The Gentlest Baby Shampoos for a Squeaky Clean Kiddo

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Whether your baby has very little hair or a full head of luxurious locks, the consensus is that you can start washing their scalp with baby shampoo whenever you feel like it’s time. Most babies only need their hair washed with shampoo two to three times a week with a minimal amount, but the product you choose is still so important.

But why do babies need special shampoo? Alaina Vargas, pediatric dermatologist and owner of Natural Way Pediatric Dermatology, says, “Babies have sensitive skin, and that includes their scalp. The outermost layer of a baby’s scalp, the stratum corneum, is thinner and more fragile than an adult’s, leaving it more susceptible to damage and irritation from harsh chemicals. Special care should be taken to choose gentle and nontoxic ingredients in shampoo as they can be more easily absorbed through a baby’s skin and scalp.”

That said, baby shampoo makes an excellent gift for baby showers or new parents. Sometimes it takes a few tries before finding the shampoo you love, so shampoo is often a welcomed gift.

The Best Gentle Baby Shampoos

• Best Overall: Tubby Todd Hair and Body Wash

• Best Budget: Babyganics Baby Shampoo and Body Wash

• Best for Cradle Cap: Dr. Eddie’s Happy Cappy Medicated Baby Shampoo and Body Wash

• Best Smelling: Burt’s Bees Original Baby Shampoo and Wash

• Best Fragrance-Free: Everdeen Fragrance-Free Baby Shampoo and Body Wash

What to Consider

Choosing the right shampoo ensures you’ll have a sweet-smelling baby while properly caring for their sensitive skin. Since babies don’t have a fully formed skin barrier, their skin is prone to sensitivities from products with chemicals and other harsh ingredients. It’s best to go for a shampoo with a short list of main ingredients so you know exactly what’s in it.

As for which Ingredients to avoid, Vargas says “sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, and fragrance.” Synthetic fragrances in baby shampoos can provoke sensitivity and allergic reactions.

I enjoyed using a light and naturally scented shampoo with my babies, and now whenever I walk by the baby aisle at the store, I smell it for old-time’s sake. Is that weird? Maybe. But you’ll probably do it, too. If fragrance-free shampoo makes more sense for you and your baby, that’s also great.

Many shampoos double as body wash, which means you can get your little one washed and out of the tub quickly. My son despised having his hair washed (still does, yippee), so a quick bath was essential. Plus, a shampoo/body wash combo means one less product to buy, and that’s always nice. Some shampoos have specific benefits, like for cradle cap, eczema, and curly hair.

How We Selected

Although my kids are a few years out of babyhood, as a parenting writer, I tested several baby shampoos with them. I’ve included the ones that worked well with the best ingredients and the ones that weren’t so great didn’t make the cut. I also spoke to several friends with babies about their favorites, which I’ve included here as well.

Vargas offered her opinion on a couple of her favorite baby shampoos, including a special shampoo for cradle cap. “Happy Cappy Dr. Eddie’s Medicated Shampoo for Children helps to naturally treat cradle cap and a red, itchy, irritated scalp,” Vargas says. “Its active ingredient, pyrithione zinc, reduces Malassezia yeast, which is a common cause for cradle cap.”

Scroll on for a variety of excellent baby shampoo options.

Hair and Body Wash

I’m obsessed with all of Tubby Todd’s products, all of which are natural and formulated to be gentle and safe for sensitive skin. The company’s hair and body wash has become a staple in my house. It lathers beautifully, and the lavender and rosemary scent is delightful and not too strong. You can also buy this one in a tangerine and jasmine scent or fragrance-free. Whichever scent you choose, know that essential oils and extracts are used with no synthetic fragrances.

There are also no parabens, sulfates, silicones, or phthalates, and the company is cruelty-free. Another thing I love is that the website breaks down the ingredients and offers explanations as to why each one is included.

Baby Shampoo and Body Wash

Formulated with plant-derived and organic ingredients, Babyganics is a great blend of shampoo and body wash. The hypoallergenic formula is made with a blend of tomato, sunflower, cranberry, black cumin, and raspberry seed oils.

One thing parents love is that it’s a foam and not a liquid, which makes washing quick and easy. Foam is also a great way for little ones to learn how to wash their own bodies since the soap is already lathered. The shampoo is just as easy to rinse out, which is a major bonus for parents of babies who despise getting their hair washed.

The calming chamomile and verbena scent smells great, isn’t too strong, and can help your baby wind down before bedtime.

Happy Cappy Medicated Baby Shampoo and Body Wash

Vargas recommends Happy Cappy’s medicated shampoo and body wash for babies dealing with cradle cap. As Vargas noted, it’s active ingredient is pyrithione zinc, which cuts back on Malassezia yeast, a cause of cradle cap.

It’s formulated to fight the flakes — whether it’s cradle cap or dandruff — and it can be used by babies, kids, and even grownups dealing with those super annoying, but very common white flakes or dermatitis.

According to parents who use this shampoo, it takes just one use to notice a difference. Even after cradle cap clears up, it’s still a great shampoo to use to maintain a healthy scalp. It’s fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, free of toxins, and safe for sensitive skin.

