Bath bombs can be a fun and fizzy addition to a child’s bath time experience. For my kids, they make bathtime extra special. But, as you can probably imagine, most brands of bath bombs on the market are not safe for our children’s developing bodies. And if you have a little one with sensitive skin, that goes double!
Not only do they contain artificial colors, food dyes, and synthetic fragrances, but they are also filled with harsh preservatives and chemicals that we want to keep AWAY from our little ones. No matter how old or young they might be.
You don’t have to avoid bath bombs altogether, though, since I’ve found a few safer products on the market. So, toss out those mainstream bath bombs and choose from this list of safer, all-natural bath bombs for your child.
1) Honey Sticks Bath Drops 2) Rowe Casa Kids Bath Bombs 3) Raise Them Well 4) Beauty By Earth Bath Bombs 5) Poofy Organics Bath Bombs 6) Etsy
Most Bath Bombs Are Completely Unhealthy for Kids
Bath bombs have gained popularity in recent years, but I’m truly concerned that parents use them in their children’s baths without realizing how harmful the ingredients are—shockingly harmful. While they can definitely add excitement to bathtime (and even turn a grumpy bather into a happier one), conventional bath bombs often contain ingredients that may pose risks to kids’ health.
To ensure your child’s safety during bathtime, it’s important to use bath bombs sparingly (yes, even the clean ones listed below), and to be mindful of the ingredients in the bath bombs you choose. Here are some shocking ingredients you’ll find in popular children’s bath bombs:
❌ Artificial Fragrances: The best-selling bath bombs on Amazon (at the time of publishing) come in 30 scents. The problem is that they are made with synthetic fragrances, which are extremely unhealthy, especially for little bodies. Instead, look for bath bombs that are fragrance-free or scented with natural, child-safe essential oils. (Which essential oils are safe will vary depending on your child’s age). Artificial fragrances can contain hundreds of potentially harmful chemicals, including phthalates, which can disrupt hormone levels and cause respiratory issues. AVOID anything with an ingredient listed as “fragrance” or “parfum”. This is code for “several chemicals we aren’t disclosing.
❌ Synthetic Dyes and Colorants: As if the concern over artificial fragrances weren’t enough, most popular children’s bath bombs are meant to color the bath water so they contain synthetic dyes. Food dyes are carcinogenic and may contain heavy metals or other contaminants that can be absorbed through the skin. Be sure to avoid bath bombs that are free from synthetic dyes and colorants. This means numbered food dyes (Blue 1, Yellow 5, Red 33, Red 40, etc.) or anything listed as FDA colorants.
❌ Preservatives and Other Harsh Chemicals: Avoid bath bombs that contain chemical preservatives and harsh chemicals such as Polysorbate 80, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, parabens, sulfates, and phthalates (though these are usually listed as “fragrance” or “parfum” as mentioned above). These chemicals can strip the skin of natural oils and cause irritation, particularly in children with sensitive skin.
❌ A note about bath bombs that contain plastic toys: I also noticed that some of the most popular children’s bath bombs contain plastic toys. So the bath bomb would melt to reveal a little plastic trinket. Such a cute idea, but the concern I have over this is that the toys are likely made from cheap plastic (like PVC) that would be getting exposed to hot warm water, which would cause the chemicals to leech into the bathwater. This is best to be avoided!
And finally, I noticed that a lot of popular bath bombs were labeled “organic,” but there are absolutely no ingredient lists or certifications to back that up. Beware of these! Please don’t trust a product simply because it uses a hot keyword like “organic.”
The Best All-Natural Bath Bombs for Kids
So, which are the safest bath bombs for children? I’ve been looking for some, and thankfully, I’ve got you covered! Here are the healthier, all-natural bath bombs that you can trust. Made with clean ingredients and kid-safe scents, these should all also be vegan friendly as well!
1) Honey Sticks Bath Drops
It’s no surprise that another Honey Sticks product makes the list! They might be known for their non-toxic crayons, but Honey Sticks also makes high-quality children’s bath bombs.
Manufactured in New Zealand, their Colour Drops use only food-grade ingredients, contain no synthetic fragrances, and shouldn’t stain your bathtub. Each container comes with 36 bath bombs — and you will only need one per bath, so this purchase offers a lot of value compared to even some of the conventional, toxic brands. The colors are very bright and the bath bombs work very well!
