The best baby bath accessories to buy for your newborn

Best Baby Bath Products

by Eleanor Weaver |
Updated on

Bath time is a brilliant time to bond with your newborn, but it's easy to get swept away by the number of baby bath products on the market. As well as being aware how often to bathe your newborn, you need products that are kind and gentle to your baby's delicate skin. And while it may be tempting, try not to get bogged down by too many adorable bath toys.

Remember, your baby won't need bathing from birth as their skin has to adjust to the outside world first, so even if you notice your newborn's skin peeling you don't need to scrub them in the tub. Bathing a newborn for five or 10 minutes two or three times a week is plenty, they don't get that dirty.

Best at a glance:
Best for bedtime baths: Mamia Bedtime Bath, £0.85Best for bedtime baths: Mamia Bedtime Bath, £0.85
Best for baby's teeth: Brush-Baby BabySonic Electric Toothbrush, £13.99
Best baby cleansing wash: My Expert Midwife Mega Mild Cleansing Wash, £7.95
Best baby moisturiser: Childs Farm Baby Moisturiser, £6.90

To help make bath time a breeze, we've provided a shopping list of everything you need, with a few optional extras thrown in. We've handpicked the best baby bath products for newborns.

What products do I need to bathe a newborn?

The essentials

• Baby bath – Specifically designed to make sure your newborn has the correct posture during bath time. A baby bath and baby bath seat or support will provide extra safety measures by securing your baby in place so there's no risk of them slipping around or going under water. Use a baby bath on its own or, if you prefer, a baby bath support that you can place in your bathtub.

• Baby hair brush - A baby hair brush is specially designed to be gentle on your little one's scalp to promote healthy hair growth. Use to detangle during bath time if your little one has been born with a full head of locks or is just coming into their full head of hair in the first few months.

• Baby bath thermometer - The ideal temperature for a baby’s bath is around 36 to 38 degrees celsius and having a bath thermometer to hand will make sure the water temperature is safe for your newborn.

• Baby bath sponge or soft washcloths - A baby sponge or washcloth will help make bath time that little bit easier by ensuring a deep yet gentle clean for your baby.

Baby bath towel – Opt for a hooded baby towel or a bath towel made from 100 per cent cotton that's super soft and delicate on your little one's skin.

Optional extras

• Gentle baby bubble bath soap - For your newborns' first months, it's recommended to stick to a plain water wash to avoid any irritation. When the time comes, you'll want to pick up a baby wash that has been created with your baby's delicate skin in mind. They'll need to be free from nasties, suitable for sensitive skin, and contain natural ingredients.

• Baby lotion - Your newborn's skin will be sensitive for the first few weeks so you should avoid lotions at this time. However, when your baby is a little older, you can introduce a gentle moisturiser into their bath time routine to help protect and soothe their skin. You should choose a lotion that's made for babies and free-from paraben, phthalate, dye, and alcohol. If in doubt, choose a hypoallergenic moisturiser.

• Baby bath toys - Your little one won't be interested in bath toys until they're a bit older. You may be tempted to get a couple but for now, you can just use their washcloth or sponge to trickle water over their tummy to provide sensory play.

• Cradle cap brush and cradle cap shampoo - If your little one struggles with cradle cap, using a gentle brush and the right shampoo can help to treat it. Using a shampoo gentle on delicate skin can help moisturise and alleviate dry, flaky patches.

• Baby bath stand - This is more for your own comfort. Your baby needs to be within arm's reach when you're bathing them and using a baby bath stand will bring them up to standing height. You won't need to kneel or hunch over. If you are choosing a bath stand, make sure it's compatible with your existing baby bathtub.

• Baby shampoo – Even though your baby might not have much hair, using a gentle baby shampoo can help to clean their locks and provide care to the sensitive skin on their scalps. However, you don't need to wash your baby's hair unless it's dirty and it needs it. Again, choose a baby shampoo that's free-from nasties, made for babies, and gentle on sensitive skin, and avoid using it in their first months.

The best baby bath products for your newborn

Best for bedtime baths

The Mamia Bedtime Bath was awarded Gold for Best Bathtime Product at the Mother&Baby Awards 2024.

Aldi's Mamia Bedtime Bath has a tear-free formula that is suitable for newborns, enriched with vitamin E for nourished and soft hair and skin.

Our mum tester said: "This product made life easier as a mum as it was a large bottle so will last long. It was a cheaper alternative to another leading brand. It was available in my supermarket. It was friendly on my baby's skin and smelt great too, making this product overall great value for money and an alternative to competitors."

