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JOHNSON’S® Science of Baby Skin Health™
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Keeping Baby’s Skin Healthy

Keeping Baby Skin Healthy

As your baby gets older, he’ll become more active, and chances are you'll be right behind him with a washcloth, trying to keep him clean. As you wash him more often, you'll need to make sure his skin stays moisturised to help keep it healthy.

Moisturising - Healthy Skin for Healthier Babies

Moisturising your baby’s skin not only protects it, it does much more. Everyday rituals like moisturising become more powerful when multiple senses, like smell and touch, are stimulated.

Studies have shown that routine touch can lead to improved physiological, cognitive, emotional and social development and your baby’s first emotional bonds are built from physical contact. Enjoyable and familiar scents have been proven to improve your baby’s mood, calmness and alertness—while stimulating his memory. Together, your gentle touch and the smell of the lotion you smooth on your baby’s skin, nurture your bond and your little one’s happy, healthy development.

Your Baby’s Skin is Different Than Your Skin

Recent studies have shed light on the differences between adult and baby skin. Baby skin is more 'active' than adult skin as it's constantly developing. It's more vulnerable to irritants, changes in temperature and changes in humidity. Therefore, you need to protect your baby's skin against environmental changes and harsh cleansers.

Your baby's skin will change rapidly throughout his growing years. It's very different from yours: it needs extra protection to keep it clean, moisturised and healthy. Healthy skin is not just an aesthetic nicety. Your baby’s skin barrier is his first line of defence against the outside world. To remain healthy, it is important for his skin to be properly hydrated. Healthy, properly hydrated skin forms a barrier against bacteria and other infections. So start now to safeguard your baby's healthy skin for a lifetime.

Use a Moisturising Cleanser

As you find yourself washing his face and hands more frequently, now's a good time to transition to a routine that both cleanses and moisturises. JOHNSON'S® CottonTouch™ 2-in-1 Bath and Wash is specially formulated to gently cleanse while applying JOHNSON'S® CottonTouch™ Lotion Face and Body after helps lock in moisture.

Keep Your Baby’s Skin Hydrated

It’s a good idea to use a moisturiser after bathing your baby. In a clinical study, 10% of mothers surveyed believed that their baby's skin was dry, when in fact, more than 60% of these babies had clinical signs of dryness.

Your baby’s skin absorbs water faster than adult skin can, and can also lose water faster too. That's why regularly moisturising your baby's skin is a good way to protect against dryness. JOHNSON'S® baby lotion is clinically proven to be gentle and mild as it moisturises, keeping baby’s skin soft and smooth.

Baby Massage

A nice way to monitor the health of your baby's skin is through massage. It gives you an opportunity to go over the entire surface and to check for dryness or chafing, but it can also be a time for much more. Routine massage has been shown to improve cognitive performance and increase your baby’s alertness and attentiveness. Your little one’s first emotional bonds are built from physical contact, and these serve as the foundation for emotional and intellectual development later in life.

As your baby grows and undergoes developmental changes, massage can help ease transitions. It provides many emotional and physical benefits for your growing baby to:

  • Calm him when he's upset – massage has been shown to reduce the circulation of the stress hormone cortisol in the bloodstream

  • Increase his sense of well-being – massage has been shown to stimulate endorphins, which can lift your baby's mood

  • Ease gas and constipation – stroking his tummy can help disperse air

  • Release tension caused by, for example, teething

  • Relax his arm and leg muscles

  • And, of course, to help him develop a close and trusting relationship with you

Learn more about the benefits of massaging your baby

Logo Baby Center

As your baby grows, so will his teeth! BabyCenter® shares how to brush his teeth and how to help him start brushing on his own.

Taking care of your child’s teeth

Moms around the world trust JOHNSON’S® to care for their babies

We are committed to working with moms, healthcare experts and scientists to ensure our products continue achieving the highest standards in safety, quality and care.

Learn how love and science come together to make every JOHNSON’S® product better for your baby
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Site last updated on: 11/09/2026