12 Best Baby Shampoos and Washes to Keep Skin Soft and Clean

If your infant has eczema — or red, flaky patches of skin that commonly appear on the face — try CeraVe Baby Wash & Shampoo. The tear-free formula was specifically designed for babies with dry skin and even earned a stamp of approval from the National Eczema Association. The shampoo contains ceramides, which help keep skin hydrated, and added vitamins, which help prevent dryness and irritation. It's available in a 16-ounce pump bottle, or the handy 8-ounce one can easily go from sink ledge to shower.

Made with plant-based ingredients like aloe, cucumber extract and sunflower seed oil, Babyganics Baby Shampoo and Body Wash is designed to be extra-gentle on baby’s skin. Plus, its thick, foamy bubbles help ensure that your baby will have fun at bathtime. You'll get three 16-ounce pump bottles in each order, which should keep you stocked for a while.

Aveeno’s gentle baby wash and shampoo is made with oat kernel extract, which can soothe irritated skin while acting as a natural moisturizer. The tear- and soap-free formula (sold in an 18-ounce bottle) works itself into a rich lather, but it’ll rinse off easily. Bonus: You’ll fall in love with the sweet, mild scent that lingers after your baby is out of the tub.

Baby Dove Fragrance Free Moisture Hypoallergenic Wash is as gentle as water — perfect for babies of all ages. Made with 100 percent skin-natural nutrients, it’s tear-free, pH-neutral and hypoallergenic. The wash is free of additives like dyes, parabens and sulfates, and it has a stamp of approval by the National Eczema Association. Your baby’s skin will be soft and moisturized from the top of her head to the bottom of her little feet.

Weleda’s 2-in-1 Shampoo and Body Wash will gently cleanse your baby’s skin while helping to detangle those precious locks. Credit the shampoo’s natural ingredient list, including calendula flower extract, which helps nourish baby’s skin, and almond oil, which prevents dryness. Plus, it’s gentle enough to use on babies with cradle cap. This bottle is 200 milliliters, or about 7 ounces.

Cradle cap tends to fade away by the time your baby is a few months old — but in the meantime, you can treat their skin condition with the help of Mustela’s foam shampoo. Sold in a 5-ounce pump and made with 99 percent plant-based ingredients, the formula also exfoliates while preventing dryness and treating scaly, flaky skin.

Tested by Jessica Booth, mom of two and contributing writer for What to Expect: 

"I tapped Mustela for my first daughter after our pediatrician recommended it, and found that after just a few washes, her cradle cap noticeably improved. Every time I went a few weeks without it, the patches returned, but as soon as I started using it again, the flakes would fade away. 

I never had any issues with the pump dispenser; it provided the perfect amount of foamy shampoo that made it easy for me to lather into my baby’s hair without having to worry about the product dripping into her eyes."

Cetaphil is the go-to cleanser for people with sensitive skin — so it only makes sense that your baby should have their own version. Made with organic calendula, this tear-free wash and shampoo will gently clean your baby’s delicate skin without drying it out. t’s also free of parabens and mineral oils, making it a solid choice for babies prone to irritation. “My children have very sensitive skin, so I use Cetaphil [and] it works wonders,” writes one WTE mom. Bonus: The addition of organic calendula extract in the formula leaves skin smooth and moisturized.

It’s hard to say who will love this tear-free formula more: you or your baby. The Honest Company’s do-it-all, orange- and vanilla-scented shampoo and body wash is made with natural, plant-based moisturizers like aloe, chamomile, calendula, and coconut oil. Plus, it’s been dermatologist-tested and is free of additives like phthalates, parabens, and dyes. Parents also love the pump top. 

It’s hard not to feel a little nostalgic when you use Johnson’s Baby Shampoo. (Chances are, your parents used it on you!) A go-to product for decades, the brand's mild shampoo is free of parabens, pthalates, sulfates, and dyes. Plus, it's designed to be “as gentle to your baby’s eyes as water.” It's also affordable, and this size is especially convenient for travel. 

If your baby has very dry skin, you’ll want to try Aquaphor’s extra-mild baby wash and shampoo. Parents and pediatricians rave about the gentle formula, which is infused with chamomile essence and provitamin B5, and free of preservatives and fragrances. It comes in a 17-ounce pump bottle.

Thanks to prebiotics and natural ingredients like colloidal oatmeal and coconut oil, The Honest Company Eczema Soothing Therapy Body Wash offers much-needed relief for babies with eczema. This body wash does wonders cleansing, soothing, and moisturizing dry and itchy skin. It has also earned a seal of approval from the National Eczema Association. Many parents say it's the only thing that hasn't irritated their little one, keeping flare-ups to a minimum. 

While Tubby Todd's Micellar Water technically isn’t a true wash, it's a no-fuss rinse that will come in handy when bathtime isn't in the cards. It's non-irritating, hypoallergenic, and dermatologist-tested for daily use. Plus, the addition of aloe gives baby's skin a hydrating boost, too.