Did you know that a baby’s skin is around 20% thinner than a regular adult’s? [1] This means your little ones are more susceptible to dry skin, sunburn, irritation, and numerous other issues.
Your baby’s scalp is no exception! Finding the right organic shampoo for your little bundle of joy is one of the best things you can do to keep their skin moisturized and clean.
However, don’t make the mistake of assuming baby hair works the same as adult hair. While adult hair tends to need cleaning after a few days (depending on climate and hair type), a baby’s hair will typically not need as much maintenance.
The best approach to baby shampoos is to choose a safe and simple option free of any toxic ingredients. With that, here are some of the best organic baby shampoo brands in the industry today.
Note: Not all products are certified as organic since it is impossible in some cases. However, all these products use natural and organic ingredients as much as possible.
California Baby - US
California Baby has exceeded industry standards for more than 25 years, developing dermatologist and pediatrician-recommended hair and skin care products for sensitive skin.
Purity and sustainability are always at the heart of CB—from ingredient selection all the way to manufacturing, packaging, and even beyond.
About The Baby Shampoo
CB’s organic baby shampoos are all gentle, pure, and won’t dry out or strip your baby’s skin. Made chiefly of plants, California Baby products are excellent at fighting off dirt without causing itchy skin or irritation (might still depend on skin type).
They have various natural shampoos available, each with its own benefits and scents. You can get a CB shampoo for easier sleep, sensitive skin, sun protection, relaxation, and plenty more. All of their washes are vegan and cruelty-free.
If you or your baby have any allergies, you can also shop their selection based on allergens you want to avoid (e.g., oat, nuts, gluten, dairy).
With the many options available at CB, we highly suggest looking into what specific features you are looking for in a shampoo and then going from there. If you aren’t sure of where to start, a safe bet would be the unscented option suitable for sensitive skin, scent sensitivities, and pregnant women.
These organic baby shampoos are available in six sizes. You can get them as little as 8.5 oz and as much as a gallon.
Ingredients
Most CB shampoos are 100% plant-based. They do not use any synthetic fragrance or artificial preservatives in their products. Here are some notable ingredients you will find in their shampoos:
- Organic aloe barbadensis leaf juice
- Organic Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
- Yucca Root Extract
- Anise Seed Extract
- Jojoba Seed Oil
You may refer to each product listing for the complete ingredient list of each variation.
Although unscented, note that the shampoo will still smell of the natural ingredients used in the process. Some unscented products have added ingredients just to make them smell like nothing, but you’ll find none of those here.
CB also uses filtered aqua to ensure the cleanest possible base for all their products. They do not use any sulfates, parabens, or harsh chemicals in any of their products.
Perhaps the most exciting thing about CB’s ingredients is that they have a unique preservative system that doesn’t involve essential oils (which is what most brands use). Instead, they use basil and anise seed extract as a 100% plant-based preservation method.
Ethics & Sustainability
When it comes to exceeding industry standards, you’ll find few other brands as dedicated as California Baby. From the brand’s inception, they have continuously strived towards better practices, better facilities, and more sustainable sourcing practices.
In fact, they went so far as to grow their own calendula on an organic farm! They’re even beginning to grow and extract their own lavender flower extract. If you want to know more about their extraction process, you can read about it here.
All their products are made in an organic and FDA-approved facility in Los Angeles. There, more than 90% of the facility’s energy requirement is fulfilled by their very own solar panels!
These steps are just one of the many examples of how CB is dedicated is to sustainable living and providing skincare products beneficial to customers, the environment, and of course, the people working under their wing.
Carina Organics - Canada
Carina Organics has been at the forefront of healthier personal care products since 1972. Over the decades, they have made it their mission to replace synthetic ingredients with natural and organic counterparts.
Today, they are among the most well-loved brands for organic personal care products made only with safe and earth-friendly ingredients.
About The Baby Shampoo
Carina Organics has a couple of organic baby products in their store. Their organic and natural baby shampoo comes in scented and unscented options and also doubles as a body wash for your little one.
This tear-free baby shampoo is extra gentle on the skin and is scented with organic sweet pea essence, leaving a lingering smell of fresh florals. The formula lathers less and rinses easily, leaving no skin irritation, and is gentle enough for your baby’s scalp and body.