You can either buy the bath bombs by themselves or buy the Honey Sticks Ultimate Bath Fun Set, which contains one set of Colour Drops as well as their bathtime crayons. (By the way, the Bath Fun Set makes a great gift!)
2) Rowe Casa Bath Bombs for Kids
*Grab my Rowe Casa discount code and save 20% on your order! New customers only. See the discounts page.*
Rowe Casa’s Bath Bombs for Kids are made with all-natural ingredients. Like pretty much all of their products, you can really appreciate the quality as well as the ingredients. They work great and smell amazing, and I love that they have bath bombs designed specifically for kids.
Their bath bombs are made with natural ingredients and clays like castor oil, kaolin clay, and baking soda, and natural colorants like spirulina and safflower powder. The fragrance comes from essential oils like grapefruit and lemongrass.
Each package contains 4 bath bombs — blue, green, yellow, and pink — so you’re paying a little more for a quality product, but if you make this an occasional treat, I think it can be worth it.
3) Raise Them Well Magnesium Bath Bombs
Want to hack bathtime into a healthy retreat? Raise Them Well makes magnesium bombs that contain Epsom Salt and Dead Sea Salt, giving your little one dose of topical magnesium.
These natural bath bombs are thoughtfully made in the USA from only kid-safe ingredients like avocado oil, baking soda, arrowroot powder, and beneficial essential oils like lavender and Roman chamomile. And while they won’t color the bathwater or stain the tub (as they contain no colorants), they do make bathtime a fun and relaxing experience for your little one. Highly recommend!
4) Beauty By Earth Bath Bombs
Another quality brand is Beauty by Earth, and while they’re known more for their self-tanner and clean beauty products, they also make all-natural bath bombs. While these aren’t specifically designed for kids, I know that many of my readers use this brand for their kiddos too.
These bath bombs are made with quality ingredients like Epsom salt, Dead Sea salt, chamomile, comfrey, shea butter, rose petal powder, and essential oils for fragrances. Please note that these are made for adults and some of the bath bombs contain eucalyptus oil, which isn’t safe for young children. Also, they do contain sunflower oil, which I know some of my readers like to avoid.
With older kiddos, I would feel totally comfortable using these bath bombs, but I would shy away from using these in particular for toddlers and little ones. It depends on your child’s age, mostly. You can order these on Amazon or on their website for a deeper discount when you subscribe or buy a 3-pack.
5) Poofy Organics Bath Bombs
Poofy Organics makes high-quality bath bombs that you can feel comfortable using on your little ones. The 6-pack contains two of the Immune Booster, Breathe Easy, and Sleepy Sleep bath bombs. And, while you might be worried that they only come in a pack of 6, they are easily cut up into smaller pieces if you would like to get a little more use out of them!
These bath bombs are highly moisturizing and kid-safe. They’re made with ingredients like baking soda, sugar, and shea butter.
6) Etsy Shops
Another option is to check out which Etsy sellers are making handcrafted bath bombs for kids. There are always some great choices on Etsy, but don’t assume that a product is clean and safe just because it’s handmade and on Etsy. I found plenty of bath bombs on there that wouldn’t even come close to meeting these standards, so please be careful when shopping from Etsy shops.
Here are some of the shops I found that are making clean and natural bath bombs for kids:
- The Organic Homemaker (her toddler bath bombs are made from quality ingredients… Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Cornstarch, NonGmo Citric Acid, Essential Oils, NonGmo Sodium Bicarbonate)
- MyZeroWasteFamStore
- LaFountainHerbal (they make clean bath bombs, but the kids version does contain toys inside)
Enjoy Fizzy Bath Time Fun with Clean Bath Bombs!
While bath bombs might not be a part of everyday bathtime, they can definitely make your little one’s bath fun and memorable. Enjoy these cleaner options for your kids’ bath bombs and enjoy making those fun, bathtime memories!
For more bathtime inspiration, check out our guide to the best non-toxic bath toys (that won’t grow mold inside!) and our guide to baby and toddler shampoos. Or read up on how to turn bathtime into a detox bath (hint: you can do this with just a few simple ingredients)!
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