All Blogs

As we reflect on 2024, we’re so grateful for this community’s support of our small but mighty brand. Growing this business has been challenging, even on good days. Yet, you--our community--keep showing up to let us know that we’re on the right path. Our founder Stephanie created Dabble & Dollop five years ago with the dream that minimalistic, clean bath products could amp up care routines for our little ones through an engaging full sensory experience. Since then, her dream has turned into many “best of” accolades in Good Housekeeping, Parents Magazine, & Babylist. We are going into 2025 with major growth plans and continued investment in product development and retail opportunity! Without the 76% referral rate from our valued customers, we would’ve been another “indie” DTC brand having to close our business. The following has set us apart. Our loyal customers. Our clean ingredients, all-natural scents and thorough safety testing. Our beautiful PCR bottles with their modern color palette and adorable character illustrations. Our focus on child-first interests like mixing, blending, and layering. Our committed team, with shared values of creativity, connection, and joy. Our New Year’s message is simple. It’s a heartfelt THANK YOU to our customers, partners and employees. We wish that each of you have happy, safe New Year’s celebrations with your loved ones and make memories that will last a lifetime. As a token of our gratitude, save 10% on orders placed January 1-5, 2025 with code WISHES. Cheers to 2025 bringing us all meaningful connections, endless joy and lots of love! Love, Dabble & Dollop

This holiday season, skip the big-box stores and give a gift that truly makes an impact. These incredible products from small, female-founded businesses are perfect for everyone on your list—babies, kids, and even the adults in your life! Shopping small not only brings unique and thoughtful gifts to your loved ones but also supports local entrepreneurs, dreamers, and creators. Plus, so many of these amazing brands are offering can’t-miss deals this Black Friday through Cyber Monday. And don’t forget to check out our Instagram giveaway for a chance to win some of these fabulous gifts!   1. Coco Bra and Riley Underwear by Archer Wren The Gift: Give the gift of everyday luxury with Archer Wren’s beautifully crafted undergarments. The Coco Bra and Riley Underwear are designed for comfort, style, and confidence—because the best gifts are the ones you want to wear every day.
 The Sale: Mix & match three or more items for 10% off!
 Shop Archer Wren   2. Lark Baby Carrier by hope&plum The Gift: Babywearing has never looked (or felt) this good. The Lark Baby Carrier is an essential for parents on the go, offering ultimate comfort for both baby and wearer. Made with sustainably sourced materials and available in stylish designs, it’s a gift that keeps on giving.
 The Sale: Save up to 40% off select items PLUS enjoy 20% off sitewide. Use code HPBF. Sale ends December 2. Shop hope&plum   3. The Figgy Ultimate Velcro Play Couch The Gift: This isn’t just a couch—it’s a gateway to endless creativity and fun! The Figgy is a soft, modular play couch that connects easily with secure Velcro connectors, making it simple for kids to build forts, castles, rocket ships, or anything their imagination dreams up. Durable, versatile, and thoughtfully designed, it’s a favorite for kids and parents alike. Bonus: The washable covers mean messes are no problem.
 The Sale: Buy the Figgy Play Couch with a wedge (7-piece set) and waterproof liners, and get an extra wedge for free! Plus, receive $20 in Figgy Bucks for your next purchase. Free shipping included with code BFWEDGE. Sale valid November 28-December 2.  Shop The Figgy   4. Augustus Wild Boar in the Hazelnut Tailcoat by Hazel Village The Gift: Meet Augustus, a dapper wild boar who’s ready to charm his way into anyone’s heart. With his handcrafted details and a cozy hazelnut tailcoat, he’s not just a stuffed animal—he’s an heirloom piece, made to be treasured for years to come. Perfect for little hands or anyone who appreciates the magic of whimsical, thoughtful toys.
 Shop Hazel Village   5. Dabble & Dollop Merry Mixables Holiday Collection The Gift: Bath time just got a lot more fun. Dabble & Dollop’s Merry Mixables bring holiday scents and customizable bath experiences to kids and parents who want safe, clean, and joyful products. Whether it’s candy cane bubbles or a cranberry-scented soak, this set is guaranteed to spark smiles.