If your baby has extra sensitive skin and might not do well with fragrances, simply choose the unscented option.
The shampoo comes in 3 different sizes: 250 mL, 1 L, and 4 L. We recommend trying out a small size first and deciding if it’s the best shampoo for you or your baby’s delicate skin. Once you repurchase, we highly suggest buying in bulk for a more eco friendly footprint.
Unfortunately, the packaging is not plastic-free (although it does not contain any BPA). If you decide to purchase from this brand, just make sure to repurpose the bottles best you can.
This organic baby shampoo and body wash is vegan and cruelty-free. For more vegan and cruelty-free personal care, you can check out our guides on vegan face wash and body wash.
Ingredients
Carina Organics’ baby shampoo is made of natural and certified organic ingredients. Note that the product itself is not certified organic, but most of the ingredients used are.
Here are some of the key ingredients in this organic shampoo:
- Saponified Organic Coconut Oil
- Magnesium Oil
- Organic Nettle Leaf Extract
- Organic Dandelion Leaf Extract
- Organic Clover Flower Extract
- Sweet Pea Flower Extract
The complete ingredient list is available on the product packaging or site listing. This tear-free formula does not contain synthetics and is 100% biodegradable, making it safe for our water systems.
It is also paraben-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and dye-free.
Ethics & Sustainability
Carina Organics makes sure that their ingredients are sustainably sourced, natural, and carefully harvested. The ultimate goal is to source high-quality ingredients that impact nature as little as possible.
Most of their ingredients are sourced locally from QAI/USDA-certified growers. However, some of their smaller suppliers aren’t certified yet due to the significant cost of certification. These products are still natural and are labeled accordingly on their products.
Each supplier must meet their environmental standards and sustainability requirements.
We should also note that Carina Organics is not palm oil-free. However, the palm oil they use is 100% organic, and they are currently aiming to remove this ingredient from all of their products eventually.
All products are assembled by hand in the North Shore of Vancouver, British Columbia.
Earth Mama - US
One of Earth Mama‘s core beliefs is that nature is our pharmacy. There are endless sources of herbal medicine and earth-friendly solutions to life’s daily ails all around us—we only need to look in the right places.
Founded in 2002, this organic family care brand stands for safer alternatives to modern-day products, a core value that they integrate into every step of the production process.
About The Baby Shampoo
Earth Mama has plenty of care products for your baby’s body. They have sunscreen, diaper balms, and even some eczema cream (great for babies with eczema-prone skin). Of course, their selection also has its fair share of organic baby wash.
Their Castile baby wash comes in three different scent options: unscented, lavender, and sweet orange. The unscented option is perfect for babies prone to skin irritation since they don’t contain any added essential oils for scent.
Although this isn’t a shampoo per se, it’s more than sufficient to give your baby’s hair a good, nice cleanse. Castile soap is an all-around cleanser that can be used as a body wash, hand wash, cleaning agent, and yep, shampoo as well.
Although Castile is excellent at fighting off bacteria, it’s still very mild on the skin. Thus, it’s perfect for your precious baby’s sensitive skin. It’s safe, moisturizing, and leaves your skin and scalp feeling fresh and clean.
Do note that Castile is not “tear-free.” If it gets into the eyes, it will cause some irritation and is potentially dangerous for babies or young kids. Always use caution when applying near the eye area.
This organic baby shampoo is available in 50 mL, 160 mL, and 1L variations. Since it is packaged in plastic, we once again suggest purchasing the larger size once you decide to commit.
Ingredients
Earth Mama’s natural baby shampoo is full of only good things! There are no synthetic fragrances, questionable ingredients, or any component with significant health risks.
Some of its key organic ingredients are:
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable glycerin
- Shea Butter
- Aloe Leaf Juice
Some variations may contain natural fragrances like sweet orange peel oil and calendula Officinalis flower extract. But if you want to do away with those, just go for the unscented option.
Earth Mama is also a leaping bunny company, and none of their products or ingredients are tested on animals.
Ethics & Sustainability
Nearly all of the ingredients Earth Mama uses are organic and sourced through eco friendly means. Their claims are always supported by third-party certifications such as the USDA, Leaping Bunny, and OTCO.
