Best Non-Toxic Baby Shampoo for Sensitive Scalps (2026 Guide)

by Carly
Best non-toxic baby shampoo — unlabeled cream and sage bottles flat lay with dried chamomile flowers on warm linen

Last Reviewed: May 2026

Quick Answer

For most families, Pipette Baby Shampoo + Wash is the best starting point for non-toxic baby shampoo— ten ingredients, no preservatives, and a formula built specifically for newborn scalp health. For eczema or a reactive scalp, Babo Botanicals Sensitive 2-in-1 is the top pick, because it’s the only shampoo in this guide that uses whole oat flour — the ingredient with real published research behind it for reactive skin. For the most thoughtfully formulated option overall, Under Luna Luna Clear uses a probiotic preservation system with no synthetic preservatives of any kind.

Every pick in this guide is fragrance-free, essential oil-free, and sulfate-free. They’re ordered below from fewest to most ingredients — start at the top if simplicity is the goal.

What Makes a Baby Shampoo Non-Toxic?

A non-toxic baby shampoo avoids synthetic fragrance, sulfate cleansers, and preservatives like parabens or DMDM Hydantoin. It uses gentle plant-derived cleansers, a clean preservation system, and no undisclosed fragrance compounds. Every pick in this guide meets all three criteria — and this review explains exactly what’s in each formula so you don’t have to take anyone’s word for it.

Why Ingredient Lists Matter More Than Front Label Claims

Most babies don’t have much hair, but their scalps are doing a lot — producing natural oils, building up healthy skin bacteria, sometimes developing cradle cap in the first few months. Baby scalp skin is also thinner than ours, which means it absorbs more of what gets applied to it. And because anything you rinse through their hair ends up running across their face, what’s in the bottle genuinely matters.

“Tear-free,” “natural,” and “gentle” are marketing terms — not regulated, not defined, not meaningful. The ingredient list tells you what’s actually in there. Once you know what to look for on the back, it takes about ten seconds to figure out if something makes the cut.

Most picks in this guide are 2-in-1 shampoo and body wash formulas. For babies and toddlers with very little hair, a single gentle formula for both head and body is the most practical call — one product, nothing to juggle at bath time. If you’re also looking at dedicated body wash options, our non-toxic baby body wash guide covers those with the same approach and some overlap with recommendations that are 2-in-1.

Our Top Picks at a Glance

The products we share are chosen through a low-toxic, mindful-living lens — prioritizing what goes in and on our bodies, into our homes, and back into the earth. Some links in this guide are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Swipe to view full comparison →

ProductIngredientsPreservative tier2-in-1CertificationBest for
Badger Baby Shampoo & Body Wash6Tier 2YesB Corp, OrganicSimplest formula ⚠️ check stock
Coterie The First Wash8Tier 3YesEWG VerifiedFewest ingredients, in stock
Pipette Baby Shampoo + Wash10Tier 1YesEWG VerifiedBest for newborn scalp
Carina Organics Unscented 2-in-112Tier 2YesMADE SAFENo synthetic preservatives
Babo Botanicals Sensitive 2-in-112Tier 3YesEWG VerifiedEczema and sensitive scalp
Attitude Baby Leaves 2-in-114Tier 3YesEWG VerifiedBudget pick
California Baby Super Sensitive16Tier 2YesHospital-used, allergy-tested
Under Luna Luna Clear20Tier 2NoEditor’s personal pick

Tier 1 = no preservatives at all. Tier 2 = a natural alternative to traditional preservatives (rosemary, apple cider vinegar, plant extracts, or probiotic fermentation). Tier 3 = sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate — both plant-derived and considered low-risk.

Whole rolled oats with calendula and chamomile flowers on marble surface — natural ingredients in non-toxic baby shampoo for sensitive scalps

How to Read a Baby Shampoo Label

What’s on the front of the bottle is marketing. What’s on the back is the actual formula. Here’s what to look for.

What “Tear-Free” Actually Means

A shampoo that’s genuinely gentle on eyes uses cleansing ingredients that work at a lower pH — closer to the eye’s natural environment. When the primary cleansing ingredient is something like SLS or SLES, it’s much more harsh, and rinsing it through baby’s hair will sting no matter what the label says.

