Washing your baby’s skin shouldn’t be a nerve-racking undertaking, but it can be. Many parents find that the shampoos and body washes they choose irritate their baby’s skin. This is because detergents and artificial fragrances strip away the skin’s natural oils and disrupt its delicate pH balance. Before long, parents can be trying to combat dry skin, rashes, and contact dermatitis.
Fragrance-free baby shampoos are generally considered gentler on sensitive baby skin and free of harsh chemicals compared to their scented counterparts. As a result, many new parents seek out such shampoos that will offer peace of mind during the bathing process.
However, when you start searching for gentle baby shampoos online, you’ll see that there’s no shortage of options. If you’re ready to add the best products to your shopping cart, these highly-rated products are worth your consideration:
1. Oeight Fragrance-Free Baby Shampoo
What it is: The Oeight fragrance-free baby shampoo with a tear-free, patented formula has earned a reputation as a natural product that helps ease bathtime fears for parents who want the best for their children. It has been crafted from 100% natural active ingredients that cleanse and promote a healthy balance for sensitive skin.
Key details:
- Who it’s for: Babies and children
- Best feature: Tear-free formula with 100% natural ingredients, including aloe vera, chamomile, olive oil, vitamin E, pro-vitamin B5, dunaliella, and mineral compounds
- Cost: $22.99 + shipping and handling
- Why it’s important: The pH-balanced ingredients ensure a nourishing, soothing wash that is non-irritating. This patented, fragrance-free product is also rich in essential vitamins and minerals for healthy hair and scalp, and is ideal for daily use on delicate baby skin and scalp.
- How to use: Apply one to two pumps to the palm of your hand, then gently massage the scalp and hair. You can also apply this product to the baby’s skin and wash it away with warm water.
2. Babo Botanicals Sensitive Baby Shampoo and Wash
What it is: For parents seeking a natural bathtime solution, the Babo Botanicals Sensitive Baby Shampoo & Wash delivers by being a plant-based product with an eco-healthy formula and no added fragrance or dyes. It doesn’t contain any gluten, dairy, soy, parabens, petroleum, sulfates, or phthalates.
Key details:
- Who it’s for: Babies and children
- Best feature: 23 plant-based ingredients, including organic calendula and cocoa, shea, and coconut butters, to nourish the hair, scalp, and skin. Its gentle ingredients make it suitable for daily use. Many ingredients are also sourced sustainably.
- Cost: $20 + shipping and handling
- Why it’s important: It’s a natural shampoo and wash product that uses oat protein to nourish hair and protect dry skin. Once used, it leaves skin feeling soft and moisturized.
- How to use: Pour a few drops of this fragrance-free shampoo into your hands and lather. Gently wash your baby’s scalp, hair, and body, and rinse thoroughly.
3. Aveeno Baby Healthy Start Nourishing Newborn Wash
What it is: Aveeno Baby Healthy Start Nourishing Newborn Wash is a gentle, fragrance-free, full body wash that’s free of phthalates and parabens. For parents’ peace of mind, this product is made by a company recommended by pediatricians and dermatologists.
Key details:
- Who it’s for: Babies from 0 to six months
- Best feature: Made with prebiotic oat and rich emollients, while being free of sulfates, soap, fragrance, parabens, and phthalates. It pairs well with the Aveeno Daily Moisture Healthy Start Newborn Balm.
- Cost: $7.78+
- Why it’s important: It gently cleanses newborn skin, leaving it nourished while supporting their natural moisture barrier. Its simple ingredients, including prebiotic oats, offer parents much-needed peace of mind. It’s also suitable for use from day one through six months.
- How to use: Dispense the newborn wash onto a wet washcloth or onto your hands, then gently rub to create a lather. Once applied, rinse thoroughly with warm water.
4. CeraVe Baby Wash and Shampoo
What it is: CeraVe Baby Wash & Shampoo is a top choice for many parents because it contains no fragrance, parabens, or sulfates, and features gentle cleansing ingredients, including coco-betaine and three ceramides. Your baby’s skin can feel soft and soothed.
