So Fresh and Clean: The Best Baby Towels

Bath time isn’t just about keeping your little one clean—it’s also a sweet way to bond with your baby at the end of a busy day. After lathering them up and rinsing off, reach for a soft baby towel to keep your little warm while you moisturize their skin and dress them for bed.

To keep that precious little skin warm and clean and soft, you’ll want to best baby towel for babies. Here’s what to look for in a bath towel and which baby towels are worth adding to your wish list.

What to Look for in Baby Bath Towel

Whether you’re buying for your own tiny bather in anticipation of navigating their first year of life or shopping for a gift for a parent-to-be, knowing what to look for in a towel can narrow down the options. To make sure you’re buying something that is high quality, it’s a good idea to take into account the material it’s made from, the size of the towel, and a little something known as GSM. (Read on, we’ll explain.) Here are some of the features in baby towels you’ll want to pay attention to when purchasing:

The fabric. Natural fabric is a great choice for a baby towel because it is typically soft and gentle on sensitive skin. Any towel that is a 100% cotton or 100% bamboo will make for a cozy way to dry off your babe.
The size. Most baby towels are a standard size of roughly 30 inches by 30 inches. There isn’t much variation because well, it’s a towel, but toddler towels can be quite a bit bigger. It’s a good idea to double check measurements if you’re shopping for a brand-new infant since a toddler towel will be much too large. And some parents may purposely choose a larger towel, because it can be easier to drape the towel over your shoulder and wrap up the baby fresh out of the tub.
GSM. Code for “grams per square meter,” this acronym measures the weight of fabric per square meter of the fabric. The heavier the fabric, the more absorbent and warm the towel will be when drying off your baby. Typically, 400 to 500 GMS is pretty standard, 600 GSM would be considered premium or luxurious.

Do You Really Need a Baby Bath Towel?

How important is it to have a baby towel specifically for your little one? To be honest, they’re hardly an essential purchase. The towels you already have on hand will do just fine in a pinch. Still, they are nice to have on hand, especially when they’re perfectly sized for a tiny body. Plus, as your baby gets older, they’re sure to enjoy fun hoods like a lion, unicorn, or dinosaur.

As your baby gets older, there is no need to throw away your towels. Since baby towels are often made from cotton or bamboo, they make perfectly soft washcloths for washing your face or taking a bath. Why not get a little more life out of them?

The Best Baby Bath Towels

Bamboo Hooded Baby Towel Set

The Bamboo Hooded Baby Towel is super soft and super sweet. The towel comes in bright white and parents can choose from grey, pink, or blue bear ears. The bamboo fabric the makers chose for this darling towel is especially plush and absorbent thanks to its high GSM measurement. This towel is sold in a gift set with everything a baby needs from scrub down to drying off after their bath. It contains a 10” x 10” by washcloth and a 30” x 30” hooded towel. Along with towels, you’ll receive two wall hooks for easy drying between uses.

Made with durable, bamboo fabric, this towel will remain soft and cozy through repeated washes over the course of your baby’s first year. If you’re not familiar with bamboo, it is an eco-friendly source for fabric because it requires very little water and no pesticides for growth and puts a lot of oxygen back into the environment. This top-rated baby towel can be purchased on Amazon, where 444 reviewers gave it an average rating of 4.9 stars. Here are a few of the details that make this towel stand out:

Four-piece gift set
Includes 10” by 10” washcloth and a 30” by 30” towel
Double checked for safety
Absorbent, premium weight fabric

“My whole family loves this towel, so much so that my husband asked if it came an adult size,” says Amazon reviewer Sarah. “This towel is super soft and highly absorbent, perfect for drying your baby off after a bath.”

