The company’s latest launch is part of its comprehensive range of ethically sourced and expertly crafted bedding and accessories for infants. Malabar Baby is committed to environmentally-friendly production practices, working closely with factories that have a vested interest in preserving water and recycling resources through the manufacturing processes.

According to cotton.org, cotton was first grown, spun, and woven as far back as 3000 B.C in the Indus River Valley. While bamboo has been used for centuries to make paper and household goods, its commercial use in a cellulosic form for fabric production has only become widespread since the early 2000s.

The baby hooded bath towel range is manufactured in sites across India and China. Meticulous research ensures only the highest-quality raw materials are sourced and used in production. Many of the designs feature traditional patterns or iconic architecture, rendered onto fabric using a block print process.

The hooded towels measure 34 x 34 inches, allowing easy coverage for children up to 5 years of age. Malabar Baby’s stringent quality controls and durable fabrics ensure that all of its products will last for years.

The block-printed towel range comes in a variety of styles and colors including the Miami Collection, which features a block-printed motif leaf print with a deep coral trim. The Erawan Collection has a honeycomb-style pattern with a mustard yellow-colored outer strip. All of the towels in the collection have a dual fabric construction with Indian cotton voile on one side and cotton terry on the other.

A Bamboo Cotton Pom Pom Hooded towel is also available and offers a stretchy, silk-like feel without compromising strength or durability. The soft pom pom trim adds another unique design feature.

A bathed little one, fresh out of the tub, is one of parenting’s precious moments, even if you end up wetter than intended. Investing in a good hooded towel will make drying your tot not only a simpler task, but you may even get a cuddle or two and avoid post-bath chills.

We put a range of bamboo fiber baby hooded bath towel to the test with the help of our mini bathers. But what do you need to look for when making your fluffy choice? Naturally, the material in question will affect its ability to try your little one.

The majority of towels on the market, particularly when using on a child’s delicate skin, will be a cotton terry towelling; a fabric woven with many protruding loops of thread which can absorb large amounts of water, but look out for variations of this such as a bamboo blend which is more absorbent.

Bath time should be fun, so opt for a towel with an interesting character or animal design. The giggles and appeal will be worth it, plus it’ll encourage imaginative play once they’re running around the house.

Many baby-specific hooded towels come at a standard size (75cm x 75cm), and while these are lovely for the early months, you may find your baby grows out of these at super speed and you’re soon after more material.

Hop little bunny, or just give us plenty of cuddles in this adorable hooded towel from British brand Cuddledry. There’s plenty to interest a curious toddler, from the sweet star-detailed trim to the squidgy tail and floppy ears... our toddler tester didn’t want to take it off, and unlike others we tested it wouldn’t fall off because there’s a clever popper at the neck to keep it on, making it great for the beach too.

It’s made from a blend of bamboo and cotton towelling, which washes incredibly well and maintains its softness. Known for its anti-bacterial properties, the brand claims that this material mix is 60 per cent more absorbent than using pure cotton on its own. Plus, any bamboo used (over half of the composition) has been sustainably grown and certified by Oekotex. We also found it was more absorbent once we’d washed it.

It comes in two sizes, three to six years or one to three years, which is what we tested. It’s 60cm long from the neck to the bottom edge of the cotton baby hooded bath towel, but there’s 20cm height in the hood, and it’s 130cm wide, which means there’s more than enough material to dry them off, but not too much length that they’ll trip over when they’re on the move.

You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Belgian kids brand Trixie is big on sustainability. It exclusively uses organic cotton and ensures manufacturing is carefully thought out, but the brand is also passionate about sparking imagination so you can always expect fun animal characters and bright colours in its products.

Made from organic terry cotton, Mrs Elephant is a welcome addition to bath time, we love the trunk detail and elephant ears on the hood, while the spotted splash print feels appropriate for post tub snuggles. There’s a matching bath mitt and dressing gown which is great for older siblings.

We have to praise Mori on creating the embroidered bamboo fiber hooded bath towel of all those we tested, but then we expected nothing less from the British baby brand which produces such delightful baby essentials, typically made from its signature cotton and bamboo blend. This toddler towel however is made from 100 per cent organic micro cotton, which is a variety of cotton yarn laced into longer loops that gives towels extra absorbency and a luxurious feel. In fact, it claims to absorb 250 times more water than regular cotton, resulting in a fantastic hooded towel. Due to its size (100 x 63cm), it’s bigger and not square like a baby towel. Designed for those aged roughly one to three years, there’s plenty of material to wrap your little one up, and our toddler tester loved the bunny ears and tail at the back.

