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The best baby shampoo and body wash, tested and approved by 190 parents

Soft hair and skin, without the tears

By
VerifiedTested by Beauty and Grooming Testing Manager
best baby shampoos and washes

The best baby shampoo and wash will ensure bathtime is a tear-free, bubbly success. For a safe and soothing experience, opt for gentle products with a simple ingredient list that’s kind to your baby’s sensitive skin and hair.

There are some separate baby shampoos and body washes available, but most brands offer speedier two-in-one solutions, giving you extra time for play and cuddles.

To ensure you select the best formula for your baby, the Good Housekeeping Institute recruited a panel of parents (and babies) to test the leading formulations.

The best baby shampoo and body wash

To help us find the best baby shampoo and body washes, we needed a helping hand from our 190-strong parent panel (and their little ones). We asked them to test the products for a couple of weeks, and give us detailed feedback on everything from packaging to how soft it left their babies' skin. You'll find a detailed breakdown of how we test below our reviews.

Rubber duckies at the ready...

1
Best baby shampoo & body wash

Kit & Kin Hair & Body Wash

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Hair & Body Wash

Score: 91/100

Co-founded by Baby Spice Emma Bunton, Kit & Kin offers a range of hypoallergenic baby products, free from parabens, silicones, dyes and most common allergens.

This baby shampoo and body wash features hydrating glycerine, aloe vera powder, and soothing marshmallow extract – which is great for babies with eczema-prone skin. Leaving hair soft, clean, and smooth, testers loved its smooth, spreadable texture and light, fruity scent.

2
Runner-up baby shampoo & body wash

Nala's Kids Strawberry Springs 2-in-1 Body Wash & Shampoo

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Strawberry Springs 2-in-1 Body Wash & Shampoo

Score: 89/100

The delicious fruity scent of this two-in-one shampoo and body wash was a hit with both parents and kids. It’s packed with raspberry, blackcurrant and strawberry extracts, which the brand claims are 99% natural.

Packaging is designed with curious ones in mind – the gel flows out slowly, so it won’t make a mess if (or when!) they get their hands on it. Parents on solo bathtime duty found it easy to dispense with one hand, too.

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3

Little Angels by ASDA Baby Shampoo

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Baby Shampoo

Score: 89/100

A little goes a long way with this baby shampoo, which costs just 84 pence for 500ml! Our testers found they didn’t need to use much to create a good lather, which left their little one's hair fresh and soft.

One very cheeky child tester also felt it important to point out that the bottle shape looked a little, ahem, peachy.

4

Organic Babies by GreenPeople Baby Wash & Shampoo

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Baby Wash & Shampoo

Score: 87/100

GreenPeople creates organic products for sensitive skin, and this three-in-one baby wash is a perfect example. Use it as a shampoo, wash or bubble bath, and its gentle, fragrance-free formula ensures a soothing experience, minimising the risk of stinging eyes.

Formulated with skin-friendly ingredients such as anti-inflammatory chamomile oil and hydrating aloe vera, the ingredients works harmoniously to deeply cleanse while still being gentle on your little one's skin and hair.

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5

Childs Farm Baby Shampoo & Wash

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Baby Shampoo & Wash
Now 28% Off

Score: 86/100

Aloe vera and cucumber extract are the two soothing and hydrating hero ingredients in this shampoo and body wash. It’s also free from any harsh sulphates, making it kind to delicate skin. It doesn’t have an overpowering scent either, which our testers liked. Plus, the duck design on the label is just too cute.

6
Best for curly hair

My Little Coco Coconut Smoothie Shampoo

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Coconut Smoothie Shampoo

Score: 86/100

Keep their curls in perfect condition with this beautiful coconut-scented hair wash. One tester, who had tried various shampoos for curly hair, said it kept their little one's coils neat all day. However, it’s suitable for all hair types, leaving locks clean, soft, and smelling irresistible.

