Baby Shampoo Market Assessment, By Type [Medicated, Non-medicated], By Age [Newborn, Infants], By Category [Organic, Non-organic], By Packaging [Sachets, Bottles, Dispensers, Tubes], By End-user [Commercial, Personal], By Price Range [Value Segment, Premium Segment], By Distribution Channel [Offline, Online], By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, 2017-2031F
Global baby shampoo market is projected to witness a CAGR of 4.75% during the forecast period 2024-2031, growing from USD 3.96 billion in 2023 to USD 5.74 billion in 2031. Factors such as high birth rates in various regions are primarily driving the growth of the baby shampoo market with consumers increasingly demanding good quality baby care products for their infants. The exposure of modern parents to digital media is further supporting the market growth.
Other factors which are pushing the market growth are advancements in the formulation of baby shampoo, offering consumers with improved formulations which cater to the specific skin needs such as sensitive skin or certain scalp issues. Innovations in the formulation such as tear free formulas and introduction of pH-balanced shampoos for babies appeal to the consumers. Parents are becoming more informed about baby skin sensitivity and issues such as eczema; thus, they are seeking shampoo to reduce the risk of allergic reactions and skin irritation. For instance, in February 2023, Baby Magic introduced its latest collection which focuses on the sensitive skin for babies. The collection included Soothing Hair and Body Wash, which is a tear-free and hypoallergenic formulation, offering a gentle cleanse and help in smoothening and balancing dry and sensitive skin of babies.
Eco-friendly packaging, cruelty-free formulation, and ethical sourcing of ingredients are increasingly important to environment-sensitive consumers. The manufacturers are incorporating natural and organic ingredients and eliminating harsh chemicals form the formulation to make the baby shampoos environment friendly, aligning with the consumers who prefer gentle and healthy baby-care products.
Moreover, e-commerce and direct-to-consumer brands are changing the face of the market with convenience for parents in accessing a wide array of products. The ease in the availability of baby shampoos in pharmacies and online platforms turns the urge for products into the purchases among the consumers. Moreover, to increase the convenience of the consumers, the manufacturers are selling their products in user-friendly packaging such as dispenser bottles and travel-sized tubes.
Overall, the baby shampoo market is trending toward safer, more personalized, and environmentally sustainable products, reflecting the change in the preferences of modern parents.
Pediatrician-Recommended Baby Shampoos to Gain Momentum
Pediatrician-recommended baby shampoos are increasingly preferred by consumers. These shampoos often undergo clinical testing to ensure safety and efficacy which instills confidence in parents. The assurance is paramount when choosing a product for a baby's sensitive skin and delicate hair.
They are formulated with gentle and non-toxic ingredients to minimize the potential risk of allergic reactions, skin irritations, and other adverse effects on infants' sensitive skin. Pediatrician-recommended shampoos tend to provide area-specific care from issues such as cradle cap, eczema, or just dry scalp which makes them especially helpful for common scalp conditions in infants. Cradle cap is considered to affect 10% of infants until the age of 1 month, 70% of infants till the age of 3 months, and 7% in the infants aged between 1 to 2 years.
Thus, manufacturers are launching baby shampoos in collaboration with pediatricians for the formulation of the product. For instance, in January 2022, Happy Cappy announced that it earned the acclamation for being the ‘Best Cradle Cap Shampoo’. Its first medicated shampoo is formulated specially for relieving scalp flakiness, scaling, and redness which is associated with seborrheic dermatitis in children of all ages. The product has been developed by board-certified pediatric physician, Dr. Eddie Valenzuela who has created a line of vegan-friendly and irritant-free products.
Shampoo with Organic Ingredients to be Preferred by Consumers
Baby shampoos with organic formulations are gaining more relevance among the consumers than the non-organic shampoos due to several reasons. Organic baby shampoos are formulated with natural ingredients that tenderly take care of an infant's sensitive skin and scalp area. These shampoo appeal to the consumers as they do not irritate baby’s skin, cause allergic reactions, or dryness since they are free from the chemicals which are commonly found in synthetic chemicals. Most of the ingredients in organic baby shampoo are natural botanicals and essential oils, which are known individually for their nourishing and soothing properties. Ingredients such as aloe vera, chamomile, and calendula enhance their benefits by promoting healthy hair and scalp. Organic formulations are free from harmful chemicals such as parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and artificial perfumes or fragrances, thereby reducing the risk of exposure to toxins which harm the developing body of babies.
