Newborn genital hygiene: diaper changes and gentle cleaning
How to clean a newborn's genital and diaper area: warm water, front to back, folds, foreskin, normal discharge and signs to watch.
Newborn genital hygiene should be gentle. The diaper area is cleaned often, but without rubbing, strong fragrances or invasive maneuvers.
This guide complements diaper rash, the newborn daily care checklist and first bath.
Diaper change
Prepare everything before you start and never leave your baby alone on the changing surface. Use warm water and cotton or a soft cloth; wipes can be useful outside the home, preferably gentle and fragrance-free.
Pat dry, especially in folds.
Girls
Always clean from front to back, using clean cotton or a clean part of the cloth for each wipe. Clear discharge or a small pinkish stain can appear in the first days because of maternal hormones, but ask your pediatrician if you are unsure.
Boys
Clean the outside of the penis, scrotum and folds. Do not force the foreskin: in newborns it should not be retracted. If your baby is circumcised, follow the instructions from the clinic or pediatrician.
When to call
Ask for advice if you notice:
- very intense or worsening redness;
- blisters, cuts or blood;
- marked swelling;
- bad smell or unusual discharge;
- obvious pain during changes;
- fever or an unwell baby.
Key takeaway
Frequent cleaning does not mean aggressive cleaning. Warm water, drying, frequent diaper changes and no fragrances or forced maneuvers are the base.
Useful links
Sources and further reading
- Bathing your baby - NHS inform
- Caring for baby - Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Washing and bathing your baby - NHS
- Child growth standards - World Health Organization
- Fever and Your Baby - HealthyChildren.org - American Academy of Pediatrics
Sources are used to support general informational content and do not replace advice from a pediatrician or healthcare professional.
