Curing Diaper Rash
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The following is written by LifeasMOM contributor, Lauren:
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If you have a little one, it is almost inevitable that he will battle diaper rash at some point. Whether it is diaper rash as a side effect from medicine or from a reaction to certain diapers, it can be a tough problem to cure.
While there are many good diaper creams on the market, there are also some simple things you can do to make diaper rash less painful for your little one.
Ways to Combat Simple Diaper Rash
Skip the Disposable Wipes
While diaper wipes are ultra convenient, they are filled with chemicals. When using them on broken skin, the wipes can irritate the skin further and cause a reaction that looks like a burn – and feels like one too! Disposable Wipes seem to only make diaper rash worse because they don’t give the skin a chance to heal.
Use Warm Water and Gentle Soap
Instead of using disposable wipes on bums with diaper rash, simply use plain warm water on a clean washcloth. If you need to use soap, only use a small amount of gentle “baby” soap. The fewer soaps, detergents and chemicals on your baby’s skin during this time, the better.
Use a Barrier Cream
Choose a good barrier cream that has an ample amount of zinc oxide. Be faithful in using it every time a diaper is changed.
Change Your Baby Often
Babies should have their diapers changed often – every couple of hours at least. Even though most modern disposable diapers are made to hold 6-8 hours of urine doesn’t mean that they should. The more frequently a baby is changed, the quicker simple diaper rash will heal.
photo source
But what about the kind of diaper rash that doesn’t respond to diaper creams? Or using plain warm water at changing time?
Here are two great tricks we use to treat the more difficult type of diaper rash when it shows up at our house. You know the kind: the rash that comes when a baby is taking antibiotics or has loose stools during a stomach bug. It can be heartbreaking to change diapers when it hurts your little one so terribly!
Use Baking Soda
Baking soda is my go-to resource when battling a really bad case of diaper rash. Its healing properties haven’t failed me yet! Here’s my method:
Each time I change a diaper, I wash the baby’s bottom with a mixture of warm water and baking soda. I dissolve 2-3 heaping tablespoons of baking soda in about 3-4 cups of water and then dip my washcloth in the solution prior to washing the baby’s skin. Then I use another dry washcloth and lightly pat the skin dry before fastening the diaper. Don’t rub the skin dry, as you want the baking soda solution to stay on the skin to decrease acidity.
If I know that I’m going to need the baking soda solution all day, I make a batch in the morning and place it in an old wipes container and out of reach of my other littles. If you choose to make one
container for the day, make sure you use a clean, dry washcloth each time you use your solution to avoid contaminating it.
Also, at bath time I bathe the baby in a baking soda bath. I use about 1 full cup of baking soda in a bath tub of water. Pour the baking soda into the tub and dissolve while filling the tub with warm water. Again, make sure to pat the skin dry as to not rub off the baking soda.
photo source
Liberally use Lanolin
Mothers tend to think of lanolin in relation to the early days of breastfeeding. But it has so many other healing and soothing properties! It is an excellent skin barrier and can safely be used on broken skin where other creams cannot.
To use lanolin, squirt a small dime-size amount on the ends of your fingers and “work it” between your fingers a few moments. The heat of your skin will make it more pliable and easy to work with. After it becomes more elastic, simply dab it onto your baby’s skin. Put it on anywhere the baby’s skin needs protection. This is an especially good product to use at night time when your baby won’t be changed as
often.
When to See the Doctor
Some cases of diaper rash just can’t be treated at home. Occasionally they can progress into yeast or a secondary infection. If you have concerns about your baby’s diaper rash not healing or not responding to your treatment at home, go ahead and give your pediatrician a call.
What’s YOUR cure?
Do your babies have experience with frequent diaper rash? What have you found to be the best at-home treatment methods?
– Lauren Hill is the ‘Mama’ behind Mama’s Learning Corner, a site that features all kinds of educational ideas and tips as well as free printable worksheets. She is the mom of four young children and loves to learn alongside them.
Our pediatrician suggested using cotton swabs dipped in olive oil in place of wipes during bad rashes. The olive oil lubricates and makes it less harsh on the baby’s rear when you’re wiping. It seems to cause my DD to get less upset about getting the diaper changed, but it is a bit hard to do.
This is wonderful advice! My baby is dealing with a little bit of diaper rash right now, and I hate to see him in pain, so I am excited to try these remedies! I use cloth diapers, will the lanolin or baking soda affect the absorbency of the diapers?
