Bath time with older kids has its own set of problems. The baby bottle with the cartoon duck suddenly feels embarrassing, the scalp gets dry in winter, and half the “kid-friendly” washes on the shelf smell like a candy factory. If you’ve been hunting for something gentle that doesn’t look like it belongs in a nursery, California Kids Calendula Shampoo and Bodywash is one of the products that keeps coming up.
What Is California Kids Calendula Shampoo and Bodywash?
It’s a 2-in-1 shampoo and body wash from California Baby, the family-run skincare company that has been around since 1995. The brand explains the “Kids” label simply: at a certain age, older kids don’t want to use “baby” products anymore, so California Baby relabeled its much-loved Calendula formulas with more age-appropriate packaging. In other words, it’s the same trusted calendula shampoo and bodywash many parents already know, just dressed for bigger kids.
One bottle handles hair and body, which is a real win for rushed school-night baths, sports-bag emergencies and travel.
The Ingredients Worth Talking About
The formula is built around a short list of plant-derived ingredients. According to the brand and its retailers, the highlights are:
- Organic calendula extract. Calendula, also called pot marigold, has been used on skin for centuries. California Baby grows its signature calendula on its own certified organic farm in Santa Barbara County, California.
- Aloe vera. Paired with the calendula to help soothe and moisturize.
- Soap bark and plant-based glucosides. These are the cleansers. The brand describes them as organic, sustainably harvested and non-drying, which is the point of a gentle kids shampoo that isn’t built on harsh sulfates.
- French lavender and clary sage essential oils. The light, calming scent comes from 100% pure essential oils rather than synthetic fragrance.
The company also says its preservative system is fully plant-based, using isolates of basil and anise instead of essential oils, and that it took about six years to develop.
Is it really 100% plant-based?
The shampoo and bodywash has earned USDA Certified 100% Bio-Based status, which the brand explains means every ingredient except water is plant-derived, with no petrochemical synthetics. That’s a specific, verifiable certification rather than a vague “natural” claim, and it’s a big reason this plant-based shampoo for kids gets so much attention.
What the Independent Data Says
Marketing copy only tells you so much, so it helps to look at third-party sources.
- EWG Skin Deep lists the California Baby Calendula Shampoo and Bodywash in its “low hazard” category, though it notes data availability is only “fair.” Older reviews and shopper comments reference a score of 1, the best on that scale, but scoring can change as formulas and databases update, so check the current listing.
- Ingredient analyzers such as Skinsort count 18 ingredients in the formula. Their summary of calendula points to the Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel, which concluded calendula-derived ingredients are safe as used and were not irritating, sensitizing or photosensitizing in clinical tests, though they may mildly irritate eyes.
- A pediatrician-led review from BabyGearLab described it as gentle enough for newborns yet pleasant for all ages, free of sulfates, DEA and synthetic fragrance. Its one complaint was a funny one: it runs out too fast.
Is It Good for Sensitive Skin?
For a lot of families, yes. The wash is positioned for dry, sensitive skin and for people with chemical sensitivities or allergy concerns. Retailer listings also describe it as hypoallergenic and allergy tested, and free of gluten, soy, sesame, oat, dairy, peanuts and tree nuts (except coconut), which matters if your child has food allergies and you worry about what ends up in the bath.
There’s an honest caveat, though. Calendula belongs to the daisy family. In one patch-test study summarized by Skinsort, about 2% of dermatitis patients reacted to marigold. If your child is allergic to ragweed, chrysanthemums or other daisy-family plants, or has very reactive skin, do a small patch test on the inner arm first and talk to your pediatrician or dermatologist. Essential oils like lavender can also bother a small number of kids, and the brand’s own Super Sensitive unscented version exists for exactly that reason.
Does It Work on Hair?
The 2-in-1 design cleans without stripping, which is what you want on a growing kid’s scalp. California Baby says its Kids Calendula line is safe for color-treated hair, which is handy for teens experimenting with dye. For dry scalps or longer, tangle-prone hair, the brand pairs it with a matching Calendula Conditioner (8.5 oz) in a bundle.
Sizes and Price
You’ll typically find two sizes:
- 8.5 oz (251 mL): about $12.99 at several retailers, a good size for travel or a trial run.
- 19 oz (562 mL): roughly $25.99 to $32.99 depending on the store and promotions.
The Kids Calendula Shampoo and Conditioner Bundle (19 oz plus 8.5 oz) was listed around $32.99 at the time of research. Prices move around, so compare the brand’s own site, Amazon and big-box retailers before you buy. Several reviewers also note that the formula is concentrated, so a little goes a long way and the large bottle can last for months in a family that doesn’t use it all day long.
How It Compares
The obvious alternative is Weleda Calendula Shampoo and Body Wash, a Biodynamic and organic calendula baby wash that markets itself as tear-free. Drugstore options like Aveeno Baby Wash & Shampoo land at a similar price per bottle (around $13 for 8 oz at one big retailer) but aren’t positioned around a 100% bio-based formula. California Kids’ edge is the combination of a USDA bio-based certification, an older-kid look and a gentle essential-oil scent.
If scent is a dealbreaker, the brand’s unscented Super Sensitive Shampoo and Bodywash is also certified 100% bio-based and uses organic calendula and aloe. One long-time shopper even said they weren’t sure the calendula version was much better than the unscented one, and would likely go back to unscented. It’s a fair reminder that the “best” kids shampoo depends on your kid’s skin and your nose.
How to Use It
- Wet your child’s hair and body.
- Squeeze a small amount into your hands or onto a washcloth and lather. It suds up well enough to double as a body wash.
- Massage into the scalp and rinse thoroughly, including behind ears and along the hairline.
- It’s designed for daily use, and the brand says it’s suitable for the face as well.
The Pros and Cons
What people like: the gentle, non-drying feel; the lavender and clary sage scent; the USDA certified 100% bio-based formula; the 2-in-1 convenience; and the fact that it suits the whole family, not just kids.
What to weigh: the large bottle is a bigger upfront spend than many mainstream washes; the scent isn’t for everyone; calendula isn’t ideal for kids with daisy-family allergies; and some shoppers feel the unscented version performs about as well.
Final Thoughts
If you want a calendula shampoo and bodywash that’s gentle, plant-based and doesn’t scream “baby,” California Kids Calendula Shampoo and Bodywash is an easy product to recommend trying, especially in the 8.5 oz size first. Patch test, check the ingredient list on the bottle you actually receive (formulas get updated), and see how your child’s skin and scalp respond over a couple of weeks.
FAQs
Is California Kids Calendula Shampoo and Bodywash the same as California Baby Calendula?
According to the brand, yes: the Kids version is a relabel of the California Baby Calendula formulas for older children.
Is it sulfate-free?
It’s described as sulfate-free by retailers and reviewers, and it cleans with soap bark and plant-based glucosides.
Does it contain essential oils?
Yes. The scent comes from French lavender and clary sage essential oils.
Is it safe for color-treated hair?
The brand says its Kids Calendula formulas are safe for color-treated hair.
Dr. Tania Adib is a Board Certified OB/GYN based in the northern suburbs of Chicago. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame and her medical degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., before completing her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Magee-Womens Hospital, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Her clinical interests include full-spectrum obstetrics and gynecology, from the first period through the menopausal years, contraception, and abnormal bleeding.