Best baby toiletries: shampoo, body wash and moisturiser for 2023 UK

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Once your little one is a few months old, you may decide to try some gentle cleansing products. We’ve included a list of some of our favourite baby shampoos, body washes and moisturisers which are specially designed for babies’ delicate skin. Once they're toddlers, you can begin to experiment with a wider range of products and perhaps even get them involved in picking their favourites.

When it comes to choosing these products, we spoke to parents across the country, conducted our own tests both in-house and through our Top Testers Club, and considered the many entries into rigorous awards programme, all to find the products that really work for families in the UK. Each of these has been chosen for its stand-out features, be that innovative packaging, gorgeous scents, nurturing ingredients or amazing value.

Whether you’re taking time for fun and games or calming interaction, you might also want to take a look at our best bath toys, best bath towels and best bath seats to get fully kitted out.

Best toiletries for newborns, babies and toddlers at a glance:

Body wash

Best refillable body wash: Scrubbingtons 3-in-1 Hair & Body Foam, £4.50
Best for very dry skin: Oilatum Soothe and Protect Head to Toe Wash, £5
Best for easy dispensing: Mini U Tropical Berries Hair & Body Wash, £4.99

Bubble bath

Best value for money: Aldi Mamia Bedtime Bath, £0.75p
Best for relieving blocked noses: Asda Little Angels Vapour Bath, £1.25
Best bubble bath for eczema-prone skin: Stick Man Sweet Fig & Elder Bubble Bath, £3.99
Best luxury bubble bath: Burt’s Bees Baby, from £8.49
Best gentle product on a budget: Lidl Baby Bath, £0.75p

Baby moisturiser and skin care

Best for cradle cap: Colief Baby Scalp Oil, £5.99
Best premium face cream: Weleda Calendula Face Cream, £10.50
Best organic lotion: Alteya Organic Kids and Baby Body Lotion, £8.30
Best intense moisturising lotion: Aveeno Skin Relief Lotion, £7.99

Hand wash

Best for washing little hands: Mini U Golden Grapefruit Hand Wash, £4.99

What to consider when looking for baby toiletries?

Purpose – As you can see from our 'at a glance' list above, the products we've selected have been broken down into various uses ranging from body wash, bubble bath, moisturiser and skincare to hand wash.

Price – All of the products vary in price as they come in different sizes and serve different purposes. Bath and skincare products aren't extremely expensive so you can find something suitable for as little as 75p, or £10 at most.

Skin type – Knowing if your child has sensitive, dry or eczema-prone skin is crucial to helping you decide what products to go for. We have products that cater to these varying skin types and that are suitable from birth too.

Here are our picks of the best baby toiletries for 2022

Body wash

1. Scrubbingtons 3-in-1 Hair & Body Foam, £4.50

– Best refillable body wash

Size: 200ml

Our testers were impressed with the foaming quality of the cleanser so it meant it was also fun for kids to enjoy during bathtime. "I’ve found Scrubbingtons is good for my son, it is the only stuff that hasn’t made it worse or irritated his skin," commented parent tester Joanne.

The bottle is made with 50% plastic and the pump is handy for one-handed parenting. The ingredients like inulin and panthenol help keep moisture on the skin, making this great for dry skin. Scrubbingtons has a handy breakdown of all the ingredients in the foam wash on its website, so you can see exactly what goes into the product.

You can also purchase pouches which means the bottle becomes repurposed and refillable, which is much better for the environment.

Parent tester and mum of 3 Tara, was impressed with the quality of the product as well as how simple it was to use, saying, “the children could easily use the pumps themselves. Mess-free and product spread and lathered easily.”
Pros: Good foaming quality, easy dispensing, high-quality product, 98% natural
Cons: Foam might not be everyone
Available from: Amazon, Ocado and Scrubbington

2. Oilatum Soothe and Protect Head to Toe Wash, £5

– Best for dry skin

oilatum-soothe-e-potect-head-to-toe-wash

Age suitability: From birth | Size: 300ml

Well-regarded for use on dry skin and eczema, parent testers were impressed with this brand’s head-to-toe body wash. This body wash is so gentle it can be used on your newborn baby yet still effectively cleanses the skin.

The mild scent isn’t too harsh and testers liked how it bubbled over the skin, including parent tester and mum of 2 Anna who said, “It is used easily in the bath or shower, with great bubbles and a good texture. We also found there were no adverse reactions.”

