- When it comes to baby shampoo, you want one that’s gentle and soft on your baby’s sensitive skin.
- After much research and testing, we chose California Baby Calendula Shampoo as the best for most babies.
- The shampoo’s gentle, calming, and natural ingredients are great for sensitive baby skin.
Giving your baby a bath for the first time can be a daunting experience. You worry about holding up their head or doing it wrong. You want to use a shampoo that’s gentle on their skin yet makes them clean and smell even sweeter.
The good news is that newborns only need a bath a few times per week, and as your baby grows, you become an expert at washing little fingers and toes.
But which baby shampoo is best? When you go to the store or shop online, you have a lot of choices. You have baby shampoos for sensitive skin, ones for eczema, others with essential oils, and baby shampoos with a long list of ingredients you can’t even begin to understand.
As a mom, I prefer a baby shampoo that’s free of harmful chemicals, gentle on the skin, and at a price I can afford. When we researched baby shampoos for this guide, we used these criteria, asked other parents what they look for, and read hundreds of reviews to find the best baby shampoos you can buy. I’ve also tested all of these shampoos with my own babies.
Here are the best baby shampoos you can buy in 2019:
- Best baby shampoo overall: California Baby Calendula Body Wash and Shampoo
- Best natural baby shampoo: Puracy Natural Baby Shampoo and Body Wash
- Best smelling baby shampoo: Honest Baby Shampoo + Body Wash
- Best baby shampoo for cradle cap: Mustela Foam Shampoo for Newborns
- Best budget baby shampoo: Babyganics Shampoo and Body Wash
Keep scrolling to check out our top picks.
The best overall
Amazon
The California Baby Calendula Shampoo and Body Wash is an ultra-gentle shampoo and body wash that’s chemical-free.
I absolutely love California Baby Calendula Shampoo. I use it every day for my babies and can’t say enough about the quality and gentleness. I first discovered the baby shampoo after a long search looking for a more natural option for my daughter. She has fine hair, and some baby shampoos tend to dry her hair out. A friend of mine told me about California Baby, and I decided to try it based on her recommendation.
The company was started by Jessica Iclisoy more than 20 years ago. Iclisoy was shocked by all the chemicals, fragrances, and additives in baby shampoo, so she found plant-based substitutes for the substances and developed her own baby shampoo recipes.
Now, California Baby has over 80 different personal care products, all of which are made in the United States. The California Baby Calendula Shampoo is made from 100% certified organic calendula and other natural ingredients including French lavender and clary sage essential oils and aloe vera. You won’t find sulfates, parabens, synthetic fragrances, or any harmful chemicals.
But don’t think that its natural qualities impair its ability to gently clean. California Baby shampoos clean thoroughly while moisturizing and soothing skin. It even suds up nicely, making it a good body wash. The company also makes baby shampoos for sensitive skin, eczema, and cranky babies.
I’m not the only one who recommends California Baby. This baby shampoo makes the top baby shampoo list of almost every trusted parenting and baby product website, including Baby List, The Bump, and What to Expect. While you can buy the baby shampoo on Amazon, I found the California Baby website has better deals overall.
Pros: Pure (no harmful chemicals ever), organic calendula, fantastic quality, perfect for sensitive skin, smells great, woman-owned business, made in the USA
Cons: None
Buy California Baby Calendula Shampoo and Body Wash (19 fl. oz.) from Amazon for $28.99
The best budget
Babyganics
The Babyganics Shampoo and Body Wash is the perfect choice for budget-conscious parents who want a product that’s gentle on sensitive skin and as natural as possible.
Babyganics makes certified bio-based baby shampoo free of chemicals and synthetic fragrances. When possible, the ingredients are organic and never tested on animals. The shampoo is also available at a price most parents can afford and costs about the same as other baby shampoos with all the harmful preservatives, fragrances, and chemicals.
Babyganics sells a shampoo that’s scent free and a 3-in-1 Conditioning Shampoo & Body Wash, in addition to other baby products like diapers and wipes. Babyganics is widely sold online and in-stores, making it an excellent option to pick up on the go.
While I prefer California Baby or Puracy over Babyganics, I found it super convenient to buy anywhere I shopped. It’s truly is a solid natural choice at a price that doesn’t hurt the pocketbook.
When you look at the price, it may seem about the same as other brands, but you get a lot more for the same cost. Babyganics shampoo comes in 16-ounce bottles and others may charge the same price for 10 ounces. You can find it at .50 to .60 cents per ounce.
Plus, it makes a great bubble bath too. Kids love to play with bubbles from an early age, and nothing stretches out bathtime better than a sudsy playpen.
Other expert reviewers agree: What to Expect named it Best Sudsy Shampoo and Baby List called it a "Foamtastic Cleanser."
Pros: Super affordable, natural ingredients, bubble bath fun, widely available
Cons: Misleading name (not completely organic), some synthetic chemicals
Buy the Babyganics Baby Shampoo and Body Wash (16 fl. oz) at Target for $9.99
The best natural option
Puracy
The Puracy Natural Baby Shampoo and Body Wash is made with natural ingredients, foams beautifully, and feels silky smooth on baby skin.
I first discovered Puracy as I was researching naturally-derived and chemical free baby shampoo. I decided to try it on my kiddos, and I liked it a lot after the first use. I liked the way it lathered up in my hands because sometimes, organic plant-based shampoos don’t foam up as much as others that use chemical-based foaming agents like sodium lauryl sulfate.
With Puracy, all the ingredients on the label are easy to understand. The formula is made from eco-friendly and skin-friendly materials like coconut oil, grapefruit essential oil, and natural sea salt. Puracy doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals, eye-numbing agents, petrochemicals (made from petroleum or natural gas), or animal by-products. It’s about as pure as you can get when it comes to baby shampoo.
In addition to the high-quality ingredients and commitment to transparency, Puracy also gives back to the community. With each purchase, the company donates personal care products to children in need through Austin’s Children’s Center and the Ronald McDonald House. The Puracy packaging labels feature hand-drawn artwork by local artists in Texas. All of Puracy’s products are made in the USA.
Pros: Natural, plant-based ingredients with no harsh chemicals, ultra-lathering qualities, perfect for sensitive skin
Cons: Slightly higher cost
Buy Puracy Natural Baby Shampoo and Body Wash (16 fl. oz.) on Amazon for $12.99
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Source: Business Insider – feedback@businessinsider.com (Amber Roshay)