When it comes to choosing a baby shampoo for their little ones, many parents struggle. There are so many products out there and it can be confusing to know which ingredients to include and which to avoid – should you go organic or sulphate and paraben-free? And which shampoos are best for eczema or itchy scalps and don't sting their eyes?
To help you work it all out, we’ve created a buying guide. This should help you become a little more clued up on the nuances of baby shampoo, plus, we’ll share our top ten recommendations. Whether your baby has curly hair or dry and sensitive skin, we've included options for everyone, and they’re all available from trusted sites like Amazon, Tesco, John Lewis, ASDA and Boots.
Quick List - Top Baby Shampoos
Earth Friendly Baby
An Eco-Friendly Shampoo Made With All-Natural Ingredients
Child's Farm
A Sweet Shampoo to Detangle and Encourage Hair Washing
Dr Jonathan Henderson is a consultant paediatrician who practices for the NHS and his award-winning private practice. His medical qualifications (MB, BAO and BCh) were all completed at Queen's University Belfast in 2007. He then obtained his membership with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in 2012 and later became a college fellow in 2019. In addtion to his clinical work, he contributes to e-learning programmes and teaches paediatrics internationally to other healthcare professionals. Dr Henderson, who is on the speciality register of the General Medical Council, has a keen interest in promoting quality improvement in paediatrics and has presented work both regionally and nationally.
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Dr Jonathan Henderson is a consultant paediatrician practising for the NHS, as well as privately. His medical qualifications (MB, BAO and BCh) were all completed at Queen's University Belfast in 2007. He then obtained his membership with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in 2012.
In addition to his clinical work, he contributes to e-learning programmes and teaches paediatrics internationally to other healthcare professionals. Check out more about him on his website.
Two of the most common skin issues for babies are a dry scalp and cradle cap. This is because, in their first year, the skin isn't fully formed and must continue to strengthen. Unfortunately this causes the loss of moisture more frequently.
If this is the case with your little one, look for products with additional moisturising ingredients such as coconut, coco-glucoside or aloe vera. These will all soothe the skin, but more critically, add some extra moisture.
A cradle cap is harmless to a baby's scalp. This is also self-limiting, but for some parents, you may choose to explore treatments to manage the smooth yellow crusty flakey appearance. These include baby oils and unperfumed baby shampoos to help soften the flakes. I recommend not using soap, adult shampoos, olive oil, peanut oil (allergy risk) or picking the crusts off (infection risk).
If your child has sensitive skin, it would make sense to stay away from harsh chemicals, which we'll touch on in a moment. Signs of sensitive skin can be rashes, itchiness, redness, or flakiness.
To offer relief from these conditions, opt for shampoos with soothing, nourishing natural ingredients. In particular, those advised for sensitive skin are leaf extracts, chamomile, sunflower oil, calendula, oats, and shea butter. These all have slightly different qualities but all work to reduce soreness and soften skin.
Chemicals can cause irritation to the skin. Any irritation can lead to inflammation and breakages to the skin leading to the risk of developing infections. So, it's better to avoid the chemicals.
However, shampoos for babies with oily skin are few and far between. That being said, even if a product doesn’t specifically state that it's for this condition, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have the ingredients to combat it. Look out for oats, honey, aloe vera and jojoba oil, as they can all help to rebalance oil production and absorb excess oil.
At birth, babies are born with a yellow substance that protects the skin while the baby is surrounded in amniotic fluid before they are born. This can be greasy and takes a few days to wash off. A baby's skin, in some cases, can remain oily.
While, in other cases, there are newborn baby rashes related to blocked oily pores in the newborn skin, which are a normal phenomenon that doesn't require medical treatment. If required in the early days of life, use cooled boiled water on a soft cotton ball to help clean the skin (avoid soap or chemicals.
Whether you prefer to buy skin and haircare items with natural ingredients for your own use is neither here nor there when it comes to baby products, as children under one have much more sensitive skin than older children and adults.
For that reason, it may be worth looking for shampoos that are organic or skip harsh chemicals and potentially-irritating additives such as parfum, alcohols, parabens, and sulphates. If you do choose a product that contains them, it should be with limited use as they can affect a baby’s overall skin health in the long term.
