Bath time is a daily ritual from the first week of life. Choosing the right towel makes it warmer, safer, and more enjoyable for your baby — and a lot easier for you. Here's exactly what to look for.

A baby towel is one of those items that seems simple until you've had a wet, cold, unhappy newborn in your arms and realised your towel is too small, not absorbent enough, or already rough from three washes. The right towel makes a real difference — here's how to choose it.

Why Baby Towels Are Different From Adult Towels

Adult towels aren't ideal for babies for several reasons. They're often too large and heavy to handle easily with one hand while holding a slippery wet baby. The terry fabric, while absorbent, can be rougher than appropriate for newborn skin. And crucially, they lack a hood — which for a newborn matters significantly.

Newborns lose heat through their heads disproportionately quickly, because their head-to-body surface area ratio is much higher than adults. A hooded towel wraps around the head immediately after bathing, trapping warmth and preventing rapid cooling.

What to Look For

Material

The best baby towels are made from organic cotton terry. Terry weave creates loops of fabric that dramatically increase the surface area, making the towel highly absorbent. Organic certification (GOTS or OEKO-TEX) ensures that no harsh chemicals were used in production — important for newborn skin that absorbs substances more readily than adult skin.

Avoid towels with synthetic fibres in the blend. Polyester-cotton mixes are less absorbent and less breathable than pure cotton, and can feel scratchy even when labelled as "soft".

Size

For a newborn, a 75cm x 75cm or 80cm x 80cm hooded towel is perfectly adequate. For use through the toddler years, look for 90cm x 90cm or larger. Some parents prefer to buy two sizes — a smaller one for the first three months and a larger one for longevity.

Hood Design

The hood should be large enough to comfortably cover the baby's head without being pulled tight, and deep enough to stay in place while you're drying. A hood that sits only at the very corner of the towel with minimal depth is far less useful than one with a properly shaped, generous hood.

Weight and Absorbency (GSM)

In towels, weight measured in grams per square metre (GSM) is a good indicator of absorbency and quality. Baby towels range from 350 to 600 GSM. For babies, 400–500 GSM is ideal: absorbent enough to dry them quickly but not so heavy that it's cumbersome.

Durability

Baby towels get washed frequently. Look for reinforced edges and a tight enough weave that loops don't snag or pull easily. After several washes, a good towel should still feel soft. If it pills or stiffens, the quality isn't there.

What to Avoid

• Small or thin towels: A towel too small to wrap a baby fully is frustrating. When in doubt, go larger.
• Non-organic fabrics labelled as "soft": Softness achieved with manufacturing chemicals washes out. True softness comes from high-quality fibre.
• Towels without certifications: GOTS or OEKO-TEX certification is your best assurance the dyes and finishes are safe for baby skin.
• Very cheap sets: A towel that costs very little usually cuts corners on fibre quality or weave density. Investing in quality pays off over 12–24 months of daily use.

Frequently Asked Questions