Key details:
- Who it’s for: Babies and children
- Best feature: No parabens or sulfates, and accepted by the National Eczema Association (NEA). CeraVe Baby Wash and Shampoo was developed with pediatric dermatologists.
- Cost: $9.99 + shipping and handling
- Why it’s important: CeraVe Baby Wash & Shampoo is tear-free and formulated to not disrupt a baby’s thinner skin barrier. It has also been enhanced with hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and three essential ceramides.
- How to use: To apply to a baby’s skin, wet the skin with lukewarm water and massage the baby wash into the skin in a gentle, circular motion. It creates a mild foam as it lathers, but leaves behind no residue. Once applied, rinse off with warm water.
5. Eucerin Baby Wash and Shampoo
What it is: Eucerin Baby Wash and Shampoo is a tear-free, dye-free, and fragrance-free product produced by Eucerin, a dermatologist-recommended brand since 1900. This baby wash and shampoo product is designed for use on a baby’s skin and hair.
Key details:
- Who it’s for: Babies and children
- Best feature: Soap-, fragrance-, and dye-free with a tear-free, two-in-one formula, making this baby wash and shampoo ideal for the gentle cleansing of sensitive skin. It’s also free of drying alcohols and has been enriched with Pro-Vitamin B5 and natural shea butter to soothe delicate skin.
- Cost: $10.99+
- Why it’s important: It’s recommended by dermatologists and pediatricians for baby skin and hair. This baby wash and shampoo’s ingredients are so gentle that it’s suitable for daily use.
- How to use: Apply a small amount to a washcloth or the palm of your hand, then lather. Once applied, rinse it off with warm water.
6. Vanicream Foaming Wash for Baby
What it is: Vanicream Foaming Wash for Baby is a gentle, hydrating, and soothing baby wash formulated for eczema-prone skin. Described as ultra-mild and tear-free, it features a minimal ingredient list to ensure safety and comfort for daily use.
Key details:
- Who it’s for: Babies with highly sensitive skin
- Best feature: Free of irritants such as dyes, fragrances, botanical extracts, and parabens. Hypoallergenic and gentle formulation, making it recommended by dermatologists for sensitive skin.
- Cost: $9.99 + shipping and handling
- Why it’s important: With minimal ingredients, this foaming wash won’t strip away moisture in your baby’s skin. It also contains beta-glucan and other ingredients that maintain skin moisture and prevent the dryness that often occurs with other soaps.
- How to use: Wet your baby’s skin with lukewarm water. Massage the foaming wash gently into their hair, scalp, and body. Once applied, rinse it out with warm water. Gently pat their skin dry.
7. Babyology Natural Wash and Shampoo
What it is: Babyology Natural Wash and Shampoo is an award-winning and gentle bathtime product with all-natural, ‘edible’ ingredients, such as oat aminos and rose water. It epitomizes natural, gentle cleansing for babies’ delicate skin and hair. Babyology Natural Wash and Shampoo can be paired with Babyology Natural Baby Lotion.
Key details:
- Who it’s for: Babies and children
- Best feature: This shampoo’s ingredient list includes everyday ingredients such as rose water, vegetable glycerin, oat aminos, lavender essential oil, and probiotics. It allows parents to provide gentle yet effective cleansing for their baby’s sensitive skin and hair.
- Cost: $20.99 + shipping and handling
- Why it’s important: It’s gentle on sensitive skin by being paraben- and fragrance-free and hypoallergenic. All included ingredients are marketed as safe for consumption.
- How to use: Dispense several pumps onto your hand or a washcloth. Apply it to wet baby skin and hair, then rinse thoroughly. Once skin is dry, use Babyology Natural Baby Lotion.
The problem: Choosing a shampoo for your baby can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to avoid harsh ingredients and fragrances that can irritate sensitive skin.
Key takeaway: There are many gentle, fragrance-free shampoos on the market that are trusted by parents across the United States for effective cleaning and skin care, including Oeight, Babyology, Vanicream, and Eucerin.
Next steps:
- If you’re ready to start shopping, narrow down your options by reviewing the ingredient lists of highly-rated shampoos to match your baby’s unique needs.
- Purchase one or more of the top-rated products on this list and see which one works best for your child.