 Black Friday Sale: Black Friday: 11/25–12/1: 25% off + free bath pouf with qualifying orders. Use code BUBBLE25. Sale valid November 25-December 1. Cyber Monday Sale: 12/2–12/5: 20% off + free mixing bowl with qualifying orders. Use code CYBER20. Sale valid December 2-5. Shop Dabble & Dollop   6. Baby's First Christmas Diaper by Esembly The Gift: Celebrate a little one’s first holiday season with a gift that’s as sustainable as it is adorable. This festive diaper cover from Esembly is perfect for eco-conscious parents looking to make diapering a little more joyful. Plus, it’s part of a reusable system that helps reduce waste and save money.
 The Sale: 20% off sitewide!
Sale valid November 29-December 2. Shop Esembly   7. Winter Water Factory Organic Cotton Kids' Clothing The Gift: Soft, sustainable, and playfully designed, Winter Water Factory’s organic cotton clothing is a favorite for kids and parents alike. With their whimsical prints and high-quality craftsmanship, these clothes are built to last (and look adorable in family photos).
 The Sale: 40% off sitewide + free shipping. Use code SENDLOVE. Sale valid November 25-December 2. Shop Winter Water Factory   Support Small, Shop Thoughtfully When you shop small, you’re not just buying gifts—you’re supporting hard-working women, fostering local communities, and making the holidays a little brighter for everyone. Plus, these Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals make it the perfect time to give meaningful, unique gifts to your loved ones. Ready to make the holidays even more magical? Head to our Instagram and enter our giveaway featuring items from these fabulous brands!

Inspire Your Little Scientist with Educational Gifts for Curious Minds Is your little scientist-in-the-making ready to explore the mysteries of the universe, just like Marie Curie or Isaac Newton? There’s nothing more exciting than witnessing that spark of curiosity light up their imagination! Whether they're mixing up cool chemistry experiments, stargazing into the night sky, or tinkering with slime or LEGOs to understand how things work, the right educational gifts can fuel a passion for science. There are so many STEM-based activities that can engage young minds and inspire creativity and bath time presents a perfect opportunity for hands-on learning and experimentation. We have a bubbly gift idea that is perfect for sparking your child’s love for learning while encouraging the next generation of innovators. Watch as your little one’s scientific curiosity takes flight with our fun-filled, “experimental” bath-time products. Turn Bath Time into a Colorful, Science-Themed Adventure Looking for a way to make bath time both fun and educational? Dabble & Dallop’s Rainbow of Bubbles Ultimate Bath Set transforms bath time into an interactive, sensory experiment for kids. This unique set includes seven 10 oz bottles of 3-in-1 bodywash, shampoo, and bubble bath, each with a delightful scent like vanilla, strawberry, coconut, honeydew, and more. With over 100 possible scent combinations, your child can mix and match to create their own bubbly concoctions, from coconut cream pie to berry blast smoothies. Complete with a mixing bowl and recipe booklet, this bath set lets your child explore their inner scientist, crafting endless scent combinations while developing their creativity. Parents will love that Dabble & Dallop uses cruelty-free, clean formulas with naturally derived scents, free from dyes, parabens, and allergens. It’s a safe, fun, and educational way to make bath time a learning adventure. Why Dabble & Dallop’s Rainbow of Bubbles Outshines Typical Bubble Bath What makes the Rainbow of Bubbles Ultimate Bath Set stand out from a regular bubble bath? It’s the hands-on, imaginative experience that sets it apart. Unlike traditional bubble baths that are used the same way every time, this set turns bath time into an engaging experiment, where your child becomes the inventor, creating new blends with every use. The joy of mixing scents, playing with combinations, and learning through sensory play makes bath time feel like a science lab. Beyond just fun, this bath set encourages creativity and critical thinking, helping your child develop problem-solving skills and an interest in chemistry—all while ensuring a safe, non-toxic experience. Typical bubble baths can’t compete with the endless possibilities and educational value that Dabble & Dallop’s Rainbow of Bubbles offers.

