Natural & Organic Baby Shampoo - Cheat Sheet
Originally published 10 December 2015, updated February 2023
Most babies don’t need a special baby shampoo. Generally, you can get away with using a mild soap, like Dr Bronner’s, or using a shampoo and body wash combination product. Once they become toddlers, though, it can be a whole different ballgame, especially if they’ve got a lot of hair.
Our kids were never too worried about hair washing. They always just closed their eyes so we never had to worry about ‘no more tears’. We were always suspicious of the whole idea of ‘no more tears’ shampoo. If you get shampoo in your eyes, they sting. That’s why you close your eyes.
And it turns out that we were right to be concerned about ‘no more tears’ shampoo. Johnson & Johnson had been using toxic chemicals in their baby shampoos for years.
This is why we do all this research on the ingredients in the products we stock here at Hello Charlie, and we share our research with you. That way, you’ll know what you’re buying and you can choose safer baby shampoo for your children.
The usual disclaimers apply. We are parents, doing this to help other parents. We know you’ll want to share this information with other parents, and I’d love it if you do! However, please bear in mind the time that it takes for us to do this research, and do the right thing by attributing this article back to us here at Hello Charlie. Thanks!
Green Light - the best natural baby shampoos
Anything in the Green Light list is the best natural shampoo for babies that I've been able to find. The ingredients are all good, without any synthetic fragrances or harsh preservatives. You can use these without concerns.
Bubba Organics Baby Hair & Bath Wash
Updated May 2021
Buy Bubba Organics at Hello Charlie
Different scents available: Lavender & Chamomile; Goats Milk; and Kakadu Plum & Marshmallow.
The Bubba Organics range is made in Australia, with the main ingredient in this natural baby wash being aloe vera juice rather than water. Lots of lovely soothing essential oils and no problematic ingredients.
Lavender & Chamomile ingredients: aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice, decyl glucoside, coco-glucoside, glycerin, xanthan gum, calendula officinalis flower oil, olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) flower extract, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf oil, anthemis noblis (chamomile) oil, origanum vulgare (oregano) oil, thymus vulgaris (thyme) extract, olea europaea (olive) leaf extract, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) flower extract, citric acid.
ChamonixRain Organics Coconut Baby Wash & Shampoo
Updated May 2021
Another Australian made and owned range, and the ingredients in this one are good, too. The only one that might raise an eyebrow is the "Parfum (Natural Preservative)". This is the INCI name for naticide, and it's not actually fragrance. More about that in this article here.
Ingredients: Purified Water, Organic Aloe Vera Juice, Coco Glucoside , Guar Gum, Citric Acid, Coconut Absolute Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum (Natural Preservative), Organic Glycerin, Organic Lavender Extract, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Avocado Oil, Organic Evening Primrose Oil, Organic Olive Leaf Extract, Organic Calendula Extract, Organic Chamomile Extract, Rosehip Extract.
Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Liquid Soap – Baby Unscented
Updated May 2021
Dr Bronner’s is one of my favourite brands and one that I use everyday at home. I even use it to wash my dog! It’s all made in the USA, organic, fair trade and fragrances (if you choose a scented one) are pure essential oils. Love, love, love!
Baby Unscented ingredients: water, organic coconut oil*, potassium hydroxide**, organic palm kernel oil*, organic olive oil*, organic hemp oil, organic jojoba oil, citric acid, tocopherol. (*certified fair trade ingredients. **none remains after saponifying oils into soap & glycerin.)
Four Cow Farm Pure Castile Soap Baby Wash
Updated May 2021
This is a simple castile soap with lovely ingredients. Another Australian made and owned one.
Ingredients: purified australian mountain rainwater, saponified 100% olea europaea (olive) oil, certified organic echinacea angustifolia extract, citric acid (from citrus fruit).
Jack 'N Jill Kids Shampoo & Body Wash
Updated May 2021
Different scents available: Serenity, Sweetness, and Simplicity (which is unfragranced and has no essential oils)
The Jack 'N Jill Kids natural shampoo has a nice list of ingredients, nothing problematic, and with essential oils for pretty smells. Australian made and owned, too.
