Best Baby Towels for Warmth After Bath Time
Last Updated on September 30, 2020
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If you’re like me, you might picture a little baby burrito when you see an infant wrapped in a towel after a bath. It’s probably one of the most adorable things you’ll ever see.
Before you grab the camera, let’s make sure you’ve got the best baby bath towels that are the right softness and size for your little one. We’ll guide you through what you look for in a towel and washcloths for your baby’s bath time.
Too busy loving your little one? Here’s our top pick.
The top pick for the best baby towel is the Hudson Baby Hooded Bath Towel. The towel is 100% woven cotton terry cloth that is ultra soft and gentle for your baby’s skin. It also comes in a variety of different colors with a cute animal on each one.
Our favorite place to get a personalized baby towel is from Crafting4Caleb on Etsy. My family has purchased two hooded towels from Amy’s shop for our boys.
They have been used a TON over the past few years and are still holding up great. Besides making outstanding towels, the story behind Crafting4Caleb is also heartwarming.
Our Top Picks
Best Personalized Hooded Towel: Crafting4Caleb Personalized Towel
Best Hooded Baby Animal Face Towel: Hudson Baby Unisex Cotton Animal Face Hooded Towel
Great Value Baby Towel: JJ Cole Baby Towel Set
Best Organic Bamboo Hooded Baby Towel: Miniboo Premium Ultra Soft Organic Bamboo Baby Hooded Towel
Best Bath Towel Gift Set for Baby Showers: Spasilk 23-Piece Baby Towel and Washcloth Set
Best Hooded Towel for Toddlers: Warm Cuddles Organic Bamboo Toddler Hooded Towel
Best Baby Robe: Hudson Baby Baby Plush Robe
Best Cotton Baby Washcloths: Burt’s Bees Knit Terry Baby Washcloths
Best Bamboo Baby Washcloths: Nightingale Muslin Bamboo Baby Washcloths
Do babies need special towels?
Yes, it is highly recommended your baby have their own bath towel that is made specifically for infants.
Smaller Size: Your baby is a small version of you, so their towel should be smaller too. A regular towel is typically around 30 inches wide by 60 inches long. Baby towels, on the other hand, are often a square that’s between 29-35 inches to nicely wrap around your little ones.
Hooded Towel: You’ll want to get a hooded towel to keep your baby cozy and warm from head to toe. They get cold faster than adults, so cover them up carefully and quickly after taking them out of the tub.
Softness: You should look for baby towels made of cotton muslin for maximum plushness and comfort. Don’t use those cheap scratchy towels on your baby’s sensitive skin.
Baby Designs: Baby bath towels come in many designs with a super cute baby animal or pattern on both the towel and washcloth, if they come in a set.
What are the softest baby towels?
Here is what to look when selecting a high quality, soft towel for baby.
100% Cotton or Bamboo: The most comfortable baby towels are 100% cotton muslin or bamboo. Some may come lined in super-soft terry cloth as well to absorb more water. The cotton towels are highly absorbent, hold up well after multiple washes, and are less of a skin irritant compared to other material.
Organic Towels: Pick a towel made of soft organic cotton or bamboo that hasn’t gone through chemical treatments and colored with non-organic dyes. If your child has a skin reaction during bath time, it may be due to irritants in the towel or soap. If the towel is made of bamboo, it is naturally eco friendly, hypoallergenic, and antibacterial to maintain freshness.
Tips on washing towels for babies
Never use bleach detergents on baby towels or clothes. Bleach is a powerful chemical that can severely irritate the baby’s sensitive skin or cause other issues. Instead, use a fragrance-free baby detergent on your machine-washable towels.
Wash the towels after each use. Damp towels are a breeding ground for bacteria and baby immune systems aren’t as strong. Do what you can to prevent illness, so don’t skip a wash to ration baby detergent.
How many towels do you need for a baby?
You should have at least 2 or 3 towels for baby. You never know when your baby will have a crazy blowout or spit up multiple times a day that require multiple baths. Always have an extra towel or two while the other is in the wash.
You can often find towel sets that come with matching towels and washcloths. You’ll get a cute baby bath towel set for your little one that you won’t mistake for anyone else’s towel.
Reviews for the Best Baby Towel
Best Personalized Hooded Towel: Crafting4Caleb Personalized Towel
If you’re the type that appreciates handmade clothing with custom embroidery, we love the incredible variety of hooded towels that Amy VandenBerg offers.
Her Etsy shop has towels with just about any animal print, sport, vehicle, or color. You can even have your baby’s towel personalized with their name or cute nickname and choose from 10+ towel colors.
