The 6 Best Baby Towels, Tested by Newborns and Infants

When choosing the overall best baby towel, we looked for an option that was super cozy and warm, easy to wash and made from absorbent, natural materials—and Lalo’s ribbed hooded towel checked all of those boxes and then some. Right away, I was happy that it’s made from 100 percent organic Turkish cotton that’s OEKO TEX-certified. Moreover, the infant towel is constructed with zero-twist yarn, increasing the towel’s durability while creating a plush, soft feel.

I’m a huge fan of the ribbed design, which added texture to the towel so it didn’t look so flat and plain. (Honestly, it looks so cute hanging up in our bathroom!) Not only is the ribbing aesthetically pleasing, but it also increases a towel’s surface area, boosting absorbency—which I definitely noticed during testing. The ribbed cotton dried my 2-month-old quickly while keeping him warm; the towel itself dried off within minutes, too.

The feature that completely won me over, however, was the towel’s hood. First, it’s positioned in the center, so it’s along one of the sides instead of the typical corner spot. This small but impactful design detail gave me much more towel to fully wrap my baby in—which is appreciated as a mom who wants to keep baby warm and happy at all times. Second, the hood isn’t massive and floppy. It only covered the top of my son’s head and didn’t fall over his face like many others do on the market. Surprisingly enough, the hood fit my 3-year-old very well, too!

Needless to say, the Lalo The Ribbed Towel is personally one of my new favorite baby towels. For a middle-of-the-road price point, you get a 5-star product. I’m actually surprised that the price isn’t higher for the quality you get! To top it all off, with code THEBUMP10 you can score 10 percent off when checking out on Lalo.com.

Material: 100% cotton | Dimensions: 47" (L) x 26" (H) | Care instructions: Machine wash, tumble dry

A baby towel that keeps your sweet newborn warm and happy isn’t a bonus, it’s a must. The KeaBabies Luxe Baby Hooded Towel stood out as the best towel for newborns because it’s just that cozy. It’s the only option on our list made from a bamboo-viscose blend, and its high GSM towel weight of 500 makes it particularly absorbent and plush.

From the get-go, our tester, Shawna, mom of a 6-week-old, was impressed by how soft this towel was. “It was a great thick material and felt impressive for a baby towel—he was super comfy wrapped in it and did in fact fall asleep after his bath,” she shared. “It dried off my baby very fast and kept him warm while doing so! I absolutely love this material. I think we will use this towel for years.”

The KeaBabies hooded towel also offers ample coverage for newborns. “The size is great for babies or even toddlers—it’s not too big or too small. It’s great to wrap a newborn in,” Shawna says. Thanks to the generous 35-inch by 35-inch size, there’s less struggle to keep your newborn's legs and arms from popping out the sides as you try to wrap them up. One thing Shawna did note was that the hood was on the larger side for her 6-week-old. However, she thinks it will fit perfectly in months to come as he grows into it. Her final takeaway? “This towel is definitely worth the price—I would buy more for my son,” Shawna praised.

Material: Bamboo viscose | Dimensions: 35" (L) x 35" (H) | Care instructions: Machine wash; tumble dry

If you want a towel that does its job and does it well, The Company Store’s hooded towel should be in your cart. Thanks to its 400 GSM weight (the second-highest on our list), it’s super absorbent, allowing you to dry baby gently yet effectively. Best of all, the towel itself is also quick-drying. Our tester, Nina, and her 9-week-old were a big fan of this feature. “When I first opened the towel, I was impressed with how soft it was, but I really was more impressed after using it simply because of how well it absorbed water and didn’t seem wet,” said Nina. With this baby hooded towel, there isn’t that typical soggy wet feeling you can get from lower-quality options.

Size-wise, the infant towel’s width is perfect for snugly wrapping baby. The center hood is a nice touch to close the towel around your baby’s body with less exposed skin. That said, Nina mentioned it could be longer and wished it covered her child’s legs more. It’s worth noting that this towel has the smallest dimensions on our list. Nina also mentioned that the hood was on the larger side for her 9-week-old, but she appreciated that her little one could grow into it.

Yes, this towel is a bit pricey, but the quality makes up for it. “Normally, I wouldn’t spend much on full-size towels, much less a baby towel. But this baby towel is awesome,” says Nina. Its durability, quick dry time and quality soft fabric make it worth the higher price in Nina's eyes. All that paired with its cute animal-themed hoods? This fast-drying towel is both functional and adorable.

