Quick answer
For children aged 2 to 12 in winter, use a fragrance-free body lotion such as Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Lotion, a thicker cream such as CeraVe or Cetaphil Moisturising Cream on dry cheeks and patches, and a thin layer of petroleum jelly on lips and cracked heels. Applying within 3 minutes of the bath matters most.
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Winter care for children aged 2 to 12 needs three things:
- All over, every day: a fragrance-free, gentle lotion such as Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Lotion or Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion.
- Cheeks, backs of hands, elbows, knees and at night: a thicker cream such as CeraVe Moisturising Cream, or the large family-size Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream 453 g.
- Lips and cracked heels: petroleum jelly or a simple lip balm such as Vaseline Lip Therapy.
The most important trick is not a brand: apply within 3 minutes of the bath, while the skin is still slightly damp.
Why children’s skin dries out so fast in winter
Children have a thinner outer skin layer than adults, so water escapes faster. From November to February the air in Bangladesh gets drier, and the north also gets cold winds. Everyday habits add to it:
- Lip licking: dry lips get licked, the saliva dries, and they crack more. A red ring forms around the mouth.
- Frequent handwashing: washing with soap at school and before and after meals is a good habit, but without something applied afterwards, the backs of the hands crack.
- Playing barefoot: cold floors and dust harden and crack the heels.
- Long, hot baths: comforting in the cold, but hot water strips the skin’s natural oils.
- Wool directly on skin: wool rubs and makes itching worse. A thin cotton layer underneath helps a lot.
Lotion, cream or petroleum jelly?
The three do different jobs. Knowing which goes where means fewer products doing more.
- Lotion: more water, thinner, absorbs fast. Good for the whole body, daytime and before school. Children dislike a sticky feel, so a lotion is easier to get on them.
- Cream: more oil, thicker, lasts longer. Good for very dry areas such as cheeks, backs of hands, elbows, knees and feet, and at night.
- Petroleum jelly or balm: adds no water itself but forms a seal that keeps water in. Use on lips, cracked heels, and as a very thin layer on cheeks before going out in the wind. It works best on top of a lotion or cream.
For a child with very dry, rough patches, a thick balm such as Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume helps on those areas at night. If the patches are red and itchy, see a doctor before treating them yourself; details are below.
The picks, side by side
Prices are from our live catalogue as of 27 September 2026. The product page always shows the current price.
| Product | Job | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Lotion | Daily all-over lotion | 227 ml | ৳1,999 |
| Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion for Normal to Dry Sensitive Skin | Light lotion for face and body | 59 ml | ৳899 |
| Cerave Moisturising Cream For Dry to Very Dry Skin | Dry areas, night cream | 177 ml | ৳2,250 |
| Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream for Dry Skin | Whole-family winter cream | 453 g | ৳3,449 |
| Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume | Very dry, rough patches | 75 ml | ৳1,799 |
| Cetaphil Baby Mild Bar | Mild bathing bar | 75 g | ৳749 |
| Cetaphil Baby Wash & Shampoo | Bath and hair for younger children | 230 ml | ৳1,699 |
| Vaseline Lip Therapy Cocoa Butter | Lips, small cracked spots | 20 ml | ৳298 |
On a tight budget, one large cream can cover the whole winter: a thin layer by day and a little more at night. Before buying, check the label for fragrance or parfum; fragrance-free or unscented formulas are the better choice for children. What else to look for on the label is in which baby lotion is best.
The bath routine fixes half the problem
- Lukewarm water, comfortable on the inside of your wrist. Not hot.
- 5 to 10 minutes. Long baths are not needed in winter. If a daily full bath is hard, bathe fully every other day and wash hands, feet and face in between.
- Soap just where it is needed: underarms, groin, hands and feet. Plain water is enough elsewhere. Use a mild bar such as Cetaphil Baby Mild Bar, or Cetaphil Baby Wash & Shampoo for a younger child’s hair and body together.
