UK Babies’ and Children’s Personal Care Products, Nappies and Wipes Market Report 2026
2026-04-17T10:01:09+00:00
REPC16B7191_EEF1_49C7_AB71_91EEF1B9C7EC
2195
192691
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Report
en_GB
The market concluded with flat growth in 2025, due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, and the fading impact of the post-pandemic baby boom, with the youngest newborns growing out of…
UK
Nappies and Baby Products
simple
UK Babies’ and Children’s Personal Care Products, Nappies and Wipes Market Report 2026
"Brands need to innovate around the value matrix to secure brand loyalty, and focus on babies' skin health to sustain further growth."
UK Babies and Children’s Personal Care Market – Trends and Insights
The UK market concluded with flat growth in 2025, due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, and the fading impact of the post-pandemic baby boom, with the youngest newborns growing out of the category.
The market is beginning to shift as emerging brands challenge the long-held dominance of established names. 76% of UK parents who have bought nappies in the last 12 months think newer nappy brands perform just as effectively as older brands, challenging notions around brand loyalty.
Apart from declining births, lack of NPD also hinders future market growth. Amid regulation headwinds of plastic-containing wipe ban, and increasing bar around sustainability, disposable nappy and wipe brands need to design with eco and ethical commitments in mind.
Innovations around personalisation could open up new space, targeting climate-induced skin conditions and novelty-seeking parents. Seasonal launches, licensed partnerships and digital integration will drive new growth in the market.
This Report Looks at the Following Areas:
Essential purchase of nappies, wipes and shower, bath, haircare, skincare products designed for babies under the age of four
Sustainability efforts of disposable nappies and wipes, and the regulatory compliance behind
Factors that appeal to parents to experiment with a new type of product and expand repertoire
The challenge for brand loyalty in a market with emerging disruptors during the cost-of-living crisis
Experience of skin conditions among babies and children, and the focus on skin health from a product design angle
Innovation gap and opportunities for new product development based on consumer interests
Market Definitions
For the purposes of this Report, children are defined as under the age of five. This Report covers the market for babies’ and children’s toiletries and skincare products, nappies and wipes, including:
Baby wipes and pre-moistened tissues
Shampoo and haircare products
Bath, shower and wash products
Skincare products such as lotion, powder and oil
Oral hygiene products such as toothpastes
Suncare products for babies and children
Disposable nappies
Disposable training nappies/pants
Disposable baby wipes aimed exclusively at baby usage
Collapse All
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
What you need to know
Outlook for babies and children’s personal care, nappies and wipes market
Opportunities for the babies’ and children’s personal care, nappies and wipes market
Secure brand loyalty amid cost-of-living crisis
Skin health focus will open up new space
Excite the market with NPD
THE MARKET
Snapshot – market size and forecast
Rising prices will push young parents to trade down
Graph 1: changes in household finances, 2011-25
Fertility rate decline poses the biggest threat
Baby powder risks loss under asbestos scandal
Graph 2: interest over time – “talc” as a topic, 2025-26
Baby wipes will take the hit from the new plastic ban
Warmer weather could lead to more skin conditions
Market size and forecast
Market size and forecast of babies and children’s personal care products, nappies and wipes
Graph 3: market size and forecast for babies’ and children’s personal care products, nappies and wipes, 2019-30
Personal care products make the new growth engine
Pampers maintains growth in nappy sales
Graph 4: retail value sales of babies’ and children’s nappies, by brand, 2023-25
THE CONSUMER
Usage and purchase hold strong ground
Parents spending more on essentials
Combine eco and convenience to widen the appeal
Convenience needs sustain wipe purchase
Novelty can entice active buyers
Personalisation is needed to maintain interests
Graph 5: select behaviours towards babies’ and children’s personal care, nappy and wipe purchase and usage, by repertoire of products bought, 2026
Brand loyalty and positioning under threat
Cost of living squeeze still impacts purchase choice
Explore immediate purchase incentives to expand reach and retention
Reinvigorate legacy brand image through collaborations
Skincare texture can reach a premium group
Beware of the risks of targeting the youngest consumers
Navigating the purchase process
Real experience drives new purchase
Parents seek valid proof for skin conditions
Material matters
Support skin health with ingredient knowledge
Explore holistic inside-out solutions
PRODUCT, INNOVATION AND MARKETING
Lack of NPD puts the market at risk
Tie with medical authorities to earn trust
Challenger nappy brands are emerging
Graph 6: diaper launches, by top five companies in 2025, 2021-2026
Sustainability bar for nappies and wipes is rising
Graph 7: diaper and babies’ wipe launches, by top four growing ethical & environmental claims in 2025, 2021-26
Elevated eco & ethical commitments
Excite personal care routine with licensed partnership
APPENDIX
Market definition
The market
Forecast methodology
Forecast methodology – fan chart
Market size and forecast of babies and children’s personal care products, nappies and wipes
Market forecast and prediction intervals
Market segmentation
Market share: babies’ and children’s nappies
Market share: babies’ and children’s wipes
Market share: babies’ and children’s personal care products
The consumer
Consumer research questions
Consumer research methodology
Repertoire analysis methodology
UK generation groups
Other data source methodologies
Birth and fertility rate trends
Mintel Spark
Abbreviations
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