Best baby lotions

Developed by pediatric dermatologists, CeraVe’s non-greasy lotion contains hyaluronic acid and ceramides, which Dr. Alexander says help prevent irritation and maintain the skin’s barrier protection mechanism. 

Parents appreciate that CeraVe protects their child’s skin without leaving any residue or stickiness. Leah Rocketto, BabyCenter Associate Commerce Director, tried several lotions that left her own hands feeling unpleasant. “If it doesn't feel good on my skin, I'm not gonna use it on my child,” she says, noting that CeraVe leaves skin noticeably softer. 

Sarah Darby, BabyCenter Senior SEO Content Strategist, agrees, saying CeraVe "feels thick and moisturizing during application, but leaves very little residue.” “I also found that it was just wildly effective compared to other lotions,” Sarah says. “I apply it to eczema patches after a bath, and the patch is gone by morning!"

Parents also love the pump bottle packaging, which Leah says makes it super easy to dispense with one so you can keep your other hand on the baby.

Heads up

CeraVe makes a thicker formulation, CeraVe Baby Moisturizing Cream, that parents also like, but doesn't come in the same handy pump bottle as the lotion. 

Parents say

"Baby CeraVe lotion and wash works wonders. It had my son's [baby acne] cleared up within a couple days."

"My LO had eczema too, the dermatologist had me get Cerave baby body wash and the Cerave lotion. It helped tremendously!"

"I've tried tons of different ointments/creams/lotions but what I found to work the best is CeraVe. They have a baby CeraVe lotion that definitely helped clear up my baby's eczema."

"We use CeraVe baby lotion for dry skin and CeraVe healing ointment for baby rash that came up on his face and chest. Both have really helped."

Specs

• Size: 8 ounces

The National Eczema Association seal says it all: Aveeno’s moisturizing cream excels at combating the itchiness, dry skin, rashes, and scaly patches that are characteristic of eczema. The main active ingredient here is colloidal oatmeal, which Dr. Rokhsar says is finely ground oatmeal that has been proven to soothe and moisturize dry and itchy skin. 

Aveeno Baby's cream also contains oat kernel oil and oat extract, which Aveeno calls "triple oat complex." Parents just say it works. Leah says that she uses this lotion whenever her daughter has an eczema flare. "It seems to do a great job at reducing the redness and bumps," she says. Although the cream is unscented, Leah says it has a very faint, but not unpleasant, smell. 

Heads up

This cream comes in a 7-ounce squeeze bottle and a 12-ounce pump bottle; most parents find pump products easiest to dispense one-handed when they're holding their babies in one arm. 

Parents say

"Aveeno cleared my baby in a day!"

"I switched my little ones bath soap to the cerave unscented soap (approved by National eczema foundation) and then use the aveeno eczema therapy right after and within a week I have noticed a crazy improvement."

"For my son, less is more. Bath once a week max, just water on his body and shampoo his hair. I use aveeno eczema moisturizing lotion after the bath. That’s it. His eczema does really well with this routine and he hasn’t had a flare up in months."

"Both of my girls have eczema and I love the aveeno eczema therapy, works so well."

Specs

• Size: 5 or 12 ounces

Babies of color are more prone to eczema than babies with light skin, so some parents prefer to use products that are especially gentle on their babies. SheaMoisture's Extra Comforting lotion contains sunflower seed oil and extracts of rice and oat, all of which add up to a soothing lotion that improves ashy, discolored, or rough patches. Parents say that it spreads easily, and leaves skin soft and smooth. It also doesn't have an unpleasant "chemical-y" smell like some unscented products. 

Founded by a Black mom, SheaMoisture sources its shea butter from women's cooperatives in Ghana, and invests a percentage of its profits in black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs. 

Heads up

We wish this product came in an easier-to-use pump bottle. 

Specs

• Size: 8 ounces

Parents who prefer “cleaner” products will appreciate that the ingredients in California Baby’s cream are plant-based, and free from petroleum-based or petrochemical substances. And as a bonus, the calendula, which helps soothe irritated skin, is grown by the company on a certified organic farm in Santa Barbara. 

Lisafé Carreon, Senior Product Manager at BabyCenter, started using California Baby's calendula cream when an eczema flare-up had spread to her daughter's face. "It’s helped a lot with [my daughter's] eczema and sensitive skin," she says. "The texture is more on the thicker side so you have to rub it in a bit in order for it to be absorbed by the skin; I liked that it was thick because I felt like it would moisturize her skin a little longer than other watery brands." 

Heads up

California Baby makes a scented calendula cream that's even more popular than the unscented variety, if fragrance doesn't bother you or your baby. 

Parents say

"California baby calendula cream is amazing! Acne went away super quick!"

"I swear by California baby calendula cream. Eliminates baby acne and baby face scratches practically overnight."

"It’s pricy, but California Baby Calendula Cream solved 95% of my baby’s acne, dryness, random pimple or red marks and dry scalp."

Specs

• Size: 1.8 or 6 ounces