Your baby’s soft, ultra-plump skin is more sensitive than you think. Without proper care, your bundle of joy may experience diaper rashes, skin irritation, and unwanted moisture, leading to discomfort and endless wailing. The solution, fortunately, is simple: baby powder. Below, we discuss the best baby powders to keep your little one feeling and smelling fresh all day long.
Best Baby Powders
Baby powders create a moisture-wicking barrier on your baby’s skin while helping ease friction. These, in turn, can prevent irritation, rashes, prickly heat, and moisture build-up, among others. Although usually lightly scented, fragrance-free options also exist.
There is a wide range of baby powders to choose from, but we only included the top organic and talc-free picks below. To make your life even easier, we also identified which product is suitable for specific needs and preferences.
| Product | Size | Key Ingredient | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Naturally Derived Cornstarch with Aloe and Vitamin E for Delicate Skin by Johnson’s Baby | 4 oz (113 g) | Cornstarch | $4.44 | Buy on Amazon |
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Delicate Baby Powder by Noodle & Boo | 8.8 oz (250 g) | Cornstarch and oat flour | $16.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Dusting Powder, Talc-Free by Burt’s Bees Baby | 7.5 oz (210 g) | Cornstarch and baking soda | $27.55 for a pack of three | Buy on Amazon |
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Baby Powder Talc-Free by Era Organics | 3 oz (88.7 ml) | Arrowroot powder, cornstarch, and kaolin clay | $9.87 | Buy on Amazon |
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Medicated Protecting Powder with Zinc Oxide and Cornstarch by Caldesene | 5 oz (142 g) | Cornstarch and zinc oxide | $6.49 | Buy on Amazon |
1. Best Overall: Naturally Derived Cornstarch with Aloe and Vitamin E for Delicate Skin by Johnson’s Baby
- Retail Price: $4.44 (Click here to check the latest promotion)
- Key Ingredient: Cornstarch
- Size: 4 oz (113 g)
If you want an effective product that does not break the bank, then look no further. Made with naturally derived cornstarch, the classicJohnson’s Baby Powder is gentle but does wonders in absorbing moisture and soothing your baby’s skin. It is also free from parabens, phthalates, and dyes, giving you peace of mind.
Ingredients: Zea mays (corn) starch, tricalcium phosphate, fragrance
2. Best for Newborns: Delicate Baby Powder by Noodle & Boo
- Retail Price: $16.00 (Click here to check the latest promotion)
- Key Ingredients: Cornstarch and oat flour
- Size: 8.8 oz (250 g)
When it comes to the safest products for your newborn’s ultra-sensitive skin, you will never go wrong with the Noodle & Boo Delicate Baby Powder. Dermatologist-tested and hypoallergenic, this product harnesses the powers of cornstarch and oat flour to absorb excess moisture. Meanwhile, the blend of aloe vera and allantoin softens and soothes your baby’s skin, helping protect against chafing and irritation. On top of all these, this powder also contains lactic acid and glycolic acid to gently slough off dead skin, revealing a smoother layer underneath.
Ingredients: Zea mays (corn) starch, Avena sativa (oat) kernel flour, allantoin, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, tricalcium phosphate, fragrance (parfum)
3. Best All-Natural: Dusting Powder, Talc-Free by Burt’s Bees Baby
- Retail Price: $27.55 for a pack of three (Click here to save up to 26%)
- Key Ingredients: Cornstarch and baking soda
- Size: 7.5 oz (210 g)
The Burt’s Bees Baby Dusting Powder is the way to go if you want a safe, all-natural option. Hypoallergenic and clinically proven to be safe, this powder is formulated with cornstarch to keep your little one fresh and dry in-between diaper changes. As a bonus, it also boasts a mild fragrance that parents and babies will surely love.
