NEWBORN

HYGIENE

1
Cleaning baby’s face and head
With clean hands,
moisten a cotton wool
ball with warm water.
Gently clean your
baby’s eyelids, wiping
from inner eye to outer
eye. Use a clean cotton
wool ball for each eye.
Use a cotton wool ball to wipe behind and around the
outside of baby’s ears. Don’t stick anything inside baby’s
ear – this can cause damage. Gently wash baby’s hair. Dry
hair by moving a towel across baby’s scalp.

Clean baby’s gums using water and a clean washcloth

twice a day. When teeth arrive, clean them twice a
day – in the morning and before bed. Use a small, soft
toothbrush.
 Hygiene and care for baby nails and
umbilical cord

Trim baby nails with baby

nail scissors or an emery
board. Work with
someone else if it helps –
one holds baby while the
other trims. Try trimming
nails when baby is asleep
or in the highchair or
while you sing a song
Fold nappies away from the stump
if possible. Avoid touching the cord
stump as much as possible
Wash your hands before handling
your baby’s umbilical cord. Clean
the area with water. Make sure the
stump is dry after bathing. To help
the stump heal faster, avoid
covering it with plastic pants and
nappies
Genital care and hygiene for babies

For baby girls, wet a cotton ball,

hold legs apart, and wipe between
the labia with a cotton ball to
remove traces of poo. Gently wipe
from front to back
For baby boys, gently rinse the
genital area with water while
bathing.
Give your baby some ‘nappy-free’
time. This can help to prevent
nappy rash.