The Best Baby Skincare Ointments

Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment Advanced Therapy

Must-have salve

This healing ointment is a staple for all new parents and their bundles of joy.

Best Overall

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Aquaphor’s healing ointment goes beyond the typical lotion to do double-duty as a therapeutic rub for diaper rashes, chapped skin, and minor scrapes and abrasions. Made without any harsh scents or preservatives, this is an excellent option for more sensitive skin, too. For extra-dry skin, apply directly after a bath when skin is still damp to help lock in moisture and create a barrier to soothe dry, chapped skin.

Pros:

• Made without harsh chemicals
• Goes on clear
• Pediatrician-recommended and clinically proven to relieve irritated skin

Cons:

• Large tub isn’t the most convenient for travel
• Rich formula can take a while to rub fully into skin

Eucerin Baby Eczema Relief Body Creme

Excellent for eczema

This ultra-rich cream comes in a handy bottle and can be used for stubborn eczema and skin irritations.

Best Cream

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For a seriously healing cream, we love this tube from Eucerin. Infused with colloidal oatmeal for an ultra-soothing, gentle skin protectant, this is a clinically proven cream formulated to relieve irritated, rough skin patches due to dry skin, minor irritations, and eczema. And although this does provide a full day’s worth of protection, it’s perfectly safe to reapply as often as needed.

Pros:

• Contains a variety of powerful soothing ingredients
• Convenient tube makes for easy use at home or on the go
• Does not contain any steroids or harsh fragrances

Cons:

• Do not use on babies younger than three months old
• Should be used daily for eczema relief

Era Organics Calendula Rash and Baby Acne Cream

Safe, healing ingredients

Containing a number of healing ingredients, this organic-based cream is a must for easily irritated skin.

Most Organic Ingredients

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If you’re careful about what goes on your baby’s skin, you know that lotions can be a significant source of unwanted chemicals and harsh ingredients — even the ones labeled as natural or for sensitive skin. Era Organics seems to understand this issue, as they’ve created a gentle cream with a genuinely gentle list of ingredients. Infused with a host of soothing ingredients, this cream works to help relieve irritated skin, rashes, eczema, hives, and more.

Pros:

• Gentle formula infused with natural ingredients like calendula, olive and coconut oils, aloe vera, and rose water
• Contains colloidal oatmeal for increased protection
• Rich in healing botanicals

Cons:

• Lightweight cream is best suited for milder cases of eczema
• Although totally natural, the scent of calendula can be a bit overbearing for some more sensitive to scents

Ora’s Amazing Herbal Newborn Salve

Newborn-approved

For highly sensitive skin, this gentle herbal salve works wonders.

Best For Newborns

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Containing just six gentle ingredients, this unscented healing salve is safe for use on newborns. You can use it on everything from drool rashes to eczema to cradle cap and diaper rashes, making it a versatile salve that we still love, and we’re long past the newborn stage. Paraben-free and containing no fragrances, gluten, corn, or coconut, this is an extremely gentle formula for locking in moisture and keeping a range of irritations away.

Pros:

• Safe for use with cloth diapers
• Contains organic and non-GMO ingredients
• Infused with calendula and licorice root

Cons:

• Although a little bit does go a long way, this small jar is fairly pricey
• We wish it came in a handy tube for the diaper bag

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I apply baby ointment?
To keep your baby’s skin healthy and supple, we advise applying a gentle ointment or oil daily. That doesn’t mean you need to wash them with soap and water every day — in fact, we wouldn’t recommend it. However, applying a rich lotion every day can be healing, protective, and soothing for babies’ delicate skin.

Is it safe to use oils or lotions on newborns?
In those first few early days, newborns don’t typically need any oils or lotions. Although some babies have very dry skin, many babies can go without until beyond the newborn stage. However, clean and clear oils can be safely used right from the start. These oils include olive or jojoba oils and newborn-safe healing salves. As always, with any baby questions, it’s best to refer to your pediatrician’s advice.