This hooded towel is certainly the thickest of all those we tested and that’s thanks to the 550gsm Egyptian cotton towelling used, which of course makes it wonderfully soft too. The sizing is a little different too, as you choose from standard (90cm long) or jumbo (120cm long). We tested the the standard size which was perfect for our four-year-old reviewer, but it’s designed to be used until approximately seven years and we’re sure the quality would stand the test of time even using it from baby age. The hood has double the thickness, which is great if your child has a healthy head of hair. We love the simple ribbon detailing on the hood, and opted for a yellow superhero strip on a grey towel for our Batman fanatic which looks striking, but you can choose from sharks and dinosaurs to mermaids and unicorns. There’s a handy pop fastener in a star shape which turns it into a great poncho for the beach.

A smidge larger than standard baby towels (80 x 80 cm), it’s surprising how much bigger this towel looks so it should be able to provide service for a little longer. Designed by Swedish brand Elodie, this hooded towel has been Oeko-Tex certified, which means it’s been tested to ensure it’s free from harmful substances. On the interior it’s made from a super soft, absorbent 100 per cent cotton terry cloth, with a velour material on the reverse, which is smooth for optimum cuddling comfort. We love the gold mustard colour, which seems to wash really well, and the bow is a cute playful addition.

British designer Rachel Riley is known for her traditional baby and childrenswear, which has graced mini royals and celebrities globally. You can now add a touch of charm to your baby’s bathroom routine with one of her best-selling, cute-as-can-be grey bunny prints. Made from a premium 100 per cent cotton terry-towelling, it’s soft to the touch and washes exceptionally well. The beautiful grey bunny print looks adorable atop your baby’s face, and the towel is completed with a matching trim which makes this feel like a real luxury product.

There are so many pieces in the layette that sometimes it gets confusing, even more so in the first pregnancy! But one of the indispensable items is the hooded towel. They are soft, nice pieces, like the white diapers we use for the mouth and shoulder.

Then you ask yourself: so, what’s the difference between the towel and the diapers: and the answer is simple. The difference is in the size and usefulness of the pieces. Towels are bigger and are usually made of very thin, pleasant fabric to dry the baby’s skin without hurting it. It absorbs the water and protects the baby when we take him out of the bathtub to get to the room and, later, until we change him completely and get him ready!

Especially in winter, prefer hooded towels that help dry the hair and protect the baby’s head. Another important thing: depending on the size of the hooded towel, your child can enjoy it up to the age of 3. Useful and long-lasting, right!

Why should you buy a hooded bath towel?

Baby towels are specifically designed with your child’s small body and sensitive skin in mind and are almost universally leaps and bounds cuter than regular adult-sized towels. They also often have hoods to help keep your baby’s head warm, especially during the early months of his life when he’s not able to regulate his body temperature.

When it comes to drying your baby after his bath time, the type of towel you use is mostly dependent on what works better for you and your little one. If you do not have the budget, space, or inclination to purchase special towels that your child will grow out of in just a few years, regular towels can be used with care.

Of course, if you take the cuteness factor into consideration then you’ll understand its almost impossible to resist a baby that looks like an elephant, giraffe, or panda!

Temperature Regulating Hood

The feature that makes hooded baby towels an essential for all mums-to-be and new mums is the hood design. Not only do they look lovely, but they also make sure your little one is safe and stays healthy after bathing.

Regulating baby’s temperature is not only vital, but it’s also not as easy as you would think. You’ve just taken little one out the bath, which means they’re going to get cold quite soon, so you need them be dry and warm as soon as possible. As heat is lost through the head instantaneously, a hood is the ideal way to keep your baby at a safe temperature after bath time and during bed time. You’ll have peace of mind and will be able to unwind at the end of a busy day.

Baby Feels Secure

Newborns have just been welcomed into the world, so they need to feel secure at all times to be comfortable and content. Replicating the feeling of being inside the womb is a tried and tested way to make sure they’re happy, which you can do by snugly wrapping your little one up in a dyed bamboo fiber hooded bath towel. Experts have confirmed that babies are generally more placid if they feel reassured from similar womb feelings.

You’ll Both Sleep Easier

With a hooded towel you can cocoon them from head to toe to keep them feeling relaxed and restful. They’re an essential for every mum as they make looking after little one simple and give you the knowledge that you’ll be sleeping sooner rather than later. Sleeping well helps to promote better relationships between mum, baby and the rest of the family, which is so important to development.

Protects Little One’s Skin

When choosing a baby bath towel for your newborn, you should always decide on one crafted from natural pure materials as their skin is very delicate and sensitive. Bacteria can be transferred easily, but with fabrics such as micro-cotton, they aren’t harboured like other materials so it is much safer for little one. Micro-cotton is also more sustainable, meaning it helps to protect the planet too.

Absorbs and Dries Quickly

As we already mentioned (but it really is super important) you must always keep baby’s head dry and warm, so micro-cotton truly is the perfect fabric for a baby towel. By absorbing 250x more moisture and drying in half the time than towels made from normal cotton, you’ll know that baby will be feeling fresh in the fastest time.

Whether you’re a mum-to-be or a first-time mum, you can be safe in the knowledge that a hooded baby towel will be on your newborn essentials checklist. One step closer to feeling like the superhero your little one will always know you are!