Jack ‘N Jill Serenity ingredients: water (aqua), decyl glucoside, lauryl glucoside, glycerin, sodium citrate, gluconolactone, xanthan gum, quillaja saponaria bark extract, chenopodium quinoa seed extract, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil, callitris glaucophylla (white cypress) oil, callitris glaucophylla (white cypress) leaf extract, anthemis nobilis flower oil**, salvia sclarea (clary) oil, panthenol, citric acid, disodium edta, sodium benzoate, calcium gluconate, linalool*, limonene*. *naturally occurring in the essential oils, **certified organic ingredients.
Jackson Reece Kinder By Nature Natural Baby Shampoo
Updated May 2021
Straightforward ingredients again in this natural shampoo, with no issues, and essential oil fragrance. This one is an Irish brand, made in the UK.
Ingredients: aqua (purified water), lauryl, coco glucoside, glycerin, theobroma cacao seed, polyglyceryl 9 oleate, glyceryl stearate se, xanthan gum, levulinic, potassium sorbate, cananga odorata (ylang ylang) oil.
Little Innoscents Spearmint Orange Hair & Body Wash
Updated May 2021
When you want to make the switch natural, organic shampoo and baby wash is the way to go. Certified organic means that you're getting ingredients that have been checked and certified, so you know they're good. This Little Innoscents hair and body wash is chock full of lovely ingredients, including organic essential oils. Australian owned and made in Melbourne.
Ingredients: aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice*, coco-glucoside, decyl glucoside, glycerin*, xanthan gum, glyceryl caprylate, mentha spicata (spearmint) herb oil*, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil*, lactic acid, citrus sinensis (orange) peel oil expressed*, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil*, aqua (water). *certified organic ingredient
Mustela Shampoo for Newborns
Updated May 2021
This is a brand that often uses ingredients that I don’t like, but the Mustela baby shampoo is fine – nothing to be concerned about. Made in France.
Ingredients: aqua/water/eau, coco-glucoside, polyglyceryl-4 caprate, inulin, galactoarabinan, citric acid, sodium benzoate, propanediol, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil unsaponifiables, persea gratissima (avocado) fruit extract.
Sanctum Baby Shampoo & Wash
Updated May 2021
Lovely, lovely! Another certified organic product with beautiful ingredients and organic essential oils for a gentle fragrance. Also Australian made and owned.
Ingredients: aloe barbadensis leaf juice*, decyl glucoside, olive (olea europaea) leaf extract*, glycerin*, xanthan gum, calendula officinalis flower extract*, honeysuckle (lonicera caprifolium) flower extract, lavender (lavandula angustifolia) oil*, honeysuckle (lonicera japonica) flower extract, lemon (citrus medica limonum) peel oil*, sweet marjoram (origanum majorana) leaf oil, citral, linalool, limonene *certified organic / 91% certified organic / 100% naturally derived
Weleda Calendula Shampoo and Body Wash
Updated May 2021
One of my long time favourite brands with all biodynamic ingredients. German brand, but this is made in Switzerland. Like all of their organic baby bath products, this has great ingredients with a lovely natural fragrance from essential oils.
Ingredients: water (aqua), coco-glucoside, prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil, alcohol, disodium cocoyl glutamate, sesamum indicum (sesame) seed oil, glycerin, chondrus crispus (carrageenan), calendula officinalis flower extract, xanthan gum, lactic acid, fragrance (parfum)*, limonene*, linalool*. *from natural essential oils
Wotnot Baby Wash
Updated May 2021
Wotnot naturals is another long time favourite brand of mine. I love a multi purpose product and this is a 3 in 1 organic baby shampoo, body wash and bubble bath. Lovely ingredients, lots of organics and essential oils for a gentle fragrance. Beautiful!
Ingredients: purified water, decyl glucoside, vegetable glycerine, xanthan gum, aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice*, linum usitatissimum (linseed) seed oil*, tocopherol (gmo-free vitamin e), citris aurantium dulcis (sweet orange) peel oil*, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil*, chamomilla flower oil*, rosa (rose) flower oil, brown rice flour*, citric acid and potassium sorbate (food grade preservatives). *certified organic ingredients
Orange Light
These are the products that aren't too bad, but with some ingredients that I prefer to avoid. I've highlighted them in orange for easy reference.
