Hooded Towels vs Wash Mitts: What Babies Need at Bath Time
By Babies R Us Australia | Published: 2026-11-04
Category: Product Reviews
A hooded towel keeps a baby warm after the bath, while a wash mitt makes washing gentler. Compare two real options and decide what your newborn bath time essentials should include.
Quick answer
Buy both if your budget allows: a hooded towel is the priority for warmth and drying after the bath, while a wash mitt makes washing gentler and more controlled. If you can only choose one, start with the hooded towel and add a mitt once bathing becomes a regular routine.
Why a hooded towel earns its place first
A baby loses heat quickly when wet, so the towel you reach for straight out of the bath matters more than the washing tool. A hooded design covers the head while you dry the body, which means one less thing to juggle with a slippery baby.
The Little Haven Hooded Towel in Safari is sized for babies aged 0 to 3 years and uses a unisex safari theme in blue. That age range makes it a longer-term purchase than a mitt, but it also means the fit will be generous on a newborn and closer to a snug wrap for a toddler.
Where a wash mitt changes the job
A wash mitt is not a smaller towel. It is a washing tool that fits over your hand, giving you direct control while keeping your fingers together. That can make it easier to wash a newborn's folds and creases without a loose cloth slipping around.
The Playgro Fauna Friends Wash Mitt is a grey mitt made from a soft, absorbent fabric and is intended for babies and toddlers. It coordinates with other nursery and bath items, which is a small practical bonus if you like a matching set. The trade-off is that a mitt does one job: it will not dry or warm your baby after the bath.
The real trade-off: coverage versus control
A hooded towel gives you full-body coverage and warmth, but it is bulky in use and takes longer to dry after washing. A wash mitt gives you precise control and takes up little space, but it leaves the rest of the body exposed and wet while you work.
That is why the two items are complementary rather than interchangeable. The towel handles the moment after the bath; the mitt handles the washing itself. Choosing between them is really a question of which problem you are trying to solve first.
Trade-offs to weigh before you buy
- Warmth and drying: A hooded towel wins here because it covers the head and body in one move. A wash mitt offers no drying coverage at all. If your baby protests at the end of the bath, fix the towel first.
- Washing control: A wash mitt gives you a fitted hand covering for washing creases and folds. A hooded towel is too bulky to wash with. Add a mitt when you want more precision around the neck and diaper area.
- Cost and longevity: The hooded towel is sized for 0 to 3 years, so it stays useful as your baby grows. The wash mitt is a smaller, lower-cost add-on that suits babies and toddlers. Buy the towel as the core purchase and treat the mitt as a low-risk extra.
Product facts at a glance
- Little Haven Hooded Towel - Safari: Designed for babies aged 0 to 3 years with a hooded design and a blue safari theme. The hood keeps the head covered while you dry the body, and the age range means it can last from newborn through toddlerhood.
Little Haven Hooded Towel - Safari - Playgro Fauna Friends Wash Mitt: A grey wash mitt from the Fauna Friends collection, made from a soft, absorbent fabric for babies and toddlers. Fitting over your hand gives you closer control when washing delicate skin, and the neutral grey coordinates with other bath items.
Playgro Fauna Friends Wash Mitt
Which should you buy?
Best for
- Parents building a newborn bath time kit who want the essential drying item first
- Anyone bathing a baby who gets cold or fussy when wet
- Shoppers who prefer a unisex safari design that suits boys and girls
Not for
- Parents who already have a hooded towel and only need a gentler washing tool
- Shoppers looking for a single item that both washes and dries
- Anyone who wants a precise fit on a newborn without extra fabric around the body
