Key takeaways
- Newborn to 3 months: apron towel for security, or a small hooded square for a basin bath.
- 3 to 12 months: either type works; babies wriggle more, so an apron helps.
- 12 months and up: larger hooded towels with character designs are easier for toddlers who want to dress themselves.
- Swimming lessons: a lightweight, quick-drying muslin or microfibre towel stays manageable in a swim bag.
The best baby towel in the UK for most parents is the Cuddledry Hands-Free Apron Towel, because you wear it while you lift your baby from the bath, which keeps both of you warm and your hands free. For a simpler hooded towel, the Little Bamboo is the budget pick, MORI is the soft all-rounder, and Liewood Albert and Avery Row suit parents who want certified organic cotton. This guide compares sizes, fabrics and uses so you can match a towel to your baby’s age and your bathroom routine.
Quick comparison of the best baby towels in the UK
| Pick | Best for | Size | Fabric | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cuddledry Hands-Free Apron Towel | Best overall, newborn to toddler | About 112 x 75 cm | Bamboo, cotton and polyester blend | Mid to upper-mid |
| Little Bamboo Hooded Towel | Best budget | About 76 x 76 cm | 70% bamboo, 30% cotton | Budget |
| MORI Hooded Baby Towel | Softest all-rounder | Hooded baby size | Organic cotton and bamboo blend | Mid |
| Liewood Albert Hooded Towel | Best design | Hooded size for babies and toddlers | GOTS-certified organic cotton | Upper-mid |
| aden + anais Essentials | Best value multipack | Standard hooded size | Cotton muslin or terry | Budget to mid |
| Avery Row Hooded Towel | Best organic terry | Hooded baby size | 100% organic cotton terry | Mid to upper-mid |
Best overall: Cuddledry Hands-Free Apron Towel
Cuddledry invented the apron-style baby towel, and it is still the one UK parents name first. The hood-and-apron design clips or wraps around you so you can lift your baby from the bath, wrap them against your chest and keep both hands free for support. The towel is large, around 112 by 75 cm, which means it works from birth through to a child bathing independently. Mumsnet and Mother & Baby both list it among the top picks, and the maker sells the apron style alongside character hooded towels for toddlers.
Who it suits: new parents who feel nervous lifting a slippery baby and anyone with a bad back. Main trade-off: it costs more than a plain hooded towel and takes a few baths to get used to.
Best budget: Little Bamboo Hooded Towel
The Little Bamboo towel is a 70 percent bamboo, 30 percent cotton blend measuring about 76 by 76 cm. Bamboo gives a very soft, absorbent finish at a price low enough that you can buy two, so one is always clean while the other dries. It is a classic square hooded towel that you drape over your lap or wrap round your baby.
Who it suits: parents on a budget and anyone who wants a spare. Main trade-off: the hooded square is smaller than an apron towel, so older babies outgrow it sooner.
Best all-rounder: MORI Hooded Baby Towel
MORI, a British brand known for bamboo and organic cotton baby clothes, makes a hooded towel that tops several UK roundups for softness. It has a hood sized to fit a baby’s head and a good absorbency-to-weight ratio, so it dries quickly on a radiator airer. If you are building a coordinated bath set with muslins and wraps, the brand makes matching items.
Main trade-off: not the cheapest, and the bamboo blend needs a gentle wash cycle.
Best design and organic cotton: Liewood Albert
Liewood is a Danish brand with a distinctive, muted look, and the Albert hooded towel is made from GOTS-certified organic cotton. It is popular as a gift, and the hooded shape with animal-ear details photographs well. It works from the newborn stage into toddlerhood.
Main trade-off: premium pricing, and the design details can catch on rough surfaces.
Best value multipack: aden + anais Essentials
The aden + anais Essentials range focuses on muslin, which is lighter than terry but dries very quickly and softens with washes. Sets often contain two towels for less than the price of one premium towel, so you can rotate them between bath and wash. They are ideal for summer babies and for holidays, since muslin packs small.