These ingredients might not be too bad in a wash off product like shampoo, because it doesn't sit on the skin for hours. But if you want to go really clean in your products, I'd look for products with Green Light status.
Bottoms Up Natural Organic Baby Shampishioner
Updated May 2021
It's not too bad, but there are a couple of ingredients that I'd avoid.
Ingredients: *organic aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice, cocamidopropyl betaine, glycerine, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate (from coconuts), decyl glucoside (from corn & coconut), lilly pilly extract, prunus persica (peach) fruit extract, passiflora incarnata flower extract, pink flannel flower essence, *organic citrus nobilis (mandarin orange) peel oil, *organic lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil, pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, hydroxypropyl guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride (from guar gum), phenoxyethanol, potassium sorbate. *organic ingredients
Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Shampoo & Wash
Updated May 2021
This is a tricky one. Burts Bees baby shampoo lists this as natural fragrance from "essential oils and natural extracts". The product is listed as phthalate free, but as we don't know what the actual fragrance ingredients are, this one is in my orange list.
Ingredients: aqua, decyl glucoside, coco-betaine, lauryl glucoside, sucrose laurate, glycerin, parfum*, betaine, sodium cocoyl hydrolyzed soy protein, coco-glucoside, xanthan gum, glucose, glyceryl oleate, sodium chloride, citric acid, potassium iodide, potassium thiocyanate, tocopherol, glucose oxidase, lactoperoxidase, hydrogenated palm glycerides citrate, lecithin, ascorbyl palmitate, limonene. *natural fragrance- see label
Ecostore Baby Shampoo
Updated May 2021
The ingredients in this are good except for the benzyl alcohol at the very end. As it’s not great for babies, it’s going into my orange list.
Ingredients: aqua, sodium coco-sulphate, coco-glucoside, decyl glucoside, glycerin, sodium lauroamphoacetate, phormium tenax (harakeke) leaf extract, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower/leaf/ stem water, lavandula hybrida oil, dicaprylyl ether, glyceryl oleate, hydroxypropyl guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, tetrasodium glutamate diacetate, citric acid, sodium chloride, dehydroacetic acid, benzyl alcohol, eucalyptol, pinene, linalool*. * from natural essential oils.
Jurlique Baby's Gentle Hair and Body Wash
Updated May 2021
This brand really has improved over the last few years. There are still a couple of ingredients I don't love, including the essential oil based fragrance - I always want to know what oils are used!
Ingredients: aqua (water), glycerin, lauryl glucoside, cocamidopropyl betaine, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract, althaea officinalis root extract, calendula officinalis flower extract, rosa gallica flower extract, bellis perennis (daisy) flower extract, echinacea purpurea root extract, viola odorata flower/leaf extract, viola tricolor extract, sodium lauroamphoacetate, coco-glucoside, glyceryl oleate, fragrance/parfum*, sodium chloride, citric acid, sodium benzoate, linalool*. *from natural essential oil
Moogoo Natural Milk Shampoo
Updated May 2021
This is a brand that I usually like, but there's a couple of ingredients in this one that I'm not keen on. The fragrance is phthalate free but synthetic, apparently because they had issues with reactions to the esssential oil fragrances they used to use. I would prefer completely fragrance free.
Ingredients: aqua, cocamidopropyl betaine, decyl glucoside, lauryl glucoside, glycol distearate, sodium cocoyl sarcosinate, coco glucoside , glyceryl oleate, piroctone olamine, fragrance - oatmeal (phthalate-free), allantoin, hydrolysed milk protein.
Slick Kids Hair & Body Wash
Updated May 2021
It's not really for babies, it's a natural shampoo for kids, but it does have benzyl alcohol in it, so it's in my orange list. The natural fragrance is ecocert certified, but that's another reason that it's in the orange!
Ingredients: water, lauryl glucoside, sodium coco-sulfate, musa paradisiaca fruit (banana fruit) extract, macropiper excelsum leaf (kawakawa) extract, benzyl alcohol, sodium chloride, citric acid, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, dehydroacetic acid, pineapple and mango natural parfum.
Red Light
Aromababy Pure Hair Cleanse
Updated May 2021
Three ingredients that I don't like, and one is a potential formaldehyde releaser. It's in small quantities, and it is a wash off product, but it's not ideal for babies.
