Here is your ultimate list of the best baby soap according to dermatologists.
Every mom always dreams of giving her baby the best and choosing a bathing soap for your little one can’t be any different.
Baby skin is usually delicate and a little bit more sensitive than the skin of adults.
According to dermatologists, babies don’t develop a full skin barrier until they’re about 2 years old.
And because their protective hydrolipidic film is still very thin in the first years of their life, their skin cannot maintain moisture levels. It is less resistant to irritants, which makes infant skin more vulnerable to external factors like heat, cold, and irritating products.
That is why having a mild baby soap toiler made for their sensitive skin is paramount if you want to protect their young skin.
This post highlights the best baby soap available in the market, according to a dermatologist. But before then, let’s have an overview of what to look for in a baby soap before buying it.
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What should you look for in a baby soap?
- Consider buying soap with natural ingredients like plant-based oils.
- Look for simplicity. Ensure you buy a product with fewer ingredients.
- Avoid antibacterial soap in the first months of your baby unless advised by a pediatrician. Antibacterial soap may include extra chemicals – like triclosan – that your baby doesn’t need.
- Avoid fragrances; if you must, go for mild and natural ones. Better still, you may want to go unscented until your baby is about 6 months old or you’re sure your baby doesn’t react to it. This is because fragrances are likely the result of additional chemicals. As such, allergens and irritants in fragrances may cause baby’s skin irritation.
- Try it first. Some products may have labels that do not represent the actual content. Trying out a product before using it on your baby may be a sure way to ascertain its authenticity. Put a little bit on your baby’s arm. Then wait a few hours to see if she reacts.
What ingredients should not be in baby soap?
According to research, baby products should not contain sulfates and other preservatives, including parabens, methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI), methylisothiazolinone (MI), salicylic acid, and formaldehyde.
These products may cause skin irritation like itching and allergic rashes and may worsen eczema. They tend to strip the natural essential oils from the top layer of the skin, causing dryness.
Also, avoid products with some types of alcohol that tend to cause a drying effect, like ethanol, methanol, and isopropyl. According to a dermatologist, these, too, maybe too harsh for youe baby’s skin.
9 Best Baby Soaps and Shampoos to Get Your Young One Squeaky Clean
1. Best baby soap overall; Aveeno Baby Daily moisturizer Wash & Shampoo with Ort Extract
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Active ingredients: Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, glycerin
Aveeno baby daily moisture wash and shampoo contain ultra-gentle cleansing ingredients for nourishing baby’s delicate skin. The 2-in-1 Bath Wash and Hair Shampoo contains natural oat extract to cleanse a baby’s delicate hair and skin. Oatmeal is a skin protectant best known for hydrating and soothing the skin.
Pros
- It is formulated with natural oat extract, for soothing and nourishing delicate baby skin
- The formula is soap-free, hypoallergenic, paraben-free, sulfate-free, phenoxyethanol-free, and phthalate-free.
- It also rinses clean without drying and leaves behind a light, fresh fragrance
- Aveeno, is a pediatrician-recommended brand.
Cons
- It isn’t 100% tear-free, so it may have a mild eye sting.
- Some parents report difficulty using the pump dispenser.
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2. Best baby soap for sensitive skin; Baby Dove Sensitive Skin Care Baby Wash
Active ingredients: Prebiotic moisturizers
Baby Dove Sensitive skin care contains ultra-gentle cleansing ingredients for nourishing the baby’s delicate skin. This soap is made with 100% skin-natural nutrients. According to the Dove company, these natural nutrients in their soap resemble those naturally found in the skin. It also contains prebiotic moisture to support the baby’s skin pH and natural health.
Pros
- It is formulated with natural nutrients and prebiotic moisturizer, to balance the skin’s bacterial composition. The pore-purifying combo of prebiotics hydrate and promote your baby’s skin’s natural health
- This soap is tear-free and hypoallergenic and thus may not irritate your baby’s eyes in the first few weeks.
- Free from irritants like parabens, sulfates, and dyes
- Dermatologist, Pediatrician, and Ophthalmologist Tested.
Cons
- Some parents report difficulty using the pump dispenser.
3. Best baby soap affordable; Johnson’s Baby Cotton Touch Newborn Body Wash & Shampoo
Active ingredients: Blended with real cotton
Johnson’s Baby Cotton Touch newborn body wash is an ultra-light and gentle 2-in-1 shampoo designed for cleaning newborn delicate skin. It is perfectly pH-balanced to accommodate a newborn’s sensitive skin, leaving it moisturized and touchably soft
Pros
- it is Blended with real cotton, for ultra-light, touchably soft, and gentleness
- perfectly balances the pH of your baby’s sensitive skin,
- Clinically proven to be gentle on newborns
- tear-free and hypoallergenic
- Free from irritants like parabens, phthalates, sulfates, or dye
- Dermatologist and Pediatrician Tested.
Cons
- Some parents report difficulty using the pump dispenser.
- some parents find the scents too strong
4. Best baby cleansing gel for skin breakout; Mustela Baby body wash Gentle Cleansing Gel
- Key ingredients: avocado perseose
Mustela baby cleansing gel is widely known to tackle baby acne. Many parents with baby’s suffering from acne, eczema, or skin breakouts swear by this product to help solve their baby’s skin issues.
Mustela contains avocado which is known to soothe and nourish dry skin. It is also rich in proteins and vitamin E to help calm and, rejuvenate sensitive skin.
Pros
- This company is B Corp certified /Dermatologist and Pediatrician Tested
- The soap is hypoallergenic and biodegradable.
- It’s 93% plant-based and natural ingredients
- free of harsh ingredients.