Although Earth Mama doesn’t get into the particulars of sourcing, their numerous certifications are excellent indicators that their ingredients have been sourced in the best way possible.
You can read more about their certifications here.
Dr. Bronner's - US
Dr. Bronners is a household name when it comes to Castile soap. It’s the OG and the first brand name you think of when it comes to pure all-purpose Castile.
The brand’s cosmic principles include a deep integration of soapmaking with peacemaking, ensuring that all their practices are aligned with the virtue of kindness and fairness to all.
About The Baby Shampoo
Dr. Bronner’s is not a baby care brand. However, their unscented pure liquid Castile soap is arguably one of the best organic baby shampoos you will ever find. Since it doesn’t come with any added preservatives or scents, it’s perfect for bath time with your little one.
Castile soap is a product you can use all around the house. You can use it for mopping, wiping down counters, washing dishes, and of course, cleaning your baby’s hair and body.
Castile may be a bit striping for adults, especially if you have treated hair. For babies, however, a good cleanse with some Castile is completely fine. If you do plan on using it for yourself, just make sure to follow up with a good conditioner.
Always remember that Castile is not tear-free. Most conventional baby shampoos out there tend to be tear-free to protect your baby’s eyes, but these are often a double-edged sword and come with issues of their own.
For the best protection, just take extra care whenever washing your little one’s hair or face.
Dr. Bronner’s organic baby soap is packaged in post-consumer recycled plastic and comes in numerous size options. You can get this product in as little as 2 oz and as much as 1 gallon.
Ingredients
Dr. Bronner uses only a select number of ingredients to make their organic soaps. After all, less is always more when it comes to safety and sustainability.
Here’s the complete list:
- Water
- Organic Coconut Oil
- Potassium Hydroxide (None remains after saponification)
- Organic Palm Kernel Oil
- Organic Olive Oil
- Organic Hemp Seed Oil
- Organic Jojoba Oil
- Citric Acid
- Tocopherol
Some of those listed above are certified Fair Trade ingredients.
All these ingredients are non-toxic and won’t harm you or your baby’s skin. With safe, natural ingredients, a bottle of Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap is truly something you can put your trust in.
Ethics & Sustainability
Dr. Bronner’s has a six-point agenda when it comes to business: the business, employees, suppliers, customers, our earth, and of course, the community. What we love most about them is how they’re dedicated to showing tangible steps towards better business practices.
For instance, many of their ingredients come from certified organic farms or regenerative organic farms. Those that aren’t organic yet are sourced from locations that are in the process of conversion.
Because Dr. Bronner’s sources many of their ingredients Fair Trade, they have also made significant contributions to local communities. In 2020, their Fair Trade impact for social community projects reached more than $1 million.
They also engage in progressive business practices for all employees, such as free healthcare and a salary cap on executive members.
If you want to learn more about Dr. Bronner’s and their impact, check out this report.
Poofy Organics - US
Poofy Organics is thought of best as a modern-day apothecary. With the core belief that life should be pure and simple, this skincare and wellness brand creates sustainable products and clean botanicals that give people a better choice.
Poofy has been curating small, hand-crafted batches of their products since 2008.
About The Baby Shampoo
Poofy Organics has plenty of products for your baby’s skin needs. They have lotion, powder, diaper cream, and of course, an all-around natural baby wash.
Their natural baby shampoo and body wash comes in the form of an all-purpose soap that can be an organic baby shampoo, hand soap, bubble bath, and body wash.
It is super gentle on the skin, and it’s one of those organic shampoos that leave you feeling super relaxed and zen—just what your little one deserves!
Although this organic shampoo is not specifically marketed as tear-free, most babies will not have issues if this gets into their eyes. However, each case is different, so proceed with caution just in case.
The shampoo is available in 16 oz and 1-gallon options.
Ingredients
All the baby shampoos Poofy makes are free from harmful chemicals that may have adverse effects on your baby’s overall wellbeing. Since the Everything Soap is ultra-gentle, it entails simple and no-fuss ingredients as well.
- Purified Water
- Decyl Polyglucose (non-GMO corn)
- Organic Vegetable Glycerin
- Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
- Xanthan Gum
- Citric Acid
Where possible, Poofy uses only organic components for their products. And to that extent, many of their products are actually certified organic!
