Wash your hands before washing your baby’s face, head, mouth and teeth. Clean your baby’s eyes by wetting a cotton wool ball or soft washcloth with warm water. Wipe from inner eye to outer eye. Use a new piece of cotton wool or clean part of the cloth for each wipe.

Use a cotton wool ball to wipe behind and around the outside of your baby’s ears. Don’t stick anything inside the ears. To wash your baby’s hair, gently splash water onto their head. Dry your baby’s hair by gently moving the towel back and forth across their scalp.

Clean your baby’s teeth and gums using water and a damp washcloth after morning and evening feeds. Wipe the front and back of their teeth. When your baby’s first teeth arrive, brush their teeth with water at least twice a day. Use a soft infant toothbrush.

Trim your baby’s nails using special baby nail scissors or an emery board. Have someone hold your baby while you trim. Or try trimming when your baby is asleep, in the highchair or listening to a favourite song.

Wash your hands before cleaning your baby’s umbilical stump. Clean the area with water. Make sure the area around the stump is dry after bathing. To help the stump heal, avoid covering it with pants or nappies.

Fold nappies down and away from the stump if possible.

To clean your baby’s vulva, wipe it with a wet cotton ball or soft washcloth to remove traces of poo. Start at the front and gently wipe backwards towards the bottom.

To clean your baby’s penis, gently rinse the genital area with water. Clean only the outside of your baby’s foreskin. Read more about genital care for babies.

Give your baby some ‘nappy-free’ time. Air drying your baby’s bottom helps to prevent nappy rash.