The cleansing ingredients to look for — the ones you’ll see across the picks in this guide — are things like Coco-Glucoside (from coconut and sugar), soap bark extract, and yucca root, which all clean gently without that sharp, stinging rinse. The ones to skip are Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate.

Cleansing Ingredients: Look For vs. Avoid

Look forAvoid
Coco-GlucosideSodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
Yucca Root ExtractSodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
Quillaja Saponaria (soap bark)Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Cocamidopropyl Betaine

One to know about: Attitude uses Sodium Coco-Sulfate as its main cleanser. It comes from coconut oil and is milder than SLS, but it’s still in the sulfate family. Worth keeping in mind if your baby has very sensitive or reactive skin.

How to Evaluate the Preservative System

Any liquid formula with water in it needs something to prevent mold and bacteria from growing. That’s just chemistry — it’s not a red flag. What matters is which preservative system is used. Not all are equal, and understanding the tiers makes every label easier to read.

TypeWhat it meansWhich picks
Tier 1 — noneFormula stays stable through pH and other ingredientsPipette
Tier 2 — natural alternativesRosemary, apple cider vinegar, or probiotic fermentationBadger, Carina Organics, California Baby, Under Luna
Tier 3 — sodium benzoate + potassium sorbatePlant-derived, widely used, considered safeCoterie, Babo Botanicals, Attitude
AvoidPhenoxyethanol, parabens, DMDM HydantoinNot in any pick in this guide

Tier 3 is called out for transparency, not because it’s a problem. These are natural-derived preservatives and they show up in some EWG Verified products for a reason.

Good Things to See in a Baby Shampoo Formula

Squalane — an oil from sugarcane that’s very similar to the coating babies are born with (vernix). It conditions the scalp without feeling heavy or leaving residue.

Panthenol (Vitamin B5) — helps the scalp and hair hold onto moisture. You’ll see this in Coterie and Under Luna.

Whole oat flour (Avena Sativa Kernel Flour) — different from oat extract or oat oil. Whole oat flour has real research behind it for eczema and reactive skin. Babo Botanicals uses this specifically.

Calendula, chamomile, nettle, plantain — calming plant extracts that show up across several picks in this guide.

Yucca root and soap bark — natural plant-based foaming agents. They don’t create as much lather as conventional shampoos, but they clean just as well. Used in California Baby and Under Luna.

Radish root ferment (Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate) + Lactobacillus — a probiotic-based preservation system. Instead of inhibiting bacteria with antimicrobial compounds, it supports a healthy balance of microorganisms on the scalp. Only used by Under Luna in this guide.

Fragrance

If a label says “fragrance” or “parfum,” that single word can cover dozens of undisclosed ingredients. It doesn’t matter if it says those come from natural sources — the specific compounds still aren’t disclosed, and they’re among the most common causes of skin reactions in babies. All eight picks in this guide are completely fragrance-free, including no essential oils.

Whole oat flour in white ceramic bowl with calendula flower — key ingredient in non-toxic baby shampoo for eczema-prone scalps

Popular Baby Shampoos That Didn’t Make the List (And Why)

These are the brands parents ask about most. Some show up on “natural” and “non-toxic” lists despite having ingredients worth knowing about. The goal here isn’t to scare you off — it’s to give you the real picture so you can decide for yourself.

Johnson’s Baby Shampoo The most searched baby shampoo by far. Johnson’s has updated their formula over the years, but the current US version still contains synthetic fragrance and DMDM Hydantoin — a preservative that releases a concerning compound over time. For something used on a baby’s scalp every few days for years, the options in this guide are worth the swap.

Weleda Baby 2-in-1 Gentle Shampoo & Body Wash Weleda is on almost every natural baby product list, and the brand has genuinely good values — the formula has solid ingredients like Coco-Glucoside and calendula extract. The reason it’s not in this guide is the word “Fragrance (Parfum)” on the label, along with Limonene and Linalool listed separately. The brand says these come from natural essential oils, but “Fragrance” on a label still means the specific ingredients aren’t disclosed, and Limonene and Linalool are common causes of skin reactions in sensitive babies. The formula also contains denatured Alcohol. Weleda makes products worth respecting — this specific product doesn’t meet the fragrance-free standard applied to everything in this guide.