Parents believe that the usage of organic products develops a better long-term health condition as it decreases exposure to harsh chemicals and enhances general wellness.
In October 2022, R for Rabbit Baby Products Pvt. Ltd. launched their latest product category, ‘Pure & Beyond’, which includes baby shampoo. The latest product category is made from plant-based and organic ingredients which include almond, oatmeal, lavender, avocado, and coconut among others. Since, the products are formulated with natural and chemical-free ingredients, it does not cause toxicity to the baby’s skin.
Hypoallergenic Baby Shampoos to Gain Momentum
The demand for hypoallergenic baby shampoos has been on the rise in recent times due to increased awareness among parents to use safe and mild products on sensitive infant skin. In modern times, parents are well informed about the impact of usage of harsh shampoos which have harsh chemicals, artificial fragrances, and allergens, which results in skin irritation and allergic reactions on sensitive people. While hypoallergenic formulations offer reduced risk and are a much safer alternative, unlikely to cause an adverse skin reaction. Hypoallergenic shampoos minimize the likelihood of occurrence of eczema and atopic dermatitis in babies, as these products are pH-balanced, ensuring that they do not disrupt the natural acidity of the skin.
For instance, in October 2023, Birch Babe launched new organic baby essentials, Birch Baby collection which included Birch Baby Shampoo & Body Wash with Calendula and Aloe. The hypoallergenic baby shampoo, being formulated with eco-friendly and dermatologically tested ingredients, are gentle and formulated for sensitive skin types.
Hypoallergenic baby shampoo are mild on the eyes of the baby, which minimizes tearing, which further appeals to the consumers to drive the market growth.
Asia-Pacific to Hold Significant Global Baby Shampoo Market Share
Asia-Pacific is witnessing a surge in the rising demand for ayurvedic and herbal baby shampoo among the consumers as they are relatively milder than other shampoos available in the market. For instance, in February 2023, BabyOrgano, an ayurvedic brand was launched in the region for kids from 0 to 15 years. The baby shampoo launched by the brand has been approved by FDA and free from chemicals and synthetic agents, ensuring a gentle hair wash for babies.
Increasing trend of globalization is driving the market growth as various manufacturers are now expanding their business significantly in Asia-Pacific to cater to a wider and diverse base of audience. For instance, in July 2023, Sanosan Baby, a popular German brand for baby care products announced the launch of exclusive gift hamper which has been tailored to specifically cater Indian baby skin. The hamper included the Sanosan Baby two-in-one Bath and Shampoo for gentle cleansing of both skin and hair.
Moreover, the growth in the social media and increasing exposure to the products availability to the consumers further augments the demand of baby shampoo in the region. Consumers have become increasingly aware of what products would best suit their babies and what is ideal to be used on their skin for their healthy development.
Future Market Scenario (2024 – 2031F)
The future of baby shampoo markets is going to witness significant growth. The demand for natural and organic formulations, due to the increasing concern for health among parents and their wariness of the use of various synthetic chemicals. Shampoos with herbal ingredients, paraben-free, sulfate-free, and artificial-fragrance-free, are gaining popularity for perceived safety and gentleness.
Technological advancements are changing the face of the market, fostering the growth in the future. Smart packaging and digital engagement including QR codes that provide product information and usage tips, make a higher consumer experience and trust.
Key Players Landscape and Outlook
Key players in the market are helping the growth by focusing on continuous product innovation, retail expansions, and strategic marketing. The manufacturers are actively expanding their product portfolio, increasing the base of the customers, and catering to their evolving needs.
Sustainability, being a key market trend, is facilitating the consumers to produce sustainable and environmentally-friendly products, either through the formulation or packaging. Key players are introducing refills in the packaging to reduce the usage of plastic which is deployed to produce a fresh shampoo bottle. For instance, in March 2024, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. introduced new sustainable refills for their baby shampoo which requires less plastic during packaging. These new refills have been made available by the brand at Target and on Amazon.