How often should I bathe my baby?

In the first few weeks, bathing your newborn can seem daunting, but there are no real rules. However, before the umbilical cord stump falls off, you should give sponge baths only. After the first two weeks, when you switch to tub baths, once or twice a week will suffice (along with regular cleaning of your baby's diaper area, face, and neck in between baths).

What is the best time of day to give a baby a bath?

You can bathe a baby at any time of day that is convenient for you. Many families choose to do bathtime right before bedtime to help calm and soothe baby, as well as set the family up for the future bedtime routine.

Which scents are good for a baby?

Babies might find the same scents soothing that adults do, such as lavender, vanilla, or chamomille. These scents are known to have calming and soothing properties, so you might find them in a lot of baby bath products. Your baby’s skin might become irritated by scent, though, so make sure to patch test before applying a scented wash to your baby.

The 8 Best Baby Washes of 2023

For most babies and toddlers, bath time is a fun and exciting experience that they look forward to. And while they may love the bubbles and suds, the right body wash can make a big difference in your baby’s skin health. A great baby wash is an essential item to add to a baby registry.

Soap can dry out your baby's skin, though, so the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using soap sparingly (read: not every day), especially for newborns. Opting for gentle formulas without harsh ingredients and heavy fragrances is a must when selecting the right one for your precious babe. You may also need a more specific wash if your baby has diaper rash, eczema, allergies, or baby acne. We carefully considered ingredients, age recommendations, soap type, and value when reviewing products. A pediatric physician on our Review Board also reviewed the contents of this article for medical accuracy and integrity around baby washes and how to evaluate the safety of their ingredients.

Here are the best baby washes for your little one.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Baby Dove Tip to Toe Baby Wash and Shampoo at Amazon

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Best for Bubble Baths:

GRO-to Sud Bud Bubble Bath + Cleanser at Amazon

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Best Splurge:

Noodle & Boo Newborn 2-in-1 Hair & Body Wash at Amazon

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Best Hypoallergenic:

The Honest Company Truly Calming Lavender Shampoo at Amazon

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Best for Baby Acne:

Mustela Baby Gentle Cleansing Gel at Amazon

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Best for Eczema:

Eucerin Baby Eczema Relief Cream Body Wash at Amazon

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Best Fragrance-Free:

CeraVe Baby Wash & Shampoo at Amazon

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Best for Sensitive Skin:

Aveeno Baby Gentle Bath Wash & Shampoo at Amazon

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In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look For
FAQ
Why Trust Verywell Family

Amazon

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The Baby Dove Tip to Toe Baby Wash and Shampoo earned our top spot because of its safe ingredients and comforting formula on skin. It creates a rich, creamy lather that moisturizes baby's skin and is made with 100% natural ingredients.

The wash, which is hypoallergenic and tear-free, has a calming chamomile scent to help soothe your tot while you wash. Affordable, gentle, and versatile, this baby wash has been approved and tested by dermatologists and pediatricians, and is an easy choice for parents everywhere.

Price at time of publish: $8

Amazon

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As if its adorable packaging wasn’t enough, Gro-To Sud Bud Gentle Bubble Bath is a triple threat—it’s a shampoo, body wash, and bubble bath. The formula is plant-based and made to moisturize, soften, and soothe your child’s skin.

Perfect for older babies and toddlers who love to splash in a bubble bath, this gentle cleanser is guaranteed to become a bath-time favorite. We love its delicious scent of coconut and orange with a hint of sweet honey.

Price at time of publish: $14

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Specifically designed for newborns and ultrasensitive skin, moms and gift-givers love this luxurious two-in-one hair and body wash from Noodle & Boo. As it nourishes and cleanses delicate skin, this mild wash preserves your infant’s natural moisture and oils.

With milk proteins, allantoin, provitamin B and vitamin E, this gentle formula will leave your baby's skin soothed and hydrated. Plus, reviewers love the gorgeous signature Noodle & Boo box, perfect for a registry or gift.

Price at time of publish: $14

Amazon

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After actor Jessica Alba set out to create a natural ingredient product line, her family-friendly Honest brand quickly became a hit among parents. Using smart ingredients, this natural two-in-one baby wash is a bestseller—and one you’ll keep coming back to as your child grows.

Made without chemical irritants, the Truly Calming Shampoo & Body Wash cleanses without overdrying, and has a lavender scent to calm and soothe your baby, making it perfect for a bedtime routine. It's made up of mostly sweet almond oil, jojoba, aloe vera, and coconut oil.