Read our full Mamia Bedtime Bath review.

Pros

  • Just a small amount required
  • Lathers well
  • Large bottle for low price

Cons

  • Scent in bath could be stronger
Weight:500ml
Ingredients:Aqua, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin,Peg-150 Distearate, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Tetrasodium Edta, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Limonene, Citronellol
Suitable from:Birth

Best for baby's teeth

Brush-Baby BabySonic Electric Toothbrush
Price: £13.99

brushbaby.com

The Brush-Baby BabySonic Electric Toothbrush was awarded Silver for Best Bathtime Product at the Mother&Baby Awards 2024.

If you're looking for a kids electric toothbrush, then the Brush-Baby BabySonic Electric Toothbrush is a great toothbrush for kids, to get little ones excited about the all-important, lifelong task of brushing teeth. Children love the vibrating noise and feel of the toothbrush as well as the light function and the automatic countdown feature.

Our mum tester said: "The small brush head is ideal for little teeth, also encouraging minimal toothpaste use, which is easy to overdo with a manual toothbrush. Neutral in tone, the product is suited to both boys and girls although a broader array of colours would be useful in terms of differentiating toothbrushes when more than one child is using the product."

Read our full Brush-Baby BabySonic Electric Toothbrush review.

Pros

  • Gentle cleaning
  • Child-friendly design
  • Built-in timer

Cons

  • Relies on batteries
Suitable from:0 - 36 months
Colours:Pink, blue and teal

Best baby cleansing wash

The My Expert Midwife Mega Mild Cleansing Wash was awarded Bronze for Best Bathtime Product at the Mother&Baby Awards 2024.

My Expert Midwife developed a gentle wash which leaves skin feeling clean and soft. Containing soothing calendula, marshmallow, and oatmeal. The Mega Mild Wash can be used from your baby’s first wash and has been developed to be gentle for your baby’s skin.

Our mum tester said: "Easy to use. Gentle on babies skin. Smells really nice. Makes a lot of bubbles. Design is nice very cool. Top just flips up so no need to unscrew anything which can be tricky with one free hand. Once you push lid back up it automatically closes the bottle so easy to travel with. White and blue design is cool."

Read our full My Expert Midwife Mega Mild Cleansing Wash review.

Pros

  • Gentle
  • Dermatologically tested
  • Paediatrician approved
  • Fragrance free
  • Suitable for sensitive skin

Cons

  • No scent
Ingredients:Aqua (Water), Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Coco-Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Glyceryl Oleate, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Phytate, Potassium Sorbate, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Sodium Glycolate, Cocoamidopropyl Dimethyl Amine, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Avena Sativa (Oat) Meal Extract, Althaea Officinalis (Marshmallow) Root Extract.
Calendula:for soothing redness, irritation and soreness
Marshmallow:anti-inflammatory and helps retain moisture in the skin
Coconut:for its moisturising and anti-microbial properties
Oat meal:moisturising, soothing and has antioxidant properties
  • Suitable from newborn
  • Dermatologically tested
  • Paediatrician approved
  • Suitable for eczema prone skin
  • Fragrance free
  • pH balanced
  • Midwife developed

Best baby moisturiser

Childs Farm baby moisturiser, mildly fragranced
Price: £7.60

The award-winning mildly fragranced baby moisturiser from skincare brand Childs Farm protects and hydrates your baby's soft and delicate skin. It's suitable for all skin types including those with eczema. Your baby's skin will never feel so silky smooth.

Our reviewer said: "It made my baby’s skin feel so soft, it’s nice to know the moisturiser has been paediatrician and dermatologist approved. I put some on my son's scalp to help soften his cradle cap and it really helped to loosen the flakes, I have been using the childs farm moisturiser myself as well on the back of my arms where I have really dry rough skin and I am happy to say it has improved and isn’t as dry."

Pros

  • Available in a variety of sizes
  • Hydrating and moisturising

Cons

  • Some parents found the smell too strong
Suitable for:<meta charset="utf-8">Newborns and upwards on all skin types
Size: <meta charset="utf-8">500ml
  • Dermatologist and paediatrician approved
  • Won Gold at the Mother&Baby Awards 2023

Best baby bubble bath

Childs Farm Baby Bedtime Bubbles Organic Tangerine
Price: £22.45

Childs Farm's award-winning mild, super bubbly bubble bath for baby contains organic tangerine oil to calm and soothe, and vitamin E to gently moisturise; perfect for creating happy skin and calming baby bedtime routines. Containing naturally derived ingredients like glycerin to attract and lock moisture in the skin layer and deeply cleansing coconut foaming agents that not only clean skin but also create big bubbles that last longer!