However, their baby soap is not one of those products since it contains some items that would be impossible to source organically.
If you want a product certified, it has to undergo a rigorous assessment and regular audits to ensure it qualifies under the third-party’s standard. For some items, this simply is not possible.
Organic products need to be made with 95% organic components, one of the requirements of which is that the ingredients should be grown organically. Ingredients like xanthan gum or citric acid will never fulfill this criterion.
Rest assured, however, that Poofy is always responsible when it comes to their sourcing methods. And if possible, they will always try to get their ingredients from a certified organic farm.
Ethics & Sustainability
Poofy Organics is serious about creating products aligned with their organic core values. Part of doing so is making their products as simple as possible, made with only the safest natural ingredients available.
Only a handful of their products cannot be certified organic, all of which they explain extensively here. The brand is also USDA certified organic, as are many of their products.
Sustainability is something we’d love to see more of from this brand. They currently use a combination of recyclable and biodegradable packaging for their products, and we’re looking forward to more sustainable changes in this regard.
Babo Botanicals - US
Pure from ingredients to behavior, Babo Botanicals is a certified B Corporation that had its humble beginnings in a garden.
Founded in 2010, Babo has continuously invested in a future of gentle products grown from gentle farms, cultivating a culture of security, kindness, and care for those around us.
About The Baby Shampoo
Babo Botanicals has a couple of shampoo and body wash options for babies. All of them are fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and meant for a baby’s delicate skin.
Babo also has numerous EWG verified products in their store, and the shampoo and body wash option is one of them. The verification helps guarantee the safety of the product and the credibility of the claims they make.
Please note that this is not a tear-free shampoo. It may cause some irritation if it gets into your baby’s eyes. If that happens, gently but thoroughly flush their eyes with water to remove all traces of product.
Babo Botanicals’ natural baby shampoo is a gentle cleanser that works for both the scalp and body. Because it has no added fragrances and only has non-toxic components, this shampoo and body wash is excellent even for dry patches and eczema flare-ups.
The shampoos are available in 16 oz bottles.
Ingredients
Babo shampoos are hypoallergenic and free from any parabens and phthalates. They also do not contain any silicone or surfactants and have been dermatologist and allergy-tested.
Its key plant-based ingredients are the following:
- Calendula
- Chamomile
- Meadowsweet Flower Extract
- Shea Butter
It also contains:
- Watercress Flower Extract
- Aloe Leaf Juice
- Kudzu Root Extract
- Cocoa Butter
- Coconut Oil
A good number of their ingredients are organic, but the product itself is not. This formula will not be a skin irritant for most babies since it’s made without allergens like soy or gluten.
The organic calendula helps soothe and nourish the scalp and dry patches, while natural oat protein helps protect dry skin. The butters (cocoa, shea, coconut) are there for an intense moisturizing factor, keeping the skin supple and healthy.
Ethics & Sustainability
Smart sourcing and responsible farming are the core of sustainable economics. Babo believes that what goes around comes around, so they always make sure to align their sourcing methods and production practices with what’s good for the planet.
As a B Corp, Babo Botanicals meets the highest standard of social and environmental impact. Meaning, they contribute to the overall picture of making business a force for good.
They have various sources for their ingredients, all sourced responsibly. Let’s take, for example, their passion fruit oil. Sourced from Peru using salvaged passion fruit seeds, their sourcing method incorporates upcycling by-products and uplifting local farms and small communities.
Overall, Babo has exhibited responsible behavior throughout their supply chain, and we’re glad to see it reflect on the quality and sustainability of their products.
Final Thoughts
Baby skin is delicate, soft, and precious. Keeping it that way can be challenging for parents, especially when navigating a world of toxic ingredients and synthetic fragrances at each turn; even health food stores can be difficult to trust.
Fortunately, it isn’t entirely hopeless. Some brands (like those we listed above) highly value customer wellbeing and safety above all. Plus, they’re also champions of ethical business practices and sustainable production.
Even if you didn’t find anything you liked on this list, we hope it gave you a good jumping-off point. Clean skincare (especially for babies) can be daunting, but we have complete confidence that you’ll find the perfect product for you and your little one.
Resources:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19804498/
