Diaper rash, a word that all us parents hate. A royal pain in the butt, literally. And the problem with diaper rash is that, most likely, every baby will get it at some point. Whether its from being in a wet/dirty diaper too long, yeast infection, bacterial infection, sensitivity to certain brands of diapers, or from teething. Thankfully there are several great diaper rash creams out there, along with some great at home remedies to try, in order to cure the dreaded diaper rash!
Best Diaper Rash Creams
The easiest thing to do for diaper rash is to use a protective barrier diaper rash cream! I personally prefer Desitin Maximum Strength, as it works on contact to relieve pain and discomfort from diaper rash. Make sure to get maximum strength as it contains 40 percent zinc oxide. For the first several months after Oaklynn was born I used Desitin Maximum Strength, daily, in order to prevent diaper rash. Which worked great, as she never got diaper rash until the dreaded teething began.
When the teething hit and the diaper rashes were coming on strong I began to use Aquaphor, which I absolutely LOVE! I noticed a significant improvement with Oaklynn's diaper rashes within the next day! One of my friends also posted on Facebook one day asking other moms there remedies to get rid of diaper rash. 90% of them responded with Aquaphor over all other brands of diaper rash cream.
Baby Active Skin Repair was my other go to when the rashes were coming on strong! It kicks the rash to the curb that won't quit! Active Skin Repair is natural, non-toxic (no harsh chemicals, added fragrances, or petroleum), sting free, and safe to use around the eyes, ears, and mouth.
Active Skin Repair uses a proprietary, doctor-recommended and clinically proven formulation of HOCI, a medical grade product used in hospitals! HOCI is a molecule produced by our bodies in response to injury that kills bacteria and supports the natural healing process.
There are so many things to love about Baby Active Skin Repair! It is a spray so no having to touch baby's bottom, along with getting sticky diaper rash cream all over your hands! It kills 99.9% of bacteria, and not to mention all of the properties listed above, such as non-toxic, sting free, etc. And guess what? It is not only made for diaper rash! Use it for chafing and other skin irritations such as burns, stings, scrapes, scratches, etc.
If using a cream, apply after each diaper change. The cream provides a layer between the baby's bottom and the diaper, so the rash is not in direct contact with the diaper. The cream also provides a protective barrier, so the skin is not getting moist, making the rash worse. And most importantly, when applying the cream, make sure the area is dry!
Love For Babybum
Okay, but the thing with diaper rash creams is that they are designed not to come off. Instead of going all day with sticky cream all over your hands and under your fingernails, use this handy little tool, the baby bum! Works wonders when you have a squirmy little baby and you are trying not to get cream all over everything. Instead suction the base to a table and readjust!
This silicone applicator allows you to apply the cream directly to the baby's bottom, so it never has to come in contact with your hands. You wouldn't believe it, but this is a 5 star item with over 4,000 reviews!
At Home Remedies
Breast Milk
Breast milk, liquid gold that does more than just fill your baby's tummy! Use breast milk to soothe dry skin, heal diaper rash, soothe burns, and much more! The antibodies in breast milk help fight the irritants found in the rash. Read up on Why and How to Make a Breast Milk Bath here. We sure swear by these in our house and Oaklynn loves them!
Baking Soda Bath
Yep, a good ole baking soda bath! Just run a warm water bath and add in a little baking soda, a couple tablespoons will do. Baking soda relieves the burn and itch making your little one's bottom much more comfortable! The alkalinity of the baking soda will relieve the diaper rash by counteracting the acidity that is causing the diaper rash. A baking soda bath also works great for bug bites, poison ivy, and other rashes!
You can also create a baking soda paste. Use four parts baking soda to one part water, and just dab onto the affected area. I have also used baking soda paste on a bee sting for Oaklynn. This paste helps neutralize bee venom to reduce pain, itching, and swelling.
No Wipes
Some of the chemicals in wipes can further irritate diaper rash and make things more uncomfortable. Instead, switch to a baby wash cloth. Or if you find using wash cloths to be too nasty, just use some damp paper towels instead. These organic cotton wipes work great too!
Better yet, use a peri bottle. Fill with warm water and spray on baby's bottom. Then wipe with a damp wash cloth, paper towel, or cotton wipe.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil, something that you most likely already have at home. It is known to have anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties. Coconut oil also possesses anti-inflammatory properties. It also provides a moderate amount of barrier protection. Just dab on a bit after each diaper change. Works great for yeasty rashes!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Add a cup of apple cider vinegar to your baby's bath water. Apple cider vinegar inhibits the growth of candida. Candida is a yeast like fungus that can lead to fungal infections. Apple cider vinegar is great for getting rid of a diaper rash caused by yeast as well. The apple cider vinegar will work to kill bacteria that can worsen the rash, along with killing off yeast that is known to cause a rash.
You can also dilute a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a cup of water, then use this to wash your baby's bottom when doing a diaper change. Soak a paper towel in the solution or use a peri bottle to spray it on!
Air Your Baby's Bottom Out
The less time your baby is in a diaper, the faster the rash will go away. Air your baby's bottom out as much as possible!
Some ideas would be to do tummy time on the floor, on an old towel. Or lay them on an old towel, face up, allowing them to play. Lay another old towel across the front, in case he pees. Extend bath time. Let your baby play in the bath for a bit longer, in order to allow for extra time out of the diaper. In the summer months, we love to play outside naked. Let them play, naked, on an old towel out in the yard. Or if they have a baby pool, let them play naked in their pool.
Change Diapers Frequently
Most importantly, make sure you are changing diapers frequently! Frequent diaper changes are so important, as you want to steer away from any moisture that will make the rash worse!
Make sure you are changing diapers every few hours! To make things easier, use diapers that have wetness indicators. This makes it so you can easily see if they have peed in their diaper.
Switch Diaper Brands
Every diaper is different, a baby that is completely fine in one brand of diaper, may find another to be irritating to their skin. If the rash seems to be getting worse or keeps coming back frequently, you can try changing diaper brands.
Cut Down On Acidic Foods
Citrus fruits, tomato based sauces, and strawberries can irritate a baby's bottom. So I would try to steer away from these foods until the rash is cleared up!
Liquid Antacid
Maalox, Pepto Bismol, and any other antacid are great substances to help heal diaper rash! Wet a cotton ball with the antacid and then dab onto the affected area. Allow to dry completely before diapering again. This remedy works well if the rash is from diarrhea or eating acidic foods. If the skin is very irritated or your little one is having a lot of diarrhea, adding a liquid antacid to the diaper rash cream can help neutralize the acid in the stool.
IMPORTANT: If you have tried a few of these remedies and nothing seems to be working, or if your baby has had a continual rash, that has shown no sign of improvement, after a few days, it is time to see the doctor as it may be an infection!
More importantly prevention is better than cure!
9 tips to prevent diaper rash
- Change soiled diapers as fast and as frequently as possible. Moisture is a large cause of diaper rash.
- Use plain water to clean your baby's bottom, instead of wipes.
- If using wipes, use unscented wipes. Avoid wipes with strong fragrances and chemicals.
- Allow your baby to have some diaper free time!
- Switch your diaper brand.
- Switch your laundry detergent brand!
- Don't over tighten diapers, as this prevents airflow and can potentially cause chafing. You may also consider moving up a size in diapers.
- Consider using ointment regularly.
- Include probiotics in your baby's diet.
There you have it, every thing you ever wanted to know about diaper rashes! I hope you learned some new remedies to give a go for diaper rash! And remember, your little one won't be in diapers forever! And if there are any remedies that have worked great for you, that are not on the list, I would love to hear about them in the comments!
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