The Best Baby Towels and Washcloths for Easy-Breezy Bathtime
Baby’s bath time can be quite the photo opp, but if you’re not equipped with the right gear, it can also be a slippery, sopping mess. Have you picked out the perfect baby bathtub and found a gentle shampoo? Great—but don’t forget to stock up on baby towels and washcloths that are soft and sized just right for your little one. Trust us, a fluffy baby bath towel can make all the difference!
Ready to dive in? Check out our picks for the best baby washcloths to gently clean your little one, and the best baby towels to pat them dry afterward.
Babies get cold easily, especially when wet, which is why it’s important to have a fluffy, dry baby towel ready and waiting for them as soon as their bath is finished. Baby towels are sized specifically for itty bitty bodies and often feature hoods, so you can keep your little one toasty warm. Whether you want something cute and wearable or prefer premium organic fibers, we’ve rounded up the best baby towels out there to ensure your kid’s bath goes off without a hitch.
Best newborn baby towel
- Super soft, absorbent fabric
- OEKO-TEX certified organic bamboo material
- Cleverly designed hood with adorable bear ears
- High price point
Newborns have very sensitive skin and should only be given sponge baths until the umbilical stump falls off. Although they won’t be fully immersed in water for the first couple of weeks, you’ll still need to wrap them up warm after a sponge bath, as newborns are particularly susceptible to the cold. Our top choice is Channing & Yates hooded baby towel set. This organic bamboo option is quite possibly the softest towel you’ve ever felt. Even better: The bamboo fabric is naturally hypoallergenic, antibacterial and antifungal, so you won’t have to worry about accidentally using a moldy bath towel on your little one’s sensitive skin. Another standout feature? The hood is located in the middle of the towel as opposed to the corner, which means there’s more fabric to encircle baby and keep them toasty—handy as baby gets bigger! The Bump editors have used these towels with their own babes, and after years of washing, the fabric has stayed soft and super absorbent. We’re fans!
Material: Organic bamboo fabric | Dimensions: 40” x 28” | Thickness: 500 grams per square meter
Best hooded baby towel
- Super-absorbent
- Cute bear ears on the hood
- Tested to last over 1000 washes
- Some parents say it loses softness over time
This hooded baby bath towel is equal parts adorable and practical. Crafted from organic bamboo fibers, it's soft and gentle against delicate skin and absorbs water three times faster than regular cotton towels. It’s thick and fluffy with a roomy hood that helps dry off baby’s face and hair in a flash. Plus, the oversized style lets you wrap newborns, babies and tots in a warm hug after each bath.
Material: Organic bamboo | Dimensions: 35” x 35” | Thickness: 500 grams per square meter
Best baby towel robe
- Fabric gets softer after each wash
- GOTS certified organic cotton
- Waist tie and hood
- Single size only fits babies up to 9 months old
Burt’s Bees Baby Organic Cotton Knit Terry Hooded Robe We love Burt’s Bees Baby’s Infant Hooded Robe. The 100 percent organic cotton baby robe is luxuriously soft and boasts an adorable duck print. Better yet, the terry cloth interior absorbs moisture and is designed to get softer with each wash.
Material: Organic cotton | Dimensions: 17” x 9.5” | Thickness: Not listed
Best organic baby towel
- Lightweight and soft
- GOTS-certified organic cotton
- OEKO-TEX certified
- Smaller than other options on the market
Hotel-quality towels and linens are the norm in many households, so why would you settle for less when it comes to baby’s bath towel? Thanks to Parachute you won’t have to. This hooded baby towel is crafted from 100 percent organic Turkish cotton that's sustainably grown and harvested. Lightweight and fluffy, this towel lets you wrap your little one in a soft embrace after every bath.
Material: Organic cotton | Dimensions: 30” x 30” | Thickness: 380 grams per square meter
Best baby beach towel
- Super-soft thanks to the zero twist construction
- Cute dolphin fin design
- Doubles as a swim cover-up
- High price point
If you’re planning a day at the seaside (or pool) with your little one, don’t forget a special baby beach towel. This hooded poncho by MORI pulls double duty as a towel and a cute swim cover-up. The soft organic micro cotton material is super absorbent, so your little beach bum will dry off in no time. Plus, the fun dinosaur detailing on the hood makes for an on-point summer look.
Material: Cotton (40% organic) | Dimensions: 39.3” x 34.6” | Thickness: Not listed
Best animal hooded baby towel
- Eight animal design options
- Absorbs water three times faster than cotton
- Odor-resistant
- Fabric is prone to pulls
Whether it’s an eagle, a panda or a lion that tickles your little one’s fancy, you’ll find it when you opt for these adorable hooded towels by Natemia. They’re designed to last from infanthood into toddlerhood, and feature a variety of cute critters your kids are sure to get a kick out of. This hooded towel is made using hypoallergenic bamboo, and the fabric promises to dry three times faster than regular ol’ cotton!
Material: Bamboo | Dimensions: 40” x 30” | Thickness: 500 grams per square meter
Best personalized baby towel
- Hood with ears
- Absorbent terry cloth material
- Personalization options
- Some parents say the fabric is prone to pilling
SEmbroidered Boutique Monogrammed Hooded Baby Towel Make bathtime (or beach time) extra-special with a personalized baby towel, like this adorable option from Etsy. These baby bath towels are available in five cute colors and can be customized with a unique moniker in your choice of font.
