Baby moisturisers for eczema-prone and dry skin
Dry, itchy, sensitive skin? We’ve rounded up baby moisturisers that soothe and soften your baby’s skin.
Has the change in season got you wondering about your baby’s skin? A newborn’s skin is delicate and sensitive as it continues to develop, and there are many common conditions you may notice during this phase.
This includes eczema, which affects around one in five children under the age of two, according to the Australian government’s Pregnancy Birth and Baby website.
Eczema on babies is commonly found on the face but could be on other parts of the body as well. It can appear as dry, red and itchy skin during an eczema flare up, and as dry and sensitive skin at other times.
The National Allergy Council’s Prevent Allergies website says there are many different factors that can cause eczema to flare up, including changes in temperature and pollen allergies. The site even notes “eczema symptoms often worse in spring/summer” for pollen allergies.
But eczema can also look similar to other conditions, so it’s important to go to your doctor for treatment options.
At home, moisturiser can also play a role in helping keep your baby’s skin healthy.
“It’s important to moisturise after showering or bathing once the skin is dry,” Pregnancy Birth and Baby states. “Use a thick moisturiser with no fragrance on your child. Apply this as often as needed, even when their skin is clear of eczema.”
So here, we have rounded up some of the top-rated baby moisturisers to help soothe and support your baby’s skin, whether it’s eczema-prone, dry or in need of extra care.
6 baby skincare products you can use on eczema-prone skin
1. Dermal Therapy Little Bodies Eczema Relief Cream
from $10.49 (was $15.99) at Chemist Warehouse
This gentle, child-friendly moisturiser designed to soothe and protect eczema-prone skin. Formulated with Colloidal Oatmeal, it helps relieve common symptoms of mild eczema and dermatitis, including dryness, irritation and itchiness.
Made especially for little bodies, it also includes calming ingredients like Peppermint oil, Aloe vera and Calendula to help comfort sensitive skin and keep it feeling soft and nourished.
Key features:
- Contains 5% colloidal oatmeal
- Fortified with aloe vera, peppermint oil and calendula officinalis
- Relieves symptoms of itching & dryness
- Calms and soothes irritated skin and controls flare-ups
- Does not contain paraffin, parabens or tar and is fragrance free.
- Suitable for sensitive skin.Specifically developed for the management of mild eczema in children
- Suitable For: Children 0-12 years old
2. Little Étoile Skin Recovery Cream
$24.99 at Garden of Wellness
This rich, intensive formulation is designed to rehydrate and soothe your baby’s skin, with the ShineOn Plus Blend™ of glycerin, cucumber, calendula extract and panthenol – an ingredient derived from vitamin B5 and used for growth and sebum (oil) production in skin.
It’s pH balanced and also includes aloe vera, oat extract and botanicals, with no added fragrance, with just a light, natural scent of calendula and oat. Plus, Little Étoile is a supporter of the Eczema Association of Australasia.
“I have been using this on myself as it has been fantastic at [hydrating] my very dry skin,” one Bounty Parents member shared in a 5-star review. “I have also used it on my baby, as she has some spots of dry skin. So far it is very gentle, and has not caused any irritation. The smell is nice and herbal and I like that the tube is very easy to dispense a small amount of cream easily.”
Key features:
- Suitable for newborn skin
- Dermatologically tested
- Soothes and conditions skin
- pH balanced and has no added fragrance
- Free from sulphates (SLS or SLES), parabens, chlorine, phenols and mineral oils
- Made in Australia
3. QV Baby Moisturising Cream
RRP $18.50 – $26 at Woolworths
QV Baby Moisturising Cream is a concentrated and replenishing cream that relieves dryness, hydrates and helps protect delicate skin. It’s formulated with three types of moisturising ingredients – emollient, humectant and occludent – and is suitable for sensitive skin, including baby eczema-prone skin and nappy rash.
It was awarded Gold for Best Baby Moisturiser Products in the 2024 Bounty Baby Awards – as well as winning Gold 2023, 2022 and 2021. QV are also supporters of the Eczema Association of Australia and have designed this cream to be suitable for use on dry, eczema-prone baby skin.
