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Diaper Rashes - What to do About Them |
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by tlex  (August 2007) (rank 500+) |
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All babies can get diaper rashes and it is completely normal. You didn't do anything wrong. There are many reasons why babies get diaper rash. It can be because they have very sensitive skin, the diaper rubbing against the skin, the chemical and moisture from constant urine and stools as well as outbreaks around teething time.
Note: I have read medical books and used my information from them, and learned through personal experience. Please consult your doctor before trying any of these methods as I do not know if it will work on your specific case or child.
Ways to Prevent Diaper Rash (From personal experience)
- The best way to prevent a diaper rash is changing diapers frequently. For newborn babies you should change their diaper at least every two hours as they urinate more frequently.
- Change a diaper immediately. You can usually tell if your son or daughter has passed a stool because his or her diaper may become heavy, it will smell, you may hear him or her passing gas, and you will notice the color of the diaper is darker where it is more translucent. Newborns pass stools a lot, but this will slow down as they become older.
- Use diaper rash cream. Personally, white zinc oxide cream worked the BEST for me. It was quick, painless and most efficient. You can also try vaseline or petroleum cream with A & D vitamins, it's just less sticky compared to the thick zinc, but I didn't find it was as good.
- Use unscented, hypo-allergenic wipes. If you can, dip the wipes in water to make them less harsh. You can even use just water with a soft cloth or cotton swab.
- Always clean thoroughly and make sure to wipe under the scrotom for boys. Especially with girls, be careful you clean every inch or she may develop a yeast infection.
- Try different diaper brands or diaper wipe brands. I personally find for diapers that they're all the same. The more expensive ones just smell better haha. But, for the wipes I recommended using the softest you can find. Remember, they have to be unscented and hypo-allergenic.
- When using cloth diapers add half a cup of vinegar to the wash because this removes alkaline irritants which prevent rashes from occuring.
Ways to Treat Diaper Rash
Okay so you've tried everything to prevent it, but your little one STILL gets a rash, here's what you can do:
- Wash your baby's bottom with just water and don't apply pressure or wipe the sore, red areas. You can usually use a bulb syringe to squirt water onto the area to clean it.
- Let the air at it!!! This has got to be the best treatment. Place your baby on a towel or change pad and let him or her have a few moments of "free time" with any diaper on. The air dries out the infection and helps heal the rash.
- Diaper cream is another recommended treatment which I have tried as well. There are many kinds of cream such as Zinc Oxide which I believe works the best, Acid mantle, Butt Paste, Clotrimazole anti-fungal cream (for more severe rashes) and/or Hydrocortisone 1% cream (for severe rashes as well)
What if it may not be a diaper rash, and how to tell if it is or not
Diaper Rash: Red, irritated, flat skin. If it is more sever it will start to blister or peel.
Yeast Rash: Red, patchy raised rash mostly around the genitalia.
Seborrhea: More raised, thick, rough and greast and usually big and red patches over the groin, genetalia, and lower stomache.
Intertrigo: Red burn-like appearance mostly in between the folds and creases in the diaper area.
Impetigo: Red raised patches that ooze a yellowy crust usually coin-sized.
Allergy Ring: Red Ring around the baby's bottom.
Lexi xxx