Baby Aspen Utterly Adorable Hooded Spa Towel

If your nursery plans include a barnyard theme, look no further. The Baby Aspen Utterly Adorable Hooded Spa Towel with a cow hood is so much fun. Why not cuddle up in a cow towel after a relaxing bath? These towels are made from a soft, terry fabric so it is absorbent enough to quickly try off your freshly bathed baby. It’s perfectly sized for newborns to babies aged 9 months. Give this towel as a gift and you’re sure to get a few “awwws.”

The Baby Aspen Hooded Spa Towels are a favorite on Amazon with a 351 rating and 4.9 stars. Parents reviewers note that the big win with this towel is the design. You can choose the cow—obviously—or opt for an elephant, lobster, or crocodile. “Love this towel,” says one Amazon review. “It is cute and long enough to wrap my 5-month-old up in no problem. I think it will fit up to 9 months (my baby is average size). Very happy with purchase.” Details to love:

30” x 30” towel
White, terry cloth
Colorful, gingham-lined edges

One con noted by reviewers: the fabric itself isn’t super soft, according to parents. Your baby will be warm, they will get dry, and they will be an adorable lobster or cow, but if you’re looking for plush fabric, this towel isn’t it.

Burt's Bees Baby Hooded Towels

Organic cotton makes the Burt’s Bees Baby Hooded Towels super safe and seriously soft for your freshly bathed babe. Among my parenting friends, Burt’s Bees clothing, accessories, and skin products are well-loved for being easy on the skin of babies with eczema or sensitive skin. This two-towel set is available in a variety of patterns, including little ducks, indigo moons, and pink stripes. We’re partial to the signature Burt’s Bees bee pattern, which is paired with a second, solid grey towel. According to the makers, this towel is made from ultra-absorbent fabric so you can quickly dry off your baby so they stay warm after their bath. On the inside, you’ll find a smooth, soft terry and on the outside, a patterned, looped terry.

The affordability of this 2-pack, organic option is one reason the Burt's Bees Baby Hooded Towels landed on Truly Mama’s best-of list. Parent-reviewers love just how soft the towel is and it is recommended for babies with sensitive skin. “Best baby towel,” says Joslyn in her Amazon review. “I am a big fan of anything Burt’s Bee Baby brand. The colors don’t fade when you wash them, the material is soft, and it is a decent size. The Burt’s Bee towels are large enough to use until he is a toddler!” The buzz on Burt’s Bee towels:

2-pack available in multiple colors and prints
29” x 29” towel
Single ply, knit terry fabric
100% GOTS certified cotton

With 3,980 reviews on Amazon, this baby towel has earned a 4.7 star rating. While most buyers had nothing but good to say, a few negatives did show up more than once. A few felt like the towel was too small and more than one parent mentioned they would have preferred a plusher, more absorbent towel made from a thicker fabric.

Organic Bamboo Baby Hooded Towel

If your baby has sensitive skin, consider this hypoallergenic towel as your must-have bath time accessory. It is made from a blend of 70% organic bamboo and 30% cotton, making it gentle enough for any skin type. The makers avoided any substances that could irritate or inflame sensitive skin when they designed their Organic Bamboo Baby Hooded Towel, complete with darling ears on the hood. Like some of the other towels on this list, this bamboo towel is made with a high GSM measurement. Because of this, you’ll find the fabric to be weightier and extra warm for keeping your baby cozy right out of the bath.

Hooded towels for babies are easy to come by, so what sets this one apart? Parents who purchase this bamboo baby hooded towel have a lot of great things to say, one common theme is the larger size and absorbent material. “The little bear hood is so cute and my kids actually treat it like a toy, hugging it and carry it around,” writes one Amazon reviewer. “My oldest is also very tall for his age (45") and this towel is the perfect size for him.” Gotta know features:

35” x 35” towel
Machine-washable
Adorable bear hood

The cons are hard to find with this option. It may feel a little too big a first since it is larger than most baby towels, but your baby will quickly grow into it and it will serve them into their toddler years.

