Samuel Siddall, 21, was left in charge of his girlfriend's baby while she went to the gym for an hour, police said.
She returned to find the baby had suffered serious burns. Doctors notified police because of the suspicious nature of her injuries.
They expect the baby to make a full recovery and leave hospital this week.
'Horrific injuries'
"The injuries are horrific and in my years of being a police officer I have not seen or heard of this type of injury before," police detective Deb Newman told reporters.
"The person we allege has done the act has stated that he has put the child into a clothes tumble dryer, closed the door and turned it on for a couple of minutes," she said.
Police said the child suffered serious burns to both feet and her left hand as well as bruising to her face and back.
Mr Siddall, 21, was released on bail and told to reappear in court in June. He was also forbidden to contact the child's mother.
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