Material: Combed ringspun cotton and polyester terry cloth | Dimensions: 36.25” x 36.25” | Thickness: Not listed
Best baby poncho towel
- OEKO-TEX certified
- Cotton-lined hood
- Available in three gender-neutral colors
- Pull-on style
Hanna Andersson Baby Swim Poncho In Loop Terry Is there anything cuter than a baby in a poncho? We don’t think so. That’s why this adorable, gender-neutral swim poncho is high on our list of the best baby towels. It’s crafted from a soft loop terry knit that won't itch or scratch your little one’s delicate skin. A button on either side prevents it flapping in the wind or being shrugged off an unruly pup's shoulders. Available in yellow, blue and orange stripes.
Material: Combed and poly loop terry knit | S/M size dimensions: 16.5” (L) x 32” (W)| M/L size dimensions: 21” (L) x 36” (W) | Thickness: Not listed
Best baby hooded towel set
- Soft and absorbent
- Wash mitt has elastic to help it stay on
- High price point
Whether you’re looking for a giftable bundle or simply want to coordinate baby’s bathtime essentials, this hooded towel and bath mitt set is a great choice. Both items are made from certified organic micro-cotton for a buttery soft feel that helps dry your little one’s skin quickly and comfortably.
Material: Organic micro-cotton | Dimensions: 51” x 33.4” | Thickness: Not listed
We’ve covered baby towels for drying, but we can’t forget about baby washcloths for cleaning. A regular washcloth may seem pretty small, but attempt to use it on a teeny-tiny child and you’ll be shocked at how bulky and oversized it becomes. Baby washcloths are sized “just right” for little ones, so it’s worth keeping a significant stash on hand. Aside from scrubbing the day’s dirt away, they’re great for draping over newborns to keep them warm mid-wash, and come in clutch for wiping any droplets or suds that stray into your sensitive toddler’s eyes.
Best bamboo baby washcloths
- Soft and absorbent
- Hypoallergenic and anti-fungal
- Affordable price point
- No loop to hang them up after bathtime
Say goodbye to stiff washcloths that’re harsh on baby’s skin—and hello to this incredibly soft set by Brooklyn Bamboo. The organic bamboo baby washcloths get softer after each wash and are naturally anti-fungal and hypoallergenic. Better yet, the washcloths are free from harsh chemicals and dyes.
Material: Organic bamboo fibers | Dimensions: 10” x 10”
Best muslin baby washcloths
- Larger than other options
- Stays soft wash after wash
- Free from azo chemical compounds
- Cold-wash only
Muslin is gentle enough for the most sensitive skin, making it a great material for baby washcloths. Famed for their swaddle blankets, aden + anais offer a range of muslin essentials for babies. Crafted from a triple layer of cotton muslin, these cloths are soft, durable and generously sized. The muslin dries quickly and the corner loop on each washcloth makes it easy to hang up between uses. Available in a variety of charming patterns and colors.
Material: Cotton-muslin | Dimensions: 12” x 12”
Best cotton baby washcloths
- GOTS-certified organic cotton
- Can be worn like a mitten
- Rib knit trim prevents fraying
- High price point
- Sold in a pack of one
Monica & Andy’s super-soft, organic cotton washcloths are hard to beat. The square baby washcloth is perfectly sized for a newborn or small baby. The washcloths are incredibly soft, absorbent and have a hanging loop for easy drying. And thanks to the triangular mitt opening, you can slip the cloth over your hand making it easier to wash a slippery baby.
Material: Organic cotton | Dimensions: 9” x 9”
Best baby washcloth sets to buy in bulk
- Affordable price point
- Soft and gentle on baby’s skin
- No hanging loop
Buying baby washcloths in bulk can be convenient and cost-effective. That’s why we like Hudson Baby’s 12-pack of woven washcloths crafted from a bamboo-cotton blend. The generously sized washcloths are super soft and perfect for washing baby from head to toe. The price is right too: These washcloths work out at under $2 per item.
Material: Bamboo (70%) and cotton (30%) | Dimensions: 5.39” x 4.96” x 3.62”
Best baby bath mitt
- Super-soft material
- Quick-dry fabric resists mildew
- Elastic wristband for secure fit
- Relatively high price point
A bath mitt is a great alternative to a washcloth, and we love this luxuriously soft one from Baby Mori. Designed to be worn on one hand while the other holds baby steady, this mitt has an elasticated wristband to ensure it doesn’t slip off as soon as the soap gets going. The micro-cotton material is twice as absorbent as regular cotton and dries off in a flash.
Material: Micro-cotton | Dimensions: One-size
The number of baby towels you’ll need comes down to a few different factors. The number one thing to consider is how often you plan to bathe baby. Some parents wash their little ones nightly, while others feel a few times each week is sufficient. From there, consider how often you tend to do laundry. If you’re the once-a-week laundry type, you may want to stock up on a few extra baby towels. In general, though, we recommend having about four to six baby towels on hand if you have only one baby, and six to eight towels for babies if you’re a larger family.
When it comes to baby washcloths, it’s a good idea to have several extras on hand, simply because they can serve many purposes. Beyond the bathroom, stash a few at baby’s changing table in the event of a major blowout, keep one in your diaper bag for on-the-go cleanings (pro tip: stash it in a sandwich bag so you have a handy place to store it if you need to get it wet while you’re away from home) and place a stack in a kitchen drawer for post-meal wipedowns. We recommend purchasing between six and 12 baby washcloths.
We browsed tons of options from the most trusted retailers to help you find the best baby towels on the market today, taking into account features like material, plushness, durability, size and price. For each of the towels we selected, we read user reviews to find out how other families enjoyed them, and didn’t consider any baby towels with less than an average four-star rating. Not only did we leverage our familiarity with leading baby brands to ensure these products are from reliable manufacturers, but we also relied on our writers’ and editors’ experience using towels and washcloths with their own kiddos and highlighted their personal favorites.
Interested in learning more about our editorial process? Read about how our team develops and reviews all articles here.
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