Bambi Bamboo Hooded Baby Bath Towel

Two layers make this Bamboo Hooded Baby Bath Towel by Bambi Bamboo a little warmer and more absorbent than most. The top layer is a printed bamboo muslin and the bottom layer is a white, terry bamboo. It is beautifully packaged, making it the perfect gift for a baby shower for excited parents-to-be. According to the makers, they sought out the best of the best bamboo for their towels. The fabric used for this towel is hypoallergenic, anti-bacterial, and absorptive. We love the durability of this towel and the double stitching ensures it will last through multiple kids.

A GSM of 600 makes this towel heavier and more plush than most baby towels. Typically, you’ll find that baby towels are between 300 and 500 GSM, and they’re probably plenty soft, but 600 GSM gives this towel extra absorbance and weight for keeping your little one dry and warm. Try out this towel:

33” x 33” dimensions
Strawberry, lemon, or floral prints
Naturally eco-friendly and antibacterial

With over 250 ratings on Amazon, this towel has 4.8 stars and plenty of glowing reviewers. More than one parent claimed this was the softest baby towel they had used and that is quickly dried their baby. “I want this towel in adult size,” writes Amazon reviewer Mandy. “It felt super soft after I washed it and has stayed soft and absorbent. I never thought I’d love a hooded towel so much, but it’s definitely a favorite.” The only con worth any attention is that the top muslin layer is a little more delicate than your average towel. If you’re washing it several times a week or your toddler is rough housing or running around the house, you might find it wears out sooner than expected.

Hooded Baby Towel Dinosaur

Bathtime can be a rip-ROARing good time with this Hooded Baby Towel Dinosaur. This bright green towel with a dino hood is 100% cotton, which is gentle on the skin of brand new babies. According to the makers, they sought out fabric that is both absorbent and durable. This towel will withstand plenty of use, many washes, and countless trips to the pool or beach. Plus, they took extra care to seek out sustainably-sourced material for this towel. We love that they stand behind their product, offering a 100% satisfaction guarantee return policy.

Little Tinkers World is a family-owned business and their products are inspired by their own parenting experiences. The Hooded Baby Towel Dinosaur was created to be high quality, while still being a lot of fun and stylish. They also make hooded towels that are elephants, unicorns, and lions. Roarin’ good details:

30” x 30” towel
3D features on animal hoods
100% cotton fabric

“I purchased this towel for my little one and I can't even explain how much I love this towel,” says one parent on Amazon. “The quality is amazing. It's so cute and comfy. I'll be looking into other towels to purchase from this maker soon. Definitely recommend this for your little one and their gentle skin.” With a 4.8 star rating from 367 buyers on Amazon, it was hard to find any negative to share about this towel. One comment we notice a couple times is that it leaves green lint in the wash. It might be best to wash this alone the first few times to avoid this predicament.

Simple Joys by Carter's Baby 8-Piece Towel and Washcloth Set

If you’re looking for a budget friendly towel, the Simple Joys by Carter’s Baby 8-Piece Towel and Washcloth Set certainly gives you the most bang for your buck. In this gift set you’ll find two hooded towels, one flat towel, and five washcloths. You can choose from a variety of coordinating sets, including yellow ducks, teal owls and elephants, or pink flamingos and unicorns. We love this set because of the ease of always knowing you’ve got an extra handy. Let’s face it, that last thing a new mom needs is the pressure of keeping up on laundry!

All of the items in this set are made from a cotton, poly blend. The towels are layered, with a terry cotton on the outside and lined with a cotton jersey on the inside. This makes them soft on your baby’s skin without losing any of the absorptive, drying power you need after a bath. The fun hoods have 3D appliquéd and embroidered characters on them, from dinosaurs to unicorns, and will keep your baby warm while you dry them and dress them after their bath. These towels are smaller, best suited for newborns and babies under one. Carter’s is a well-loved brand known for quality, affordable baby clothing and accessories so we’re not surprised to hear from reviewers that the towels are soft and high quality. Carter’s towels feature:

29” x 29” towel
85% cotton and 15% polyester
Machine-washable

Over 2,000 buyers gave the Simple Joys gift set a 4.7 star rating. “We bought this for our first baby and love them,” write Tyler and Julie in their Amazon review. “We have used them from birth to now and he still loves them. They are soft and just the right thickness. We love the little characters and designs. This would also be a good baby shower gift.” These are smaller towels, as noted in a few lower-star reviews. They’re not as thick as a high-cost, premium option but they’re good quality for the price point, which is hard to beat.

