The routine moisturizer you use on your infant should not contain alpha hydroxy acids or sunscreens. In fact, using the same moisturizer you use on your body is an excellent choice, since you and the baby are always touching anyway. Whatever you choose, stick with it so your baby's skin won't have to readjust to the different blends of ingredients in various products. You may need to trim them as often as twice a week. This is important since newborns can scratch their faces with their own nails.
Toenails grow much more slowly and are usually very soft.
Use a soft emery board, baby nail clippers, or baby nail scissors for trimming. You may find it easier to do this job when your baby is asleep. To avoid snipping the fingertip skin as you trim the nail, hold her finger firmly and press the finger pad away from the nail as you cut. Just apply a little pressure. Alfred T. Lane, M.D., is Chairman of the Department of Dermatology at the Stanford University School of Medicine.