One mum tester said: "We loved it! The smell is lovely and it produces so many bubbles which we both loved it makes bath time so much more fun for my child which makes him not want to get out of the bath he loves making the bubbles even with the smallest amount of product you still get loads of bubbles this product is so easy to use."

Pros

  • Ideal for sensitive skin
  • Pleasant scent

Cons

  • You need to use a lot to produce big bubbles
Suitable for:<meta charset="utf-8">Newborns and upwards on all skin types
Size:<meta charset="utf-8">250ml
  • Dermatologist and paediatrician approved
  • Won Silver at the Mother&Baby Awards 2023

Best bath soak for dry and eczema prone skin

If your baby is suffering from very dry and sensitive skin, or if they're having an eczema flare up, you'll want to bathe them in something that's going to soothe their skin, which is where this Oat Bath Soak from AVEENO comes in. We'd recommend keeping a few sachets of this in the bathroom, especially in the cold winter months, for times when baby needs relief from itchy and dry skin.

One reviewer said: "I bought this to use alongside the double oatmeal wash and oatmeal night time balm and used all three products together. Get a flannel and soak up the oatmeal in the bath water and leave on dry patches whilst having bathtime. Within 3-4 days her dry patches had cleared up, will continue to use to ensure her skin maintains a balanced healthy and moisturised"

Pros

  • Ideal for eczema prone skin
  • Natural ingredients

Cons

  • Leaves a sticky powder at the bottom of the bath

Best baby towel

Luxury Hooded Panda Towel & Face Cloth Set
Price: £23.99

beingbaby.net

Awarded Gold for Best Bathtime Product at the Mother&Baby Awards 2022, this hooded panda towel and face cloth were loved by our panel of mum testers for how incredibly soft and comfortable the duo are. The towel easily wraps around your baby, washes well, and is lovely and gentle on your little one's skin. It's made from bamboo cotton and measures 90 x 90cm, bigger than most baby towels so you can use it for your newborn all the way to childhood.

Our mum tester, Carlene, said: "This hooded towel is a lovely big size and wraps around a baby very well. my toddler has also been caught with it on too. The softness of the towel is lovely too and feels lovely and soft on my skin too so it must be nice on the baby too. The drying after bath time is so much easier and quicker now too. I love that to covers from head to toe."

Pros

  • Large in size
  • Different designs available

Cons

  • Only available in one size
Suitable for: 0-5 years
Size: 90cm x 90cm
  • Includes face cloth
  • 500 GSM absorbency

Best bedtime baby body wash

Enriched with NaturalCalm, a patented blend of relaxing aromas, Johnson's Baby Bedtime Wash is perfect for incorporating into a bath time routine before bed to help baby sleep better. Paediatrician and dermatologist tested and free from dyes, parabens, and sulphates, it gently cleanses your little one's delicate skin leaving it feeling healthy. We also love that their NO MORE TEARS® formula is as gentle to the eyes as pure water, helping to prevent irritation.

Mum reviewer, Jodie, said: "I love this in babies bath and definitely think it helps baby to sleep. My son has sensitive skin and this doesn’t affect it at all."

The Johnson’s Bedtime Baby Range was awarded Silver for Best Bathtime Product at the Mother&Baby Awards 2022 - you can read our tried and tested parent reviews here.

Pros

  • Helps baby get to sleep
  • Recyclable packaging

Cons

  • Some parents found the formula quite drying on the skin
Size: 500ml
  • Free from dyes, parabens and sulphates
  • Hypoallergenic

Best baby bath thermometer

Shortlisted for Best Bathtime Product at the Mother&Baby Awards 2022, the Shnuggle Pebbly Baby Bath Thermometer is designed to quickly and accurately let you know when the water is just the right temperature for your baby. Gently shake to wake, drop into the water and let Pebbly do the rest. As well as having a beautiful pebble design, the device provides fast, easy-to-read readings, it self-rights in water, and has auto-on/off to save battery.

