Objective To understand the application of skin disinfectant in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) nationwide. Methods From April to May 2023, application of skin disinfectant in 93 NICUs nationwide was surveyed with convenience sampling method by a self-designed questionnaire. Questionnaire contents included types of disinfectant, disinfection tools, cleaning and disinfection frequency, disinfectant drying status, removal of disinfec-tant, and adverse reactions caused by disinfectant. Results A total of 93 nursing units in 71 medical institutions from 25 provinces/municipalities were included in this study. In NICUs, three most commonly used disinfectants were ethanol (79.57%), iodophor (74.19%), and anerdian (62.37%). In nursing units for neonates < 2 months of age, chlorhexidine was prohibited in 28 units(30.11%), used with caution in 23 units (24.73%), allowed in 9 units (9.68%), and there was no unified requirement in 33 units (35.48%). When using ethanol, staff only wiped once in 13 (17.57%) nursing units. In some nursing units, there was no unified requirements on the wiping frequency of disinfectant. As for the removal of residual iodine, saline was used in 29 (42.03%) nursing units, ethanol in 8 (11.59%), and 19 (27.54%) did not have unified requirements. The adverse reactions of disinfectant mainly included rash and contact dermatitis. Disinfectants that caused adverse reactions included ethanol, iodophor, aner-dian, and chlorhexidine. Conclusion In clinical practice, unified standards for the use of neonatal skin disinfectant remain absent. Selection and use of neonatal skin disinfectant vary considerably. Neonatal skin disinfectants have common adverse reactions. It is necessary to strengthen the training of health care workers on the standardized use of disinfectant, as well as carry out large-scale and rigorous randomized controlled trial designs to provide scientific basis for the correct selection of disinfectant.