Ingredients: Zea mays (corn) starch, sodium bicarbonate, water, montmorillonite, bentonite, Commiphoramyrrha leaf cell extract, Ulmus fulva bark powder, Rosa centifolia flower extract, parfum (natural fragrance), limonene
4. Best Organic: Baby Powder Talc-Free by Era Organics
- Retail Price: $9.87 (Click here to check the latest promotion)
- Key Ingredient: Arrowroot powder, cornstarch, and kaolin clay
- Size: 3 oz (88.7 ml)
If you want to go the organic route, you have to try the Era Organics Talc-Free Dusting Powder. Made with a powerful blend of organic powders, this product uses gentle yet intensely nourishing ingredients to relieve dry and damaged skin. Even better, it is also infused with calendula extract and rosemary extract to target inflammation, rashes, and other skin damage. Best of all, this powder is also 100% natural, fragrance-free, non-toxic, and USDA Certified Organic.
Ingredients: Organic arrowroot powder, organic cornstarch, kaolin clay, organic calendula extract, organic rosemary extract, non-GMO mixed tocopherols
5. Best for Diaper Rash: Medicated Protecting Powder with Zinc Oxide and Cornstarch by Caldesene
- Retail Price: $6.49 (Click here to check the latest promotion)
- Key Ingredients: Cornstarch and zinc oxide
- Size: 5 oz (142 g)
Diaper rash is not only unpleasant to look at, but can also be extremely painful for your baby. So, if you want to ease that patch of bright red skin on your baby’s bottom, consider the Caldesene Medicated Protecting Powder. Enriched with zinc oxide, this cornstarch-based powder can soothe and protect the skin while repelling moisture. Both moms and doctors also vouch for its efficacy against rashes and chafing, so you can feel confident that your cherub is safe with every application.
Active Ingredients:
Cornstarch, zinc oxide
Inactive Ingredients:
Aloe vera gel, chamomile, fragrance, kaolin, sodium phosphate
Baby Powders FAQs
Is Talc Dangerous for Babies?
For decades, parents used talcum-based powders to keep the nappy rashes at bay. This traditional baby powder formula typically contains two main ingredients – a clay mineral called talc, and fragrance. Nowadays, though, this type of powder is no longer recommended for use on babies – and anyone, for that matter – due to the health complications it could cause.
Repeated inhalation of talc, for instance, has been associated with lung cancer and other pulmonary concerns. Early studies also show that long-term use of talcum-based powders on female genitals may increase the likelihood of ovarian cancer. While more recent research concluded that the link between the two is weak at best, the risk is still there. In any case, while experts remain divided on the topic, try to steer clear of talc-based powders.
What Should You Look for in Baby Powders?
So, if you should avoid talcum-based powders, which ones are you supposed to get? Lucky for you, there are many safer alternatives to talc. Instead of the controversial mineral, these products usually use any of the following as the main ingredient/s:
- Cornstarch
- Kaolin clay
- Rice starch
- Oat flour
- Arrowroot starch
- Tapioca starch
What Ingredients Should You Avoid in Baby Powders?
Unfortunately, talc is not the only ingredient you have to watch out for. Other potentially harmful ingredientsare also present in many commercial baby powders. This is why it is important to carefully read the labels before buying. Here are some of these noxious ingredients:
- Dyes
- Phthalates
- Parabens
- Synthetic fragrances
How Do You Apply Baby Powders?
When inhaled, baby powders, regardless of whether they contain talc or not, may still cause respiratory problems in babies. But with proper application, you can avoid these issues. Here are some tips to keep in mind.
- Do not sprinkle the powder directly onto your baby. Instead, shake the powder onto a cloth, puff, or applicator, then gently pat the product onto your baby’s skin.
- Do not apply the powder directly to your baby’s genitals. Simply dab a light layer around the genitals and on the legs.
- Keep the baby powder away from your baby’s face to avoid inhalation. Likewise, do not let the product get into their eyes.
- When shaking out the baby powder, try to do so away from your face. Again, this is to avoid any possible inhalation.
- Keep the product out of your baby’s reach at all times.
Best Baby Powders for Fresh, Dry, and Happy Babies
For many parents, baby powder is a must-have in their arsenal. Aside from imparting a fresh, fragrant smell to your little one, it also sops up unwanted moisture and fights off rashes, irritation, and other nasties. Any baby powder, however, will not do. For best results, stick to a talc-free product with a non-toxic formula. Aside from that, you need to learn the proper way to sprinkle the baby powder onto your baby’s skin. With these, you can finally keep your little one feeling fresh as a daisy in no time.