Mustela Baby Shampoo Mustela has two very different product lines. Their original shampoo contains fragrance. Their Stelatopia fragrance-free version is considerably cleaner. If a friend recommends Mustela, make sure you’re looking at the right line — they’re not interchangeable.

Babyganics Shampoo + Body Wash Shows up on a lot of Amazon “natural baby” lists. Contains “natural fragrance” without disclosing what that means — same issue as synthetic fragrance. Without knowing what’s in it, there’s no way to evaluate it.

Aveeno Baby Wash & Shampoo Widely recommended by pediatricians. The formula contains fragrance and phenoxyethanol, a synthetic preservative to avoid in baby products. The oat angle on the packaging is marketing — the formula itself doesn’t reflect that story.

Burt’s Bees Baby Shampoo & Wash Cleaner than most of the above, but most versions contain fragrance. Check the specific product label rather than assuming the brand is fragrance-free.

The Honest Company Baby Shampoo & Body Wash Honest makes multiple versions — the scented ones (Lavender, Citrus Vanilla, Sweet Cream) use naturally derived fragrance, which has the same disclosure issue as synthetic fragrance. The fragrance-free Sensitive version is cleaner and avoids SLS and parabens, but uses Caprylyl Glycol and Caprylhydroxamic Acid as its preservation system — ingredients some dermatologists flag for reactive baby skin. At 21 ingredients it’s also longer than anything that made our list. Not a product to panic about if you’re already using it without any reaction, but there are simpler options here we’d reach for first.

SheaMoisture Baby Contains fragrance — not fragrance-free despite the natural branding.

EWG Verified vs. MADE SAFE: What Baby Shampoo Certifications Actually Mean

A few seals come up a lot in this category, and they’re not all the same thing.

EWG Verified is one you’ll see often. The Environmental Working Group also runs the Skin Deep ingredient database, which is a genuinely useful tool for looking up individual ingredients. The Verified seal is different, though — it’s a paid certification. Brands apply and pay to be reviewed. A product without the seal isn’t necessarily less clean. The database is a useful research tool; the seal alone isn’t a deciding factor.

MADE SAFE is similar in concept but more thorough — it evaluates the full formula for both human and environmental safety. Carina Organics holds this certification.

At the end of the day, the ingredient list is more useful than any seal. If you can read what’s in it, you don’t need a logo to tell you whether it’s okay.

The 8 Best Non-Toxic Baby Shampoos

Ordered from fewest to most ingredients. Ingredient lists are verified as of this review — double-check the product page before buying, as formulas do change.

1. Badger Baby Shampoo & Body Wash — 6 ingredients

Best for: The shortest ingredient list of any 2-in-1 in this guide — when you can find it.

⚠ Stock note: They may be out of stock on Amazon. You can also order directly from their website.

Ingredients: Water, Saponified Organic Sunflower Oil, Saponified Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Glycerin, Rosemary Extract, Organic Chamomile Oil

Six ingredients, all certified organic. The cleansing comes from saponified sunflower and coconut oils — the traditional soap-making process in liquid form. Rosemary extract helps keep the formula stable. It won’t produce as much lather as a conventional shampoo, and that’s fine — it’s still cleaning.

One thing to know: chamomile oil is gentle for most babies, but if your baby is under three months or has a known sensitivity, it’s worth reaching out to Badger to confirm the concentration before using.

Shop Badger on Amazon →

2. Coterie The First Wash — 8 ingredients

Best for: The shortest reliably available 2-in-1 in this guide.

Ingredients: Water, Coco-Glucoside, Glycerin, Sodium Citrate, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate

Eight ingredients. Coco-Glucoside does all the cleansing on its own — no secondary cleanser needed. Panthenol (B5) helps the scalp and hair hold onto moisture. The two preservatives — sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate — are plant-derived and mentioned here for transparency, not as a concern. Eight ingredients is genuinely minimal for a liquid formula.