Download Here   Bathing isn't just about staying clean; it's crucial for maintaining a robust skin barrier! To achieve this, it's essential to keep your skin moisturized and avoid harsh surfactants or too many varying products, that can strip skin of its natural oils. These harsh ingredients can create tiny holes in the skin barrier, leading to moisture loss and allowing environmental toxins to penetrate. Ensure skin remains moisturized by evaluating your current bath products—assess their ingredients, quantities, and their potency in promoting optimal skin health for your little ones. Look for gentle, hydrating products that nourish and shield their skin effectively. To further support skin health, especially for children prone to eczema, consider using our Child Eczema Trigger Identification Checklist. This visual tool is designed to help parents pinpoint or narrow down potential triggers for their child's eczema flare-ups.  While direct skin contact is often the most obvious culprit, we recognize that eliminating variables is the biggest challenge for parents, especially considering the long list of ingredients in many skincare products! That's why we start from the basics, focusing on factors beyond direct skin contact—such as diet, clothing, and environmental conditions—to help identify the true triggers that could also be contributing to skin irritations. Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, can be exacerbated by various factors, including allergens, irritants, environmental conditions, and skincare products. By systematically tracking and monitoring different categories of triggers, parents can gain valuable insights into what may be contributing to their child's eczema symptoms.  This checklist covers a wide-range of potential triggers, from common food allergens to environmental factors, stress, and skincare products.  To use the checklist, simply mark each category as you observe correlations between specific triggers and your child's eczema flare-ups.  With this information, you'll be better equipped to make informed decisions about lifestyle adjustments, skincare routines, and environmental modifications.  Remember, every child's eczema triggers may be unique, so it's essential to carefully observe and track your child's reactions over time. If you have any concerns or questions about your child's eczema management, don't hesitate to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized guidance. We hope this checklist serves as a helpful tool in your journey to support your little one's skin health and overall well-being.   Curious about tips for including allergens in your baby’s diet? Check out this Early Allergen Introduction Checklist, created by Mission Mighty Me. Founded by food allergy parents and global expert in food allergy prevention. 

David vs. Goliath In the past, the shelves of big-box retailers were dominated by products from multinational conglomerates like Unilever, Procter & Gamble, and others. These industry giants filled the aisles with familiar chemical-laden brands, often leaving little room for smaller, innovative companies to showcase their unique, natural offerings. However, the tides are shifting, driven by a new wave of conscious consumerism and a growing demand for clean, eco-friendly products that align with personal values and preferences. Today's consumers are no longer content with the mass-produced, one-size-fits-all approach of traditional brands. Empowered by the internet and online platforms like Amazon, they are actively seeking out unique, differentiated organic products that cater to their specific needs and desires. This is particularly true in the realm of personal care and beauty, where consumers are gravitating towards plant-based products with fewer, better ingredients, free from harsh chemicals and artificial additives. The Shift Towards Quality, Ethics, and Transparency in Kids Bath Time Products At Dabble & Dollop, we are at the forefront of this consumer-driven revolution. Our family-owned, woman-owned brand was born out of a desire to offer high-quality, natural, hypoallergenic kids bath products that parents can trust without compromise. We specialize in creating kid-centric offerings like gentle shampoos, fun bubble baths, sensitive skin body washes, and mild lotions that are not only effective but also safe, cruelty-free, and vegan for children to use.   In today's market, consumers are increasingly looking to support businesses that align with their core values. They want to engage with small businesses, woman-owned enterprises, and BIPOC-owned companies that contribute positively to society and prioritize ethical practices. Dabble & Dollop fits perfectly into this new consumer paradigm, being a family-owned small business dedicated to providing clean, non-toxic products that families can rely on. Bridging the Gap: Accessibility and Convenience for Natural Kids Bath Products  While the desire to support small businesses and ethical practices is strong, families also face practical considerations such as convenience and accessibility. Shipping costs can add up quickly, and the ease of finding trusted products in local stores cannot be overstated. This is where national retail presence