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Baby Bath Essentials I Used From Newborn to Toddler

Bathing a newborn can feel strangely high-stakes when you are doing it for the first time. Is the water too hot? How are you supposed to rinse their hair without…

Bathing a newborn can feel strangely high-stakes when you are doing it for the first time. Is the water too hot? How are you supposed to rinse their hair without getting water everywhere? And why is wrapping a slippery baby in a towel its own skill?

These are the baby bath essentials that made that routine easier for me: soft towels and washcloths, a floating thermometer that helped me learn the right water temperature, and a rinser we still use with our toddler.

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Quick verdict

The Burt’s Bees Baby towels and washcloths were soft, lightweight basics that lasted through both of my kids. The animal-ear towels made bath time and baby pictures more fun. The duck thermometer was especially helpful with my first baby, while the Skip Hop rinser is the item with the most staying power—we still use it with our toddler.

Verdict: The thermometer is great for first-time confidence, the towels are soft infant essentials, and the Skip Hop rinser is the long-term winner.

The bath thermometer that helped with my first baby

When you are bathing your first baby, you may have no sense yet of what a comfortable water temperature should feel like. I liked having the b&h duck bath thermometer because it gave me an actual temperature instead of making me rely on a nervous guess.

It floats in the water and shows the temperature on its digital display. It also uses color alerts and flashes when the water is too hot, which gave me extra reassurance while I was still learning what worked for a baby.

I used the duck with my first baby, but I did not really use it with my second. By then, I could put my hand in the water and know what felt right. It is one of those products that may be much more useful for a first-time parent than an experienced one—and that is still a very good reason to have it.

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The rinser we still use with our toddler

I really liked the Skip Hop Moby waterfall rinser because I could use it anywhere we happened to be doing bath time: in the sink, in a portable baby tub, or in the regular bathtub.

It gives you more control when pouring water over your child’s hair, so you are not sending water everywhere or straight into their eyes. We still use it with our toddler for rinsing shampoo, which makes it one of the longest-lasting items in this list.

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Soft towels and washcloths

Baby towels and washcloths are simple essentials, but the right ones make bath time a little easier. I used these Burt’s Bees Baby towels and washcloths with both of my kids, and they held up well enough to last through both.

My favorite thing about them is the cotton. They are soft and lightweight without feeling bulky, which made them especially easy to use during the infant stage.

The washcloths

The Burt’s Bees Baby washcloths are made from 100% organic cotton knit terry and measure 9 by 9 inches. They are soft and gentle, but they are also lightweight enough for everyday baths and quick cleanups.

I used them with both kids, and they lasted through both. That is exactly what I want from a basic baby item: soft enough for a newborn, practical enough to wash over and over, and durable enough to pass down.

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The hooded towels

The Burt’s Bees Baby hooded towels are also made from 100% organic cotton knit terry. The linked set includes two towels, each measuring 29 by 29 inches.

They are soft, absorbent, and lightweight. That lighter feel is one of the reasons I liked them so much for infants: they were easy to handle and did not feel like too much towel for a tiny baby.

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Where the size starts to matter

These towels worked very well during the baby stage, but I liked them less as my kids got bigger. Once you are trying to wrap up a larger toddler, the standard size can feel harder to use and gives you less coverage.

That does not make them a bad purchase. It just means they have a clearer sweet spot than a larger bath towel. I would choose them for an infant or young baby, then expect to move up to something roomier later.

The larger ducky option

The ducky towels are a better option if you want more room. They are large, soft, and easier to use as kids grow. Like the other towels, they held up through both of my kids.

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The hooded towels with ears

I also have a few hooded towels from HIPHOP PANDA, and I love them. The little ears make bath time feel more fun for both you and the baby. The linked bear towel measures 30 by 30 inches and is made from rayon derived from bamboo, according to the current product listing.

These towels have also become part of a small family tradition. I take a picture of each baby in every hooded towel, and those photos are so much fun to look back on. It turns an everyday bath-time item into a sweet little memory.

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What I liked

  • The duck thermometer made first-baby bath temperatures less intimidating
  • A flashing hot-water alert provided extra reassurance
  • The Skip Hop rinser worked in the sink, portable tubs, and the big tub
  • We still use the rinser to wash our toddler’s hair
  • Soft cotton against baby’s skin
  • Lightweight and easy to handle
  • Durable enough to last through both kids
  • Larger animal towels offer more coverage
  • Animal ears make bath time and baby pictures more fun

Things to consider

  • You may stop reaching for the thermometer once you can judge the water comfortably yourself.
  • A thermometer supports your judgment but does not replace checking the water and supervising your baby throughout the bath.
  • The standard hooded towels become harder to use as kids get larger.
  • Lightweight towels may not be the best choice if you prefer a thick, plush towel.
  • Check the selected towel design and size on Amazon before ordering.

Who these are best for

The duck thermometer is best for first-time parents who want extra reassurance about bath-water temperature. The Skip Hop rinser is useful from the newborn stage through toddlerhood, especially if washing hair tends to send water everywhere. The Burt’s Bees options make sense if you prefer lightweight cotton, while the HIPHOP PANDA towel is a fun choice for playful details and bath-time photos.

If you are shopping mainly for a toddler, I would skip the smaller standard hooded towels and choose a larger option instead.

Second-baby update

My second-baby experience was different. I did not really use the duck thermometer because I already knew what comfortable bath water felt like. I did keep using the Skip Hop rinser, and we still use it with our toddler. The washcloths stayed useful, while the smaller hooded towels felt less practical as the kids grew. The larger animal towels had more staying power because of their size.

