A baby body wash cleans the skin, a baby shampoo is made for hair and scalp, and a 2-in-1 (also sold as head-to-toe or hair and body wash) is one formula meant to do both jobs. Whether you need one bottle or two depends on how much hair your baby has, how your household bathes and what the label says the product is for. This guide sorts the three by what each one is designed to do, so you can decide before you shop.
What each bottle is designed for
The job is set by the label. Look for words such as body, hair, head to toe or 2-in-1 on the front of the bottle, then confirm them in the directions on the back.
| Bottle | Designed for | Wording to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Body wash | Skin on the body | Wash, bath, body |
| Shampoo | Hair and scalp | Shampoo, hair |
| 2-in-1 or head-to-toe | Hair and body in one formula | 2-in-1, head to toe, hair and body |
A name alone is not enough. One bottle called baby wash may say on the back that it is for hair and body, while another says body only. The directions panel is where the maker states the intended use, so treat it as the final word.
Body wash: what it is and how it is used
A body wash is a liquid cleanser meant for the skin of the body, applied and then rinsed off. It is the product to look at if you already have a shampoo you like, or if your baby has little or no hair yet.
In general terms, using one means a small amount on a wet washcloth or your hand, working from the neck down and leaving the diaper area for last, then rinsing well so no lather stays in the skin folds.
The details differ from one product to the next, including how much to use and whether the wash can be used on the face. Follow the pack rather than assuming that every wash works the same way, and keep it away from the eyes as the label directs.
Baby shampoo: what makes it a separate product
Shampoo is formulated for hair and scalp, and its directions are written for that job. Even a baby with very little hair has a scalp, and the label will tell you whether the shampoo is meant for it.
The reason to keep shampoo as its own bottle is flexibility. You can wash hair without washing the whole body, or the other way around, and you can change one product without changing the other. The cost is a second bottle to store, pack and reorder.
2-in-1 and head-to-toe washes
A 2-in-1 puts the hair job and the body job into one formula. People choose one for simple reasons: one bottle to buy, one set of directions for every caregiver, a smaller bath shelf and fewer steps while you are holding a wriggly baby.
The trade-off is that you cannot change the shampoo and the body wash separately. If you want to try something different for just one of the two jobs, you replace the whole bottle. Some labels say 3-in-1, which may add a third use such as bubble bath, so read the pack to see every use it lists.
One bottle or two: questions to ask yourself
- How much hair does your baby have? A newborn with very little hair may not need a separate shampoo yet, while a toddler with a full head of hair may.
- Who gives the baths? If several caregivers share bath time, one bottle with one set of directions is easier to follow.
- Where do you bathe? A kitchen sink or a small tub leaves little room for extra bottles.
- Do you carry supplies? If a diaper bag goes to daycare or to visits, one small bottle takes less room than two.
- Do you want to change one thing at a time? Two bottles make that possible, and a 2-in-1 does not.
Quick clean-ups between baths are a different job again, handled by baby wipes, so they do not need to figure into the wash-or-shampoo decision.
Reading the label before you buy
- Find the stated use: body, hair or both.
- Check for age guidance, such as a line about newborns, if the pack gives any.
- Read the directions for how much to use, how to rinse and what the label says about the eyes.
- Look at the volume in millilitres and think about how many baths it needs to cover. See the current price on the product page.
- Scan the ingredient list on the back for anything a doctor, nurse or pharmacist has told you to avoid.
- Look for an expiry date, or a small open-jar symbol with a number of months, which is how long the maker suggests using the product once it is open. Not every pack carries both.
If you are not sure whether an ingredient suits your baby, take the bottle or a photo of the ingredient list to a pharmacist and ask them to read it with you.
Shop this guide
- Burt's Bees Baby Talc-Free Dusting Powder, 7.5 oz Bottle (ships via Amazon)
- MUKIN Baby Bamboo Washcloths, 12 x 12 in, 12-Pack (ships via Amazon)
- Muslin Baby Washcloths, 12-Pack, 100% Cotton, Multi-Colour (ships via Amazon)
- Johnson's Baby Oil with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E, 591 mL (ships via Amazon)
- See all: Baby Bath & Skin Care
Prices are on each product page. Free shipping on orders of $100 or more within Canada.
Common questions
Can I use a baby shampoo as a body wash?
Check the label. A product is meant for the uses it names, so follow the pack rather than assuming that a shampoo also works on the body, or the reverse.
Is a 2-in-1 a lesser choice than two bottles?
It is a different set-up, not a lesser one. You gain simplicity and lose the ability to change the shampoo and the body wash separately.
My baby has red or flaky patches on the scalp or skin. Which bottle should I buy?
Ask a doctor, nurse or pharmacist. They can look at the skin and tell you what to use, which is better than trying one bottle after another.
Still not sure whether one bottle or two fits your bath routine? Tell us how you bathe your baby through the contact page, and we will help you decide. We reply within one business day.