becomes a game-changer, enabling families to access high-quality, natural beauty products without the added burden of shipping expenses or the inconvenience of online ordering. Having Dabble & Dollop's kid-friendly bath products available in major retail chains would not only make our offerings more accessible but also contribute to the diversification of the beauty aisle. By providing a viable alternative to the mass-produced offerings of industry giants, we empower consumers with the freedom to make informed choices that align with their values and preferences. Embracing the Future of Clean, Sustainable Beauty for Kids The beauty industry is undergoing a transformative shift, and conscious consumers are leading the charge. They are more informed, more conscious, and more demanding than ever before, seeking out products that not only meet their high standards for quality and safety but also resonate with their ethical and environmental concerns. At Dabble & Dollop, we are proud to be at the forefront of this movement, offering natural, kid-centric bath products that families can trust implicitly. By choosing our brand, consumers are not just buying a product; they are supporting a family-owned small business dedicated to making a positive difference in the world. Our commitment to clean, effective, and fun products sets us apart from the giants of the industry, and our success is a testament to the power of consumer choice. Together, we can continue to drive the change towards a more inclusive, diverse, and consumer-focused beauty market, one natural bubble bath at a time. Bring the Dabble & Dollop Family of Natural Kids Bath Products to a Store Near You! We invite you to explore our range of natural, kid-friendly bath products and experience firsthand why so many families are making the switch to Dabble & Dollop. By supporting our brand, you are choosing quality, ethics, and a company that truly cares about its customers and the world around us.  Let's redefine the beauty aisle together, one conscious purchase at a time. Join the Dabble & Dollop family and help us be a part of the movement that is shaping the future of the beauty industry, one that prioritizes transparency, sustainability, and the well-being of our children and our planet.

A comprehensive guide for caring for your baby's eczema-prone skin + a Giveaway! Learn the essential steps to preserve and heal the skin barrier, from selecting premium, minimal-ingredient formulations, to understanding the nuances between fragrance-free and non-scented products. Explore the significance of introducing skin-repairing ingredients like beta-glucan and the thoughtful selection of fabrics, such as Tencel Lyocell, to alleviate eczema symptoms.

Bath Bombs: Dropping Some Knowledge In recent years, we’ve seen an “explosion” of interest in bath bombs, and it’s not hard to see why. These fizzy bath time treats can add fun scents and cool colors to any boring old bath, but behind the scenes, most children’s bath bombs have some negative sides to them as well. In this article we’ll explain some of the downsides to children’s bath bombs, and some of the ways Dabble and Dollop’s Droplets Bath Bombs address those downsides in order to provide a safer, better bath bomb experience for your child.   I'm Feeling...Unnatural Many other bath bombs contain a host of synthetic, artificial dyes that can have bad side effects on the skin. Their bright colors are created using non-naturally occurring chemicals, which means they can irritate the skin, causing problems like rashes, eczema, and allergic reactions. Even though they may look colorful and fun, these synthetic dyes have a dark side, and can potentially damage your child’s skin. Here is a (scary) snippet from the website of one of our bath bomb competitors:    All That Glitters Isn't Gold Glitter and sparkles, despite being a common bath bomb addition, also have a not-so-fun secret. Glitter is made of little tiny pieces of plastic called microplastic, and when those microplastics go swirling down the drain at the end of your child’s bath, they have a good chance of ending up in oceans, rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water. There is already way too much plastic in the ocean, and microplastics, because of how small they are and how easily they flow through drainage systems and pipes, pose an even greater threat to the health of our ocean ecosystems. It’s a good choice for the sake of the environment to stay away from bath bombs and other bath products that contain sparkles and glitter.    Exposure to overly fragranced products can also cause harm to both children and adults. Most bath bombs have a lot of smells, and a lot of these fragrances are derived from artificial sources that create a fragrance overload for your child during bathtime. Studies have shown that long term exposure to fragranced products can even cause issues such as migraines or asthma. Additionally, many production companies hide dangerous ingredients behind a simple “fragrance” label on their ingredients sheet. Because of a labeling loophole meant to protect companies’ fragrance secrets, products can contain dangerous chemicals without having to disclose exactly what they are to consumers. These chemicals include benzene derivatives, which are human carcinogens, and aldehydes, which can increase the risk of respiratory diseases and liver disease. It’s very scary stuff! When it comes to bath products, bath bombs included, it’s better to go with products that produce simple, natural scents that don’t overwhelm your child’s sensory systems or that could potentially cause permanent harm to your child’s health.  