Our mum tester, Leah, said: "It takes all of the stress out of bathing a newborn baby. As a first-time mum, knowing what temperature is the right temperature for the water is something that I must have checked on google a hundred times and never trust myself to remember. The Shnuggly pebble is a fool-proof way to check that the bath is safe for your baby - and even without reading the instruction guide, you can quickly understand that Red is too hot, blue is too cold and the white heart means it’s just right for bath time!"

Pros

  • Fast and accurate readings
  • Stylish design

Cons

  • Some parents found it didn't work for long periods
Size: ‎5.6 x 8.3 x 3.8 cm
Weight:100g
Batteries required:yes
  • Fast and accurate readings
  • Light-up heart display
  • Neutral design

Best baby bath tub

Skip Hop Moby 3 Stage Baby Bath Tub
Price: £39.99
Alternative retailers
Target$39.99View offer
Walmart$39.99View offer
Kohl's$40.00View offer
Macy's$40.00View offer

A favourite newborn best buy according to model and influencer Emma Louise Connolly, this baby bath tub grows with your little one through three stage of development to provide ergonomic comfort and support. Stage 1 (0-3 months) provides full support for newborns, stage 2 (3-6 months) provides seated support for infants, and for stage 3 (6+ months) you can remove the support sling to create a sit-in bath tub. It comes in an adorable whale design in a choice of colours with a non-slip interior texture.

One reviewer said: "Bought this tub after trying to use a different one that was awful! This tub has great support for a newborn! I love how the tub fills up with lots of warm, soapy water to keep baby safe, but also keeps baby elevated enough for safety!"

Pros

  • Tub grows with baby through three stages
  • Provides comfort-edge support and locks into two ergonomic positions 
  • Remove sling completely when baby sits upright

Cons

  • Not many colours to choose from

Best baby wash cloths

Tidy Tot Bamboo Wash Cloth Mitts
Price: £18.95

These super cute Bamboo Wash Mitts from Tidy Tot come in adorable rabbit, tiger and owl designs that your little one will love. Beautifully soft, reusable and washable, these super-soft mitts are gentle to use on sensitive skin and teething gums and each pack comes with three adult and three child-size mitts. Made from renewable bamboo, they are kind to dry, sensitive or allergy-prone faces and other skin conditions. These were also Shortlisted for the Mother&Baby Awards 2022.

Our mum tester, Leanne, said: "I am a mummy who has always used a ‘standard sponge’ when bathing my baby/children and more than often you cannot get to those ‘tricky’ places easily to clean (especially with a newborn), without the feeling that you are making the bathing experience uncomfortable for baby and hardwork for me; however with the wash mitts I managed to easily clean my newborn baby (3 weeks old) in all those ‘tricky’ places with ease and she found the bathing more calming.

I would like to add also, my 4-year-old son, who now hates bath time and me ‘sponging’ him down (without a full-on meltdown) even let me give him a full clean with one of the wash mitts due to their animal-themed designs, that he could help me with! Overall, the Mitts have made bath time an easier task for me for my newborn and my 4-year-old!"

Pros

  • 3 adult mitts and 3 baby mitts perfectly sized to fit either adults or baby’s hands
  • A washable wipe alterative to disposable wipes at mealtimes
  • Soft and reuseable

Cons

  • One review said the mitts may shrink after a few washes

Best baby bath support

Angelcare Soft Touch Bath Support
Price: £23.9
https://redirect.viglink.com?key=eb32892e8a408657289072c26bd927b5&prodOvrd=PCR&opt=false&u=DRZHQksDHUpPFkMeTFdHUFdMF1NYX0xCGQMKXldbAQQQVh9aWFAcFQNVRFAbRkJCSFZCQx8EQFcbSxQddk9QUAoFCg8CVA%3D%3D&x=v1
Alternative retailers
Walmart$19.99View offer
Overstock$33.49View offer

This bath support really does make bath time easier by providing optimal comfort for your newborn in the tub. The soft TPE mesh keeps babies cradled in place and warms to the water temperature so they feel comfy and safe. It also comes with a water level indicator for optimal safety and sturdy sides for stability - it takes the worry out of bath time and leaves you with two hands free to bathe and play with them.

Reviewed for the Mother&Baby Awards 2018, our mum tester, Jessica, said: "My little boy hated having a bath and I dreaded bath time, especially with my partner working away all week. The day I got the Angelcare Bath Support I used it the same night and was absolutely thrilled! My little boy loved bath time, there was not a tear in sight and it was so much less stressful for the both of us. I would really recommend this product - of course not every baby is the same but we loved it and for the first time ever, I cannot wait for our next bath!"

