As a new parent, you want to make sure that you’re using the best products for your baby, including shampoo. But with so many options to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. That’s why we’ve done the research and evaluated the best baby shampoos based on factors like budget, hair type and texture to help you find the perfect formula. Be sure to add one to your newborn checklist.
Merry Thornton, board-certified dermatology physician assistant and founder of Element Medical Aesthetics in New Canaan, CT, to find out what to keep an eye out for and what to avoid in baby shampoos.
What to look for in the best baby shampoo
Choose the best baby shampoo by meticulously reading product labels. Some products can contain ingredients and or scents that can be irritating and potentially harmful to your baby’s health. “Look for non-scented products (fragrance and essential oil products can contain hormone disruptors and cause burning if they get in the eyes),” she tells Today’s Parent.
“Avoid products containing chemicals such as parabens, sulfates and phthalates.” Next, make sure to use shampoo that’s specifically labeled for babies, says Thornton to avoid skin irritations and other mishaps. “This means the shampoo is formulated in a gentler way for their more sensitive hair and skin.”
Best Baby Shampoo Picks 2023
- Best Overall: CeraVe Baby Wash & Shampoo
- Best Organic: Little Biomes Gentlest Baby Shampoo and Body Wash
- Best for Curls: Johnson’s Curl-Defining, Frizz Control, Tear-Free Kids’ Shampoo with Shea Butter
- Best Budget: Pipette Baby Shampoo and Body Wash
- Best Luxury: Dr. Barbara Sturm Baby and Kids Body and Hair Shampoo
- Best Rated: Honest Company Sensitive Baby Shampoo and Body Wash
- Best Walmart: Vivvi & Bloom Gentle 2-in-1 Tear Free Baby Wash and Shampoo Cleansing Gel
Best overall
Cerave Baby Wash and Shampoo
Merchant
Looking for a baby wash and shampoo that’s affordable and effective for all hair types? Look no further than CeraVe! This product is a winner in so many ways, and it’s enhanced with all the right ingredients that gently cleanse and nourish your baby’s skin. It’s also a favorite of Thornton’s.
“This is tear-free, non-irritating, free of fragrance, parabens, dyes, phthalates and sulfates,” she says. “It foams lightly to cleanse without stripping the skin and it has ceramides, vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid to moisturize, hydrate, and protect.”
Pros
- Under $10 price
- Non-irritating
- Tear-free
- Fragrance-free
- Contains ceramides, vitamin E and hyaluronic acid
Cons
- Some reviews say that the consistency of the shampoo is not as lathering as other products on our list
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Best organic
Little Biomes Gentlest Baby Shampoo and Body Wash
Merchant
This baby shampoo is like a soothing balm for your baby’s delicate skin, made with organic calendula and rose water. It is free of harsh chemicals on its ingredient list and leaves no sticky or greasy residue. But here’s the kicker, some adult Amazon shoppers also love using it.
“This shampoo doesn’t irritate my scalp,” says verified Amazon shopper Kathy Flanigan. Who knew baby shampoo could be so versatile?
Pros
- Contains organic calendula and rosewater ingredients
- Non-irritating and gentle
- Leaves behind no sticky residue
Cons
- Some reviewers say the bottle easily spills
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Best for curls
Johnson’s Curl Defining Shampoo
Merchant
If your baby’s got a head full of curls, you definitely need this shampoo in your life! It’s free of all the bad stuff like parabens, sulfates, and dyes, and is enriched with shea butter that’ll tame frizz and give those curls some definition. And it’s tear-free, so you can use it on your little one without any fuss.
This baby shampoo is a bestseller for good reason: Many reviewers say it provides essential moisture, detangles curls, and leaves them supple and bouncy. We love the tear-free formula that suits most budgets.
