Newborn hygiene is simpler than the number of products on the shelves suggests. A baby's skin mostly needs very little: warm water, frequent diaper changes, careful drying and a minimum of products. This guide brings together the essentials for the first days and months, from bath time to the diaper area, and ends with a daily routine that fits real life. If you have any doubts about your baby's skin, your paediatrician and the nurse at your health centre are always the reference.
Newborn skin: what makes it different
It is thinner, has less protective oil, loses water faster and is still forming its barrier and its pH. That is why it reacts to perfumes, friction and prolonged moisture, and why the golden rule for the first months is "less is more": fewer products, fewer long baths, less rubbing. Peeling in the first days, tiny white spots on the nose (milia) and mild redness that comes and goes are normal and do not need treatment.
Bath time
- Frequency: 2 to 3 times a week is enough in the first months; a daily bath is not necessary and can dry the skin. The diaper area, face and skin folds are cleaned every day.
- Before the cord stump falls off: a sponge bath or a quick bath with the belly button out of the water, then dry the stump well. See caring for the belly button.
- Water at 36 to 37 degrees, 5 to 10 minutes, in a warm room.
- Products: water only, or a gentle fragrance-free body wash, in a minimal amount, once or twice a week. Shampoo is not needed in the first months.
- Afterwards: pat dry, paying attention to the folds of the neck, armpits, groin and behind the ears. Use moisturiser only if the skin is dry, and fragrance-free.
The diaper area: clean well, dry even better
This is the part of hygiene that is repeated most often (8 to 10 times a day for a newborn) and the one that causes the most problems when it goes wrong. The principles are the same for everyone: change straight after a poo and every 2 to 3 hours during the day, wipe from front to back without rubbing, dry the skin folds well and leave the skin to air for a minute before closing the diaper. In the first days, use warm water and cotton wool; after that, fragrance-free wipes (see wipes or water).
For girls
Always wipe from front to back, so as not to drag poo towards the genital area and urethra. Gently clean only what you can see between the outer labia, without trying to clean inside. A whitish discharge or a small amount of bleeding in the first week is normal (an effect of the mother's hormones) and goes away on its own.
For boys
Clean the penis, scrotum and the folds around them. Never pull the foreskin back: in babies it is naturally attached and separates on its own over the years. When closing the diaper, point the penis downwards to avoid leaks at the waist.
If redness appears that does not improve in two or three days, or blisters or sores, see your paediatrician. Prevention and treatment are covered in diaper rash: how to prevent and treat it, and the step-by-step change in how to change a newborn's diaper.
Face, eyes, nose and ears
- Face: warm water and a soft cloth, once a day and whenever there is dried milk or drool.
- Eyes: a pad or cotton wool with saline solution, from the inner corner outwards, one pad per eye. Persistent yellowish discharge or a red eye calls for a check-up.
- Nose: saline solution when it is blocked, especially before feeds. No cotton buds.
- Ears: clean only the outer part and behind the ear. Never put anything into the ear canal.
Nails, hair and clothing
Nails grow quickly and babies scratch themselves: cut or file them after the bath, when they are soft, or while your baby sleeps, using round-tipped scissors or a baby nail file. Cradle cap on the scalp is common and harmless: soften it with a little vegetable oil before the bath and brush gently. Clothing should be cotton, washed before use with fragrance-free detergent and no fabric softener, and in layers: as a rule, one layer more than an adult.
A simple routine for the first months
| When | What |
|---|---|
| At every diaper change (8 to 10 a day) | Wipe from front to back, dry, a minute of air, diaper not too tight |
| In the morning | Face with water, eyes with saline if needed, neck folds |
| 2 to 3 times a week | 5 to 10 minute bath, careful drying, moisturiser only if the skin is dry |
| Once a week | Nails, check ears and scalp |
| Daily until it falls off | Cord stump clean and dry |
What to have at home (and what you do not need)
You need: diapers in the right size, fragrance-free wipes or cotton wool, saline solution, a zinc oxide barrier cream for when there is redness, a gentle fragrance-free body wash, a soft towel, baby scissors or a nail file, and protectors for changing and for the bed (Bambo Nature changing mats save a lot of washing in the weeks of frequent poos). You do not need: cologne, talc, cotton buds, scented wipes, daily moisturiser on healthy skin, or most hygiene "kits". Choosing the right diaper for this stage is covered in how to choose the best diaper for a newborn.
Frequently asked questions
How many times a week should you bathe a newborn?
Two to three. The diaper area, face and skin folds are cleaned every day.
Can I bathe my baby before the cord stump falls off?
Yes, a quick bath or a sponge bath, keeping the stump out of the water as much as possible and drying it well afterwards.
Do I need to moisturise the skin every day?
No, only if it is dry, and with a fragrance-free product. Many babies never need it.
Is it normal for the skin to peel in the first days?
Yes, especially on the hands and feet. It clears up on its own within one to two weeks.
When should I worry about the skin?
Redness that does not improve in two or three days, blisters, sores, pus, yellow crusts, or any rash accompanied by fever or an unusually listless baby. In these cases, see your paediatrician.
Summary
Bath 2 to 3 times a week, diaper area clean and dry at every change, water and a minimum of products, fragrance-free. Front to back for girls, never pulling back the foreskin for boys, cord stump dry until it falls off. A simple, repeated routine is worth more than any kit.
