Best Baby Bath Products with Natural Organic Ingredients

 

I have something to admit. I am somewhat of a bath product addict (my husband will gladly vouge for this). The calming scents, silky feel of body wash, and warm, fragrant steam is just what I need when my toddler goes to bed after a hard day of work. The relaxation that comes with bath products is amazing, but when it comes to baby bath products for children, is it safe?

Recent reports have proven that certain chemicals contained in baby bath products can be harmful to infants, babies, and toddlers. Our children have sensitive skin that can be highly reactive to harsh ingredients. After my son had a severe reaction to name brand body wash, I was on a mission to find the safest, allergen free, organic baby bath products for babies with sensitive skin.

 

 

In this post, we will dive into all the harmful ingredients you should avoid. I also did hours of research to find the safest, best quality baby shampoo, baby body wash, and bubble bath brands on the market.

 

 

Baby Bath Product Ingredients to Avoid

Sulfates

Sodium lauryl sulfate (sometimes modified to be sodium laureth sulfate or SLS) is a widely used chemical in baby bath products, more specifically, shampoos. This ingredient, a surfactant, gives you that nice foamy and bubbly lather that we all love so much when cleaning our hair.

The problem with all of this foaming is that it pulls so much oil from our hair and scalp, it can lead to dryness at the hair follicle and flaking of the skin. Many also experience redness, itching and flaking. Now imagine you’re a baby with sensitive skin, or worse, eczema or psoriasis. This may make the symptoms listed above even worse leading to pain and discomfort!

Last, it’s important to mention exactly how irritating this is to the eyes. Shampoos containing sodium lauryl sulfate will most certainly burn when in contact with the eyes. This is something we DO NOT WANT as our little ones haven’t yet grasped the concept of closing their eyes when rinsing out shampoo.

Avoid:

• Sodium stearyl sulfate
• Sodium lauryl sulfate
• Sodium laureth sulfate
• Sodium coco sulfate
• Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate
• Ammonium laureth sulfate

 

Parabens

I’m sure you’ve heard about this one before. Parabens. Yes, the toxic ingredient that keeps our products shelf stable so that they don’t expire. Parabens are preservatives that stop the growth of bacteria and mold in it’s tracks. Sounds reasonable, right?
Although we don’t want mold and bacteria growing in our baby bath products for obvious reasons, they have been known to cause allergic reactions in children. Parabens have also been known to imitate estrogen, and when the body thinks we have high levels of estrogen, we are more at risk for certain cancers. Disrupting our estrogen levels classifies parabens as an “endocrine disrupter” which can negatively impact our babies growth and development.

Asides from how damaging parabens can be for our children, it is so important to recognize how these chemicals enter our system. Parabens are highly absorbable through babies skin as it is so soft and sensitive. This is why it’s so important to be mindful of the baby bath products we use!

Avoid:

• Ethylparaben
• Isopropylparaben
• Methylparaben
• Isobutylparaben
• Butylparaben
• Phenoxyethanol
• Bronopol

 

 

Synthetic Fragrances

We love the idea of a clean and calming scent for our babies. However, most of these fragrances are synthetic – meaning they are manufactured in a way that imitates the natural scent of the fragrance. It is MUCH more cost effective for the manufacturer, much more dangerous for the consumer.

Synthetic fragrances are made from aldehydes and benzene derivatives. The American Cancer Society states that benzene has been linked to cancer (leukemia and blood cancers, to be specific). As for aldehydes, they too are known to be cancer causing and headache inducing. They also can cause respiratory, reproductive, and nervous system issues according to research.

The infuriating part about synthetic fragrances is that manufacturers are not required to list the chemicals that make up their fragrances. They simply must include the word “fragrance” in the ingredient list. Be mindful of this and only use scented products when they list the actual oil of the plant the fragrance derived from. Opt for fragrance free products if you aren’t sure!

Avoid:

• Formaldehyde
• Acetylaldehyde
• Benzyl salicylate
• Chloromethane
• Butylated hydroxytoluene
• Butylated hydroxyanisole
• Benzophenone
• Diethyl phthalate
• Fragrance

 

Phthalates

In relation to baby bath products, phthalates are used as stabilizers for fragrances. They are primarily used to make the scent in products last longer. This means they share most of the hidden dangers that synthetic fragrances have.

On the downside, phthalates are also endocrine disrupters which impacts growth and development as mentioned above when we discussed parabens. Studies have proven that exposure to phthalates increases the occurrence of allergies and asthma. Researchers have also found that phthalates can be linked to a higher body mass index (BMI) and lower height.