Price at time of publish: $9

Amazon

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The maternal hormones circulating in a newborn’s body can cause baby acne. While it's a common condition and can clear up on its own, the best baby wash to treat it is Mustela Gentle Cleansing Gel. We love it because it has mild, dermatologist-approved ingredients that are perfect for cleansing but non-irritating.

Although this is our top choice for baby acne, this wash is high-quality, soap-free, and non-toxic and can be used to cleanse your little one at any time, with or without acne. The formula is gentle and hydrating and is fortified with vitamin B5 and composed of 90% plant-based ingredients, including avocado.

Price at time of publish: $18

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Finding a bath time product that can give your little one relief from eczema is hard, which is why we recommend a trusted brand like Eucerin. We like this Eucerin cream-based body wash because it contains 2% colloidal oatmeal, which has been used for centuries to soothe dry, itchy skin.

The non-foaming wash is fragrance-free, dye-free, and soap-free and rinses off easily so you don’t have to worry about lingering products on your baby that could cause further irritation. It has a low surfactant formula which helps avoid dryness. It’s suitable for newborns, older children, and even works great on moms and dads.

Price at time of publish: $13

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A fragrance-free baby wash is a popular choice for parents because some fragrances can irritate the skin. This combination of body wash and shampoo from dermatologist-recommended skincare brand CeraVe has everything you need in a cleanser and nothing you don’t.

Specifically designed for infants and toddlers but great for the whole family, this cleanser’s formula contains essential ceramides & vitamins that help restore and maintain the skin’s natural barrier, help attract hydration and retain moisture, all while calming the skin. The best part? It’s affordable, tear-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, and fragrance-free.

Price at time of publish: $14

Amazon

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The Aveeno Bath Wash & Shampoo is gentle enough to be used every day on your infant or toddler and perfect for reactive skin. Recommended by pediatricians, it has a light fresh fragrance and hypoallergenic properties that leave your little one’s skin cleansed and fresh without drying it out.

With its presence of oat extract to soothe irritation, it’s no surprise fans of this product rave that it has helped treat various rashes and kept eczema away.

Price at time of publish: $15

Final Verdict

Since you’ll want to keep things simple for your baby’s sensitive skin, we recommend Baby Dove Tip to Toe Baby Wash (view on Amazon). It doesn’t have any irritating ingredients, is affordable for all budgets, and moisturizes baby's skin while it cleanses.

For a wash the whole family will love, try Honest’s Truly Calming Shampoo & Body Wash (view on Amazon). It’s all-natural, has a soothing lavender scent, and lathers nicely.

What to Look for in a Baby Wash

Ingredients

The most important thing to look at when shopping for a baby wash is the ingredient list. You want a gentle formula that is non-irritating and won’t strip your baby’s skin of its natural oils. The best baby washes are mild or soap-free and have added hydrating ingredients to soothe and prevent dry skin.

Scent

Unless you opt for fragrance-free, the safest scents for baby washes come from natural ingredients and oils. Lavender, for example, is a popular natural fragrance as it encourages calmness. Avoid overly scented soaps, as it is common for babies to have sensitive skin that can react to fragrances.

Foaming

While bubble baths are fun for older children, you don’t want your baby's wash to be foamy. Foam (surfactants) dry out the skin and are too harsh for newborns. Gel and milky formulas are better options without too much lather.

Safety

Whenever you’re planning to purchase a product for your baby’s skin, safety should be a top priority. Look for washes that have been tested and approved by dermatologists and pediatricians and that list their ingredients clearly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I bathe my baby?

In the first few weeks, bathing your newborn can seem daunting, but there are no real rules. However, before the umbilical cord stump falls off, you should give sponge baths only. After the first two weeks, when you switch to tub baths, once or twice a week will suffice (along with regular cleaning of your baby's diaper area, face, and neck in between baths).
What is the best time of day to give a baby a bath?

You can bathe a baby at any time of day that is convenient for you. Many families choose to do bathtime right before bedtime to help calm and soothe baby, as well as set the family up for the future bedtime routine.
Which scents are good for a baby?

Babies might find the same scents soothing that adults do, such as lavender, vanilla, or chamomille. These scents are known to have calming and soothing properties, so you might find them in a lot of baby bath products. Your baby’s skin might become irritated by scent, though, so make sure to patch test before applying a scented wash to your baby.

Why Trust Verywell Family

As a beauty and skincare writer for over 6 years and mother of two, Deanna McCormack believes less is more and is an ingredient nerd. She always tests products before recommending them. With her children, she uses Mustela Gentle Cleansing Gel and Go-To Sud Bud for bubble baths.