Original Baby Shampoo and Wash

If you want your baby to smell like a mix between your old school cabbage patch dolls and however you imagined real-life babies to smell when you were a kid, this is the product for you. Made with natural ingredients, Burt’s Bees shampoo and body wash for babies doesn’t just smell amazing, it’s also moisturizing and is gentle enough for sensitive skin. It huge plus is that there are no parabens, phthalates, SLS, or petrolatum.

The soap can be used as both shampoo and body wash, and because it lathers and rinses so well, it makes bathtime a breeze. A delightful smelling breeze.

This is the shampoo one of our senior editors, Cat Bowen used with her kids, and she said "This gentle shampoo is forever my favorite scent because of my babies. It's perfect."

Fragrance-Free Baby Shampoo and Body Wash

A favorite among my friends with newborns, Everden’s baby shampoo and body wash is made with only clean ingredients that new parents can feel good about. Made with glycerin-based moisturizers and oils like sunflower seed oil, oat, coconut oil, avocado oil, the formula is hydrating and moisturizing. It’s gentle on brand-new skin and also great for kids with eczema and even grownups with skin sensitivities.

While the bottle is fairly small, you really don’t need much soap to create a solid, luxurious feeling lather, so it lasts a lot longer than you’d anticipate (Literally a pea-sized dollop will go a long way.). The soap isn’t the only part of the product that feels luxurious, the bottle itself does too with its aesthetically pleasing colors that look good on the side of any bathtub.

It's a Curl Tearless Baby Shampoo

If your little one has curly hair, this shampoo is the one to add to your bath routine. Made with organic ingredients, the formula leaves hair impressively moisturized and shiny, and it gives even the wildest and frizziest curls some bounce and definition. It’s a great shampoo to use if you’re looking to keep your baby’s curly hair more manageable.

One thing that parents note is that even though the shampoo is super moisturizing, it doesn’t leave a residue. It just leaves your kiddo’s hair feeling clean.

Eczema-Prone Skin Foam Shampoo for Newborn and Baby

My kids’ pediatrician recommended Mustela to help with eczema when they were newborns, and it worked like magic. It’s intended to relieve skin irritation, itching, and overall discomfort on extremely dry and eczema-prone skin, and it definitely succeeded for my kids after a week or two of using it — but every child is different, so be patient with this one. It’ll work.

The foaming formula is made with 99% plant-based ingredients, and it’s recognized by the National Eczema Association to be an effective and safe shampoo. Because it’s foam, it doesn’t lather like liquid shampoo, but it cleans just as thoroughly.

Of course, this fragrance-free shampoo is marketed toward babies, but it works for kids of all ages as well as adults with eczema or very dry skin.

Super Sensitive Shampoo and Body Wash

California Baby’s shampoo and body wash is made from 100% plant-based ingredients, minus the ultra-purified water, so you know you’re in good hands.

The formula has a nice and gentle lather, and although the company lists it as being fragrance-free, it does have a light, natural scent that leaves baby smelling and feeling clean. I used this shampoo with my kids for a while, and the scent is pretty delightful.

It’s an especially good choice for babies who have allergies, as it’s free of common allergens, including oat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts (except coconut), sesame, gluten, and soy with no risk of cross-contamination.

There are several size options, and you only need a little to create a good lather, so you can expect that you won’t need to buy a replacement for quite a while.

2-in-1 Baby Shampoo and Wash

Babo Botanicals shampoo and body wash comes highly recommended by my friends whose babies have extra sensitive skin and are prone to rashes and other skin irritations. They say that the soap lathers well, doesn’t dry out skin, and doesn’t have any detectable scent. Even when a little shampoo got in one of the baby’s eyes, their parent reported that they didn’t seem bothered by it.

The environmentally friendly bottle is made of post-consumer recycled plastic bottles, which is a huge step in the right direction if you’re looking to cut back on your plastic usage. The formula is made from sustainably sourced shea butter, calendula, aloe vera, and plant-based glycerin for extra hydration.

Baby Shampoo and Body Wash

Vargas recommends Pipette’s baby shampoo and wash to her favorites, and she says its a favorite. “I love that it offers a fragrance-free option and is hypoallergenic. The ingredients are gentle and tend to agree well with a child's sensitive skin and scalp. It's also tear-free which is a must with babies and small children!”

The formula is made with high-quality, baby-friendly ingredients, including plant-derived glycerin, a natural hydrating ingredient, and squalane, a sugarcane-derived moisturizer. The natural ingredients help restore the natural balance of baby's skin.

Gentle Baby Wash and Shampoo

After going through loads of different baby shampoo and body washes when my kids were babies, I settled on Aveeno’s wash and shampoo. Now that my kids are 7 and 4, it’s still one of my go-to shampoos for them. There’s something about the light scent that kicks my ovaries into high gear, but alas, that ship has sailed.

The shampoo is formulated with natural oat extract to help nourish and moisturize baby’s delicate skin. It can be used every day without the risk of drying out skin or causing irritations. In fact, even when used daily, the soap will moisturize your child’s skin and can even relieve itchiness.

This is a great one to add to a baby shower gift, because did I mention the incredible scent?

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