Avoid:

• Diethylhexyl phthalate
• Dibutyl phthalate
• Dimethyl phthalate
• Fragrance

 

 

The Best Baby Bath Product Brands

If you know me, you know that I work in an industry that holds quality and manufacturing practices to the highest of standards to ensure patient safety. I really want to make sure I know what the ingredients are and ensure safe manufacturing practices/quality standards before bathing my child with certain bath products. See here we go – the BEST baby bath product brands! I don’t even want to admit to how many hours I’ve spent researching this..

 

 

Tubby Todd Co.

 

I love Tubby Todd. It is so difficult to find baby bath products that offer a luxurious lather with naturally derived fragrance. That’s right, no synthetic fragrances here! They use a blend of several plant derived oils that smell amazing. My son has eczema so I’m really careful about ingredient lists. This body wash/shampoo along with their bubble bath did not cause any reactions and left him clean and moisturized.

If your child has EXTRA sensitive skin, I would recommend this bundle. It’s fragrance free and includes a jar of ointment for rash prone areas. They also have a great cradle cap kit and gift set for mom and baby here if you’re in the market for a quality baby shower gift!

 

Pipette

 

This is a brand you may be familiar with as they’re more widely available in store. What makes Pipette’s products a hit is their inclusion of squalane. If you’re a skincare addict like myself, you know EXACTLY what squalane is; a naturally occurring lipid (which is practically a fatty compound) included in many moisturizers to keep the skin hydrated and youthful. Genius 😊

I personally love their fragrance free Baby Shampoo and Wash. They do have other products that have fragrance but everything is plant derived. No fragrances in their line are synthetic as far as I can tell.

 

Carina Organics

 

Carina Organics hits a soft spot for me. They hand select the botanicals used in their products which are all derived from the Pacific Northwest – where I lived for 5 years while my husband was in the Navy and I was in college; a time when I felt the most connected with nature.

The fact that the company is this intricate with their products speaks volumes about their quality. I mean, come on. What company ACTUALLY goes out there and hand selects only the most perfect of plants to include in their products? This one does!

I personally have tried their Baby Shampoo and Body Wash in the scent Sweet Pea. It lathered well and smelled amazing! My sons skin had no harsh reaction and felt moisturized which is what I care about. Not to mention, the packaging is super cute (I love the whale).

 

Evereden

 

Ok. Can we all agree that the packaging of this product line is absolutely gorgeous?! It doesn’t have the cute, delicate, or whimsical look that other baby bath products too. It looks more like something I’d see for a grown, adult, woman. Take my money – I’m sold on the packaging alone.

BUT… they do have kids shampoo that takes on the more fun, whimsical look. And it ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE. It would be an injustice to not take a peek.

Let’s get serious, though. This brand takes product safety to a very high level. Using only clean ingredients in their formulation, Everedens’ bath products are more than safe for your little one. I’ve tried their standard baby shampoo & body wash, but they have another variation called the baby protecting body wash that is more specific to newborns.

What I found interesting about Evereden was their focus on organic sunflower seed oil. I honestly had no idea how beneficial it could be for my son. This study proved that the application of sunflower oil reduced the occurrence of sepsis and mortality in infants by increasing skin barrier function. Amazing!

 

Earth Mama

 

I get it. The products mentioned above were a little out of control with the pricing, but not Earth Mama. Earth Mama is a budget friendly brand with all of the safe ingredients you could ask for in a baby body wash or shampoo. It’s also made from castile soap, which is a blend of vegetable based oils that contain no animal fats.

Another thing I love so much about Earth Mama is their constant effort towards innovation and improvement. They don’t just create a formula and never touch it again.. they frequently search for opportunities for improvement and change the formula to benefit their consumers.  Asides from this, Earth Mama has so many awards and certifications, you KNOW they are offering you safe, quality ingredients.

If you’re looking to purchase, Amazon sells the Simply Non-Scents Baby Wash for a very affordable price. It runs just under $10 which is an absolute steal given the quality of ingredients. It also comes in the lavender and sweet orange scent with no synthetic fragrances.

 

In conclusion, it’s important to be very aware of the ingredients lurking in baby bath products such as shampoo, body wash, bubble bath formulations. The manufacturing process needs to be clean and regulated. The ingredients need to be sourced and tested for quality. The final products needs to be safe for children and their sensitive skin. The brands listed above deliver that while offering a calming experience for mom and baby. Now, time to get going. It’s bath time!

 

 

 

Note: None of the information listed in this article is intended to be used as medical advice. Please consult your doctor if your child is experiencing symptoms of any potential medical issue such as rashes or hives. This post also contains affiliate links for products I have personally tried and tested myself. I hope you enjoy these products as much as I do!