Itchy and dry skin, rough red patches, oozy or crusty bumps… Eczema can be really hard to manage, and cause so much discomfort to the baby! Did you know that with the wrong baby soap you can trigger eczema or make it worse? That’s why it’s so important to always check ingredient list and choose only the safest baby soaps and gentle cleansers.
I did the hard work for you and carefully studied ingredients of 30+ baby soaps and baby shampoos to help you choose the right one that will soothe your baby’s eczema. In this article I’m sharing my favorite safest and best body washes for baby eczema.
Medically reviewed by Jennifer Turkyilmaz – Registered Nurse
Taking care of newborn skin can be a big challenge for new moms. If your baby has an inflammatory skin condition like eczema, (also known as atopic dermatitis1), then daily skincare routine can feel even harder.
It may be heartbreaking to see your baby suffering from itchy skin, rashes and eczema and I know you’re looking for the best solution to bring immediate relief to your little one. Luckily, there are things you can do to help your child and soothe their reactive skin.
This article is not a substitute for medical advice. It contains affiliate links.
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First, talk to your pediatrician and follow their recommendations. Second, learn how to take care of your baby’s skin condition at home with products that are free of irritants and harsh chemicals. Many parents unknowingly use skincare on their child that can make eczema worse.
Here I will share my favorite products that are made specifically for your baby’s delicate, eczema-prone skin. Read on to find out what is the best soap for baby eczema on the market today.
Best & Safest Baby Washes for Eczema Prone Skin
You’ll need to pay careful attention to ingredients when choosing what products to use on your baby’s skin. The best baby wash for eczema should be dermatologist tested, non-irritating, allergen-free, and should contain soothing and moisturizing ingredients.
1. Earth Mama Simply Non-Scents Castile Baby Wash
This baby wash is full of eczema-friendly ingredients like coconut oil, olive oil, and shea butter.
Coconut oil is anti-inflammatory and moisturizing, and olive oil and shea butter help to maintain a baby’s protective skin barrier by providing fatty acids to the skin. It also contains calendula extract, an ingredient known to be a potent anti-inflammatory.
We also chose this baby castile soap as one of the best baby washes and shampoos for ALL babies – because of its natural and non-irritating ingredients!
What Parents Love About This Baby Wash
This baby wash is available in a non-scented formulation for the most sensitive skin, but you can also get it in lavender and orange scents.
These are mild scents that are naturally derived, and all the products are free of known irritants such as synthetic fragrances, triclosan, phthalates, parabens, and sulfates.
Moms love this Castile Baby Wash because it’s dermatologist tested and clinically tested for irritation. In fact, it’s such a gentle soap that it’s often used in neonatal ICU’s. Parents who use Earth Mama baby wash rave about how effective it is for soothing their children’s skin.
| PRO TIP: This body wash is available in 3 volumes. The most budget-friendly choice in the long run is this 34 oz. bottle. It’s actually 45% cheaper than getting smaller bottles. It will last you for MONTHS! |
Keep In Mind
One thing to keep in mind is this soap is not “no-tear” so you need to be careful so it doesn’t get in your baby’s eyes.
2. Mustela Stelatopia Cleansing Oil For Eczema-Prone Skin
I just love this cleansing oil – it’s gentle and way more hydrating than majority of baby washes!
This all natural body wash contains avocado oil, an ingredient known to relieve the inflammation caused by eczema.
It also contains sunflower oil which is rich in vitamin E. Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant that protects the skin, helps with wound healing, and improves skin barrier health.
What Parents Love About This Baby Wash
Parents who have kids with eczema and dry, cracked skin rave about the simple ingredient list and the smoothing benefits of this cleansing oil. They also love that it can be used in different ways: as a body wash, a scalp wash, and as an addition to bath water.
And because it’s an oil, it has very nice consistency and you can immediate feel how moisturizing it is.
| PRO TIP: I recommend you check out also this Mustela Stelatopia Foam Shampoo – made specifically for babies and toddlers with eczema. It’s tear-free, fragrance-free, and full of beneficial moisturizing ingredients that reduce scalp itchiness. |
Keep In Mind
Some people might be put off by the relatively high price tag. However, moms say a little goes a long way, so it’s more cost effective than it looks at first glance.
3. Pipette Baby Shampoo And Body Wash
This is a fragrance-free, pH balanced dual baby wash + shampoo. Its superstar ingredient is sugar-derived squalane.
Squalane is a natural component of healthy skin, and when used as a skincare ingredient it dramatically improves skin hydration. This wash also contains plant-derived glycolipids for gentle cleansing and glycerin for extra moisture.
What Parents Love About This Baby Wash
Moms love that Pipette Baby Shampoo and Body Wash is free of harmful ingredients and is truly a tear-free formula. Some users say it helped clear up their children’s cradle cap and baby acne while also hydrating their baby’s sensitive skin.