Pros

  • Suitable from birth to 6 months
  • Designed with a water level indicator for optimal safety and sturdy sides for stability

Cons

  • Wipe clean only

Best baby brush and comb

Tommee Tippee

Rrp: £7.49

Price: £6.99

This great starter kit from Tommee Tippee has the essentials you’ll need to get started from day one. The set contains a super soft-bristled brush to reduce pulling and discomfort and a non-scratch comb for delicate scalps. Easy to hold and use, these are suitable for use for newborns and for little ones with cradle cap.

Mum reviewer, Jess, said: "I’ve bought this brush for both of my children when they were born and it is a must-buy! Both my children had quite bad cradle cap in the first few months and this brush gently removed all the scales (after using Vaseline on the scalp overnight) and is very easy to wash. They also last a long time, I used this for my daughter's hair until she was 3!"

Pros

  • Soft bristled brush to reduce pulling and discomfort while brushing
  • Non scratch baby comb for delicate scalps
  • Contains 1 brush and 1 comb

Cons

  • One review said the comb teeth probably a bit big/wide for a newborn/small baby

Best baby bath toy

Toys really aren't necessary for your newborn, but we love this Duck Thermometer that doubles up as a bath toy when the time comes. Easy to read and use, this digital thermometer allows you to quickly read both water temperature in the bath and room temperature so you can keep your baby happy and healthy. It has a cute and robust design and features a 30-minute auto shut-off to retain battery life.

Reviewer, Sarah, said: "I love this product. I was so nervous to have the right temperature so it really put my mind at ease. Easy to use, durable, and now he's a little older it's great as a toy to make bath time fun!"

Pros

  • 2-in-1 Multi-Function Bath and Room Thermometer
  • Readings available in 10 seconds Large and easy to read digital screen

Cons

  • Adult supervision required

Best baby bath time gift

Toiletries are always a winner when it comes to gifts, for young and old recipients alike as you know they'll always get used and be welcome in all households. This gift set is designed for bed time baths and includes bath soak, calming massage lotion and sleep mist for the perfect three-step relaxing routine before bed.

One reviewer said: "Really nice bedtime gift, helping to set up a relaxing routine with baby. I gave this gift as I wanted something that would be helpful and a nice experience for both baby and parents. It also promotes sleep which is always welcome."

Pros

  • Makes a great gift
  • Contains three products

Cons

  • Some parents found that it didn't make their child very sleepy
Size: SlumberTime™ bedtime bath soak 250ml<br>SlumberTime™ calming massage lotion 150ml<br>SlumberTime™ sleep mist 100ml
Age:Suitable for babies from 6 months &amp; upwards
  • DreamScentz™* sleep enhancing technology
  • Vegan

What brands are best for baby skin?

We'd always recommend checking out the Mother&Baby Award winners in the Best Bathtime Product and the Best Product For A Newborn - 0-4 Months categories to see which brands and products have been tried, tested, and highly rated by our real parent testers.

Our Mother&Baby Awards are renowned in the industry for being one of the most highly respected product awards for baby and parenting products, and every year we arrange for thousands of independent mum reviewers to test the latest products on the market. Our awards team is constantly looking for new baby bath products to test so that we can help you find the best - be that a cheaper product that we want to test for value for money or the latest baby monitoring innovation.

Here are a number of brands who specialise in baby bath products that have had products previously reviewed and loved by Mother&Baby parent testers:

• Childs Farm

• My Little Coco

• Weleda

• Bloom and Blossom

• Aveeno

• Johnson’s

• Asda Little Angels

• Burt’s Bees

Eleanor Weaver is the Deputy Homes & Garden Product Editor and has been a writer for titles such as Mother&Baby and Yours. In her role, she has researched and recommended the best products for parents, from breast pumps to toys, nursery décor to car seats. She's also kept a keen eye on celeb mums and influencers to share what they've been using to help make parenting that little bit easier.

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Mother & Baby is dedicated to ensuring our information is always valuable and trustworthy, which is why we only use reputable resources such as the NHS, reviewed medical papers, or the advice of a credible doctor, GP, midwife, psychotherapist, gynaecologist or other medical professionals. Where possible, our articles are medically reviewed or contain expert advice. Our writers are all kept up to date on the latest safety advice for all the products we recommend and follow strict reporting guidelines to ensure our content comes from credible sources. Remember to always consult a medical professional if you have any worries. Our articles are not intended to replace professional advice from your GP or midwife.