:

Katrina Cossey is a commerce writer, enthusiastic shopper, and devoted mom. She spent several years in broadcast journalism but found her true passion in writing about the best products for families, pregnant people, and kids of all ages. She’s researched thousands of baby products, toys, gifts, and more and personally tested many of them. In her spare time, you’ll likely find her in the beautiful outdoors of Oklahoma with her husband and 3-year-old son. Katrina used the Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Wash and Shampoo when her son was a newborn. She loved the light scent and how the product never irritated her little one's delicate skin.

3 Sources
Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. American Academy of Pediatrics. Bathing your baby.

  2. American Academy of Pediatrics. How to choose safer personal care products: Tips for families.

  3. American Academy of Dermatology. How to bathe your newborn.