Would I buy them again?

Yes, but not every item serves the same stage. I would buy the thermometer for a first-time parent, and I would absolutely buy the Skip Hop rinser again because we have used it in every kind of tub and still use it with our toddler. I would also buy the Burt’s Bees Baby washcloths again. For towels, I would use the lightweight Burt’s Bees styles for an infant and choose a larger ducky or animal-ear option as the baby grows.

Frequently asked questions

Is a baby bath thermometer useful?

It was very useful with my first baby because I did not yet know what the right bath-water temperature felt like. The display and flashing hot-water alert gave me extra confidence. I did not use it much with my second baby because I could judge the water more easily by then.

Can the Skip Hop rinser be used outside a regular bathtub?

Yes. I used mine in the sink, portable baby tubs, and the regular bathtub. We still use it to rinse our toddler’s hair without pouring water everywhere or directly into their eyes.

Are Burt’s Bees Baby towels soft?

Yes. All of the towels and washcloths I used felt soft, including after being used by both of my kids.

Are the hooded towels better for babies or toddlers?

In my experience, the standard hooded towels are much better for infants. They become harder to wrap around kids as they get larger.

Did they last through more than one child?

Yes. I used these towels and washcloths with both of my kids, and they lasted through both.

Are the animal-ear hooded towels worth it?

I think so. The ears are a small detail, but they make bath time more fun for you and the baby. I also love taking a picture of each baby in the different hooded towels and looking back on those memories later.

Shop the bath-time favorites

The hooded towels

The Burt’s Bees Baby hooded towels are also made from 100% organic cotton knit terry. The linked set includes two towels, each measuring 29 by 29 inches.

They are soft, absorbent, and lightweight. That lighter feel is one of the reasons I liked them so much for infants: they were easy to handle and did not feel like too much towel for a tiny baby.

SHOP THE BURT’S BEES BABY HOODED TOWELS
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The hooded towels

The Burt’s Bees Baby hooded towels are also made from 100% organic cotton knit terry. The linked set includes two towels, each measuring 29 by 29 inches.

They are soft, absorbent, and lightweight. That lighter feel is one of the reasons I liked them so much for infants.

SHOP THE BURT’S BEES BABY HOODED TOWELS
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TESTMARK

Bathing a newborn can feel strangely high-stakes the first time. Is the water too hot? How do you rinse their hair without getting water everywhere? These are the bath essentials that made the routine easier for me from newborn days through toddlerhood.

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Quick verdict

The duck thermometer helped me build confidence with my first baby. The Skip Hop rinser is the item with the most staying power—we still use it with our toddler. The Burt’s Bees towels and washcloths were soft, lightweight basics that lasted through both kids, while the animal-ear towels made bath time and baby pictures more fun.

The bath thermometer that helped with my first baby

When you are bathing your first baby, you may have no sense of what a comfortable water temperature should feel like. I liked the b&h duck thermometer because it showed the temperature and flashed when the water was too hot. That gave me extra reassurance while I learned what worked for a baby.

I used it with my first baby but not much with my second. By then, I could put my hand in the water and know. It may be more useful for a first-time parent—and that is still a very good reason to have it.

SHOP THE DUCK BATH THERMOMETER
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The rinser we still use with our toddler

I used the Skip Hop Moby waterfall rinser in the sink, portable baby tubs, and the regular bathtub. It gives you more control when pouring water over your child’s hair, so you are not sending water everywhere or straight into their eyes. We still use it to rinse our toddler’s hair.

SHOP THE SKIP HOP MOBY RINSER
Affiliate link

Soft towels and washcloths

I used these Burt’s Bees Baby towels and washcloths with both kids, and they lasted through both. I love that they are cotton, soft, and lightweight without feeling bulky.

The washcloths

The linked 100% organic-cotton knit-terry washcloths measure 9 by 9 inches. They were soft enough for a newborn, practical enough to wash repeatedly, and durable enough to pass down.

SHOP THE BURT’S BEES BABY WASHCLOTHS
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The hooded towels

The linked Burt’s Bees set includes two 29-by-29-inch organic-cotton towels. They are soft, absorbent, and lightweight, which made them especially easy to use during the infant stage. As my kids got larger, the standard size became harder to wrap around them.

SHOP THE BURT’S BEES HOODED TOWELS
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The larger ducky option

The ducky towels are a better option if you want more room. They are large, soft, and easier to use as kids grow.

SHOP THE DUCKY HOODED TOWELS
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The hooded towels with ears

I also have a few HIPHOP PANDA towels, and I love them. The ears make bath time more fun for you and the baby. I take a picture of every baby in each hooded towel, and those photos are so much fun to look back on. The linked bear towel measures 30 by 30 inches.

SHOP THE HIPHOP PANDA HOODED TOWEL
Affiliate link

Second-baby update

I did not really use the thermometer with my second baby because I already knew what comfortable water felt like. I kept using the rinser, and we still use it with our toddler. The washcloths stayed useful, while the smaller towels became less practical as the kids grew.

Would I buy them again?

Yes, but each item serves a different stage. I would buy the thermometer for a first-time parent and absolutely buy the rinser again. I would also rebuy the washcloths. For towels, I would choose lightweight styles for an infant and a larger animal-ear option as the baby grows.

Shop the bath-time favorites

Nike John
Author: Nike John

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