CeraVe vs Aveeno Baby Lotion: Ingredients, Claims and How to Choose
CeraVe vs Aveeno baby lotion compared: key ingredients, fragrance claims, what each brand says, and how to choose a moisturizer for a baby with dry or eczema-prone skin.
Quick answer: CeraVe and Aveeno both make baby lotions for dry skin, built around different ingredients. CeraVe's baby page lists ceramides and hyaluronic acid and says its baby formulas are fragrance-free, dye-free and paraben-free. Aveeno's lotion uses natural colloidal oatmeal with dimethicone as the active ingredient, and sources disagree on whether it has a scent. Choose by your baby's skin and your pediatrician's advice.
Baby moisturizers look alike on the shelf, so the label is where they differ. This guide compares what each brand says, what retailers list from the pack, and what we could not verify. It is general information, not medical advice.
Side by Side
| CeraVe Baby Moisturizing Lotion | Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Lotion | |
|---|---|---|
| Key ingredients | Ceramides and hyaluronic acid, per the brand's baby page | Natural colloidal oatmeal; dimethicone 1.2 percent as the active skin protectant, per retailer listings of the label |
| Other ingredients listed | Full list not on the baby page | Retailer listings show water, glycerin, petrolatum, isopropyl palmitate, cetyl alcohol, oat kernel flour, benzyl alcohol, sodium chloride and allantoin |
| Fragrance | The page says the baby formulas are fragrance-free, dye-free and paraben-free | Retailer listings mostly say fragrance-free, but some review summaries mention a subtle scent, so check your pack |
| Pediatric claims | Developed with pediatric dermatologists, per the page | Retailers repeat brand claims such as hypoallergenic and pediatrician-recommended, which we could not verify on Aveeno's own page |
| Texture | Lightweight lotion; a cream is also sold | Lotion, with a separate Baby Eczema Therapy cream |
What Is Not Verified
- We could not open Aveeno's own product page, so its ingredients here come from retailer listings of the label.
- Neither page we read made an eczema treatment claim for these lotions, and we did not check for a National Eczema Association seal.
- Fragrance claims conflict for Aveeno. If your baby has sensitive skin, avoid fragrance and check the ingredient list.
- We did not test either lotion.
How to Choose a Baby Moisturizer
- Check the ingredient list for fragrance, essential oils and dyes if your baby's skin is sensitive.
- Ask your pediatrician which moisturizer to use, especially for eczema or very dry skin.
- Patch-test a small area and wait before using it all over, and stop if you see redness or a rash.
- Choose the simplest formula that suits your baby, and apply it after a bath while the skin is damp, if your pediatrician agrees.
- Keep lotion and other products out of reach, and never use adult products on a newborn without advice.
When to Call the Pediatrician
Call if a rash spreads, looks infected, blisters, oozes or comes with a fever, or if your baby's skin is not improving with moisturizer. For diaper-area rashes, see the AAP's advice on zinc oxide or petrolatum barrier ointments in our guide to talcum powder vs cornstarch for babies.
See also our guides to baby wipes ingredients to avoid and are diapers toxic. LabelBaby scans baby food and product labels, and it is a mobile app that is coming soon. This guide is general information, not medical advice.
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