We personally bought a green turtle and blue whale hooded towels from her several years ago for our first child. Those towels are still used every time our toddler takes a bath.
WHAT WE LOVE
- Option to personalize your towels with your child’s name
- Incredible customization options with 70+ different animal face hooded towel designs, 10+ color options, and 4 fonts
- Ultra-soft, high-quality, and handmade hooded towels
- Highly responsive seller to answer questions
- Great towel to give as a baby gift
WHAT COULD BE BETTER
- Slightly more expensive than towel packs from stores
- Shipping isn’t overnight, but still comes fast (especially for personalized orders)
Best Hooded Baby Animal Face Towel: Hudson Baby Unisex Cotton Animal Face Hooded Towel
Hudson Baby is well-known for producing quality children’s wear for babies and toddlers. Their unique woven 100% terry cotton hooded towels are super absorbent and soft.
The embroidered animals on the hood are very detailed and incredibly adorable. The animal ears that stick out from the hood make it that much better. These towels are a sure way to make bathtime fun and comfortable for your little one.
WHAT WE LOVE
- Over 50 different variations of animal towels
- Unique hoods that are the shape of the animal’s head with adorable ears that stick out
- Good size towels at 33 x 33 inches will last for several years
- Made of 100% woven cotton terry cloth
- Affordable baby towels at such good quality
WHAT COULD BE BETTER
- Ears or other fabric sticking out on the towel has a higher chance of getting snagged in the wash
- Fabric not as thick as higher-priced towels or as soft as some bamboo options
Great Value Baby Towel: JJ Cole Towel Set
The JJ Cole set is a great deal for new parents. You’ll get both a soft hooded towel and matching washcloth so you don’t need to buy them separately. It also helps to have a matching washcloth so you know just what to grab when bathtime comes around.
This set offers a hooded towel and washcloth for less than as others sell for just one towel. The towel set also comes in 4 cute pattern options and is made from 100% cotton.
WHAT WE LOVE
- Adorable baby patterns with either whales, clouds, flamingos, or yellow ducks
- A larger hood that ensures your baby is fully wrapped from head to toe
- Towel is the perfect size for newborns
- Baby hooded towel comes with a matching washcloth
- Made from 100% cotton
WHAT COULD BE BETTER
- Towel is 30 x 30 inches, which is great for newborns, but small for bigger babies or toddlers
- Product description makes it seem like you get two baby towels instead of a towel and washcloth
Best Organic Bamboo Hooded Baby Towel: Miniboo Premium Ultra Soft Organic Bamboo Baby Hooded Towel
This is without a doubt the plushest bamboo baby towel we’ve been able to find. These organic hooded towels are made up of an incredible mix of 70% bamboo and 30% cotton to make them incredibly soft.
This premium towel with a hood is made of bamboo fiber that is naturally hypoallergenic, anti-bacterial, and free of unnatural substances – which is great for your baby’s skin. The larger size of this towel is big enough that you shouldn’t need another towel until your little one is 3-4 years or older.
WHAT WE LOVE
- Organic baby towel made completely of bamboo
- Extra soft bamboo fiber material to protect your baby’s skin
- Generously sized 35 x 35-inch towel will provide plenty of coverage for even bigger babies
- Fabric absorbs water really well and it dries pretty fast
- Extra thick for the best softness and durability
- Gender-neutral baby hooded towel with a bear design that will look adorable on your baby
WHAT COULD BE BETTER
- Not made of 100% bamboo fibers
- Takes a fairly long time to dry due to its super absorbency
Best Bath Towel Gift Set for Baby Showers: Spasilk 23-Piece Baby Towel and Washcloth Set
If you’re looking for baby bath towels to give as a baby shower gift, this set has everything the new mom will need. It comes with 3 hooded towels and 20 washcloths in various prints and colors.
This set comes in 6 different cute patterns for baby boys, girls, and also gender-neutral if you don’t know the sex. The fabric is made of 80% cotton and 20% polyester which will make them more durable to withstand many baths and washes.
WHAT WE LOVE
- Perfect number of towels and washcloths you need for baby (23 piece set)
- Adorable print options for a baby hooded towel; including various animals (giraffes, elephants, hippos), boats, dinosaurs, butterflies, flowers, and more simple baby patterns
- Hard to beat the great price for so many towels (great for value seekers)
- Super-fast drying due to the thinner material makes it easy on the dryer
- Great as everyday baby bath towels
WHAT COULD BE BETTER
- Thinner fabric than other towels on our list
- Not made from 100% organic cotton
- Quality doesn’t compare to bamboo and other premium options
Best Bamboo Baby Washcloths: Nightingale Muslin Bamboo Baby Washcloths
If you’re looking for the best baby washcloth, the muslin bamboo washcloth from Nightingale is hard to beat. While not entirely bamboo, the combination of organic cotton and bamboo make these washcloths feel amazing.