Jennifer, definitely do NOT use the lanolin with cloth diapers. It will make them repel like crazy. You can use lanolin with cloth only if you use some type of liner between your baby’s bum and the cloth diaper. I’ve used everything from an old thin washcloth to old cloth wipes. You’ll have a bear of a time getting the lanolin off if it ever gets on the fibers of the diaper.
But you can use the baking soda days on end and it won’t cause any trouble with your dipes.
If I don’t have money I use corn starch… I just put it on until things have “dried” up and then I rub a bit of coconut oil on to help put the moisture back in. If I do have money I will buy the Earth Momma Angel Baby diaper rash product. It works perfectly every time and its all natural. LOVE it and its on sale at amazon.com right now 🙂
After gently cleansing, dab MAALOX on the rash with a cotton ball after each diaper change and turn your hair dryer on its lowest heat setting and dry the MAALOX for 15-30 seconds. Works like a charm 🙂
I don’t know if they still make it or not, but Mary Kay Extra Emollient Night Cream (which actually was more the consistency of vaseline and was pink 18 years ago) was AMAZING for diaper rash!!!
While I still had some, we used the Mary Kay Hand Cream from the Satin Hands set and it did well when we used disposables. We don’t use them any more though, switched to cloth to save money.
I’m sure someone has probably answered you by now…but YES we still have Extra Emollient Night Cream!!
So if you still love it, get one today! It’s also perfect for knees and elbows. I just came across your post and I couldn’t resist reaching out. Have a wonderful day!
Lea Lea
I make homemade wipes and we rarely, if ever, have diaper rash. 1 empty folgers coffee (or similar round) container, cut 1 roll of bounty in half (I use an electric knife), 2 cups of water microwaved for 4 minutes, add 1 Tbsp baby wash, and 1 Tbsp baby oil to hot water and pour it over the bounty in the coffee container. Let soak at least 20 minutes, then pull core out of center and pull wipes from center. Sometimes I add a couple drops tea tree oil for its antiseptic properties.
I do this for face wash, never though about it for baby wipes! I am just under 5 weeks until baby comes, I think I may do this! Thank you!
My father taught me this wonderful no fail solution, albeit tedious.
When battling a diaper rash, wash the baby in the sink with warm water and gentle soap or gentle hand soap. Then lay baby down on a towel and use a blow dryer on low heat and gently dry baby.
At that point I swear by plain old A&D ointment as a barrier, although I like the lanolin suggestions too.
Repeat the process every diaper change, and make sure to change frequently. The point is to keep baby’s skin as dry as possible. This has always worked like a charm for my babies, and I guess on my bum as a baby to 🙂
I too have had to change brands of disposable diapers as well. It’s always worth a try when dealing with irritation and/or rash.
Thanks for the tip on baking soda. Ill definitely be adding it to my arsenal.
I use a hair dryer, too, on the stubborn rashes! My pediatrician suggested it. My chubby baby #3 had some stubborn rashes, especially in the folds of her skin. I would wipe her with a warm wet washcloth, use the hair dryer on low for several seconds until she was completely dry, then use Aquaphor. The rashes were gone within a couple of changes.
Please DO NOT use a hair dryer on your baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I myself was trying this and accidentally switched to high heat and my little angel suffered a burn that required a skin graft! Accidents happen and this is not worth the risk!
coconut oil is awesome on rashes–including yeast-y rashes. And it won’t stain your cloth diapers like most commercially made diaper creams.
We used warm wet paper towels instead of wipes and my girls rarely had diaper rash. Also, when they did we used equal parts Maalox, AD ointment and desitin mixed and spread on. It would clear up really quick and protect their bottoms through the night time as well!
We haven’t had to deal with diaper rash yet as we’re still T-4 weeks for our little guy, but everything I’ve read suggests the diapers play a huge role. You addressed this in the first part of the article but never actually suggest trying different diapers 🙂 My research has shown disposables are a huge cause of diaper rash so I’d say along with not using disposable wipes, ditch the disposable diapers if using them. If using a cloth diaper, try a new brand and examine your washing procedure – are you using too much/wrong soap?
I’ll have to save this page to refer to if I ever need to try some of these remedies for our baby. There’s a lot of helpful info here!
Cloth diapers and diaper rash are an entirely new post, so I didn’t go there with this one. 🙂 There are different “rules” for diaper rash and cloth diapers and I couldn’t do it justice in this one post.
But I agree, if you are battling diaper rash and using cloth dipes, a thorough look at your washing routine is helpful. Also, using all-natural fibers on your baby’s bum can help alleviate it also.