Ingredients: purified water, cocamidopropyl betaine, xanthan gum, polysorbate 20, orange sweet essential oil* (citrus aurantium var, sinensis), geranium bourbon essential oil* (pelargonium graveolens), sodium hydroxymethylglycinate.*certified organic by aco
Aveeno Baby Lightly Scented Wash & Shampoo
Updated May 2021
Anything with synthetic fragrance goes straight into my red list, and this Aveeno baby wash shampoo is no exception. There are too many potential hazards in synthetic fragrances, including phthalates, so this is one ingredient that I always avoid.
Ingredients: water, cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium lauroamphoacetate, glycerin, coco-glucoside, sodium chloride, citric acid, acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, sodium benzoate, glyceryl oleate, sodium hydroxide, fragrance, polyquaternium-10, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, butylene glycol, avena sativa (oat) kernel extract.
Avado Baby Naturals Shampoo
Updated May 2021
The sodium hydroxymethylglycinate is an ingredient that I always avoid, as it's an irritant and an allergen, and a formaldehyde releaser. The risks are low, but there are better products available than this Avado Baby Natural shampoo.
Ingredients: aqua, glycerin, coco-glucoside, caprylyl/capryl glucoside, cyamopsis tetragonoloba (guar) gum, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, citric acid, persea gratissima (avocado oil), citrus nobilis (mandarin orange) peel oil, calendula officinalis flower extract, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) oil, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil, cananga odorata flower oil, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, anthemis nobilis flower oil*. *denotes certified organic ingredient- aco.
Cetaphil Baby Gentle Wash & Shampoo
Updated May 2021
This Cetaphil baby wash has too many ingredients that I avoid - not one that I would recommend.
Ingredients: aqua, cocamidopropyl betaine, disodium cocoamphodiacetate, glycerin, coco-glucoside, acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, citric acid, heliotropine, panthenol, parfum, phenoxyethanol, polyquaternium-10, propylene glycol, quaternium-80, sodium benzoate, sodium chloride, sodium citrate, sodium cocoamphoacetate, sodium hydroxide.
Cherub Rubs Organic Baby Shampoo
Updated May 2021
There are organic ingredients in this, but there's also synthetic fragrance. I'd avoid simply because of that.
Ingredients: *aloe vera juice, decyl glucoside, rapeseed acid, caprylyl/ capryl glucoside, *glycerine, parfum, xanthonomonas campestris (xantham gum), *olea europaea (olive) oil, *prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernel oil, *prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil, *helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, *citrus medica limonum (lemon) peel oil, *citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel oil.*all natural containing certified organic oils.
Childs Farm Shampoo, Strawberry & Organic Mint
Updated May 2021
There's one single organic ingredient, right at the very end of the list. This annoys me so much, it's just greenwashing. There's also synthetic fragrance and another couple of ingredients that I avoid. I don't recommend this.
Ingredients: aqua (water), sodium coco-sulfate, cocamidopropyl betaine, glycerin, benzyl alcohol, argan oil polyglyceryl-6 esters, sodium lauryl glucose carboxylate, parfum (fragrance), guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, lauryl glucoside, citric acid, lactic acid, sodium chloride, sucrose laurate, dehydroacetic acid, mentha arvensis (peppermint) oil*, sodium benzoate, alcohol, sorbic acid (*denotes certified organic ingredient).
Curash Babycare 2 in 1 Shampoo and Conditioner
Updated May 2021
So many ingredients that I avoid! There are some highly irritating ingredients in this, especially the methylisothiazolinone and the fragrance. Definitely not one I'd recommend.
Ingredients: water, sodium laureth sulfate, polysorbate 20, peg-150 distearate, disodium cocoamphodiacetate, glycerin, cocamidopropyl betaine, polyquaternium-10, fragrance, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract, bisabolol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, citric acid, hydrolyzed silk, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, magnesium nitrate, magnesium chloride, CI 14700.
Ego QV Baby Gentle Wash
Updated May 2021
Parabens are definitely on my red list - I wouldn't be using anything that could potentially disrupt hormones on developing bodies.
Ingredients: aqua (water), glycerin, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, sodium cocoyl isethionate, disodium cocoamphodiacetate, acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, styrene/acrylates copolymer, lauryl betaine, niacinamide, aminomethyl propanol, styrene/acrylates copolymer, methylparaben, ethylparaben.
