Bath time is one of the sweetest, more relaxing parts of the day for both new parents and babies alike. Infants and kids alike usually enjoy the ritual—it soothes them and at the same time can be super fun. They splish and splash, pop bubbles and get coddled by their adoring grownups. So the last thing parents want to do is rush through this special experience in fear of subsequent dry, itchy skin caused by harsh soaps.
“Kids and babies’ skin is super sensitive,” says Dr. Julie Russak, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Russak Dermatology Clinic. “Their skin hasn’t fully formed a protective barrier yet, therefore the ingredients used on it should take that into account.” Some ingredients she recommends watching out for include fragrances, dyes, lanolin, formaldehyde, sodium lauryl sulfate and methylisothiazolinone.
When shopping for baby bathing products, look for formulations that include soothing ceramides, oats, coconut oil, shea butter and aloe. “Products with fewer ingredients and ingredients you recognize are cleaner and have less risk,” says Dr. Nanette Silverberg, Chief of Pediatric Dermatology for Mount Sinai Health Systems. And if you or your little one are allergic to or irritated by even gentle product lines, Silverberg recommends seeing a board certified dermatologist to help with those tricky situations.
Ultimately, bath time is time to bond. Make it the best possible experience by picking the right products that meet your child’s needs for hydration or sensitive skin management. To help, we spoke to a few additional experts for their favorite baby bath products.
Sensitive Skin-Approved Bubble Bath
Babo Botanicals Sensitive Baby Bubble Bath, Wash and Shampoo
Babo Botanicals’ new plant-based, EWG-verified bubble bath checks all the boxes. Made with nourishing organic shea butter and organic coconut oil, soothing oat, and healing organic calendula and chamomile, the formula makes exhilarating bubble baths a possibility for even those with the most sensitive skin. Bonus: The hypoallergenic and fragrance-free product works triple duty as a shampoo and body wash.
A Certified Organic Eczema Soother
California Baby Eczema Shampoo & Body Wash
There are so many reasons California Baby is at the top of most expert lists. The woman-owned brand creates exceptional products in its certified organic solar powered facility. The company has formulated an exclusive, 100% plant-based preservative system using basil and anise, and grows its own calendula in order to be more sustainable. All the products are gentle and safe for sensitive skin, but we especially love the care that went into creating their eczema line. “For families with eczema, starting with fragrance-free, eczema-friendly products may help keep skin healthy longterm,” says Dr. Silverberg. And you can’t go wrong with this one: Founder Jessica Iclisoy searched long and hard for a colloidal oatmeal that’s not only certified organic but also gluten-free (eczema flare-ups are often triggered by food allergies so to reduce potential irritants, the brand wanted to select one without gluten, a common trigger).
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Mommy-And-Me Self Care
Kiehl’s Mom & Baby Nurturing Baby Oil
“Post-bath, I love to give my toddler a relaxing massage, and Kiehl’s Mom and Baby Nurturing Oil has been our go-to since she was just a few months old,” says Lauren Levinson, Editorial Director of Verywell Family. “It is composed of hydrating olive oil and skin-softening apricot oil, which also accounts for its very subtle scent.” Another plus: Levinson rubs it on herself after, too. “It’s great for helping with those postpartum stretch marks,” she says.
A Great Cradle Cap Treatment
Mustela Cradle Cap Foam Shampoo For Newborns
To treat cradle cap, the scaly patches that appear on a newborn’s head during the first year, you generally don’t have to do much. “Cradle cap is often improved by daily shampooing,” says Dr. Dawn Marie R. Davis, a pediatric dermatologist with Mayo Clinic. Silverberg says one of the oldest therapies is to massage a bit of sterile oil on the scalp ten minutes before bath time and then gently brush off softened scale with a toothbrush. She also likes putting petroleum jelly on the areas overnight.
