Once your baby is clean, it’s important to seal in moisture and shield his or her delicate skin from dehydration and environmental elements. While bath oils may seem like a good idea, they can make the tub dangerously slippery, and most of the oil slides down the drain anyway. Applying an emollient after bathing is a better alternative.
Apply a moisturizer formulated for baby’s skinOnce you take your baby out of the bath, quickly and lightly dry him or her with a towel, then apply moisturizer immediately. Applying the moisturizer within minutes of taking your baby out of the tub will seal in the water that remains on the skin from the bath.
As far as moisturizers go, the general rule is the thicker the better. If your baby's skin is still dry even with daily moisturizing, try switching from a lotion to a thicker cream or ointment. You might also want to consider moisturizing twice a day — once after bathing and once during the day.
