Baby and Kid Hygiene Products We Swear By

This stuff isn’t especially lush or luxe, but it does exactly what you need it to – i.e., it cleans your baby in a gentle, effective way. The foaming formula comes in a fragrance-free version (although you can also choose chamomile verbena or orange blossom), and is exceedingly light. It has no parabens, phthalates, or sulfates, and features the brand’s blend of botanical seed oils. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

While we love the Babyganics shampoo, once your kids are a little older and more active, you’ll want something stronger to combat all the inevitable hair gunk. This stuff is more expensive, but a little goes a long way, and you can choose between fragrance-free and yummy-smelling scented options like Lavender + Rosemary. ($82, Tubby Todd)

With a baby around, you can really never have too many clean cloths – you’ll use them for burping, spit-up, gentle face wipes, you name it. We find that traditional baby “washcloths” are so tiny they end up getting easily lost – which is why we prefer these 100% cotton “burp cloths” that work just fine at removing dirt in the bath. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

Hand over (some of) the reins at bathtime and let your kids clean themselves with this antimicrobial scrubber. It lasts up to a year, and is both gentle and easy for little ones to hold. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

This is one of our favorite baby bathtubs because it lasts a long time – your baby should fit into it well beyond the one-year mark – and is easy to both use and clean. It’s customizable for newborns, older babies, and toddlers, and has a nonslip back panel and color-changing temperature gauge to ensure your baby’s always comfy. If you don’t have the space to store a full-size baby bathtub, we also like this collapsible one. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

These might seem silly – until the first time your kids beg to get into the bath, instead of making you plead with them to just take a quick rinse. These “potions” and foam soaps are great tools for sensory play, but they also help your kids get clean…and the best part? They don’t leave any messy residue for you to clean up. You’re welcome. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)($30.89/6-pack, Amazon)

These 100% Turkish cotton towels featuring Elmo, Oscar the Grouch, and Cookie Monster are a great gift for your friends’ kids – or your own. They dry quickly and have a hood to keep little heads warm. ($45, Brooklinen)

If it’s been a struggle getting your kids to brush longer than three seconds, these light-up brushes are exactly what you need. Just push the button on the brush to get started, and watch as your kids suddenly turn into the toothbrush enforcers, reminding you they’re not done brushing until the flashing light turns off. The timer lasts 60 seconds, so kids should use it once for their top teeth, and one more time for their bottom teeth. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

Another helpful and fun tool to keep kids interested in brushing their teeth, this fluoride toothpaste changes colors from blue to pink after kids have brushed for two minutes. The bubblegum-flavored formula is designed for ages 3 and up. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

If your dentist has mentioned it’s time for the kids to start flossing, make your life easier with these bright, grape-flavored floss sticks. They’re coated with fluoride, and should help your kids get hooked on good dental habits early. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

When you need a little extra styling boost to keep your kids’ hair under control, try this paraben-free, no-residue gel that works well to contain flyaways or give some structure to girls’ or boys’ hairstyles. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

If brushing hair is a pain point in your house, you probably know that finding the right brush – or even adding a dash of novelty with a new brush – can make all the difference. This rubber and nylon one is light, minimally painful, easy to pack on trips, and perfect for kids and adults alike. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

This sweet-smelling detangler spray is designed to work on all textures of hair, and you can use it for your little kids, big kids, or even yourself. Just spray it on wet hair to help you style before air-drying or drying with a towel. ($17, Tubby Todd)

When you need to brush through messy hair in the morning, this spray bottle filled with just plain water can help a lot. It releases water in a gentle mist so you can wet your little one’s hair without soaking them – it’s so fun to use, in fact, that your kid is more or less guaranteed to steal it and run around the house spraying things at some point. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

This light lotion is made without parabens, phthalates, fragrances, or dyes, and is perfect for maintaining your baby’s skin barrier. It has the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance, and is a great, not-too-expensive addition to your diaper table. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

This fragrance-free ointment, made for newborns and up, is pricier but parents swear by it for more stubborn dry skin and eczema. There’s also a newer version with 1% colloidal oatmeal. ($22, Tubby Todd)

It may take some trial and error to find the diaper cream that works best for your baby’s skin. But we find ourselves returning to this one, which has 40% zinc but isn’t as expensive as some of the other options out there (yes, it’s still a lot of money for something you’re going to be spreading on someone’s butt). ($19.48, Amazon)

The best diaper creams will be thick and sticky, staying on your baby’s skin to prevent rashes. But that means they’ll also be pretty annoying to wash off your hands, especially multiple times a day. So let this little silicone spatula do the hard part. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

For diaper changes and even general on-the-go baby hygiene, these wipes from Coterie are good to keep in the mix. They’re plastic-free and made with 99% purified water – plus, the actual wipes themselves are designed with a larger-than-usual shape to cover more surface area. ($30/4-pack, Coterie)