Gaia Skin Naturals Baby Shampoo
Updated May 2021
Gaia natural baby shampoo looks like it should be a good choice. The bottle says "natural and organic" but when you look closer, that natural and organic is for two essential oils and that's it. With irritants and potential formaldehyde releasing ingredients, it's not one that I would use or recommend.
Ingredients: water (aqua), decyl glucoside, disodium cocoamphodipropionate, cocamidopropyl betaine, glycerin, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, lactic acid, hydrolyzed wheat protein, panthenol, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) extract*, persea gratissima (avocado) oil, oenothera biennis (evening primrose) oil*, allantoin, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, phenoxyethanol, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) oil, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil, lavandula hybrida (lavandin) oil, anthemis nobilis flower (chamomile) oil, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil. (d-limonene, linalool – naturally occurring components of essential oils).= organic
Milk & Co. Baby Shampoozle and Conditioner
Updated May 2021
It's the synthetic fragrance that sends this straight to the red list.
Ingredients: aqua, cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium coco-sulphate, glycerine, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, lactic acid, fragrance, hydroxypropyl guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, sodium chloride.
Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo
Updated May 2021
Johnson's used to be awful. It's still on my red list because of the synthetic fragrance and another couple of ingredients, but it is much improved from when I first started doing these cheat sheets. That's the power of consumers - enough customers complained that J&J made changes.
However, they're still not great. In the US, there's a Johnson "natural baby shampoo", but even that still has synthetic fragrances. It seems the message hasn't quite got through yet!
Ingredients: water, cocamidopropyl betaine, decyl glucoside, sodium cocoyl isethionate, peg-80 sorbitan laurate, citric acid, glycerin*, sodium benzoate, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, fragrance, peg-150 distearate, disodium edta, polyquaternium-10. *naturally derived ingredients.
Nature’s Care Paw Paw Baby Shampoo and Body Wash
Updated May 2021
This is okay except for the synthetic fragrance. No one wants to add phthalates to their baby's bath, so it's one to avoid.
Ingredients: water (aqua), decyl glucoside (vegetable origin), coca betaine (from coconut), methyl glucoside thickener (from corn), vegetable glycerine, glycol stearate (plant wax), paw paw fruit extract, potassium sorbate, fragrance, citric acid, hydroxypropyl guar, hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride (from guar seed).
Organic Care Berry Bliss Shampoo & Conditioner
Updated May 2021
A fine example of greenwashing - there's absolutely nothing organic in this product. And there's synthetic fragrance as well. I'd boycott just because of the greenwashing - this is a company that takes advantage of the fact that there are no laws on what can be called organic. Grrr.
Ingredients: water, coco-glucoside, sodium coco fatty alcohol sulfate, glyceryl oleate, glycerin, lauryl lactyl lactate, polyquaternium-10, fragrance, triticum vulgare (wheat) germ oil, panthenol (pro-vitamin b5), rubus idaeus (raspberry) fruit extract, citric acid*, phenoxyethanol, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate. *plant derived.
Sebamed Shampoo for Delicate Scalp
Updated May 2021
Another one with synthetic fragrance and other ingredients that aren't ideal for babies. Straight to the red list!
Ingredients: aqua, cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, disodium cocoamphodiacetate, chamomilla recutita flower extract, coco-glucoside, sodium lactate, sodium acetate, sodium ascorbate, glyceryl oleate, sodium laureth sulfate, peg-3 distearate, peg-150 distearate, laureth-2, alcohol, parfum, lactic acid, citric acid, sodium hydroxide, ascorbyl palmitate, benzyl alcohol, phenoxyethanol, sodium benzoate.
Where to buy natural baby shampoo
Of course, this great big list might leave you even more confused. If there's so much greenwashing and misinformation out there, who do you trust when it comes to buying baby products that are truly natural? And how do you really find the best baby shampoo?
The answer is Hello Charlie. I do all of this research to help parents who are trying to get to the bottom of what's really good for their babies, but I also do this because we won't put anything on our shelves until we've thoroughly researched and reviewed every single product.
So if you don't want to do all the research yourself, you know that you can shop with confidence at Hello Charlie!