The best baby sponges make cleaning Baby easy for you, fun for them! We get that giving your baby a bath can be an overwhelming experience. You’re trying to keep them safe and steady when they’re super slippery, and you’re trying to get them clean at the same time. Having the right bath tools like a baby bathtub, fun bath toys, and kid-safe bubbe bath is definitely helpful, and that includes a baby bath sponge. It sounds like something small, but having one of the best baby bath sponges out there can help make the bathing experience easier and more pleasant for everyone.
For newborn babies, between one and three sponge baths a week are enough! Babies don’t actually get too dirty (unless it’s a big pee/poop situation of course). Allow yourself to take in the glorious newborn smell while you can, mama. A general rule of thumb is that babies should not be fully immersed in water until the umbilical cord falls off. So until then, feel free to keep it to a limited amount!
When looking for the perfect baby bath sponge, find something that is soft enough for the sensitive skin of a newborn, but will also cleanse their skin quickly. Ideally, you should opt for something hypoallergenic that won’t collect mold or mildew quickly, and something that can be cleaned very easily is always a plus. Some baby bath sponges are so cute that they can double as bath toys, which is great to have as your little one gets older and starts splashing around. You should also make sure the sponge is easy to grab and hold onto, even while you’re also holding a wiggling infant. And if you haven’t heard of it before, let us introduce you to the baby bath sponge mat that cradles little ones while they’re chillin’ in the tub.
Below is a collection of some of the best baby sponges out there, from sponge mats, to all-natural sponges, to mitts, and more.
Konjac Baby SpongeFor an all-natural option, go for these plant-based Konjac sponges, which are biodegradable and compostable. The cute shapes (a ladybug, butterfly, and star) are fun for Baby to play with and the colors come from natural add-ins like turmeric. One thing to note is that since these are natural, they will disintegrate over time. Fortunately, they’re inexpensive and easy to replace.
$11.99Scalp Scrubbie Sponge BrushIt’s never a bad idea to have a sponge brush on hand for washing baby’s head, especially if your newborn has cradle cap (this is just an oily scalp that leads to flakes–it’s painless but some parents like to try to get rid of it). A scrub brush like the Scalp Scrubbie is meant to help diminish cradle cap while also being super gentle and soft. It can also be used on Baby’s body, and of course, it can be used on their head even if they don’t have cradle cap.
$8.99SoapSox Taylor the Turtle Bath Toy & SpongeThis turtle-shaped sponge acts as both a sponge/washcloth and a toy your tot will love to play with in the bath. It’s made of a soft terry material and all you need to do is add some soap and work it into a lather. There are built-in finger pockets to make this easier to hold so it doesn’t quickly slip out of your hand, plus it’s antimicrobial. You can even throw it in the laundry for easy cleaning.
$9.99ScrubBEE Buzzy Body BrushThis unique sponge, which is shaped like a honeycomb and beehive, is made of soft silicone bristles that will gently massage the skin. There’s a handle that makes it easy to grab and hold onto and a solid core that doesn’t trap water. It’s fun and bright, so it doubles as a bath toy. Since it’s made of silicone, you can throw it in the dishwasher for easy cleaning.
$8.99Munchkin Duck Duck Clean Sponge Bath ToyThis cute little duck is a toy and a sponge all in one — the sponge is attached to the duck, which can float in the water. You can easily hold onto the duck and use the sponge side to clean baby, and then when you’re done, let them play with the duck itself. The sponge is small but it still gets the job done, and little ones love the rubber duckie shape.
$5.49Sevi Baby Cellulose Bath SpongeAnother natural option is this cellulose sponge, which is biodegradable and also great for cleaning Baby’s sensitive skin. It’s highly absorbent with a special soft texture that works really well on sensitive newborn skin, and it gently exfoliates without irritation. The oval shape makes it easy to grip even while holding your baby.
$10.25Baby Buddy Natural Baby Bath SpongeThis Baby Buddy sponge is a natural sponge that is ideal for Baby’s sensitive skin. It’s soft and absorbent and it’s also hypoallergenic, so you don’t need to worry about any mold or mildew building up. It’s 100% biodegradable, but because it’s natural, it will need to be replaced every eight weeks of use. This is a great eco-friendly and sustainable sponge option that also really works.
$9.44DermaFrida The Bath Mitt by Frida BabyThink of this as a body scrubber and a sponge combined. The mitt style makes it easy for older kids to use it to clean themselves and encourages independence, but adults can also use it if they need to. Gentle and exfoliating, this cleans even the most sensitive skin and really gets rid of any dry skin or dirt that might linger. As a bonus, it has a suction cup on the back so that it can hang in the shower.
$10.86Walnut Tree Ducky Mitt Bath SpongeSometimes trying to hold a sponge and also keep your little one in place can feel impossible. A sponge mitt like this one is convenient because it just goes over your hand. It’s super easy to use (and you can let your little one try using it when they get older), and it works really well with a soft surface that gently cleanses. It’s made of organic bamboo fibers which are extra soft, mold and odor-resistant, and sustainable and durable. Plus, the duck design makes this one extra fun.
