Babies are delicate beings, and you want to protect them as much as you can. Everything you put on them needs to be safe so as not to endanger their health, and that includes shampoo.
Choosing the right shampoo can be tricky. You are trying to balance word of advice from other parents, and trying to make your own decisions for your child.
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The decision is also one that is not made lightly. After all, this is your baby we are talking about, and they deserve only the best.
It’s natural for a parent to want products that are safe. But with so many stories about harmful ingredients being put in products, it’s not a surprise to be skeptical about what’s on offer.
As such, many parents opt for one of the safest routes: use organic baby products for their little one. And when it comes to shampoo, there are lots of options to choose from.
But first, how one chooses a safe baby shampoo?
Choosing a shampoo that is safe for baby
Baby skin is soft and sensitive. As such, it is important to pick products that don’t cause any irritation or allergies.
Since shampoo has to be applied in a significant area, you have to make sure that it is actually safe. How can you ensure that happens?
It can be summarized this way: pick a product without any harmful ingredients. You have to read the labels carefully to make sure none of the bad ones made the list.
So what are the ingredients in the “bad” list?
- parabens – they are a bit controversial because the scientific community can’t agree on just how bad they are, so most would just stay clear.
- fragrance – notorious for causing irritation so it’s best to avoid, but you can go for a natural organic essential oil if you want a bit of scent.
- methylisothiazolinone – this has been linked to allergic reactions and dermatitis.
Best for Baby: Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Liquid Soap
Better for Baby: Babo Botanicals
Good for Baby: Puracy Natural Baby Shampoo & Body Wash
5 of the Best Organic Baby Shampoo
1. Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Liquid Soap
What’s not to like about Dr Bronner’s? All the ingredients are organic and it is even placed in a 100% recyclable bottle.
In short, it’s the perfect choice if you are not only conscious of what you apply on your baby’s skin but also its effect on the environment.
But those aren’t the only things that make this a great shampoo. It is unscented (but there are scented varieties if you prefer that) and has a lot of olive oil, making it ideal for the sensitive skin of babies.
As mentioned, the ingredients are totally organic. It has been certified by the USDA National Organic Program.
Not only has it been certified organic, it has also been certified vegan by Vegan Action.
Plus, this product isn’t strictly for babies, which makes it even better. You too can use this, especially if you have allergies or sensitive skin.
But with all the greatness comes certain disadvantages. For Dr. Bronner’s, that happens to be that it’s not tear-free.
In other words, you have to be really careful not to get it near your child’s eyes while bathing (which is something you should so whether or not a shampoo is labeled tear-free or not anyway).
Pros
- It is 100% organic and has been certified as such by the USDA National Organic Program.
- It is great for sensitive skin, hence perfect for your baby.
- It is not just great for baby; adults can use it as well.
Cons
- It is not tear-free.
2. Babo Botanicals
Like Dr Bronner’s, this shampoo and wash from Babo is ideal for sensitive skin. That alone makes it a worthy candidate for a baby product.
But that’s not all that makes Babo Botanicals special. It is also made on a certified organic farm located in upstate New York.
Babo Botanicals Moisturizing Baby Shampoo and Wash is plant-based so it brings with it a soothing and nourishing quality. It contains oatmeal which creates a sense of comfort.
The shampoo and wash also have calendula oil, which is soothing.
Babo Botanicals also creates other organic products such as a soothing diaper cream and moisturizing baby lotion. This makes it easier to stick to one brand should you like their shampoo and wash for your baby.
A little bit of issue with this though: you might not like the scent.
Pros
- It is made on a certified organic farm.
- It contains ingredients that are suitable for sensitive skin, just like your baby’s.
Cons
- It doesn’t have the most pleasant smell.
3. Puracy Natural Baby Shampoo & Body Wash
Sulfates are included in the list of ingredients that should not be on baby products, and this one is completely free of them. In fact, it got the best Environmental Working Group Ingredient Safety Scores.
But other than the praise heaped on it, what makes Puracy a product worth using is that it was developed by doctors. And the ingredients used are all natural: citrus grove and 100% natural botanical extracts.
Piracy is also perfect for all skin types, most especially the sensitive skin of babies. It also produces a lot of suds and uses vegetable-based moisturizers to keep skin soft.
On top of it all, this is tested to be tear-free. Although it still makes sense to keep a close attention that none of it gets to your child’s eyes, it’s still good to know that it’s tear-free.
Then again, there is some discomfort when it gets to the eyes. So just better keep a close watch when using this product.
Pros
- It is made for sensitive skin, like that of a baby.
- It is made by doctors but without the use of harmful ingredients.
- It is tear-free.
- It comes in a pump bottle.
Cons
- It can cause discomfort when it gets in the eye.
4. Nature’s Baby Organics Shampoo & Body Wash
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a product at home that is great for both baby and parents? That way, you don’t need to purchase separate brands of one thing when buying essentials.
Well, other than Dr. Bronner’s, you also have this gem as an option. It doesn’t work the way traditional shampoos do: instead of drying, it moisturizes the skin, resulting in softer hair.
The ingredients used for this are organic; no synthetic chemicals were used in the making of this product. But it does have scents – quite a few of them in fact.
Although fragrance is a big no when it comes to baby products, this one uses natural ingredients. That may seem fine, but it’s still best to test it out to see how your baby’s skin reacts to it.
Then again, the scent list for Nature’s Baby Organics is pretty mild: Coconut Pineapple, Lavender Chamomile, and Vanilla Tangerine.
Pros
- It is great for both adults and babies.
- It is made of organic ingredients that moisturize the skin.
Cons
- It contains natural scents which may irritate the skin of your baby.
5. Organic Baby Shampoo & Body Wash
What makes this product stand out was that it was developed by parents who wanted the best for their child. They used ingredients that scored 1 on the Skin Deep Database of the Environmental Working Group.
That means that the ingredients they chose were rated non-toxic. For this product, they used organic aloe leaf juice that soothes, protects, and moisturizes skin.
They also used healthy plant-based extracts, such as cucumber, ginger, kiwi, parsley, and spinach that are rich in minerals and strengthen hair.
Also in their ingredient list are organic orange and grapefruit essential oils for that nice bright and sunny scent.
Although the ingredients are organic, it’s also not a secret that a product can’t account for individual allergies. So it’s best to test in a small area before applying liberally.
Pros
- It uses ingredients that are non-toxic, based on the Skin Deep Database of the Environmental Working Group.
- It uses essential oils for a bit of fragrance.
- It is gentle on skin.
Cons
- It isn’t for everyone as individual allergies cannot be accounted for. This is why it’s always best to test before liberally applying it to your baby’s scalp.
Conclusion
It’s certainly tempting for a parent to go for established brand names when it comes to baby products. But it’s also understandable to be concerned about the ingredients being put into everyday products like shampoo.
Every parent wants the best for their child, and going organic ensures that the ingredients used are from natural sources. While this is a good thing, there are some issues as well.
For instance, the smell of some organic products might not be entirely pleasant. So parents also need to find a balance with that.
At the end of the day, what matters is that the product chosen is safe for your baby. Meaning, it doesn’t produce any reaction of any kind.
The choices presented here are some of the best organic shampoos you can choose from. You may not find the perfect one straight away but rest assured that there’s a product there well-suited for the sensitive skin of your little one.