Pros: Subtle scent, great for dry or eczema-prone skin, good texture, colour free
Cons: Might be expensive for some

Available from: Amazon, Boots and Asda

3. Mini U Tropical Berries Hair & Body Wash, £4.99

– Best for easy dispensing

Age suitability: From birth | Size: 250ml | Award: Bronze – Baby and child bath and body wash, MadeForMums Awards 2022

The body wash is 2-in-1 and doubles up as a shampoo too. Created with organic aloe vera, the hair and body wash and will leave your child's hair soft and shiny.

The bottle has an intuitive and simple-to-use pump dispenser which means independent kids can also access the wash too. Our parent testers shared that you only need a small amount of the product which means it should last you a while.

"This shampoo and body wash smells lovely! It is really refreshing and not at all overpowering. Although it is quite expensive, it lives up to expectation and will last a while as only a small amount is needed to create a good lather and wash hair well" commented parent tester Libby, who tested this with their 1-year-old and 3-year-old.

Pros: 2-in-1 formula, pump dispenser, long-lasting, lovely scent
Cons: Quite expensive

Available from: Mini U

Bubble bath

4. Aldi Mamia Bedtime Bath, 75p

– Best budget buy

Size: 500ml | Award: Silver – Baby and child bath and body wash, MadeForMums Awards 2022

Supermarket baby brand Mamia from Aldi took home the silver in our MadeForMums awards for its lovely Bedtime Bath wash. The bed time bath is soap-free, tear-free and is created with vitamin E to help promote hydration and moisturisation for young skin.

Our parent testers found that the product was just as good as other pricier brands and that it relaxed little ones before bed with its lavender scent. Plus, it felt kind and gentle on young skin. A little amount of the product goes far, so it’s long-lasting as well as low-priced – a winning combination when it comes to the product value.

"Very competitively priced without compromising on standards. My baby's skin smells and feels lovely and soft and fresh and clear after using. I will continue to buy this for my baby's bathtime” shared parent tester Hayley who tested this with their 3-month-old.

Mum of 3 and parent tester Chloe was particularly impressed with the smell and feel of the shampoo, “Such a nice lavender smell which helps them to sleep better and is so soft on their skin.”

Pros: Affordable, lovely smell, soft on the skin, long-lasting
Cons: Might not be good for extra dry skin

Available from: Aldi

5. Asda Little Angels Vapour Bath, £1.25

– Best for relieving blocked noses

Age suitability: From 6 months | Size: 500ml | Award: Gold – Baby and child bath and body wash, MadeForMums Awards 2022

This Asda bath wash is a great product for children who might be suffering from a cold. The menthol vapour has a strong yet pleasant scent that will help with little blocked or stuffy noses by clearing their airways. "Great idea for a bath product!" praised parenting influencer Cathy Reay and we can agree, that it serves two purposes and it does them well.

At such an affordable price of £1, you're really given the value factor here. You'll also be delighted to know a little goes a long way as one parent tester confirmed, "you only need a small amount but thankfully it doesn’t all pour out at once."

"Definitely did what it was meant to do, helped my little one when he had a stuffy nose and actually was nice to use anyway, even without a stuffy nose. The smell was strong but in a good way. Also super bubbly which my little boy loved." In the words of parent tester Aimee, who tested this with their 14-month-old.

Pros: Multi-purpose, affordable, helps with blocked/congested noses, long-lasting
Cons: Strong smell, from 6 months only

Available from: Asda

6. Stick Man Sweet Fig & Elder Bubble Bath, £3.99

– Best bubble bath for eczema-prone skin

Age suitability: From birth | Size: 400ml | Award: Bronze – Baby and child bath and body wash, MadeForMums Awards 2022

Made to be gentle on the skin and eyes, the Good Bubble bubble bath is suitable for sensitive and eczema-prone skin. The formula is tear-free and has an interesting, yet lovely sweet fig scent as stated by our parent testers, "the scent is nice, a bit more unusual and not just a straight fruit scent. I would quite like it for myself!" The scent is also allergen free for children with sensitivities.

The bottle is made with 50% recycled plastic and is fully recyclable. It features the Stick Man character from the well-known children's book.

Parent tester Sarah, who tested this with their 1-year-old and 3-year-old commented, "The boys loved the familiar character on the bottle and were excited to use it as soon as it arrived. It created lots of bubbles which were popular!"