Shop Coterie on Amazon →

3. Pipette Baby Shampoo + Wash — 10 ingredients

Best for: The formula built most specifically around newborn scalp and hair.

Ingredients: Water, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Glycerin, Sucrose, Squalane (sugarcane-derived), Bisabolol, Sodium PCA, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid

Ten ingredients, no preservatives at all — the formula stays stable through its pH and the sucrose.

The ingredient that makes Pipette stand out is sugarcane-derived squalane. It’s very similar in structure to vernix — the coating babies are born with that protects and moisturizes their skin in the first days of life. Used on the scalp, it conditions without any heaviness. The cleansing ingredients are among the gentlest available and rinse completely clean from fine baby hair. Bisabolol is a calming compound from chamomile that’s good for reactive scalps.

Shop Pipette on Amazon →

4. Carina Organics Unscented Baby Shampoo & Body Wash — 12 ingredients

Best for: All certified organic ingredients and no synthetic preservatives of any kind.

Ingredients: Filtered Aqua, Potassium Cocoate (Saponified Organic Coconut Oil), Glycerin (vegetable), Pinus banksiana (pine) extract, Magnesium Chloride (Magnesium Oil), Olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, Matricaria chamomilla (chamomile) flower extract*, Urtica dioca (nettle) leaf extract*, Taraxacum officinale (dandelion) leaf extract*, Trifolium pratense (clover) flower extract*, Acetic Acid (Apple Cider Vinegar), Cucurbita pepo (pumpkin) seed oil (*Certified Organic)

Twelve ingredients, all certified organic, and no synthetic preservatives. Instead of sodium benzoate or potassium sorbate, Carina Organics uses apple cider vinegar to help keep the formula stable — it naturally lowers the pH so bacteria can’t grow — along with pine extract as an antioxidant. Like Badger, the cleansing here comes from saponified coconut oil, so the lather is lighter than conventional shampoo. A Canadian brand with MADE SAFE certification, available on Amazon.

Just make sure you select the unscented version — the scented one adds an additional extract and isn’t ideal for a newborn.

Shop Carina Organics on Amazon →

5. Babo Botanicals Sensitive 2-in-1 Shampoo & Wash — 12 ingredients

Best for: Eczema-prone and reactive scalps, specifically because of the whole oat flour formula.

Ingredients: Water, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract (Organic), Glyceryl Oleate, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate

The ingredient that sets this apart for eczema is whole oat flour — Avena Sativa Kernel Flour. This is different from oat extract or oat oil. Whole oat flour has real published research behind it for calming irritated, reactive skin, and it’s the ingredient dermatologists actually point to when they recommend oat-based products. If your baby has eczema or a sensitive scalp, this is the pick to start with.

The main cleansing ingredient (Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate) is one of the gentlest options available — it sounds a bit like SLS but the chemistry is completely different and much softer on reactive skin. The two preservatives — sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate — are called out for transparency, not as concerns.

Shop Babo Botanicals on Amazon →

6. Attitude Baby Leaves 2-in-1 Shampoo & Body Wash (unscented) — 14 ingredients

Best for: Widely available on Amazon Prime, EWG Verified, budget-friendly — with one thing to know before buying.

Ingredients: Aqua / Water, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Coco-Glucoside, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Glyceryl Oleate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Inulin, Vaccinium Myrtillus (Blueberry) Leaf Extract

Fourteen ingredients, EWG Verified, and easy to find. The thing worth knowing: the main cleansing ingredient is Sodium Coco-Sulfate. It comes from coconut oil and is milder than traditional SLS, but it’s still technically in the sulfate family. That’s not a deal-breaker for most babies — many families use this without any issues — but if your baby has eczema or a very reactive scalp, one of the picks above would be a gentler starting point.

The rest of the formula is solid: inulin is a prebiotic, blueberry leaf is a natural antioxidant, the secondary cleansers are mild. A good option for families who want something easy to find and within budget.

Important: There are many Attitude products in many scent variations. Buy the Baby Leaves 2-in-1, unscented version specifically. The scented versions have essential oils and aren’t ideal for newborns.