The pump design makes it effortless to use with just one hand, and you only need a small amount. One parent noted that just a couple of pumps were enough to fully saturate the hair and produce a rich, satisfying lather.

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7
Best for eczema-prone skin

Aveeno Baby Daily Care Gentle Bath & Wash

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Daily Care Gentle Bath & Wash

Score: 85/100

They’re great for breakfast, but it turns out, oats are also excellent for sensitive skin and hair. In skincare, Avena sativa (commonly known as oat kernel) acts as a soothing, anti-inflammatory ingredient, which is key to Aveeno’s sensitive skin range. It effectively moisturises dry, eczema-prone skin without causing flare-ups.

Our parents were particularly impressed with its pleasant consistency and how effectively it hydrated dry skin.

8

Weleda Calendula Shampoo & Body Wash

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Calendula Shampoo & Body Wash

Score: 85/100

Pamper your baby with this ultra-calming shampoo and bath wash from Weleda. Infused with gentle calendula extract, it’s perfect for night-time baths, with anti-inflammatory properties that soothe irritated or itchy skin. Sesame seed and almond oil further protect the skin barrier and lock in moisture, leaving your baby’s skin soft and nourished.

Our testers appreciated the natural, subtle scent, noting that it wasn’t overpowering.

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9
Best for softening hair

Johnson's Baby Shampoo

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Shampoo

Score: 83/100

Johnson's Baby Shampoo was probably a fixture in your bathroom growing up. In fact, many of our at-home testers commented approvingly on the distinctive, nostalgic smell.

We found the shampoo foams up nicely, leaving hair squeaky clean and feeling extremely soft. However, despite its famous 'no-tears' claim, some children did complain about their eyes stinging. So, our advice would be to use it sparingly and carefully.

10
Best for gifting

Neal's Yard Baby Bath & Shampoo

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Baby Bath & Shampoo

Score: 83/100

You might find yourself reaching for this luxe, spa-like formula on your own wash day – just as one of our testers did as a postpartum treat. With its comforting lavender scent, it’s perfect for lulling your baby (or even yourself) into a state of pure zen after a long day of sleeping and playing.

Though it’s a little more expensive than other options on this list, we think it’s worth it for the high-quality botanicals and ingredients. It’s enriched with oh-so-hydrating humectants, glycerine and aloe vera, to draw and lock moisture into skin, as well as calming chamomile. The elegant packaging blended seamlessly into our testers’ bathroom too.

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11
Best budget buy

Aldi Mamia Baby Shampoo

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Mamia Baby Shampoo

Score: 83/100

This budget-friendly buy from Aldi is the most affordable on our list, and the formula doesn’t skimp on quality or performance. Our testers were seriously impressed with how well it lathered and rinsed out, as well as how shiny and clean it left their children’s locks. It also left hair tangle-free, so brushing will be a breeze. The large 500ml bottle means it goes a long way, which is an absolute steal at under £1.

12
Best budget buy for eczema prone skin

Tesco Fred & Flo Naturals Hair & Body Wash

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Fred & Flo Naturals Hair & Body Wash

Score: 80/100

Affordable and effective, this hair and body wash from Tesco is blended with naturally anti-inflammatory oats and cooling chamomile extracts, to hydrate eczema-prone skin without irritation.

The only quibble from our testers was that the flip-top lid was slightly difficult to manoeuvre with one hand during wash time. Other than that, it worked well, making it an affordable bottle to pop in your basket with the weekly shop.

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13

Boots Baby Conditioning Shampoo

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Baby Conditioning Shampoo

Score: 79/100

A good lather with plenty of bubbles always enhances that squeaky clean feeling, which is what our panel enjoyed about this shampoo. The fresh feeling remained too, thanks to its gentle scent that lasted long after bathtime.

However, despite the brand’s gentle, ‘no-tears’ claim, unfortunately, some were shed during bathtime. The stronger cleanse proved irritating for some babies, affecting both their scalp and eyes. If your child has particularly sensitive skin or is prone to flare-ups, it might be worth considering an alternative option and exercising extra care when using this product.