- Pat dry with a towel, without rubbing.
- Lotion or cream within 3 minutes. Applied on slightly damp skin, it holds the water in.
Where, how much and when
- Whole body: lotion after the bath. For a 5 or 6 year old, roughly one pump per arm and leg, and two more for the back and tummy. Older children need a little more.
- Cheeks: a thin layer of cream before school, with a very light touch of petroleum jelly on top on windy days. Again after coming home.
- Hands: a pea-sized amount of cream after every handwash. Keep a small tube in the school bag.
- Lips: balm 4 or 5 times a day, especially before sleep. Stopping the lip licking is half the battle. More in why balm alone does not fix chapped lips.
- Feet and heels: cream at night, then petroleum jelly, then cotton socks. The heels will be much softer by morning. More tips in dry, cracked hands and feet in winter.
A balanced word on mustard oil
Rubbing a child with mustard oil in the winter sun is an old habit in many Bangladeshi families. Many children have no problem with it, and it is your family’s choice. A few things are worth knowing:
- Mustard oil can cause stinging, redness or itching on some children’s skin, especially sensitive or eczema-prone skin.
- On cracked, broken or red skin, use a fragrance-free cream or petroleum jelly instead of oil.
- Avoid oil on the face, particularly for older children with breakout-prone skin.
- If you use it and see redness or itching, stop.
Bangladesh-specific points
- Biting cold and fog in the north: in places like Rangpur and Dinajpur, lips and cheeks crack more. Use a thick cream and a muffler before going out.
- Dhaka dust: after school, rinse face and hands with plain water and reapply cream.
- Heaters and blowers: they dry indoor air further. A bucket of water in the room helps a little, and do not skip the night cream.
- Winter sun: if an older child spends a long time on the field or at a picnic, use sunscreen on the face. A gentle mineral sunscreen is a good start for sensitive skin.
Common mistakes
- Using adult lotions with fragrance or colour-changing claims on a child.
- Applying lotion on completely dry skin long after the bath.
- Using so much flavoured or coloured lip balm that the child keeps licking it off.
- Applying medicated ointments from a pharmacy without knowing what they are. Medicated creams on children’s skin should be used solely on a doctor’s advice.
- Counterfeits. Every product on TheSkinProof is batch-checked against the importer invoice, and a proven counterfeit is refunded at 2× the price.
When to see a doctor
See a paediatrician or dermatologist if:
- There are red, rough, very itchy patches, especially in the elbow creases, behind the knees, on the cheeks or neck, and itching wakes the child at night. This may be eczema; see caring for a child’s eczema.
- The skin cracks and bleeds, weeps or shows yellow crusts, or there is a fever.
- There is no improvement after one to two weeks of regular moisturizing.
- Cracks at the corners of the mouth are not healing.
A doctor can give the right treatment. Do not start medicated creams on your own.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best winter lotion for kids in Bangladesh?
A fragrance-free, gentle body lotion used every day after the bath is the best base, such as Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Lotion or Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion for Normal to Dry Sensitive Skin. For very dry patches, cheeks and hands, add a thicker cream such as CeraVe or Cetaphil Moisturising Cream, especially at night.
Is petroleum jelly safe for children’s chapped lips and cheeks?
Yes, a thin layer of plain petroleum jelly or a simple lip balm is a common, gentle way to seal in moisture on chapped lips, windburned cheeks and cracked heels. Apply it over a moisturizer or on slightly damp skin. Use a thin layer, and stop and see a doctor if the skin becomes red, weepy or infected.
How should I bathe my child in winter to prevent dry skin?
Use lukewarm rather than hot water and keep the bath to 5 to 10 minutes. Use a mild cleanser like Cetaphil Baby Mild Bar just where it is needed, such as the underarms, groin, hands and feet. Pat the skin dry and apply lotion or cream within 3 minutes, while the skin is still slightly damp.