Shop Attitude on Amazon →

7. California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo & Body Wash — 16 ingredients

Best for: Hospital-level allergy testing and a preservation system built from plant isolates instead of traditional preservatives.

Ingredients: Water, Decyl Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Glycerin, Sodium Levulinate, Ocimum Basilicum (Basil) Leaf Extract, Pimpinella Anisum (Anise) Seed Extract, Quillaja Saponaria Extract, Xanthan Gum, Phytic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Yucca Schidigera Root Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Aloe Vera Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrolyzed Quinoa Protein

California Baby is actually used in pediatric ICUs at hospitals — a level of allergy and sensitivity testing that goes well beyond most baby products. The preservation system is also unique: instead of sodium benzoate or potassium sorbate, they use isolates of basil and anise that took six years to develop. No traditional preservatives at all. The cleansers (Decyl Glucoside and Lauryl Glucoside) are very gentle, and the formula includes soap bark and yucca root as natural foaming agents, plus hydrolyzed quinoa protein to condition fine baby hair. The brand has been around since 1995, is woman-owned, and is made in California.

Shop California Baby on Amazon →

8. Under Luna Luna Clear Shampoo — 20 ingredients

Best for: The most thoughtfully formulated botanical option in this guide, with a probiotic preservation system and no synthetic preservatives. This is what I use on my own kids — no affiliate link, just an honest recommendation.

Ingredients: Purified Water, Coco-Glucoside [Coconut], Yucca Schidigera Root Extract, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Smilax Aristolochiaefolia (Sarsaparilla) Root Extract, Dioscorea Villosa (Wild Yam) Root Extract, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil*, Matricaria Chamomilla (Chamomile) Flower Extract*, Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flower Extract*, Urtica Dioica (Nettle Leaf) Extract*, Plantago Lanceolata (Plantain Leaf) Extract*, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid (*Organic)

Twenty ingredients — the most in this guide — but the formula earns it. The preservation system is what makes it different from everything else here: fermented radish root extract combined with Lactobacillus (a probiotic). Instead of preventing bacteria with an antimicrobial ingredient, this approach supports a healthy balance of microorganisms on the scalp. No sodium benzoate, no potassium sorbate, nothing synthetic.

The cleansing comes from Coco-Glucoside plus soap bark and yucca root — the same natural plant-based foaming agents used by California Baby. The botanical lineup is genuinely thoughtful: sarsaparilla and wild yam for inflammation, plantain leaf for scalp irritation, chamomile, calendula, nettle, and aloe. Panthenol (B5) helps hair hold onto moisture.

Shop Under Luna →

For Eczema and Sensitive Scalps

A few things matter more when the scalp is reactive.

Start with the cleansing ingredient. Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate (Babo Botanicals), saponified coconut oil (Carina Organics, Badger), and Coco-Glucoside across several picks are the gentlest options for sensitive scalps. If the formula leads with a sulfate, skip it.

Whole oat flour is the one to look for. Babo Botanicals is the only pick in this guide with Avena Sativa Kernel Flour — whole oat flour with real research behind it for reactive skin. Oat extract and oat oil are not the same thing.

About cradle cap. Cradle cap is completely normal in the first few months and almost always goes away on its own. It’s caused by the scalp’s oil glands being overactive — not because anything is wrong, and not because you’re not washing enough. The best approach is to massage a small amount of a clean oil (jojoba works well) into the scalp before bath to loosen the flakes, then wash gently with one of the picks in this guide. A splash of ACV in the bath between washes helps too. Nothing more aggressive than that is needed.

Top picks for reactive scalps: Babo Botanicals (whole oat flour formula), California Baby (free of common reactive cleansers, extensively allergy-tested), Under Luna (probiotic preservation, soothing botanical lineup)

Natural baby scalp care between washes — golden oil bottle, ceramic bowl and halved lemon with dried chamomile on linen

How Often Should You Wash a Baby’s Hair?

No more than two to three times a week — and for newborns with barely any hair, once a week is plenty.