Main trade-off: less absorbent than thick terry, so you may need to pat dry twice in winter.
Best organic terry: Avery Row
Avery Row makes a hooded towel in 100 percent organic cotton terry, which is thicker and more absorbent than muslin. It stays soft after repeated washing and works well for cooler bathrooms because the weight retains warmth.
Main trade-off: terry takes longer to dry than bamboo or muslin.
Which fabric is best? A quick comparison
| Fabric | Absorbency | Drying speed | Feel | Best season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bamboo viscose blend | High | Fast | Silky | All year |
| Cotton terry | Very high | Slow | Plush | Autumn and winter |
| Cotton muslin | Medium | Very fast | Light, gets softer | Spring and summer |
| Organic cotton (GOTS) | High | Medium | Soft, low-chemical finish | All year |
How many baby towels do you need?
A sensible UK setup is two hooded towels or one apron towel plus one spare, and two to three soft flannels for faces and hands. Plan one towel in use, one in the wash and, if you also take your baby swimming, one lighter towel in the swim bag. The size you choose depends on age: hooded squares around 75 to 80 cm fit up to about 12 months, and larger apron towels last to age three or more.
Hooded towel or apron towel? A decision guide
A hooded square towel is the traditional choice: you lay it flat, lift your baby onto it and fold the hood over their head. It suits parents who bathe on a changing mat or who have a partner to help. An apron towel is a better choice if you bathe alone, if you have a long or tall bath where you kneel, or if you want your baby held against you immediately after lifting.
- Newborn to 3 months: apron towel for security, or a small hooded square for a basin bath.
- 3 to 12 months: either type works; babies wriggle more, so an apron helps.
- 12 months and up: larger hooded towels with character designs are easier for toddlers who want to dress themselves.
- Swimming lessons: a lightweight, quick-drying muslin or microfibre towel stays manageable in a swim bag.
Cost per use: a worked example
If you bathe your baby daily for the first 24 months, that is roughly 730 baths. A towel that costs twice as much but lasts the whole period, instead of needing replacement after a year, works out cheaper per use. For example, a towel at twice the price of a budget one that survives all 730 baths costs the same per bath as a budget towel replaced after a year, and it saves the second purchase. A budget spare costs little and lets you rotate towels so each lasts longer. The practical lesson is to buy one good towel for daily use and one budget spare for wash days.
Bathing safety and care tips
- Warm the room before you start; babies lose heat quickly after a bath.
- Have the towel open and within reach before you put your baby in the water, because you should never leave them unattended even briefly.
- Pat, do not rub, and dry creases under the chin, behind the ears and between the toes.
- Wash new towels before first use, with a non-biological detergent if your baby has sensitive skin.
- Skip fabric softener, which coats fibres and reduces absorbency.
If your baby has persistent skin irritation, speak to a health visitor or GP rather than relying on any particular towel or fabric.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size baby towel should I buy?
For newborns, a hooded towel of about 75 to 80 cm is easy to handle. An apron-style towel of around 110 cm is bigger but lasts longer because it grows with your child.
Are bamboo baby towels better than cotton?
Bamboo viscose is silkier and dries faster, while cotton terry is more absorbent. Both are suitable for babies, and the best choice depends on your washing routine and how quickly you need the towel to dry.
Do I need organic baby towels?
Not strictly. Organic cotton such as GOTS-certified fabric reduces exposure to certain chemicals in farming and finishing, which some parents prefer, but a well-washed ordinary cotton towel is also fine.
How often should I wash baby towels?
Wash a towel after every two or three uses at 40 to 60 degrees, and immediately if it gets soiled. Always check the care label, as bamboo blends usually prefer a gentler cycle.
Can I use a baby towel after swimming?
Yes, but a lightweight muslin or a swim-specific hooded towel is easier to pack and dries faster, especially for outdoor pools or holidays.