Pros: Suitable for sensitive and eczema-prone skin, tear-free, recyclable bottle, 98% naturally derived ingredients
Cons: Non-typical scent

Available from: Amazon, Morrison's and Good Bubble

7. Lidl Baby Bath, 75p

– Best gentle product on a budget

Age suitability: From birth | Size: 500ml | Award: Silver – Baby and child bath and body wash, MadeForMums Awards 2022

The Lidl baby bath is such an affordable addition to your baby's bath toiletries. Suitable from birth and super gentle on the skin, the product is paraben-free, hypoallergenic, soap-free and pH balanced. Our parent testers enjoyed the value for money and affordability aspect but it didn't stop there, they also thought the product was great for their children.

"My baby's skin is very sensitive due to his eczema. Normally, he comes out of the bath red and still quite dry, but this has made him feel silky smooth in his roughest patches. Very impressed" commented parent tester Bethany, who tested this with their 4-month-old.

Pros: Affordable, gentle and smooth on the skin, suitable from birth
Cons: Not available to order online

Available from: Lidl

8. Burt’s Bees Baby Bubble Bath, £11.49

– Best luxury bubble bath

Age suitability: From birth | Size: Varied | Award: Gold – Baby and child skincare brand, MadeForMums Awards 2022

Burt's Bees baby as a brand is no stranger to the baby industry, their products have served both children and their parents very well over the years. There are lots of toiletries they have to select from depending on what you're after, but the bubble bath is a particular favourite.

Gentle on young skin and made with natural, high-quality ingredients, it also has the distinctive Burt's Bees scent which is a gentle honey-based fragrance. It's tear-free and formulated without phthalates, parabens, petrolatum, or SLS.

Parent tester Laura, who tested the brand with their 19-month-old commented that she was "really impressed with the entire range." She added, "I will definitely be buying every single item in the range from now on, as I loved them all!"

Pros: Distinctive scent, great gift bundles, well-priced, high-quality ingredients
Cons: More expensive than others in the list

Available from: Boots and Burt's Bees

Best baby moisturiser and skin care

9. Colief Baby Scalp Oil, £5.99

– Best for cradle cap

Age suitability: From 3 months+ | Size: 30ml |Awards: Bronze – Baby and child skincare product, MadeForMums Awards 2022

Colief Baby Scalp Oil is a naturally derived oil that helps to soften and treat delicate scalps that may be flaky due to cradle cap. It's completely normal for babies to develop cradle cap or flaky skin on their heads when they're born and it's harmless, but a product like this could help to minimise any irritation.

The oil includes rosehip oil which contains Omega 3 and Omega 6, which aim to promote hydration to the skin, plus calming chamomile and vitamin E to help heal and protect the skin.

"It has made my daughter's hair super soft!" shared parent tester Emma, who tested this with their r 10-month-old baby and mentioned that the cradle cap had become less crusty and prominent from using the oil.

Parent tester Lucy, who tested this with their 7 month old commented, "From only a couple of uses, the oil helped. It's a really lovely consistency, making it easy to apply. The yellow scabs you get with cradle cap were instantly nourished and disappeared. I love how quickly this has soothed my baby's scalp and got rid of her dry flakes."

Pros: Naturally derived ingredients, good consistency, easy to apply, soothing, effective
Cons: Might be greasy for some, small bottle may run out quickly

Available from: Amazon, Holland & Barrett and Colief

10. Weleda Calendula Face Cream, £10.50

– Best premium face cream

Age suitability: From birth | Size: 50ml | Award: Gold – Baby and child skincare product, MadeForMums Awards 2022

Weleda is known for its calming and nourishing properties so this is a great choice if your child has dry skin. Overall, our parent testers were impressed with the premium quality of the product.

Made with organic calendula extract, the face cream provides a protective layer for your baby's sensitive skin, while the lanolin and organic almond oil help to moisturise.

"I have confidence using this because it is extremely natural with nothing synthetic" shared parent tester Rebecca, who tested this with their 6 month old. All Weleda products are Natrue and UEBT certified, and suitable for vegetarians.

The cream has a lovely subtle smell that doesn't overpower your baby's own natural scent. "I was worried this cream might detract from that lovely, fresh, new baby smell but, safe to say, my baby just smelt even more delicious!" Said parent tester Clare, who tested this with their 4-month-old.

This face cream is very straightforward to use and can be easily worked in and absorbed into the skin.

Clare commented, "It feels excellent in quality– one of the nicest textures of baby creams I've tried. It's not too oily or too solid, so glides on very smoothly. Plus you only need a tiny smear, so it feels like the cream is made to last you a while."