H&M Hooded Bath Towel

Hippity-hop from bath time to bed with this sweet hooded bath towel from H&M. Made from 100% organic cotton terry in brown, the hood on this towel is adorned with floppy rabbit ears, embroidered eyes, and a nose. This towel is a bit bigger than your average baby towel, making it the perfect towel for transitioning from the roly-poly baby days to toddlerhood. It has a hanger loop on the back of the neck for drying between baths. The same towel is also available as a green monster and teal bear.

Eighteen reviewers on HM.com gave the hooded bath towel a 5-star rating. For the Truly Mama team, the size and softness of the towel was a big selling point. Who doesn’t love wrapping up a fresh-from-the-bath babe for a long cuddle in a soft, cozy towel? Must-know features:

28” x 51”
Hooded towel in three styles
Larger size

There's not a lot of cons with this towel, but you may want to keep in mind that since this is a bigger towel, it might not be preferred for infants but will be perfect for older babies and toddlers.

Fox Hooded Bath Towel Wild Orange

The sweetness of this towel is in the design. The Fox Hooded Bath Towel in wild orange has a foxy hood with ears, eyes, and nose and orange paws. A fox's tail completes this towel, but be warned — you might find yourself with a wild animal on your hands. (Oh wait, that’s all toddlers, isn’t it?)

Whether you’re quickly toweling your little off before slipping on pajamas at the end of the day or chasing a bare wild-child around the house, the hood and the 100% cotton terry will keep them cozy until they’re ready for sleep. Details to go wild for:

Larger towel for toddlers
Hooded towel with paws, ears, and towel
100% cotton

Reviewers have great things to say about this towel, which is exactly why it landed on our best-of list. With 66 ratings it has a 4.6 star standing and 88% of buyers would recommend that other parents give it a try. The size of this towel is a huge pro, because parents are using it well beyond the first year of their child’s life. Other buyers mentioned the softness and warmth of the towel. “Adorable towel. Perfect thickness,” says one Target reviewer. “ Fantastic price point. This one hits the jackpot for us.” One negative point made by reviewers is that the size of this towel has changed. It is still quite a bit bigger than a baby towel, but it is smaller than it was in years past by a few inches each way. A few also mentioned that this towel isn’t as thick as they’d like it to be, but it still does the job of keeping their little warm and dry.

Baby Unicorn Hooded Towel

This Unicorn hood on this magical towel from target is as sweet as can be with a shining, gold horn and pink mane. Made from 100% cotton, the Baby Unicorn Hooded Towel is a terry towel that is extra soft for a gentle toweling off after your baby’s before-bed bath. This hood isn’t just adorable, it will also help keep your baby warm while you dry them off.

A cozy towel is a necessity for the bath time routine, but a fun towel is an added bonus. We can’t help but love the Unicorn Hood towel and parent reviewers feel the same. This towel has earned a 5-star rating from 90 reviewers on Amazon. Magical features:

30” x 30” towel
100% cotton terry
Hooded towel

“Adorable unicorn towel, fabric is very soft and washes well!” writes reviewer Carla. Reviewers rated this towel so high because of its value, priced just above $10, and it’s style. They also love how soft the terry fabric is on their baby’s skin. Some cons based on parent reviews are the durability, with one parent mentioning the unicorn horn falling off as well as some pulling of the thread in the wash.