How do I care for my baby's skin?

Baby skin care means looking after your baby’s skin to keep it healthy and protected.

Special care is needed for babies born early since their skin is even more sensitive.

Read more about:

• looking after your newborn
• how to cut your baby’s nails
• dressing your baby

What products are safe for my baby?

Moisturisers and oils

Looking after your baby’s skin with moisturisers can help keep their skin soft and hydrated. It may also help lower the chance of eczema.

Use moisturisers that:

• have low water and high oil content, such as ointments or creams — these help lock in moisture
• use simple ingredients, such as soft paraffin, glycerine or sunflower seed oil — these help repair your baby’s skin barrier

Gently apply moisturiser to your baby’s body once a day. Avoid their scalp, the skin on top of their head.

Baby wipes

Keeping your baby’s nappy area clean protects their skin. Warm water and a soft cloth or cotton ball is the gentlest way to clean. If needed, you can use a pH-neutral cleanser. Be careful not to rub or drag the skin.

Baby wipes that are gentle on your baby’s skin:

• have non-irritating cleansers (such as non-ionic surfactants)
• include moisturisers (emollients)
• are pH-balanced (around pH 5.5 — not too acidic and not too alkaline)

Nappy cream

Barrier creams help protect your baby’s skin from nappy rash. Choose barrier creams that contain:

• zinc — helps form a protective layer
• white soft paraffin — locks in moisture and shields the skin from wetness
• petrolatum — creates a waterproof barrier to prevent irritation

You don’t need to remove all the cream between nappy changes. Gently wipe and add a new layer.

Shampoo

Use a mild, fragrance-free shampoo made for babies. A shampoo made with mostly natural ingredients is usually gentle and suits most babies’ skin.

Read more about cradle cap.

Soap and body wash

Sunscreen

Babies under 6 months of age should not use sunscreen.

Instead, protect your baby from the sun by keeping them in the shade and cover them in clothing and a hat.

Babies over 6 months of age can use sunscreen safely. Choose a:

• broad-spectrum sun protection factor (SPF) 30+ sunscreen
• sunscreen made for babies
• sunscreen that uses zinc oxide or titanium dioxide (these sit on top of the skin and block the sun)

Read more on sun and heat protection for babies and kids.

Mouth care

Healthy newborn babies don’t need regular mouth care. Check your baby’s lips and mouth for dryness or irritation. If needed, clean gently with sterile water and apply a little paraffin ointment to their lips.

Once your baby has teeth, ask your dentist for advice on how to start brushing your baby’s teeth with a soft brush.

Read more on looking after your baby’s teeth.

Umbilical cord care

Taking care of your newborn baby’s umbilical cord stump helps prevent infection. Keep your baby’s umbilical cord clean with water. If the area gets soiled with poo or wee, you can use a pH-neutral cleanser.

Fold the nappy below the cord to avoid rubbing. Let the cord air-dry or cover it loosely.

Read more on umbilical cord care.

Ear, eye and nose care

Clean your baby’s ears, eyes and nose with warm water and a soft cloth or cotton wool.

Clean any eye discharge by wiping from the inner corner outwards using a cotton ball moistened with saline (0.9% sodium chloride).

To clean your baby's ears, wipe the outer part only with a damp cloth.

Read more on cleaning your baby’s ears, eyes and nose.

Wound care

Clean your baby's wound, cuts or scratches gently with sterile water or saline. Avoid soaking or scrubbing the wound.

Read more about first aid for babies and children.

How do I know if a product or ingredient is safe for my baby?

Choosing the right products helps protect your baby’s skin.

Here’s what to look for:

• Products labelled for newborns or babies — these are usually tested for safety and free from ingredients that can irritate sensitive skin.
• A mildly acidic or neutral pH (between 5.5 and 7.0) — this helps support your baby’s natural skin barrier.
• Gentle, non-irritating cleansers — ingredients such as glycerine, petrolatum and zinc oxide are commonly used in safe baby products.
• A clear ingredient list — don’t rely on words like ‘natural’ or ‘organic’ alone. Some natural ingredients, such as nut oils or certain herbs, can still cause irritation or allergic reactions.

Most wound care products are made for adults and haven’t been well tested in babies. Ask your doctor or maternal child health nurse for advice on what dressing or treatment to use.

Read more about how a pharmacist can help you with product ingredients.

Are there any products or ingredients I should avoid?

Some products and ingredients may irritate or harm your baby’s skin:

• Products with essential oils, fragrances, alcohol or plant extracts can be too harsh for your baby’s skin.
• Bath oils or bath additives like bubble bath.
• Wipes or nappy creams with fragrance, alcohol or preservatives (such as methylisothiazolinone).
• Moisturisers with a lot of water in them (like lotions) can dry out your baby’s skin.
• Cleansers or exfoliating ingredients — choose gentle, pH-balanced washes instead.
• Sunscreen for babies under 6 months of age — keep them in the shade instead. For babies over 6 months, avoid sunscreens with oxybenzone.
• Antiseptics — such as iodine, alcohol or hydrogen peroxide can damage healing skin.

If your baby has eczema or nappy rash, their skin may absorb ingredients more easily. Avoid baby wipes if possible. If needed, use gentle, fragrance-free wipes made for sensitive skin.

Avoid putting any objects like cotton swabs into your baby’s ear canal.

What should I do if my baby has a reaction to a product or ingredient?

If your baby gets a rash or their skin becomes red, dry or irritated after using a product, stop using it straight away. Speak with your doctor or child health nurse.

If your baby’s nappy rash doesn’t improve, they might need a different cream or treatment. Talk to your doctor or maternal child health nurse for advice.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

Are there any products or ingredients I should avoid during pregnancy or breastfeeding that might affect my baby?

Some ingredients in personal care products can pass through your skin or into breast milk. They may affect your baby’s brain, nerves or gut.

Avoid products with:

• parabens — in shampoos, body creams and deodorants
• phthalates — in nail polish, perfumes and lotions
• oxybenzone (BP-3) — a sunscreen ingredient
• microplastics — tiny plastic particles in scrubs, toothpaste and some packaging
• heavy metals — like lead or mercury, found in some makeup

Ask your pharmacist to recommend gentle products for you to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Resources and support

• The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne has information on baby skin care.
• The Royal Women’s Hospital has advice on caring for baby’s skin.
• SunSmart has information on sun protection for babies and toddlers.
• Cancer Council has information on sunscreen for babies and children.
• Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network has information about wounds in children.
• The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne has information about wound care in children.
• Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network has a fact sheet about skin concerns and when to see your doctor. This fact sheet is also translated into languages other than English.

To read more about if a skin product is safe for your baby:

• ACCC has information to help you keep your baby safe and practical tips for buying and using products.
• Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods provides information on approved products in Australia.
• NPS MedicineWise has information on medicines and brand names.