How to Remove a Bandage from a Baby

If your baby has an adhesive bandage on due to a cut or scrape, removing it can be difficult. Babies have sensitive skin, and pulling the bandage off as you would for an adult can be very painful for them. The good news is that there are several substances you can use, along with careful removal, to make the process a painless one.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Loosening the the Bandage

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1
Choose a substance to assist in removal. There are many different substances you can use to make an adhesive bandage come off more easily. These substances lubricate the bandage and/or dissolve the adhesive. Choose one you have around the house, or purchase one. The following have been found to be effective:
- Vaseline
- Baby oil
- Vegetable oil^{[1]XResearch source}
- Salt water
Hold the baby still, or have a partner hold the child, so that you can easily access the bandage.
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3
Apply the remover. Apply whichever substance you've chosen to remove the bandage. How you will apply it depends on which substance you've chosen.
- If you are using Vaseline, take a pea-sized amount and rub it around and on the bandage with your finger.
- If you are using an oil, soak a cotton swab and use it to cover the areas all around the bandage, especially the adhesive ends.^{[2]XResearch source}
- If you are using salt water, mix up a teaspoon in a gallon of warm water and soak the entire area.
- Sometimes simple warm water will do the trick. Giving the baby a bath may be enough to loosen the bandage so that it will come off easily (or even fall off in the tub).^{[3]XResearch source}
Wait for several minutes while the removal substance soaks into the bandage. Be patient and give it plenty of time to work.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Removing the Bandage

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1
Gently peel back the bandage to create a tab. Pick the side of the bandage that is most weakly adhered (the side that will be most likely to come off easily). Pull back gently with your index finger.
- This small raised tab will give you better control when you remove the bandage.
- If neither side of the bandage comes loose easily, apply some more of whichever substance you've chosen and wait a little longer, then try again.^{[4]XResearch source}
The bandage should lift easily from the skin. If it doesn't, add some more of your adhesive remover along the exposed edge of the underside.
3
Pull the bandage slowly off. Once the bandage is loose, pull it back gradually. It should come off easily at this point.
- If the bandage is still firmly adhered, you may not have waited long enough. Reapply and wait.
4
Use lotion on the bandaged area. If desired, rub cream or lotion over the formerly bandaged area as you remove it. This can make it come off even more easily.
- This may also feel good for baby, hopefully eliminating any discomfort you may cause.

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What if you don't want to use any of these substances?
Shari Forschen, NP, MA
Master's Degree, Nursing, University of North Dakota
Shari Forschen is a Registered Nurse at Sanford Health in North Dakota. Shari has worked in healthcare since 1996 and her expertise lies in acute care bedside nursing on a medical oncology floor. She received her degree from Medcenter one College of Nursing in 2003 and her Family Nurse Practitioner Masters from the University of North Dakota in 2014. Shari is a member of the American Nurses Association.
Shari Forschen, NP, MA
Master's Degree, Nursing, University of North Dakota
Expert Answer
Just soak the area in water and that should loosen the adhesive to aid in removal.
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For older children, a hair dryer^{[5]XResearch source} or an icy compress can be used to weaken the adhesive and make the bandage come off more easily. Because a baby's skin is so sensitive, it is not recommended for them.
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Other substances can also be used to loosen bandages for slightly older children. These include lemon essential oil, rubbing alcohol,^{[6]XResearch source} and commercial bandage removal fluid (available at your local drug store).
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New adhesive bandages have been recently developed which come off more easily and with less discomfort.^{[7]XResearch source} Some of these have begun to appear in stores and, while more costly, might be a good choice for babies due to their fragile skin.
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