How do you clean a newborn girls private part?

To clean your baby's labia, wet a cotton ball with warm water, hold your baby's legs apart and wipe between the labia with the cotton ball. Start at the front and gently wipe backwards. Use a new cotton ball if you need to wipe again. Dry your baby's genital area by gently patting with a soft towel.

Your baby girl’s genitals are very delicate, so clean this area carefully. Many parents wash the nappy area with just water and cotton pads for the first couple of weeks.

You can add a little mild, liquid baby cleanser to the water you're using to wipe round, or use sensitive, fragrance-free, alcohol-free baby wipes, or a combination of both. Mild cleansers that are specially designed for babies will help to protect your baby's natural skin barrier.

You can check that a liquid cleanser or a baby wipe is sensitive enough for your baby by testing it on a small area of her skin first. Make sure you dilute the cleanser in water first, as you would if you were using it to bath your baby.

At nappy changes, use a clean bit of the nappy to wipe away any poo. When changing your daughter’s nappy, always wipe the area from front to back, away from her vagina and urethra (the opening through which she does a wee). Wiping from front to back will help to prevent bacteria transferring from your baby's bottom to her vagina or urethra, and causing an infection.

If your newborn has a very dirty nappy and poo has got within her vaginal lips (labia), do the following:

* With clean fingers, gently separate your baby’s vaginal lips.
* Use a moist cotton pad, a clean, dampened cloth, or a fragrance-free baby wipe to clean the area from front to back, down the middle.
* Clean each side within her labia with a fresh damp cloth, moist cotton pad, or fragrance-free baby wipe.


Don't use baby products made with soap and baby wipes containing alcohol or perfume, as these can upset the natural balance of your baby's skin. A study of one brand of fragrance-free baby wipes found that they were as safe and effective as water for washing a newborn baby's skin.

If your baby has a poo-soiled nappy before bathtime, clean her genitals and bottom before you put her in the water.

When bathing your baby, you can use just water or add a little mild, liquid baby cleanser to her bath. Swish the water around and use a flannel or sponge to gently clean her bottom area, wiping from front to back. Try not to scrub when you're washing your baby's bottom, or rub when you're drying her with a towel, to avoid damaging the delicate surface layer of her skin. Patting her dry is best.