How we test baby shampoo & body wash

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With the help of over 190 parent panellists (and their little ones!), we tested all the leading brands of baby shampoo and body wash over a two-week period. We asked our panel to assess the products on ease of use, design, performance and overall satisfaction.

They also told us how well it hydrated scalps, whether it left locks shining and told us if it caused any tears before bedtime. Our experts also factored in whether the products were dermatologically and paediatrician approved.

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Why trust the Good Housekeeping Institute?

For over 100 years, we’ve been trying and testing thousands of products. From the best washing machines and best bed frames to the best hot brushes and best fake tans.

Maria Kumar led the test on baby shampoos. She has a degree in cosmetic science, and spent time working as a formulation scientist, so she has a vast and extremely valuable range of experience. In the lab, her background knowledge helped to inform the strict protocols that were put in place to test baby shampoos and body washes. She also works with our panel of at-home testers to collate feedback data.

Our lifestyle writer, Madeleine Evans, then takes both sets of results and uses them to inform her product reviews. She's used to distilling a lot of information into easy-to-read roundups and has written about hundreds of new launches across beauty, wellness and parenting.

best baby shampoos and body washes

More Tried & Tested baby skincare

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What ingredients should I look for in a baby shampoo and body wash?

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When looking for a baby shampoo or body wash, a simple, no-tears formula, free from unnecessary or potentially irritating ingredients is a no brainer.

These are some key ingredients to look out for to keep your baby’s hair and skin in top condition.

Aloe vera: Just as it can help sooth painful sunburn, aloe vera is also effective for easing various skin irritations. With its high water content, it provides deep hydration and leaves both the skin and scalp feeling soft and refreshed.

Glycerine: Another hydration hero, glycerine acts as a humectant, drawing moisture into the skin and locking it in for long-lasting hydration.

Natural oils: If you enjoy a relaxing chamomile tea before bed, you may be interested to learn that it provides similar calming and anti-inflammatory benefits in skincare. Almond and coconut oils are also great for moisturising hair and skin and smell delicious too.

best baby shampoos and body washes

The verdict on the best baby shampoo and body wash

Our winner, the Kit and Kin Natural Hair & Body Wash will pamper your baby with its gentle formula, which is free from parabens, silicones, and common allergens.

Keep them squeaky clean on a budget with Aldi's Baby Shampoo and Wash, an effective buy for under £1.

On the hunt for a gift? Look no further than this luxurious bottle of Neal’s Yard Baby Bath & Shampoo, which is a spa-like treat for both baby and parents.

Headshot of Madeleine Evans
Madeleine Evans
Lifestyle Writer

Madeleine is our Lifestyle Writer, specialising in expert-tested reviews and round-ups on the latest beauty Beauty and Health & Wellness products. From skincare to protein powders, Maddie is committed to providing honest and helpful reviews to help guide readers to the best product for them. Maddie has a BA in English Literature and Language, which stemmed from her lifelong interest in reading and writing. She started her post graduate life at Hearst UK within a marketing capacity, which quickly turned into a desire to fulfil a writing career.

When she is not writing about the latest expert reviewed products, you can find her rifling through vintage shops or car boots, reading a print magazine, or capturing portraits on her film camera.

Headshot of Maria Kumar
Tested byMaria Kumar
Beauty and Grooming Testing Manager

Maria is our Beauty and Grooming Testing Manager, and since joining in mid-2022, she has managed the testing for mutiple categories including scalp scrubs, collagen supplements and retinol serums. In addition to her master's degree in chemical engineering and a diploma in cosmetic science, she recently received her MBA from the London College of Fashion, focusing on case studies within the beauty industry. Prior to joining the company, she worked within the global technical team at the Estee Lauder Companies for over six years, collaborating with the chemists and engineers to launch luxury beauty products at scale and to quality. She has also worked as a formulation scientist within the pharmaceutical industry and takes this evidence based approach into all her product testing. 

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