Are hooded baby towels actually worth it, or do regular towels work?

There's honest disagreement. Several r/BabyBumps and r/Parenting commenters say standard adult towels work fine and hooded towels are a gift-registry item you don't need. Others on r/newborns and r/NewParents specifically call out softness, the hood for keeping baby's head warm post-bath, and quick-dry properties as worth the upgrade. Verified-purchase reviewers most consistently praise hooded towels when the fabric is genuine cotton terry or bamboo viscose rather than thin microfiber.