Pros: Natural ingredients, premium quality, suitable for dry skin, subtle scent, easy to use
Cons: Pricey

Available from: Boots, Superdrug and Weleda

11. Alteya Organic Kids and Baby Body Lotion, £8.30

– Best organic lotion

Age suitability: From birth | Size: 110ml

This product impressed parents thanks to the great consistency of the well-absorbing cream and the cruelty-free quality of the brand. It’s suitable for vegans and there are organic and non-GMO ingredients at the heart of the lotion.

It also works a treat on dry skin and parent tester Katie, who tested this with their twin babies, said “I liked the easy application and the smell. Both my twins have had very dry skin since birth, and I saw a noticeable improvement.”

It has a soothing chamomile, lavender and rose scent that's not too overpowering but may help to relax your child before bed.

Pros: Absorbant, vegan-friendly, lovely scent, suitable for dry skin
Cons: Might be expensive for some

Available from: Amazon

12. Aveeno Skin Relief Lotion, £7.99 for 300ml

– Best intense moisturising lotion

Size: 200ml, 300ml and 500ml

Ideal for sensitive and very dry skin, this lotion ticks all the boxes and is super moisturising. It has rich ingredients to combat very dry skin and offer relief from itching and soreness. The lotion contains a prebiotic triple oat complex which includes oat flour, oat extract and oat oil plus shea butter.

I use this lotion on my own kids and though it is on the pricey side for something we use daily, I just haven't been able to find anything else cheaper that provides the same results. It nourishes my kids' skin and keeps them moisturised for the day – a claim that Aveeno has also made on their website.

It has just the right consistency and is easily absorbed into their skin. There's no overpowering scent, in fact there's barely a smell to it as the lotion is fragrance-free.

This is a good option for young children with dry or who have irritable dry skin and should get immediate skin relief with this lotion.

Pros: Super moisturising, easy dispensing, varied sizes available, unscented
Cons: Pricey if used daily

Available from: Boots, Amazon and Aveeno

Hand wash

13. Mini U Golden Grapefruit Hand Wash, £4.99

– Best for washing little hands

Age suitability: From birth | Size: 250ml | Award: Silver – Baby and child skincare product, MadeForMums Awards 2022

Made in Great Britain, this Mini U hand wash is a cute and practical item to add to your child's toiletry arsenal. The bottle features Cleany Claud the Crab and has a delightful golden grapefruit scent that's fresh and fruity.

The hand wash is created with naturally derived ingredients such as organic aloe vera and is vegan friendly, plus free from gluten, soy and dairy.

The pump dispenser makes the hand wash very easy to use even for little hands! Parent tester Bryony, who tested this with their 3-year-old commented, "The product foams up really well: not too little; not too much. It cleans little hands very well and my child enjoys using it. It's all-natural, which I like, and it's kept all our hands nicely moisturised."

Pros: Moisturising, easy to use, allergen-free, naturally derived ingredients
Cons: Scent is very strong

Available from: Mini U

How did we choose these products?

When testing these baby and children toiletries with home testers, we asked them to report back on texture of the product, whether it met the intended goal, skin allergies, fragrance, product size, potential length of use, and whether they thought it was worth the money.

Our Best lists are compiled by qualified and experienced parenting journalists. They rely on a number of sources, including our independent reviews, testing undertaken during the MadeForMums Awards, and feedback from our home testing panel and Top Testers Club. Each year thousands of products are put through their paces by hundreds of parents across the country on behalf of MadeForMums, to ensure we’re bringing you honest and true reviews and recommendations.

Our list is not an ordered ranking from 1-10, instead it is a carefully selected group of tried-and-tested products, each of which we believe is best for a different situation or requirement. We don’t just tell you what is best, we help you discover what is best for your family.

About the author

Janet is a Digital Journalist for MadeForMums. Over the years, she has developed a keen eye and passion for creating online media content. She writes and creates visual content sharing her journey of motherhood, self-care and encouragement for new mums via her Instagram page. During her time as a Content Creator/ Influencer she has tested and worked on several brand partnerships including skincare brands such as Garnier, Super Facialist, Superdrug and more. She is a wife and mother to a boy and girl both under 4.

Daily baths are a wonderful time to relax, interact and bond with your baby or child before bed, so we’ve had a look at some of the best baby toiletries including body wash, shampoo and skincare for you to try with your little one.

If you have a newborn, the NHS and the NCT a dvise not to use anything apart from cotton wipes and clean water to clean your baby, as soap and other products are harsher on a new baby’s skin, which is thinner than the skin of an adult.

Whether you’re taking time for fun and games or calming interaction, you might also want to take a look at our best bath toys, best bath towels and best bath seats to get fully kitted out.