Basics About Your Newborn Baby’s Body Fingernails and toenails Babies are born with thin soft fingernails that can be long and can scratch their delicate skin. Use an emery board or a nail clipper with care, as it can be difficult to tell where the skin begins and the nail ends.
Diaper change Change baby’s diaper when they are wet or have had a bowel movement using warm water or a wipe to clean the skin. You can apply diaper cream or petroleum jelly to clean skin to provide additional protection or if you notice any redness. • Always keep a hand on your baby to prevent rolling • Clean from front to back with a wipe or washcloth • Fasten the diaper below the umbilical cord to keep the scab area clean and dry
Skin care Babies can have blemishes and rashes on their sensitive skin. You may notice newborn acne which is caused by hormones and will resolve in the first weeks. Dry and peeling skin is also common in a newborn baby and will resolve in the first couple of weeks. Some babies have tiny white bumps under their skin called milia, this will resolve with time. If you have any concern about your baby’s skin be sure to talk with your pediatrician. If you notice redness on the skin around their umbilical cord stump, talk to your pediatrician immediately as this can be a sign of a serious infection.
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