Sudsy swaps for the shower.

Level up bath time for your little ones.

Learn more about what to look for in your kid’s body washes.

When it comes to kids’ bath time, what you don’t use can matter just as much as what you do. Many conventional body washes contain harsh surfactants, synthetic fragrances, and preservatives that can disrupt the skin’s barrier and trigger irritation. For kids and those with reactive or eczema-prone skin, that can mean dryness, redness, and discomfort.
The good news? Gentle, non-toxic body washes formulated with sensitive skin in mind can help give them the care they need and at Grove, they’re always vetted for safety and efficacy. Let’s explore what makes a great body wash for kids and sensitive skin, which ingredients to avoid, and how to find formulas the whole family can feel good about.

Send those other body washes down the drain

Children’s skin is thinner and more permeable than adults’, which means it can absorb ingredients more readily.[1] That’s why dermatologists recommend sticking to minimal-ingredient formulas with soothing botanicals and no known allergens or sensitizers. Watch out for sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), a foaming agent that can strip skin of moisture and damage the protective barrier.[2] Choose fragrance-free body washes for your kids, as synthetic fragrance are often composed of dozens of undisclosed chemicals, fragrances are a top cause of allergic reactions and sensitivities, especially in kids.[3] Lastly, be mindful of parabens & formaldehyde releasers. Preservatives like DMDM hydantoin and imidazolidinyl urea inhibit microbial growth but are known to release formaldehyde and are linked to skin irritation and potential hormone disruption. Instead, go with gentler cleansers with clearly labeled ingredients and third-party safety certifications when possible.

These body washes have your kids’ skin (and the hands that bathe them) in mind.

Explore more →
The Bottom Line

Ditch the body washes with surfactants and parabens

When it comes to kids and sensitive skin, simpler is better. The best body washes skip harsh chemicals and unnecessary additives in favor of skin-soothing, pH-balanced ingredients that nurture rather than strip.

Sources

  1. Choi EH. Skin Barrier Function in Neonates and Infants. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2025 Jan;17(1):32-46. doi: 10.4168/aair.2025.17.1.32. PMID: 39895601; PMCID: PMC11791375. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11791375/
  2. Rinaldi AO, Li M, Barletta E, D'Avino P, Yazici D, Pat Y, Ward S, Burla D, Tan G, Askary N, Larsson R, Bost J, Babayev H, Dhir R, Gaudenzio N, Akdis M, Nadeau K, Akdis CA, Mitamura Y. Household laundry detergents disrupt barrier integrity and induce inflammation in mouse and human skin. Allergy. 2024 Jan;79(1):128-141. doi: 10.1111/all.15891. Epub 2023 Sep 27. PMID: 37766519. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37766519/
  3. Environmental Working Group (EWG), “What is fragrance?”
    https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/2023/07/what-fragrance