The ultra absorbency also makes these perfect for use as a burp cloth or face towel for your little one. You’ll love the softness and durability of these washcloths even after many uses and washes.
WHAT WE LOVE
- Larger 12 x 12-inch size makes them great baby washcloths, burp cloths, or face towels
- Excellent washcloths for newborns, toddlers, or big kids
- Extra-soft and ultra-absorbent washcloths are perfect for bathtime or feeding time
- Premium packaging make this is 6 pack a great baby shower gift
- Hypoallergenic and shrink resistant material
WHAT COULD BE BETTER
- Made of two pieces of fabric, instead of one, so you can feel them slide or shift when washing
- Not made of 100% organic bamboo since it’s a bamboo/cotton mix
Best Cotton Baby Washcloths: Burt’s Bees Knit Terry Baby Washcloth Set
While I think of chapstick when I hear the name Burt’s Bees, they also make great newborn and infant clothing. This washcloth set comes in a pack of 3, 6, or, 15 washcloths and doesn’t disappoint in comfort or softness.
These are 100% organic cotton washcloths that will help take care of your baby’s soft skin. They’re very absorbent and made of quality materials so they should last you a long time.
WHAT WE LOVE
- Super soft, breathable, and absorbent knit terry cotton material
- Combed and ring-spun fabric prevents pilling after multiple washes
- Quality construction that is smooth on one side and cotton looped on the other for different bathing needs
- Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified as 100% organic
- Lightweight and gentle on the skin
WHAT COULD BE BETTER
- May experience some shrinking after the first wash (must dry on low/tumble)
- Higher quality makes it slightly more expensive than a bulk washcloth set
Best Hooded Towel for Toddlers: Warm Cuddles Organic Bamboo Toddler Hooded Towel
While most baby bath towels are fine for infants and early toddler years, some bigger children need a little more fabric to completely wrap up. The Warm Cuddles organic bamboo towel is 42 x 30 inches in size, providing enough room as your child grows.
This bamboo towel is 100% organic and naturally hypoallergenic which makes it perfect for kids with delicate skin. If your toddler needs a new hooded towel, this is the most comfortable and absorbent towel you’ll likely find.
WHAT WE LOVE
- Extra-large size at 42 x 30 inches is ideal for bigger babies or toddlers as they continue to grow
- 100% organic bamboo fabric feels like it gets softer after washing and is incredibly cozy on your toddler’s skin
- Toddler towel is 500 gsm (grams per square meter) thick, making it nice and fluffy
- Rectangular in shape which provides more coverage than the typical diamond-shaped baby bath towel
- The perfect towel for toddlers or even 5 to 6-year-olds
WHAT COULD BE BETTER
- Takes longer to dry due to the thickness and softer material
- The seam between the hood and rest of the towel could be stronger to prevent potential separation
Best Baby Bath Robe: Hudson Baby Baby Plush Robe
Bathrobes are always a great gift option. On babies, they serve an important role in keeping the little one snuggly and warm after bathtime.
This Hudson Baby plush robe is ideal for parents and caregivers with young infants during colder months. Putting a robe on your baby after you take them out of the bath and dry them off is the perfect way to quickly warm them up and calm them down.
WHAT WE LOVE
- Very plush and warm bathrobe for your baby
- Hooded bathrobe comes in over 30 different animal prints and colors
- 100% polyester material is super cozy and fluffy
- Perfect robe for all babies up to 12 months depending on how fast they grow
WHAT COULD BE BETTER
- Robes are not meant for drying so you’ll need to towel baby off first
- Polyester material may shrink the robe after washing and drying the robe the first couple times
- Only comes in one size which will not fit most large babies or those older than 9-12 months
Let’s Wrap This Baby Up
Keeping your baby warm and getting them dry after bathtime is super important. Due to their itty bitty size, they lose body heat at a much faster rate than you do getting out of the tub.
To get your baby warmed up quickly, the best baby towel that we liked is the Hudson Baby Hooded Towel due to the ultra-warm and absorbent cotton material. If you’re looking for a towel made with soft bamboo fibers, we liked the Miniboo Ultra Soft Baby Hooded Bamboo Towel. It’s not 100% bamboo, but has a great blend of bamboo and cotton that your baby will love.
Lastly, if you want a personalized towel with your sweet child’s name on it, custom order one from Crafting4Caleb on Etsy. The quality is great and turnaround time to get the towel is excellent.
