“When can I moisturize my newborn?”

Newborn infants don't need moisturizer -- nature provides them with natural emollients to keep their skin in good shape. The peeling that you might see is not dry skin, it's sloughing of the top layer of skin since they've been in a water bath x 9 months! Bathing your baby, especially if you use soaps, destroys the natural oils, and can lead to dry, irritated skin. Because your baby isn't out playing in the mud or getting dirty, s/he doesn't need a bath and certainly doesn't need soaps. Just keep his/her creases clean, that is, under the neck, under the arms, and the diaper area.

Shelley C. Springer, MD, MBA, MSc, JD, FAAP

You may use moisturizer after umbilical stump falls off. Would use unscented.