- Consists of avocado perseose for reinforcing your baby’s skin moisture barrier
Cons
- Some parents report that the pearl gel consistency is too watery.
- Some parents don’t like the neutral, fragrance-free scent.
5. Best baby soap for dry skin; Eucerin Baby Wash & Shampoo
- Key ingredients: shea butter, provitamin B5
This two-in-one formula consists of shea butter for skin softening and hydration. it also consists of proVitamin B5, which brings in skin soothing effects.
Pros
- 2-In-1 fragrance-free baby wash Formula
- Enriched with Pro-Vitamin B5 and natural Shea Butter to help nourish and soothe your baby’s delicate skin and hair
- This product is tear-free and hypoallergenic. is free of soap, fragrances, dyes, and drying alcohol
- Pediatrician and Dermatologist Recommended
Cons
- Some parents report issues with the pump dispenser.
- some people complain of getting one instead of three bottles, so you must enquire about the packaging first before ordering.
6. Best mild baby soap with a milk protein; Noodle & Boo 2-in-1 Newborn Hair & Body Wash
- Key ingredients: Milk protein, provitamin B5
This luxurious two-in-one formula is formulated with organic, and natural ingredients to help nourish your baby’s skin without drying it.
The formula consists of milk proteins, vitamin E allantoin, and provitamin B to help soothe your baby’s skin and leave it hydrated all day long.
Pros
- Gentle and mild even on a sensitive skin
- This baby lotion is enriched with soothing ingredients
- lasting scent
- Noodle & Boo 2-in-1 baby wash is hypoallergenic, free of parabens, dyes, and drying alcohols
- Pediatrician and Dermatologist Recommended
Cons
- For some parents, the lasting scent is unpleasing.
- Quite pricey compared to other baby soaps
7. Best Moisturizing baby soap; Cetaphil Baby Body Wash with Organic Calendula
- Key ingredients: Natural Calendula
CETAPHIL Baby Gentle Wash consists of natural calendula for soothing and nourishing baby skin at bath time. Calendula is a herb with anti-inflammatory properties to help in skin protection against breakages. This baby soap softens, hydrates, and helps baby skin retain vital moisture after a bath.
Pros
- CETAPHIL baby soap is great for moisture retention after a bath.
- Excellent for protecting eczema-prone skin.
- formulated with Ceramide & Filaggrin Technology to help restore the skin’s natural barrier to leave sensitive skin feeling hydrated and healthy
- Non-greasy formula absorbs quickly to leave skin feeling soft and smooth
- formula is hypoallergenic and free from Fragrance, paraben, and steroid
Cons
- Some parents do not like the bottle design due to the inability to control the amount of soap coming out of the bottle.
8. Best baby Soap -unscented; Aquaphor Baby Wash and Shampoo,
- Key ingredients: Chamomile essence
The Aquaphor baby shampoo is formulated with Chamomile essence and Provitamin B5 to help soothe your baby’s delicate skin without drying or irritating the skin.
Pros
- clinically proven to be gentle and mild formula suitable for a baby’s skin and scalp
- Unscented baby shampoo and tear-free,
- Enriched with Chamomile essence and Provitamin B5 to soothe and cleanse
- free of parabens and preservatives,
- Pediatrician Recommended
- a light lather that rinses easily
Cons
- Some parents don’t like the neutral, fragrance-free scent.
- Some parent report that it is not good for all skin types, especially sensitive skins
9. Best gift set baby soap; Johnson’s Sleepy Time baby soap
- Key ingredients: NaturalCalm aromas, including lily of the valley, jasmine blossom, and pink rose petals
For about 125 years, Johnson’s products have been formulated for babies’ delicate skin. Johnson’s Sleepy Time Baby Gift Set contains a baby body wash, baby shampoo, and baby lotion featuring relaxing NaturalCalm aromas of lily of the valley, jasmine, and pink rose petals. According to the manufacturer, every product in this baby bath gift set is hypoallergenic, pediatrician, and dermatologist-tested.
Pros
- Excellent for soothing your baby before bed
- featuring relaxing NaturalCalm aromas
- Features 3 essential baby skin care products, including baby shampoo, lotion, and body wash.
- Pediatrician-tested and approved.
- This nighttime gift set is hypoallergenic.
- It is 100% gentle and free of parabens, sulfate, and phthalates
- This gift set is the perfect baby shower gift for soon-to-be parents
Cons
- Some parents don’t like the scent.
- Some parent report that it is not good for all skin types, especially sensitive skin.
How often should you wash my baby with soap?
Babies are not really dirty beings. You may consider using plain water for newborns, especially in the first few days.
Also, there’s no need to bathe your newborn baby every day.
Three to four times a week might be enough to wash your baby with mild soap and shampoo for their delicate skin and silky hair until they become more mobile. Dermatologists report that bathing your baby too often may cause skin dryness.
How do you know if your baby is allergic to her soap?
The common symptoms of soap allergy are itching and redness. You may notice some redness or itchy patches on their skin. Sometimes mild blisters, a rash, or eczema breakouts may appear in the affected body areas.
If this occurs, try to stop using soap altogether to ascertain whether it’s irritating. Normal, the symptoms will disappear about a week after you stop using the irritant substance; however, if the itchiness and redness persist, seek medical advice.
Takeaway
The market is flooded with baby soaps. As such, you may get confused about what brand is safe for your baby’s soap and shampoos. To be safe, establish the manufacturer’s credibility before buying the product. Be sure to go through the labels to ascertain the ingredients. And above all, check out the reviews from fellow mothers for a glimpse of all the possible effects a product may have on your baby.
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