$9.99Hallo Soft Infant Bath SpongeThis large bath sponge mat acts as an insert for an infant and can be placed in a baby bathtub, a regular bathtub, or even a sink. It’s soft and conforms to Baby’s shape for extra comfort and it won’t lose shape easily. It’s also pretty easy to clean and has a slip-resistant surface. And it comes with three smaller sponges in fun shapes that you can use to clean Baby’s body.
$9.98Summer Infant Comfy Bath SpongeThis contoured foam bath sponge mat makes your little one’s bath so much more comfortable and secure. It features a slip-resistant material so it will stay put whether you use it in a sink, bathtub, or infant bathtub, and it’s made of a quick-drying foam for fast and easy cleanup.
$9.99SHOP THE STORY
Hallo Soft Infant Bath SpongeThis large bath sponge mat acts as an insert for an infant and can be placed in a baby bathtub, a regular bathtub, or even a sink. It’s soft and conforms to Baby’s shape for extra comfort and it won’t lose shape easily. It’s also pretty easy to clean and has a slip-resistant surface. And it comes with three smaller sponges in fun shapes that you can use to clean Baby’s body.
$9.98DermaFrida The Bath Mitt by Frida BabyThink of this as a body scrubber and a sponge combined. The mitt style makes it easy for older kids to use it to clean themselves and encourages independence, but adults can also use it if they need to. Gentle and exfoliating, this cleans even the most sensitive skin and really gets rid of any dry skin or dirt that might linger. As a bonus, it has a suction cup on the back so that it can hang in the shower.
$10.86Konjac Baby SpongeFor an all-natural option, go for these plant-based Konjac sponges, which are biodegradable and compostable. The cute shapes (a ladybug, butterfly, and star) are fun for Baby to play with and the colors come from natural add-ins like turmeric. One thing to note is that since these are natural, they will disintegrate over time. Fortunately, they’re inexpensive and easy to replace.
$11.99Scalp Scrubbie Sponge BrushIt’s never a bad idea to have a sponge brush on hand for washing baby’s head, especially if your newborn has cradle cap (this is just an oily scalp that leads to flakes–it’s painless but some parents like to try to get rid of it). A scrub brush like the Scalp Scrubbie is meant to help diminish cradle cap while also being super gentle and soft. It can also be used on Baby’s body, and of course, it can be used on their head even if they don’t have cradle cap.
$8.99Sevi Baby Cellulose Bath SpongeAnother natural option is this cellulose sponge, which is biodegradable and also great for cleaning Baby’s sensitive skin. It’s highly absorbent with a special soft texture that works really well on sensitive newborn skin, and it gently exfoliates without irritation. The oval shape makes it easy to grip even while holding your baby.
$10.25Summer Infant Comfy Bath SpongeThis contoured foam bath sponge mat makes your little one’s bath so much more comfortable and secure. It features a slip-resistant material so it will stay put whether you use it in a sink, bathtub, or infant bathtub, and it’s made of a quick-drying foam for fast and easy cleanup.
$9.99Baby Buddy Natural Baby Bath SpongeThis Baby Buddy sponge is a natural sponge that is ideal for Baby’s sensitive skin. It’s soft and absorbent and it’s also hypoallergenic, so you don’t need to worry about any mold or mildew building up. It’s 100% biodegradable, but because it’s natural, it will need to be replaced every eight weeks of use. This is a great eco-friendly and sustainable sponge option that also really works.
$9.44Walnut Tree Ducky Mitt Bath SpongeSometimes trying to hold a sponge and also keep your little one in place can feel impossible. A sponge mitt like this one is convenient because it just goes over your hand. It’s super easy to use (and you can let your little one try using it when they get older), and it works really well with a soft surface that gently cleanses. It’s made of organic bamboo fibers which are extra soft, mold and odor-resistant, and sustainable and durable. Plus, the duck design makes this one extra fun.
$9.99SoapSox Taylor the Turtle Bath Toy & SpongeThis turtle-shaped sponge acts as both a sponge/washcloth and a toy your tot will love to play with in the bath. It’s made of a soft terry material and all you need to do is add some soap and work it into a lather. There are built-in finger pockets to make this easier to hold so it doesn’t quickly slip out of your hand, plus it’s antimicrobial. You can even throw it in the laundry for easy cleaning.
$9.99ScrubBEE Buzzy Body BrushThis unique sponge, which is shaped like a honeycomb and beehive, is made of soft silicone bristles that will gently massage the skin. There’s a handle that makes it easy to grab and hold onto and a solid core that doesn’t trap water. It’s fun and bright, so it doubles as a bath toy. Since it’s made of silicone, you can throw it in the dishwasher for easy cleaning.
$8.99Munchkin Duck Duck Clean Sponge Bath ToyThis cute little duck is a toy and a sponge all in one — the sponge is attached to the duck, which can float in the water. You can easily hold onto the duck and use the sponge side to clean baby, and then when you’re done, let them play with the duck itself. The sponge is small but it still gets the job done, and little ones love the rubber duckie shape.
$5.49This article was originally published on