It’s also worth remembering that just because all the ingredients are natural, it doesn’t mean that your baby can’t have an adverse reaction to them. If you think your little one is suffering from a particular ingredient, don’t hesitate to contact your GP.
Due to your baby's skin being so sensitive, I recommend staying away from chemicals that can cause skin irritation and inflammation. Ultimately any breakage in the skin is a risk factor for infection.
Natural products contain antioxidants that have anti-inflammatory properties to look after sensitive skin. Alternatives include aloe vera, coconut oil and lavender oil. Also, do read the ingredients carefully if choosing organic products.
Without a doubt, the most sought-after feature by parents everywhere is a shampoo that doesn't sting their baby's eyes, and for good reason – the bathing process should be relaxing, fun, and refreshing for little ones, not distressing or painful!
As well as being stressful for both baby and parent in the moment, children could end up becoming fussy and a bother to get in the bath in future, as they'll associate hair washing or bathing with discomfort. Therefore, it’s always worth looking for a ‘no tears’ or ‘tear-free’ formula.
There is nothing worse than shampoo in the eyes - we have all been there. Bath time can be fun for kids but avoiding irritants in shampoos means that you don’t have to worry about those runaway soaps suds trickling down the face into the eyes.
Many baby shampoos are formulated as 2-in-1 products, capable of washing both the scalp and the body. Picking up a product that does both will save you money and time, two things that are a little precious when you have a new baby!
However, while it is unlikely any serious harm can come from using any baby shampoo as a body wash, it could cause a reaction or dry out the skin in the long run. To be safe, you should only use shampoos to wash your baby if the brand have advertised it as a body wash as well.
Avoid shampoos for the first 4 to 6 weeks of the baby's life, as the baby's natural protective oils will help cleanse the skin. Using a 2-in-1 shampoo and body wash will not dry out the skin or scalp in most cases, therefore keeping the skin hydrated and healthy.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Earth Friendly Baby Calming Lavender Shampoo and Bodywash | ![]() | An Eco-Friendly Shampoo Made With All-Natural Ingredients | |
2 | Burt's Bees No Tears Baby Shampoo and Wash | ![]() | Sulphate-Free Shampoo That's Enriched With Soy Protein | |
3 | Johnson's Baby Shampoo | ![]() | A National Favourite That Guarantees No More Tears | |
4 | Child's Farm Organic Rhubarb and Custard Shampoo | ![]() | A Sweet Shampoo to Detangle and Encourage Hair Washing | |
5 | Aveeno Baby Wash and Shampoo | ![]() | A 2-In-1 Formula That's Ideal for Both Oily and Sensitive Skin | |
6 | Nanny's Naturals All Natural & Organic Baby Shampoo and Body Wash | ![]() | Dermatologically Tested and Great for All Skin Types | |
7 | Johnson's Baby Bedtime Shampoo | ![]() | A Calming Shampoo to Encourage Sleep Time | |
8 | Baby Dove Rich Moisture Shampoo | ![]() | A Lotion-Like Formula That's Gentle on Delicate Skin | |
9 | Original Sprout 2-In-1 Hair and Body BabyWash | ![]() | Perfect for Curly Hair and Dry Scalps | |
10 | Neal's Yard Organic Baby Bath and Shampoo | ![]() | A Natural and Beautifully-Smelling Infused Shampoo |
They say nothing in life is perfect, but this shampoo comes pretty close! The list of great ingredients included in this product is as long as your arm. With aloe vera, coco-glucoside, flower extract and so much more it is simply brilliant for every type of skin, and dermatologically-approved for peace of mind.
Moreover, it's 99% natural and 50% organic, it comes with eco-friendly packaging, there's no animal testing, and it's even made on our own British shores. For all that excellence you think you'd have to pay an arm and a leg, but even that's not the case. This baby shampoo sails to our top spot!
Even as adults we don't like getting soap in our eyes, because, well, it hurts! So can we blame our littles ones for wriggling about when they see the shampoo come out? Luckily, with Burt's Bees baby shampoo and wash, those splash tantrums will become a thing of the past.
It's also paediatrician tested and contains no sulphates, parabens, or SLS. What the natural formula does contain, however, is a handful of enriching components including soy protein and sunflower oil that will cleanse and leave baby's hair, scalp, and skin super-smooth and subtly-scented.