Keep In Mind
If you’re sensitive to smells, be aware that some customers don’t love the smell of this wash. Most have no problem with the odor, but others describe it as having an odd or unpleasant scent.
The good news is that it’s natural, because this is a artificial fragrance-free product.
4. Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Liquid Soap For Baby (Unscented)
This baby soap is as simple as it gets. It uses organic, fair-trade, skin-beneficial coconut oil, palm kernel oil, olive oil, hemp oil, and jojoba oil.
All of these oils contain fatty acids to protect and heal the skin barrier and are calming and moisturizing to the skin.
What Parents Love About This Baby Wash
Customers say this soap gently cleanses while still keeping skin hydrated. It is made with only natural ingredients and is paraben-free, triclosan-free, sulfate-free, and fragrance-free. It can be used as a baby shampoo as well as on your baby’s body.
Keep In Mind
This product usually comes in large sizes (32 oz all the way up to a gallon,) and it is a concentrated formula that needs to be diluted. If ease of use is a priority for you, this might not be the perfect choice for you.
5. Evereden Baby Shampoo And Body Wash
This body wash and shampoo contains plant based ingredients that help to prevent dryness and gently cleanse eczema-prone skin.
It is made with moisturizing and healing coconut oil, oat kernel extract, glycerin, avocado oil, grape seed oil, cucumber extract, and quinoa extract.
What Parents Love About This Baby Wash
Parents say that this product has a lovely natural mild scent and doesn’t leave their babies’ skin dry.
One pump is enough to wash a child’s hair and body, and it makes bathing time fun with a thick and luxurious lather. It is free of harsh chemicals that could potentially irritate skin, and it is organic.
Lots of parents says this body wash is the best solution if baby breaking out in rashes after using different soaps!
Keep In Mind
Some moms complain it leaves baby’s hair a bit dry, so it’s best to use conditioner afterwards.
6. Babo Botanicals Sensitive Baby Fragrance-Free 2-in-1 Shampoo & Wash
This shampoo and baby eczema wash is chock full of gentle and moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, oat protein, calendula, and cocoa butter.
It also contains an organic herbal “nutri-soothe blend” that is packed with anti-inflammatories, vitamins, and antioxidants.
What Parents Love About This Baby Wash
Parents who value safe and natural ingredients are fans of this wash. It is sulfate, phthalate, and paraben-free and contains no synthetic fragrances. Moms say it’s excellent for sensitive and dry skin.
Keep In Mind
Some users find that this shampoo and wash can leave hair greasy or easily tangled, while others report that it leaves hair soft and shiny. I guess it may not be perfect for all hair types and conditions.
7. California Baby Therapeutic Relief Eczema Shampoo And Body Wash
Like many eczema body washes for babies, this product is extremely gentle and full of nourishing ingredients like calendula and jojoba oil.
It stands out for its use of aloe vera, the first ingredient listed. Aloe is anti-inflammatory, soothing, non-irritating, and actually helps rebuild damaged skin.
What Parents Love About This Baby Wash
Moms say California Baby helps soothe angry red eczema flare-ups while gently cleansing their children’s hair and bodies. It is allergy tested and works well on even the most sensitive skin.
Keep In Mind
The price can be daunting, but parents say one bottle can last them almost a year, even with daily use.
8. Aveeno Baby Soothing Hydration Creamy Body Wash
The #1 ingredient in this body wash is colloidal oatmeal, a well-known ingredient for stopping itching, soothing skin irritation, and reducing inflammation. It also contains vitamin E to help heal and moisturize raw and sensitive skin.
What Parents Love About This Baby Wash
It is tear-free and hypoallergenic, and parents say it softens and moisturizes skin without triggering eczema flare-ups. It is fragrance-free, but people enjoy its natural scent.
Keep In Mind
Keep in mind that this is a creamy, lotion-like formula. Some moms would prefer if it lathered a bit more.
9. ATTITUDE 2-in-1 Natural Hair And Body Foaming Wash For Baby
This is an ultra-gentle, bare bones formula that contains little more than the humectant glycerin and oat kernel extract for gentle cleansing.
What Parents Love About This Baby Wash
People enjoy the foamy texture of this shampoo and baby eczema wash. It works well for rashes, dry and irritated skin, and atopic dermatitis and is moisturizing to baby skin.
Keep In Mind
Be mindful that this product is “constantly evolving” according to the manufacturer, so what you use one time might not be exactly what you will find in the bottle you will order next time.
Final Decision: What Baby Wash Is Best For Eczema?
All of these products offer excellent benefits for your child with eczema. When push comes to shove, my vote for the best baby wash for your little one’s skin is the Earth Mama Baby Wash (specifically the non-scent version).
Parents are really happy now effective this wash is for sensitive skin. All thanks to clean and ultra-safe ingredients. This baby soap for eczema safely cares for troubled skin, and it’s suitable for newborns and toddlers.