It's a Bird. It's a Plane. It's a...Bath Bomb? Another problem with bath bombs is simply just how big they are! These sizes might work for adults, but for little kids, that much product is just not necessary. OK, that may be a bit of an exaggeration - but many of these competitive products are advertised as "the size of a tennis ball!" Along with being a waste of money (thank you $8 bath), these sizes could be overstimulating and overwhelming for your child. In fact, many aspects of bath bombs that we already discussed can be overstimulating for young children, like intense fragrances, glitter, and bright colors. Though many of these aspects of the product may be intended to make bath time fun and exciting, for young children so many of these things at once can be overwhelming.  Dabble & Dollop - This is the Way Luckily, there’s an upside to all of these downsides, and that’s that Dabble & Dollop’s Droplets Bath Bombs contain none of these harmful elements. Our bath bomb design is purposefully simple, small, and natural, so your child can enjoy a fun fizzy bath time and you can rest easy. Droplets are only 1 inch in diameter, making them the perfect size for young children and babies, with simple smells and colors that won’t overwhelm your child. Best of all, they’re 100% natural, which means no artificial fragrances or dyes. We ensure that your child can still have a fun bath time experience, whether that be with bath bombs or something else like our mixable bath gels, while staying safe and healthy at the same time.

The Concern Over Artificial Fragrances There is growing fear over artificial fragrances and the lack of transparency behind the word “Fragrance”. The number of people who believe that brands are intentionally hiding toxins in fragrance is truly alarming. In the wake of this revolt, fragrance industry insiders will tell you that artificial fragrances are totally safe and totally regulated and that we should totally trust their expertise. Let them and let us not forget that fear, our most powerful emotion, is driven by lack of knowledge.  A lack of transparency of fragrance compounds has resulted in this fear. Perhaps these compounds are completely safe, but how would we possibly know? Even though I have a lot of friends and colleagues in the Fragrance industry, and do believe that fragrance companies care deeply about safety, I do worry about this lack of transparency. Exploring the Root of Fear Let’s dig into the root of this fear.  It’s a fear of the unknown, and no parent wants to risk harming their children by exposing them to potentially harmful compounds, whether they are natural or not. We are compelled to ask a simple question - if there is nothing to fear in these fragrance mixtures - why wouldn’t the fragrance industry disclose the compounds? I’ve had these conversations with the experts.  They will argue it’s their IP (intellectual property) and it should be protected. To me, that’s not a valid argument.  Case in point - cosmetic and personal care brands lost their IP protection in the 1970’s. Shampoos, lipsticks and all cosmetic and personal care products had to contain disclosed ingredient lists on their labeling. Meaning, their IP was no longer protected. That also led to scary label listings like this one (from a major national brand and competitor that shall not be named): The Fragrance Industry's Free Pass And yet, the cosmetic industry has continued to thrive, the demand has never been higher.  Why then is the fragrance industry continuing to get this free pass? My gut feeling is that this pass is not free at all, we can thank the powerful food industry lobbyists for the lack of progress here. Think about it - the Flavor & Fragrance Industry is largely driven by the food industry’s prolific use of flavors.  And guess what industry has more lobbyists than the Cosmetic & Personal Care industry in Washington, DC? I concluded that there is no way I could sleep at night not owning and knowing what is in our natural scent mixtures.  I fought hard and searched extensively for a partner that would understand the need for this transparency. If you saw how many fragrance questions we get from parents, you’d understand why this is such a big concern and imperative for our formulations.  Through parents’ heartbreaking stories about their child’s rare allergies and skin conditions, I learned how much this level of transparency matters. Yes, these conditions are rare and do not apply to most children.  However, these families desperately want their children experience the joy of scent in the safest way possible and can only do so when there is radical transparency.  Fragrance-free doesn’t have to be their default experience.  Embracing Natural Scents Humans are not designed to live in a world devoid of scent, and bath time is far less enjoyable when it is devoid of scent.  