The Best (and Most Gentle) Soaps for Babies, According to Experts

Dr. Nava Greenfield of Schweiger Dermatology Group agrees that it’s best to avoid soaps with ingredients that may be too harsh for a baby’s skin, like formaldehyde or propylene glycol, because of their potential to cause allergic reactions or rashes. She also suggests looking for products that are free of fragrance, or have a very mild one. Her choice, as a dermatologist and a mother of four, is the two-in-one shampoo and body wash from the Honest Company, which is available in three naturally derived scents, including lavender, sweet orange vanilla, and sweet almond. “They are gentle and have a subtle scent,” she says. “They also have aloe and glycerin, which makes them hydrating and nourishing while also cleansing.” Jessica Hartshorn, who covers the baby market at Parents magazine, also recommends the Honest Company’s baby wash, as does Nazarian. The tear-free, hypoallergenic product is made without phthalates, parabens, dyes, or formaldehyde donors, and isn’t just for babies — it’s a great option for the entire family, according to Nazarian.

While “natural” products may be the best way to go when it comes to baby soaps, Hartshorn cautions against going the DIY or essential-oils route. “The truth is, an essential oil is way too powerful for a baby’s skin,” she says. “In fact, babies absorb so much so fast to their skin that is so new that all-natural ingredients can be too harsh,” she says. “You need something that is formulated for a baby’s skin. California Baby is my favorite.” Made with organic and sustainably grown plant-based ingredients in a solar-powered, FDA-registered, certified-organic facility in Los Angeles, California Baby’s sulfate-free, two-in-one shampoo and body wash is gentle on the skin, and also comes recommended by Jennifer LaBracio, a gear editor at Babylist, who calls it her personal favorite. LaBracio adds that all of California Baby’s products are independently tested and certified by the USDA. “They clean really well, but they’re not abrasive,” she says. “I’ve used them from the time my son was little until now — he’s 5. It does a great job on both hair and body, and a little goes a long way.” The product is available in different formulations, from super-sensitive (which contains no fragrance) to calming (which contains lavender and clary sage essential oils in diluted, safe-to-use doses).

Puracy’s natural baby shampoo and body wash is a favorite among Babylist users, according to LaBracio. Formulated with naturally derived plant-based ingredients (Puracy claims that it’s 99.95 percent natural), the hypoallergenic, toxin-free two-in-one is tear-free, biodegradable, vegan, gluten-free, and great for sensitive skin. It also contains sea salt, which is supposed to hydrate and balance a baby’s skin. Storq founder Courtney Klein also recommended Puracy in the essential baby-gear guide she wrote for the Strategist. “Figuring out how to bathe a tiny baby can be stressful at first,” Klein said, “so it helps to have a dedicated no-tears baby soap that’s free of additives and chemicals.” (This writer also uses it on her 11-month-old son.)

For something basic and inexpensive, LaBracio recommends Cetaphil’s two-in-one shampoo and baby wash. The tear-free and hypoallergenic formula contains organic calendula (a flower-based extract that hydrates and nourishes skin and is found in other baby skin-care products, like the Honest Company’s baby wash and others on this list), and is free of parabens, colorants, and mineral oils. “It’s free of a lot of the things that you’d want to avoid,” she says, “and it’s really natural, basic, and well-priced, but does a good job.”

Amity Hook-Sopko, executive editor and publisher of Green Child Magazine, prefers a Castile soap, which is made from a vegetable-oil base instead of animal fats and is named after a similar soap that originated in the Castile region of Spain. “Found in liquid or bar form, Castile soap is one of the best choices for babies,” she says. “It cleans (and gently foams) naturally, so it’s effective for removing dirt and germs. And it’s made with vegetable oils, so it doesn’t dry out baby’s skin.” One of her favorite Castile-based soaps is Dr. Bronner’s unscented Castile soap for babies, which she uses for her family. Laura Durenberger, the blogger behind Reduce, Reuse, Renew, told us that while she prefers to buy soaps at local makers at farmer’s markets, co-ops, or even on Etsy (because she can often ask sellers about the ingredients they use), when she can’t get her baby soaps at any of those places, Dr. Bronner’s is her next choice. “Not only do they use safe ingredients, they also are an all-around great company,” she says. Durenberger also appreciates that Dr. Bronner’s soaps “can be used for a variety of things, including cleaning.” This soap’s formula contains 90 percent organic ingredients, more than 70 percent of which are certified fair trade, with no added synthetic preservatives, thickeners, or foaming agents. It’s also fully biodegradable.

Hartshorn is also a fan of Weleda’s baby line, which LaBracio adds is very popular among parents who seek out “natural” products. The gentle, plant-based twofer includes ingredients like soothing calendula flower extract and sweet almond oil, leaving the natural balance of babies’ skin undisturbed. It’s also free of synthetic preservatives, fragrances, colorants, and raw materials derived from mineral oils.

Hook-Sopko also recommends Earth Mama’s baby wash. Like the Dr. Bronner’s, it’s Castile-based, “which means it’s real soap and doesn’t require preservatives, emulsifiers, or surfactant chemicals like detergent-based baby soaps do,” she says. It also contains calendula, and has no artificial fragrance, triclosan, phthalates, parabens, or sulfates.

LaBracio told us that Babo Botanicals’ baby shampoo and wash is another favorite among Babylist users. Plant-based and hypoallergenic, it’s free of harsh chemicals and irritants, and can be used on eczema-prone and sensitive skin. It features an organic “nutri-soothe” blend containing calendula, chamomile, kudzu, watercress, and meadowsweet. Other ingredients include colloidal oatmeal, coconut oil, and shea butter for moisturizing.

Babyganics, another brand that Hartshorn recommends, is also plant-based and made with certified organic ingredients. This fragrance-free two-in-one contains no parabens, sulfates, phthalates, mineral oil, petrolatum, fragrances, or dyes. Still, it gets the cleansing job done with a foaming formulation that includes a blend of tomato, sunflower, cranberry, black cumin, and raspberry seed oils that’s safe on the eyes and gentle on the skin.