The Best Baby Lotion to Moisturize and Protect Delicate Skin

Light enough to use on your baby’s skin every day, Aveeno’s baby lotion is fragrance-free and packed full of natural colloidal oatmeal, which helps to soothe while maintaining the softness of baby’s skin. Board-certified dermatologist and founder of FACET Dermatology Dr. Geeta Yadav says that Aveeno is among her favorites because “it is safe for all infants, including those with very dry and eczema prone skin and uses oat extract, a very gentle and natural ingredient, to keep the skin moisturized and comfortable.” 

When my own 12-year-old son was a baby, his skin was constantly dry and irritated and his pediatrician suggested using Aveeno regularly to help soothe the irritation. Though it’s nourishing, the lotion isn’t heavy or greasy, and a decade later, it was my go-to for my toddler daughter’s skin. The consistency of this lotion is on the thinner side, which could be a drawback, depending on your baby’s needs. If your baby has more serious dry patches, a thicker, cream-like consistency might be a better option.

Newborn skin is delicate and sensitive, and it has an immature skin barrier to lock in moisture. Specifically after a bath, their skin can become dryer than usual, making a gentle lotion that helps retain their hydration without irritation key. CeraVe Baby Lotion is free of all of the ingredients you don’t want, like phthalates, fragrance and parabens, and complete with the things your baby’s skin needs—like barrier-protecting ceramides, skin soothing vitamin E and moisture-retaining hyaluronic acid.  CeraVe baby lotion has the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance, which means that if your little one is managing extra-sensitive skin or eczema, they can stick with this one without risking irritation.

Some babies’ skin requires extra-gentle nourishment. Dove’s face and body lotion has a hypoallergenic formula that is packed full of nutrients that are naturally occurring in the skin, like glycerin (a part of the skin’s natural moisturizing factor) and stearic acid (fatty acid found in the skin’s oil glands). This formulation helps to gently lock in your baby’s skin’s natural moisture. With ingredients that mirror those found naturally in the skin, Dove’s baby lotion replenishes your baby’s skin rather than just drowning it in pore-clogging oils. For babies who have reactions from other lotions and moisturizers, whether from the comedogenic ingredients or the irritating additives, this one is a good option.

With eczema affecting up to 25 percent of babies worldwide, it’s not an uncommon ailment to run into. To help soothe eczema flare-ups and keep skin calm, Dr. Mahvash Majeed, pediatrician and spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics, says that parents should look for baby skincare products that contain ingredients like shea butter and oatmeal, as they are “healthy and soothing for skin, particularly for conditions like eczema.” Eucerin has three essential ceramides and the first ingredient is 1 percent colloidal oatmeal—they work to hydrate skin, address itching and inflammation caused by eczema and build up the skin’s natural protective skin barrier. In a clinical trial, the intensely moisturizing, steroid-free cream was proven to keep flare-ups at bay.

Keep in mind that this lotion is recommended for babies 3 months old and up.

Your baby’s sensitive skin can either have periods of dryness that flare up during the winter months or it can be a consistent issue that needs some extra TLC. To restore the moisture of your baby’s skin, Dr. Lal says to opt for minimalist products that have ingredients like petroleum or shea butter. Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment’s formula is made of 41 percent petroleum, giving it incredible moisturizing power while also acting like a shield of protection for your baby’s dry skin. 

A favorite of Dr. Yadav’s, the simple formula “can help retain moisture in the skin,” she says, while still being gentle enough for daily use. Aside from being a stellar moisturizer, Aquaphor can also be used as a preventative diaper rash cream, applied to drool rashes or slathered on to any other part of your baby that is extra chapped. Since this is ideal for dry skin, it is heavier than some of the other options on our list.

“Babies with darker skin tones often experience more dry skin and are more likely to develop eczema,” Dr. Lal tells us. So when it comes to picking out a baby lotion for a little one with melanated skin, opting for one with penetrating rich butters and oils is key. Proudly Ultra-Rich Body Butter Lotion, from a brand of skin and hair care products made for babies of color, has an impressive composition of oils, including sweet almond, jojoba and argan. The robust base is made of rich shea butter, resulting in a body butter that targets dry skin without disrupting the sensitive skin barrier of babies. This one does have a light vanilla scent, so if you prefer a fragrance-free option for melanated skin, we like Aquaphor as a scentless option.

For parents who value a more natural approach to their baby’s skin care, Earth Mama’s baby lotion has a plant-based formulation that is gentle on the skin without skimping out on moisture—one Babylist parent called it a “great moisturizer for sensitive baby skin. Silky finish, not sticky. No scent, very mild and works well.” 

The formula is nourishing and soothing, with ingredients like anti-inflammatory rooibos and calming calendula. Excluding heavier ingredients like petroleum, the fragrance-free baby lotion is light enough for daily use. The ingredients are certified organic, which means the list is cleaner and more minimal compared to other baby lotions out there.

This internet-famous baby ointment has a rich texture that slides onto your baby’s skin with ease. Similar to the Earth Mama lotion, this ointment has a plant-based formula and includes ingredients like jojoba esters and camellia leaf extract to help your baby’s skin maintain its moisture. The formula excludes a typical skin-soothing ingredient, colloidal oatmeal, so if your child has an oat allergy, this will work for them. 

When my baby had newborn acne, though harmless, I wanted to try to clear it up and tried out the Tubby Todd All Over Ointment. My usually impossible-to-impress husband was amazed at how quickly the ointment made a difference in our daughter’s skin. And our Briana, an associate editor here at Babylist, is also a huge fan, saying its “the only other lotion we've ever used since my son was born and our go-to when my daughter doesn't have an eczema flare-up. It's pricey but lasts forever because a little goes a long way.”

With constant drooling, dribbling and spitting up, your baby’s face is likely to become chapped and irritated over time. The Pipette Balm Stick is packed full of ceramides, jojoba esters, and squalene to replenish moisture in your baby’s skin. This small but mighty stick also has bisabolol—a natural inflammatory ingredient that helps to calm irritated skin. To use it, just twist the bottom dial and swipe the balm on your baby’s cheeks, chin, and forehead.