Pros
- Free of parabens, sulfates and dyes
- Contains hydrating shea butter
- Won’t dry skin
- Tear-free
- Under $10 price
- From a brand known for beloved baby shampoos and washes
Cons
- Its scent might be too strong for those who prefer something milder
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Best Budget
Pipette Baby Shampoo and Body Wash
Merchant
Don’t let the price fool you —Pipette’s baby shampoo is proof that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a great product. This shampoo is suitable for all hair types and textures and is vegan and cruelty-free. Best of all, Thornton states that it is hydrating, tear-free, and fragrance-free.
“This baby shampoo is fragrance-free, tear-free, and hypoallergenic,” she says. “It contains plant-based squalene for moisturizing and glycerin for hydration and is also free of toxins.” Although this shampoo is praised for its affordability and moisturizing properties, some reviewers warn that it can leave a greasy residue on your tub if you don’t rinse it off completely.
Pros
- Under $10 price
- Contains plant-based squalene and glycerin
- Suitable for all hair types and textures
- Tear-free, fragrance-free and hypoallergenic
Cons
- Some reviewers indicate that it leaves behind a greasy residue on the tub
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Best luxury
Dr. Barbara Sturm Baby and Kids Body and Hair Shampoo
Merchant
This shampoo from Dr. Barbara Sturm is the most expensive on our list, but trust us when we say it’s worth every. single. penny. This moisturizing shampoo has a light scent and a foaming lather that’s as soft as a cloud, making it perfect for all hair types. Oh, and did we mention that it’s also one of the best baby shampoos money can buy, according to Thornton?
“This shampoo contains almond blossom extract and calendula to soothe sensitive skin, as well as jojoba oil to moisturize,” she says. “It is also free of fragrances and toxic ingredients.”
Pros
- Contains jojoba oil, almond blossom, and calendula extracts
- Lightly scented and creates a gentle, moisturizing foam
- Suitable for all hair types
- Children can also use this shampoo
- Safe for eczema prone skin
Cons
- Has the highest cost of any shampoo on our list
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Best rated
Honest Company Sensitive Baby Shampoo and Body Wash
Merchant
With hundreds of baby shampoos to choose from, it can be tough to know which one to pick. But if you’re looking for a fan-favorite shampoo, this two-in-one shampoo from The Honest Company is a great choice. It’s powered by gentle and nourishing aloe and calendula ingredients and is tear-free and hypoallergenic.
And, it’s recommended by Thornton. “This is free of fragrance, parabens, dyes, phthalates, formaldehyde donors and sulfates,” she says.
Multiple shoppers love this two-in-one shampoo (it has a 4.7-star rating on Amazon) because it cleanses babies’ hair and skin without irritation and redness. Each bottle is a nice size and filled to the brim with plant-based ingredients. Follow up with a deep conditioner or moisturizing spray if your baby’s hair texture is fine or prone to dryness.
Pros
- Two-in-one formula
- 4.7 star rating and thousands of five-star reviews
- Hypoallergenic and tear-free
- Free of harmful fragrance, parabens, dyes, phthalates, formaldehyde donors, and sulfates
Cons
- According to some reviewers, it’s mildly drying
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Best Walmart
Vivvi & Bloom Gentle 2-in-1 Tear Free Baby Wash and Shampoo Cleansing Gel
Merchant
For those who love shopping at Walmart more than anywhere else, this two-in-one shampoo (that you can also use as a body wash) is a cart-worthy find. It’s made with 96% natural ingredients and is free of sulfates, parabens, and phthalates. Although it is scented, the scent is light and it lathers well without leaving any residue afterwards.
According to Walmart reviewers, this shampoo is like a gentle giant, it’s kind to your skin but tough on hard-to-remove products like sunscreen. Many love this formula for mild cases of cradle cap, too.
Pros
- Two-in-one formula
- Contains 96% natural ingredients
- Free of sulfates, parabens, and phthalates
- Lathers well as a medium-foam shampoo
- Gentle on the skin
Cons
- Not a rinse-free product
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Experts:
- Merry Thornton, board-certified dermatology physician assistant