For a product line that’s tested for cradle cap, Karen Reardanz, Executive Editor at Babylist loves this Mustela shampoo. “The foaming formula keeps the shampoo on baby’s hair (no running down into eyes), and it’s tear-free, non-toxic and safe for newborns,” she says. The fragrance-free shampoo is made with avocado extracts and sunflower seed oil, and gently exfoliates away flakes while hydrating and protecting the scalp.
Rigorously Tested Bodycare
This best-in-class bath and skincare line doesn’t skimp on ingredients or looks. Developed with leading pediatric dermatologists, EllaOla products are science-backed and made from the best plant-based resources from around the world (think: algae from the seas of Brittany, France). The rigorously tested line is hypoallergenic and formulated without fragrances, essential oils, parabens or any other potentially irritating ingredients. Top it all off with stylish bottles and you’ve got yourself a perfect product.
The Sweetest Soak
Dr. Barbara Sturm Baby And Kids Bathing Milk
“I like to take luxe baths, so why shouldn’t my baby, as well?” says Levinson. The editor loves Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Bathing Milk that’s made with soothing and nourishing calendula, chamomile, jojoba oil and sweet almond oil to soften and hydrate her toddler’s skin. “I simply pour the creamy formula into the water to create a milky bath,” she says. Plus, the product is fragrance-free.
Clean Beauty With A Side of Whimsy
Paloroma The ABC Kit: For Pampering Little Ones
The brainchild of former style director at Architectural Digest Jane Keltner de Valle and award-winning architect Giancarlo Valle, you can guess that the packaging of Paloroma is chic. The natural and gentle formulas, however, seal the deal. Free of parabens, silicones, sulfates and fragrances, the idea for the clean beauty line came to the couple when their son developed eczema. Disappointed with options on the market, they set off to create their own. The result: a collection that includes body wash, cleaning bars and daily creams—made with nourishing ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, Roman chamomile extract and shea butter, and that’s packaged in whimsical Madeline-esque illustrations. It’s sure to upgrade any shower niche.
The Sleep Inducer
Little Yawn Collective Soothing Shampoo & Body Wash
You know what’s even better than bath time? Bedtime. And Little Yawn Collective is here to help your little one wind down and drift off to a blissful night of sleep with their scientist-, pediatrician- and sleep expert-approved line of products. Research shows that fragrances can help for relaxation, and LYC’s natural, organic products contain their signature NaturalSnooze fragrance blend (a mix of sandalwood, jasmine, lavender and bergamot) along with soothing ingredients like calendula and chamomile. Warning: prepare to snooze promptly after tucking them in.
Reliable Relief
Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream
If your child suffers from eczema, it’s not only important to avoid harsh soaps, fragrances and wool, but also to apply moisturizer to their skin regularly. “Moisturizing with thicker products like balms and ointments in winter and lighter agents for warm weather can maintain skin year round,” she says. One easy-to-find drugstore pick is Aveno’s Baby Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream. The paraben-free formula contains natural colloidal oatmeal and vitamin B5 to protect baby’s skin and relieve itching.
Luxurious Lather
Tubby Todd Hair + Body Wash
With its clean graphic packaging and hypoallergenic formulations, Tubby Todd is a favorite gentle bodycare line of Reardanz’s. “Made with plant-based ingredients, Tubby Todd Hair & Body Wash was created by a mom of kids with sensitive skin, so it helps with dryness and eczema,” she says. “Though it’s pricier than a typical drugstore buy, you just need a small squeeze of this to get enough luxurious lather to clean baby from head to toe.” We also love that you can opt to get the hair and body wash either scented (with a blend of natural essential oils) or fragrance-free.
An Affordable Skincare Solution
CeraVe Baby Moisturizing Lotion
Another drugstore superstar, CeraVe’s fragrance-free, paraben-free lotion supports baby’s delicate skin barrier with essential ceramides, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. The lightweight lotion protects and hydrates delicate skin, spreads easily and lasts all day.