Baby scalps don’t produce much oil. Washing too often strips the natural oils and can dry things out, which is the opposite of what you want. On regular bath nights, plain warm water and a soft cloth is all you need for the scalp. Save the shampoo for when the hair actually needs cleaning.

The ACV trick between washes: A small splash of raw apple cider vinegar added to the bath water is something worth trying between shampoo nights. ACV is naturally acidic, which helps the scalp stay balanced and gently addresses flakiness or cradle cap without any product. About a tablespoon in a full infant tub is enough — it’s so diluted there’s no smell by the time it’s in the water, and it rinses away completely.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best non-toxic baby shampoo? For most families, Pipette Baby Shampoo + Wash is the best starting point — ten ingredients, no preservatives, and a formula built specifically for newborn scalp health. For eczema or reactive skin, Babo Botanicals is the top pick because of its whole oat flour formula — the ingredient with the strongest research behind it for sensitive skin. For the most thoughtfully formulated option overall, Under Luna is what gets used in this household.

What makes a baby shampoo non-toxic? A non-toxic baby shampoo avoids synthetic fragrance, sulfate cleansers (SLS, SLES), and preservatives like parabens or DMDM Hydantoin. It uses gentle plant-derived cleansers, a clean preservation system, and no undisclosed fragrance compounds. Every pick in this guide meets all three criteria.

Is Johnson’s Baby Shampoo safe? The current US formula contains synthetic fragrance and DMDM Hydantoin — a preservative that releases a concerning compound over time. For a product used on a baby’s scalp multiple times a week, cleaner alternatives are available at comparable price points, including Pipette, Coterie, and Babo Botanicals.

Is Weleda Baby Shampoo non-toxic? Weleda Baby 2-in-1 lists “Fragrance (Parfum)” on the label, along with Limonene and Linalool — fragrance compounds that commonly cause skin reactions in sensitive babies. The formula also contains denatured Alcohol. Weleda does not meet a fragrance-free standard, which is the baseline applied to every pick in this guide.

Does tear-free actually mean it won’t sting? It depends on what’s doing the cleansing. Gentle cleansing ingredients that work at a lower pH genuinely won’t sting. But if the main cleanser is SLS or SLES, it’s still harsh on eyes regardless of what the front label says. The picks in this guide use gentler cleansing ingredients that actually back up the tear-free claim.

What is the best baby shampoo for eczema? Babo Botanicals Sensitive 2-in-1 is the top pick for eczema-prone and reactive scalps. It’s the only shampoo in this guide containing whole oat flour (Avena Sativa Kernel Flour) — the specific form of oat that has published research supporting its use for reactive skin. Oat extract and oat oil are not equivalent. California Baby and Under Luna are also strong options for reactive scalps.

What is cradle cap and what actually helps? Cradle cap is a normal scalp condition in the first few months, caused by overactive oil glands — not poor hygiene and not a sign that anything is wrong. It almost always resolves on its own. Massaging a clean oil like jojoba into the scalp before bath loosens the flakes, and a gentle fragrance-free wash removes them. A tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar in the bathwater between washes helps maintain scalp balance. Nothing more aggressive is needed.

How often should I wash my baby’s hair? Two to three times a week is enough for most babies. Newborns produce very little scalp oil and don’t need daily shampooing — it can actually dry out the scalp. On regular bath nights, plain warm water is fine.

Do I need separate baby shampoo and body wash? No. A good 2-in-1 handles both head and body for babies and toddlers. Seven of the eight picks in this guide are 2-in-1 formulas. A dedicated shampoo becomes more useful as hair grows longer and thicker in the toddler years — Under Luna is formulated for that whole range.

Bottom Line

If you buy one product from this guide, buy Pipette — ten ingredients, no preservatives, and a formula built specifically for newborn scalp health. If your baby has eczema or a reactive scalp, buy Babo Botanicals instead — it’s the only pick here with whole oat flour, which is the ingredient with real published research behind it for sensitive skin. If cost isn’t a barrier and you want the most thoughtfully formulated option available, Under Luna is what gets used in this household and what I’d recommend without hesitation.

For the nights you don’t shampoo: a tablespoon of ACV in the bath and plain warm water is all you need.

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