It’s exciting that we can now safely experience scent the way our sense of smell is hardwired to experience scent - through aromatics found in nature. The last decade we’ve seen so much progress in the area of natural scent development. We’ve seen the largest fragrance houses make acquisitions in the natural ingredient space and we’re now seeing the result. While only a select few are open to the radical transparency that I desired, many can now create 100% natural scents, relatively easily. But the disclosure of these compounds is an ongoing issue many brand owners face in the Cosmetic & Personal care industry. The Future of Fragrance Transparency Alas, I am reminded of the unintended consequences that result from good intentions. If the flavor & fragrance industry’s fight for protecting their IP fails, which I predict eventually will happen, the result will likely be more confusion and fear. Many of the compounds used in traditional synthetic fragrance development do not have familial, “friendly” names. Even some of the natural ones sound foreign to the non-chemist/biologist type. Imagine the parents who google every single ingredient on cosmetic labels, these fragrance compounds will face the battle of truth and misinformation from that point on. The court of public opinion will run wild. But let’s remember that “progress isn’t a straight line”.  The path to improvement is often filled with ups and downs, rather than a consistent forward trajectory.  What will be viewed by many fragrance industry insiders as a “setback”, is a natural part of any journey towards advancement. Where We Go From Here Ingredient innovation skyrocketed after the 1970’s ingredient disclosure law was passed in the cosmetic & personal care industry.  Suddenly, ingredients - specifically the business of differentiating ingredients - became a gigantic business.  The same can be true for the fragrance industry.  Until then, the fight continues. 

A Scent-Sory Experience Developing the signature natural scents for Dabble & Dollop's products was a purposeful and intentional process deeply rooted in both nature and science. I often describe our product design as "purpose-filled," meaning every aspect was thoughtfully considered. It was essential to craft a sensory experience that appeals to both children and adults, ensuring it was entirely natural and safe. Did you know that our sense of smell is our most primitive and ancient sense? Our neurobiology is intricately wired to perceive and process scents, making our sense of smell incredibly powerful. It's important to understand that scent is a physical stimulant made of volatile chemicals – tiny particles that float in our environment. When we inhale these scents, they trigger a biological response in our brains. The Nose Knows For instance, when you smell a sweet rose or a freshly baked cake, you're inhaling particles that your brain detects and processes, often evoking pleasant feelings and positively impacting our well-being. Inhaling scents activates neurons in the nose's mucosal lining, a process that is both hard-wired and influenced by learned scent experiences based on our environment. Olfaction, or the sense of smell, is powerful because it imprints memories and associations unique to each individual over their lifetime. For example, the scent of vanilla might evoke memories of baking cookies at your grandmother's house, often tied to feelings of care and comfort. We selected scents like strawberry, tangerine, blueberry, lemon, honeydew melon, and vanilla intentionally, backed by science. These natural scents are almost universally experienced as pleasant, as our neurons are pre-disposed to find these scents enjoyable. Our aim was not to create artificial fragrances but to harness nature's sweetest gifts that we are biologically attuned to appreciate. Better Than Smelling Salts! Furthermore, scent doesn't just bring pleasure and evoke good memories. It also creates a level of alertness and arousal in the brain. Research by Dr. Noam Sobel, Professor of Neurobiology at the Weizmann Institute of Science, demonstrates that inhaling scents increases brain alertness and arousal. It's a primitive cue signaling the brain to pay attention, enhancing memory retention. These studies show that the act of smelling can enhance cognition – our ability to learn and remember. While we often process scents subconsciously, we can also use them intentionally to enhance moments or change moods. Scent, Memory & Connection This is why we believe that incorporating scent into bath time for children offers a powerful bonding opportunity for parents. Engaging with your child during bath time, with gentle touch and soft conversation, can create lasting memories and positively influence their well-being and cognitive development. Our products are truly "purpose-filled," designed to elevate the bath time experience by enhancing joy and connection, guided by science. Science and nature are deeply intertwined in our approach. The aromatic ingredients in our scents are completely natural, not artificial or synthetic. They are nature's pure gifts, and enjoying these during bath time should be a familial, comforting, safe, and sensory experience.