More Than Just Bath Time: Building a Bedtime Routine Baby (and Parents) Will Love

Ask almost any seasoned parent what they miss most about the baby years, and chances are they’ll mention the little things.

The way your baby melts into your arms after a warm bath. Tiny fingers wrapped around yours during bedtime cuddles. Those quiet moments when the rest of the world seems to disappear, leaving only soft pajamas, sleepy smiles, and one last goodnight kiss.

Of course, not every evening looks like that. Some nights are filled with diaper blowouts, skipped naps, overtired tears, and wondering how someone so tiny can have so much energy. But even on the busiest days, a familiar bedtime routine can bring a little calm to the chaos for both babies and parents.

A warm bath. A gentle massage. Fresh pajamas. A favorite bedtime story.

Those everyday moments become more than just part of the bedtime routine. They become some of the memories you’ll treasure most.

Having baby care products you can feel good about simply makes those moments a little easier to enjoy. That’s exactly what the NOW® Baby collectionis all about. Made with clean, functional ingredients and without harsh chemicals or common allergens, the collection helps parents care for their little one’s delicate skin while creating comforting daily rituals. Most of the products are EWG Verified®, providing another layer of assurance that parents can trust they are free of harmful chemicals. Even better, the products are gentle enough that the whole family can enjoy them.

Whether you’re shopping for your own growing family or looking for the perfect baby shower gift, here’s why it caught our attention.

Tiny Skin, Big Responsibility

If you’ve ever kissed your baby’s chubby little cheeks or rubbed their tiny feet after bath time, you’ve probably noticed just how unbelievably soft their skin is. It’s one of those things every parent falls in love with almost instantly.

That softness is also what makes baby skin a little more vulnerable. Since it’s still developing, it can dry out more easily and become irritated by everything from cold weather and frequent diaper changes to bath products that are a little too harsh.

As parents, we spend enough time reading labels on everything from snacks to sunscreen, so it’s refreshing to find a baby care line that takes a simpler approach. The NOW® Baby collection features nourishing, plant-based ingredients and leaves out many of the ingredients families often try to avoid, like parabens, phthalates, petrolatum, and sulfates. It’s the kind of collection that lets you feel good about what you’re putting on your baby’s skin without overcomplicating your routine.

Splish, Splash, and Sweet Memories

Bath time is about so much more than getting clean. For many families, it’s the first step in winding down after a day of crawling, exploring, playing, and discovering the world. Warm water, gentle bubbles, and a peaceful atmosphere help signal that bedtime is just around the corner.

The Gentle Baby Shampoo & Wash (Calming Lavender) makes bath time feel relaxing from start to finish. Made with calendula extract, chamomile, aloe, and organic lavender oil, it gently cleanses baby’s hair and skin without leaving it feeling dry. If your evenings already include a calming bedtime routine, the light lavender scent is a lovely finishing touch.

If your family prefers products without added fragrance, the Fragrance-Free Gentle Baby Shampoo & Wash offers the same soothing cleansing experience using calendula and chamomile extracts to leave skin feeling soft and clean. While it’s currently out of stock, it’s definitely one to keep on your wish list if your little one has especially sensitive skin.

One of our favorite things is that both formulas are gentle enough for everyday use, making bath time something your family can look forward to night after night.

After the Bubbles Come the Snuggles

Once the splashing is over and the towels come out, it’s the perfect time to give baby’s skin a little extra love. Applying a lightweight moisturizer while skin is still slightly damp helps lock in hydration, leaving those tiny arms, legs, and cheeks soft, smooth, and ready for all the bedtime snuggles.

The Nourishing Baby Lotion (Fragrance-Free) combines calendula extract with shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, and jojoba oil to help soothe dry, delicate skin. It’s an easy choice for families looking for an everyday moisturizer that’s both gentle and fragrance free.

If you enjoy ending the day on a calm note, the Nourishing Baby Lotion (Calming Lavender) features that same deeply moisturizing blend of botanical ingredients with the addition of organic lavender oil for a light, relaxing scent that’s perfect before pajamas and bedtime stories.

The easy-to-use pump bottles are another thoughtful touch, especially when you’re trying to lotion up a wiggly baby with one hand.

The Sweetest Part of the Routine

Long before babies understand words, they understand touch.

A gentle massage after bath time can become one of the sweetest parts of the evening, giving parents a chance to slow down, connect, and soak in a few quiet moments before the day comes to an end.

The Soothing Baby Oil (Fragrance-Free) blends organic olive, jojoba, coconut, and argan oils with calendula extract to help nourish delicate skin from head to toe. The lightweight formula glides on smoothly, making it ideal for a relaxing massage after bath time.

If lavender is already part of your family’s nighttime routine, the Soothing Baby Oil (Calming Lavender) offers those same nourishing botanical oils with the addition of organic lavender oil for an extra calming touch before bed.

It’s amazing how just a few quiet minutes can become just as comforting for parents as they are for baby.

Every Diaper Bag Needs a Hero

Let’s be honest. Parenthood isn’t all adorable bath photos and sleepy cuddles.

Diaper changes happen. A lot.

And when irritation pops up, it’s nice knowing you already have something gentle within reach.

The NOW® Baby Diaper Butter Paste combines zinc oxide with calendula, cocoa butter, vitamin E, olive oil, lanolin, and beeswax to help soothe and protect their baby’s sensitive skin. It’s the kind of product that quickly earns a permanent spot in the nursery, the diaper bag, and yes, even Grandma’s house.

Simple Products, Thoughtful Care

One of the biggest challenges for new parents is figuring out which products actually deserve a place in the nursery. That’s one reason we like how refreshingly simple the NOW® Baby collection is.

Instead of overwhelming parents with dozens of products, the collection focuses on the everyday essentials that naturally fit into family life, from bath time and moisturizing to diaper care and bedtime cuddles.

One thing we really love is how everything works together so naturally. Instead of feeling like you need a cabinet full of different products, the line gives parents a simple routine, from a gentle shampoo and body wash to nourishing lotions, soothing baby oils, and a diaper paste that’s ready whenever little bottoms need a little extra TLC. It takes some of the guesswork out of baby skincare, so you can spend less time worrying about products and more time enjoying the cuddles, giggles, and bedtime moments that go by all too quickly.

Another bonus? These aren’t products you’ll outgrow after the newborn stage. Whether you’re caring for a baby, a busy toddler, or simply want thoughtfully made products the whole family can use, they’re easy to keep reaching for.

July Is the Perfect Time to Stock Up

If you’ve been thinking about refreshing your baby’s skincare routine, now is the perfect time.

Throughout the month of July, the entire NOW® Baby collection will be on sale, making it easy to stock up on everyday essentials while saving a little money along the way.

Whether you’re shopping for your own little one or putting together the perfect baby shower gift, the NOW Baby collection brings together the everyday essentials parents reach for most. It’s a simple, gentle collection that helps take some of the guesswork out of everyday baby care, so you can focus on what matters most, making memories with your little one, one bath, one cuddle, and one bedtime story at a time.

The Little Moments Become the Big Memories

Years from now, your child probably won’t remember which lotion you used or which shampoo sat on the edge of the bathtub.

But they’ll remember the feeling.

The warm bath before bedtime.

The soft towel fresh from the dryer.

The gentle back rub.

The extra bedtime snuggle.

Those are the moments that quietly become the foundation of childhood.

Having products you trust simply means spending less time worrying about what’s in the bottle and more time soaking up the little moments that matter most. 

Browse the complete collection:

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wmanning

Associate Publisher & Creative Director