Key features:
- Rich and highly-moisturising formulation designed for use with dry, sensitive and delicate skin
- Free from fragrance, colour, propylene glycol and lanolin
- Paediatrician recommended
- Made in Australia
Also available at:
- $16.49 at Priceline
- $13.59 (was $16.99) at Healthylife
4. GAIA Natural Baby Moisturiser
from $7.51 (was $11.50) at Amazon
This everyday, all-over baby moisturiser helps protect against dryness and rough or flaky patches. The natural ingredients include organic avocado oil, shea butter, chamomile and lavender, and it’s been dermatologically tested for sensitive skin.
It was also awarded Silver for Best Baby Moisturiser Products in the 2024 Bounty Baby Awards, with one member who reviewed it sharing: “after bathtime I love applying this to my son’s skin. The moisturiser soaks into his skin nicely and doesn’t leave it feeling sticky or clammy.”
Another Bounty Parents member said: “Finding this product has been a game changer, it is soft on the skin, easy to apply and even smells amazing.”
Key features:
- Dermatologically tested for sensitive skin
- Helps protect against general dryness and rough or flaky patches
- Includes organic avocado oil, shea butter, chamomile, lavender and sweet orange
- Free from harmful ingredients such as mineral oil, sorbolene and paraben preservatives
- Australian made and owned
Also available at:
- $13.59 (was $16.99) at Priceline
- $9.20 (was $11.50) at Baby Bunting
5. Cetaphil Baby Soothing Moisturising Cream 566g
from $20.99 (RRP $29.99) at Amazon
Tested by paediatric dermatologists, Cetaphil’s Baby Soothing Moisturising Cream is hypoallergenic, lightweight, non-greasy and moisturises skin intensively. It’s suitable for babies with sensitive skin and has been clinically tested to protect baby’s skin barrier for up to 8 hours from the first use.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACP) also mentions Cetaphil in their list of appropriate moisturiser options for babies with Atopic Dermatitis, which is also referred to as eczema.
Key features:
- Suitable for daily use on face and body for dry, irritated and sensitive skin
- Formulated with a unique blend of glycerin, sunflower seed oil and sweet almond oil to hydrate and protect baby’s skin from dryness
- Paediatric dermatologist tested and suitable for newborns
- Hypoallergenic and free of fragrance, parabens, mineral oil and petroleum
Also available at:
- $29.99 at Healthylife
- $29.99 at Priceline
6. CeraVe Baby Moisturising Cream 226g
from $18.74 (was $24.99) at Chemist Warehouse
This moisturising cream has been developed with paediatric dermatologists is suitable for all skin-types, including mild eczema-prone babies, toddlers and children. It’s formulated with formulated with three essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid to provide up to 24 hours of moisture and hydration to baby skin. It’s also free from fragrance, parabens and dye.
Key features:
- Gentle baby cream developed with paediatric dermatologists
- Suitable for mild eczema-prone skin and use in skincare for babies, toddlers and children
- Provides up to 24 hours of hydration
- Fragrance-free, paraben-free, dye-free formula
- Three essential ceramides, hyaluronic acid and glycerin
What are the signs and symptoms of baby eczema?
Some of the most common signs of eczema are skin that is red, itchy, dry and cracked or scaly. The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne website says that eczema on a baby tends to show up as a dry, red rash, which is “often very itchy and can keep babies awake at night.”
It could also be on baby’s scalp, body, arms, legs or behind their ears. According to Pregnancy Birth and Baby, the severity often changes: “Sometimes it’s very mild and other times it gets worse.”
Is there a cure for baby eczema?
There is no cure for eczema, but it may resolve over time. The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne website says managing and controlling symptoms can help, and that it’s important to treat symptoms as soon as possible.
It’s also important to see your doctor for a proper assessment and suitable treatment options for your baby. You could also get a referral to a paediatric dermatologist.
Treatments can involve daily skin protection, finding and reducing irritants and triggers that cause an eczema flare up and managing itchiness and discomfort. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe a topical treatment, such as a corticosteroid cream or ointment for use during a flare-up, or antibiotics if there is an infection.
But complications are less likely when your baby’s eczema is managed. As the Royal Children’s Hospital says: “The best way to care for skin with eczema is to keep it moisturised.”