With a formula that has been perfected over 125 years, this offering from Johnson's is sure to be mild, soft and soothing. This shampoo again uses their trusty 'no more tears' ingredients list, guaranteeing a pleasant and stress-free bath time for all.
As well as being both paediatrician and dermatologist tested, this product is easily the most reviewed baby shampoo on websites such as Tesco, ASDA and Boots, all of which have favourable scrutiny, showing just how loved it is by parents up and down the country.
Suitable for newborns and up, this organic detangling shampoo has aromas reminiscent of a classic childhood sweet, which may well make the hair washing process a little easier! It's dermatologist and paediatrician approved too, making it ideal for those with sensitive skin or eczema.
Child's Farm are a great company, doing right not just by your children but by the environment and the animals we share it with too, as this shampoo is vegan-friendly and cruelty-free. Who says you can't look after everyone?
Suitable as both a body and head wash, this shampoo from Aveeno will gently cleanse your baby without leaving the skin feeling dry. It's enriched with all-natural organic oats which will help soak up the excess oil on the skin, therefore it's a wise choice if your baby is known to be a little oily.
The formula works for sensitive skin, too, and is paraben- and soap-free. With dozens of parents singing its praises online, you don't just have to take our word that it works, why not check it out?
This dermatologically-tested baby shampoo is made without any nasties whatsoever, so you can rest assured it's kind, comforting and perfect for delicate skin. The long list of magical ingredients also make it perfect for all skin types.
Moreover, the orange neroli and lavender extracts make this a wonderfully-smelling product without the addition of parfum. This would surely be a total winner if it didn't have such a high price, and for such a small bottle too. We know sometimes you get what you pay for, but this might be a bit much for the average family.
This product, which includes Johnson's patented NaturalCalm combination of extracts and essences, is guaranteed to be a welcome addition to any bedtime routine. The company claim it should help gently ease them on their way to dreamland.
At an affordable price, it's one of the best deals in our ranking, so it'd be great for families with more than one baby or child as well as those on a budget. Plus, their tried-and-tested no more tears formula is apparently as gentle on the eyes as pure water!
Did you know that a baby's skin can lose moisture up to five times faster than an adults? Picking up a shampoo that's rich in moisturising qualities is one way to help replenish those essential nutrients in the scalp. The consistency of this product is less soap-like and more lotion-like so it's lovely and soothing.
Furthermore, it has a 'no-tears' formula so you don't have to worry if a little gets into their eyes. The only downside is the inclusion of parfum, which may be a little overpowering both in how it feels on the babies skin and how much smell it brings to the table.
This shampoo is all about harnessing the power of nature, with a big emphasis on herbal extracts, seed oils, and plant oils including vitamin E, almond, and coconut. The formula is great for dry scalps and clearing up cradle cap, and is also ideal for curly-haired babies as it will hydrate and reduce frizz.
All these natural extracts mean it smells wonderful too, and it's pH balanced to be suitable for the rest of the family if you'd like to share! The ingredients list is as saintly as they come, with even the parfum coming from natural sources, but there's no denying the price tag won't appeal to everyone.
Getting the ball rolling in our ranking is this 100% organic baby bath wash and shampoo from Neal's Yard. Infused with lavender and chamomile, plus other flower and vegetable extracts, this product is more than suitable to take care of your baby's delicate skin.
The formula is also paraben- and silicone-free and does not contain any synthetic fragrance or colours. Unfortunately, this product is only suitable for babies over 13 weeks old, so if you have a newborn you will need to find another product for the first few months.
Adults can safely use baby shampoo with no problems. In fact, it could even be a good option for those with dry hair types. Since it's designed for baby hair, it uses softer cleaning agents that doesn't dry out the hair. The only thing is that the delicate nature may necessitate a second lather to thoroughly clean your hair.
No. 1: Earth Friendly Baby|Calming Lavender Shampoo and Bodywash
No. 2: Burt's Bees|No Tears Baby Shampoo and Wash
No. 3: Johnson's|Baby Shampoo
No. 4: Child's Farm|Organic Rhubarb and Custard Shampoo
No. 5: Aveeno |Baby Wash and Shampoo
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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