It helps to treat eczema and cradle cap, and because it’s free of toxic and harsh ingredients it can gently clean and moisturize itchy and irritated skin, as well as soothes flare ups.
Best Baby Wash For Eczema & Sensitive Skin – FAQ
Even though eczema is a relatively common skin condition, you likely have questions about the ins and outs of caring for your child’s skin.
Is It Good To Bathe Baby With Eczema?
You can absolutely bathe a baby with eczema, and, if you’re using the right products, bath-time actually presents a great opportunity for daily healing.
Make sure to choose one of the best baby shampoos and washes, that is pH balanced and contains only natural ingredients that can soothe child’s skin.
To minimize potential drying of the skin, wash your child in warm, not hot, water and don’t let bathtime linger for too long. Under 20 minutes is best.
After bath, it’s good to moisturize baby’s skin with eczema cream.
By the way, you need to also be careful what you dress your baby into, and the quality of bedding – because the fabric can also trigger eczema flare-ups. Check out our recommendations for crib sheets for baby’s eczema.
What Can I Bathe My Child In For Eczema?
Gentle, hypoallergenic, and moisturizing products are of utmost importance when you bathe a kiddo with eczema. Eczema skin tends to be highly sensitive, and you have to be careful about introducing potential irritants and allergens.
To make sure you baby’s eczema is not getting worse, you’ll need to invest in best baby soap made from the safest and natural ingredients (free from sodium lauryl sulfate, fragrances, preservatives, and other irritants).
What To Look For In A Baby Eczema Wash
- Natural Oils – Especially those high in fatty acids like avocado oil, sunflower oil, jojoba oil, and olive oil. All of these keep skin moisturized and help repair a damaged skin barrier.
- Shea Butter – This helps create a protective barrier on the skin.
- Humectants (Glycerin & Squalane) – These are gentle and highly effective ingredients used to increase the moisture level of the skin.
- Aloe Vera – Aloe is soothing, moisturizing, and reparative to damaged skin.
- Vitamin E – This vitamin is an anti-inflammatory that is known to improve symptoms of eczema and speed healing of damaged skin.
Ingredients To Avoid If Your Baby Has Eczema Prone Skin
This is far from a comprehensive list of harmful chemicals to avoid when your child has eczema2
, but it’s a good place to start. Read labels carefully and avoid products that contain these ingredients:
- Artificial fragrances
- Parabens
- Phthalates
- Formaldehyde
- Propylene glycol
- Lanolin
- Essential oils
- Alcohol
- Sulfates
- Triclosan
Skin Care After Bath Time For Eczema Babies
After your baby has had their bath, make sure you rinse their skin well. You don’t want any soap residue to linger on their skin and potentially cause irritation or itchy skin.
Your baby’s delicate skin is so sensitive that even rubbing their skin with rough towels can cause an eczema flare-up. Dry off your child gently in soft towels that have been washed in fragrance-free detergent, suitable for sensitive skin.
Once they’re clean and dry, don’t forget to apply an emollient lotion or safe baby oil, full of beneficial ingredients to keep their skin moisturized and protect their skin barrier3. Moisturized and nourished skin means less itchiness and discomfort for your baby.
Side note: whenever you use a new product on babies with eczema, monitor their skin for any allergic reactions or signs of sensitivity. Only introduce one new product at a time so you can easily tell which ingredients cause problems.
Article By Jennifer Turkyilmaz, BSN, RN
Jennifer Turkyilmaz is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Registered Nurse. She worked for several years as a high-risk antepartum nurse.
The purpose of this article is informative. It’s not a substitute for professional medical advice or medical care. Remember: safety first! Consult your doctor/pediatrician in case of any doubts. The author of this article does not accept any responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, from any information or advice contained here. Your trust is really important to me: This article includes affiliate links to products that I think are useful for our readers. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your support helps me run this blog – thank you!
Resources:
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/eczema-atopic-dermatitis.html
https://nationaleczema.org/
Sources of pictures:
Pictures of Simply Non-Scents belong to Earth Mama Organics Brand.
Pictures of Stelatopia Cleansing Oil belong to Mustela Brand.
Pictures of Pipette Wash & Shampoo belong to Pipette Brand.
Pictures of Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Liquid Soap belong to Dr. Bronner’s Brand.
Pictures of Evereden Baby Shampoo And Body Wash belong to Evereden Brand.
Pictures of Babo Botanicals Sensitive Baby Wash belong to Babo Botanicals Brand.
Pictures of California Baby Therapeutic Relief Wash belong to California Baby Brand.
Pictures of Soothing Hydration Creamy Body Wash belong to Aveeno Brand.
Pictures of ATTITUDE Foaming Wash belong to ATTITUDE Brand.
Hello Moms! I am Zooey. I am a wife and a mother of three amazing kids: almost 5-year-old Haley and 2-year-old twins Jesse and Matthew. I am a jogger, cooker and blogger.If you have a question or a comment, do not hesitate to write to me! 🙂