Material: 100% cotton | Dimensions: 24" (L) x 34" (H) | Care instructions: Machine wash; tumble dry

I’m a mom of a 2-month-old and a 3-year-old, so a generously sized towel that works for both of my kiddos is essential for my household. Measuring 46 inches long and 46 inches tall, the Parachute Organic Hooded Toddler Towel has the largest dimensions of any towel on our list, which was apparent during testing. I appreciated that I could easily wrap my 2-month-old in this hooded towel and that there was extra wiggle room. It covers him entirely from head to toe with no arms or legs sticking out.

This hooded towel was also an ideal size for my toddler. It snugly covered my 3-year-old and kept her cozy, which was a big win since she usually gets cold after baths. It even touched the floor when she was wrapped in it, further demonstrating how well it works for multiple ages. You know those pants in the movie The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants that fit the whole friend group? This towel is just like that! I’d be lying if I said I didn’t try it out for myself, too—and I loved it.

Now, onto the material—I’m obsessed. You can’t beat 100 percent organic cotton construction, especially with sensitive infant skin. It’s ultra-soft and dried my 2-month-old fast. He stayed completely warm after bath time in this cozy towel cocoon. Moreover, the towel is made from long-staple cotton, which will stay soft and strong, even after repeated washes. The quality of this towel is great—thick, but not too thick. I can personally see it lasting years in our household, from babyhood through toddlerhood. One downside to this multi-stage towel is that it’s the most expensive option on our list. That said, I’d recommend it to parents looking for a generously sized style that’s thick and snuggly. Alternatively, it could also be a great option to put on your registry as a gift!

Material: 100% cotton | Dimensions: 46" (L) x 46" (H) | Care instructions: Machine wash; tumble dry

Finding a baby towel made with organic cotton at a low price point is hard these days—but the Carter’s Little Planet Baby Organic Cotton Towel meets the mark. I was impressed that, for under $20, you can receive a cute animal-themed baby towel that’s made from certified organic cotton by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). Baby skin is so sensitive, and I felt great knowing this material wouldn’t irritate my 2-month-old’s skin.

Perhaps best of all though, I love that you can get a medium-thickness towel for a more budget-friendly price than the others on the market. Most of the time, cheaper baby towels are thin and don’t wick away water well, but that was not the case for this one! It dried my child faster than other low-priced, thin options I’ve tried that just seem to get soggy. What’s more, wrapping my little one up in this towel was quick and easy; the size of it was perfect right now for my 2-month-old.

If I’m being honest, the towel isn’t super soft when it comes out of the package. However, once you wash it, it does get noticeably smoother. The sweet design makes up for this drawback, though. I have the one with the lion hood, and it’s simply adorable. Carter’s offers several other animal options, and I like that their styles are playful, but not over the top. All in all, you can count on this budget-friendly infant towel to keep baby feeling cozy and looking cute after baths.

Material: 100% cotton terry | Dimensions: 30" (L) x 30" (H) | Care instructions: Machine wash; tumble dry

The LouLou Lollipop Hooded Towel Set exudes luxury. Made from a plush blend of bamboo rayon and cotton, it’s unbelievably soft, extra-warm and allows me to wrap my 2-month-old up like a dream. If you’re looking for something snuggly, this one’s a winner. Better yet, the washcloth isn’t an afterthought in this set. The thick, high-quality design lathers great and is a step up from those super paper-thin ones you usually find at the store. (I’ve tossed all my thin ones now that I have this one!)

Another aspect I love is that this towel is on the larger side; it’s big enough to fully wrap up my 2-month-old and 3-year-old. While the length and width of the towel are generous, the hood isn’t oversized, so it doesn’t fall over my youngest’s face, which I appreciated. This towel left my baby super dry, and he was visibly calmer when wrapped up in it.

Although it absorbs water gently and effectively, it’s worth noting that this towel and washcloth material takes longer to tumble dry. The luxe material is almost blanket-like, and because of this, it’s more delicate than other infant bath towels I tested. The instructions suggest washing in a garment bag for protection. I didn’t have one and noticed a snag in the material after one wash. If you’re okay with a bit of extra care, though, this towel is totally worth it.

Last but not least, I loved the different design options this set came in. They’re adorable, yet not overly kiddy; the style I tested features a jungle scene with leopards and greenery. The packaging was also memorable. This set was packaged in a nice box, whereas the others arrived in plastic wrapping. I personally think it would be a great gift! Overall, the large size, high absorbency and ultra-plush feel make it a fantastic buy. It’s a little on the pricey side, but it’s worth every penny to me.

Material: 70% rayon from bamboo/30% cotton | Dimensions: 32" (L) x 32" (H) | Care instructions: Machine wash in garment bag; tumble dry