How often should you bathe a baby?
You don't need to bathe your baby every day. When they are very small, you may prefer to just wash their face, neck, hands and bottom carefully instead (often called ‘topping and tailing’), particularly if your baby suffers from dry skin.
However, once they are a few weeks old, you may want to give them a complete wash three times a week. But if they really enjoy bath time, there's no reason why you shouldn't bathe them as much as you like.
You can start using unperfumed baby body wash from about four weeks and babies with longer hair may need a drop of mild baby shampoo too.
Can I use baby shampoo daily?
The sebaceous glands on a baby’s scalp are not as active as they are in children and adults so, unless your baby has a problem with cradle cap or is especially sweaty, you don’t need to wash their hair with shampoo every day.
Even if you bathe your baby every day, you can just rinse their head with water on some days and only use shampoo when you find your baby’s hair needs freshening up.
If you do choose to shampoo your baby’s hair more frequently, it’s important to use a shampoo that has been specifically formulated for use on babies so that it’s less irritating to their delicate skin and less prone to produce a stinging or burning sensation if it gets into their eyes.
Does baby shampoo contain less chemicals?
Most shampoos use lauryl sulfates to clean the hair. While sulfates are very good detergents, they can dry your hair out and irritate your eyes.
Baby shampoos use milder surfactants (known as amphoteric surfactants) that clean without causing eye irritation. Amphoteric surfactants don't foam up as well as sulfates and they're not as good at removing oil and product build-up, but this usually isn't a problem for babies.
How to choose the best baby shampoo and body wash
All major manufacturers conduct extensive safety testing, and must only use ingredients in their baby products that are approved for use in baby formulations, so you’re highly unlikely to buy a baby shampoo or body wash that’s unsafe for use.
Most products will indicate on their packaging if their product is suitable for use on newborns. If you choose to use a baby shampoo or body wash on a newborn, it’s best to use a fragrance-free and tear-free product to reduce the risk of irritating your baby’s skin and eyes.
Once they’re older, you may choose to use a scented shampoo. In which case, look for a product containing natural and organic ingredients. If your baby has particularly sensitive skin, or suffers from allergies or conditions such as eczema or cradle cap, then there are specific hypoallergenic and unscented shampoos and body washes that will suit your baby.
Choosing the best baby shampoo
To choose the best shampoo for your baby, you may first want to consider any skin allergies or conditions your baby has such as eczema or cradle cap. Non-fragranced or lightly scented shampoos are the least likely to cause irritation, so read the ingredients carefully.
For babies with fine wisps or tufts of hair, a top to toe hair and body wash is usually sufficient for both body and hair. However if your child is blessed with a full head of hair, you may prefer to use a separate shampoo. If their hair is particularly coarse, thick, afro or curly, you may find a more specialised baby shampoo can be more effective at preventing unwelcome knotting, tangles or frizz.
Choosing the best baby wash
A good quality baby body wash will be soft and gentle on skin, free from strong fragrances or dyes and made with PH neutral ingredients to ensure bath time remains ‘tear-free’ if it makes contact with your baby’s eyes.
Look out for products that are suitable for sensitive skin and are dermatologically or paediatrician approved, and consider any specific skincare needs your baby may have.
Not all body washes are suitable from birth, so you may want to stick to water only initially, before incorporating a lightly scented body wash after those early newborn days.
Which baby shampoo is best for baby?
We believe that, for a baby with normal skin, the best baby shampoo is the Aveeno Baby Daily Care Hair and Body Wash. It’s a great all-rounder that can be used daily and won’t irritate your baby’s skin or leave it looking dry.
For on the go cleaning, particularly for dribbly teethers who end up sticky, red and sore under their neck or on their chest, we love the no-rinse formula of the Mustela Body Wash - which can be used wherever and whenever you want to give you baby’s skin a refresh.
How we chose our recommendations
Products loved by real parents
When it comes to keeping babies calm and happy at bath time, the Mumsnet community certainly knows their stuff. So what better place to start than by vetting their trusted reviews and recommendations?
We searched the forums to get their feedback on the baby shampoos and body washes they have tried with their babies, including gathering their thoughts on scent and suitability for their baby’s sensitive skin.
On the flip side, we also took into account any products that Mumsnetters wouldn’t recommend - including baby shampoos or body washes that they found overpriced, overrated, that dried out their baby’s skin or caused unwelcome irritation.
Expert opinions
When it comes to skincare and bath products for babies, we know that the views of dermatologists and paediatricians are hugely important. We want to be confident that the products we recommend are safe to use and gentle on babies' delicate skin, whilst leaving their skin feeling soft, clean and moisturised.
We’ve made sure our recommendations were products and brands that were well-regarded, rated or recommended by skincare professionals and contain ingredients that are safe for use with babies and toddlers.
Honest consumer reviews
Finally, to bring you our definitive list of the top baby shampoos and body washes, we scrutinised authentic, in-depth customer reviews on retailer sites such as Amazon, Boots and Superdrug. By reviewing honest and impartial customer reviews, we were able to get a wide range of real-life experiences on the products that made our shortlist. Through this research, could then weigh up the pros and cons of each choice and suggest which baby shampoos were suitable for different scenarios.
Whilst you may require a bit of trial and error to find the perfect match, here's our pick of the best shampoos and body washes for your baby or toddler.
About the author
Laura Martin is a writer and editor with over 15 years of experience, producing content for a wide range of publications with a focus on product reviews and round-ups. She's a permanently exhausted single mum to two children and a small, bossy dog. Laura’s main passion is good mental health and, in addition to writing, she's also training to become a counsellor, which she hopes to achieve before it's time to retire.