I was saying to my sister today that I don’t know what I have been doing, as I have been blogging for 6 years and have never done a blog on diaper rash?! It’s extra ironic, considering that our diaper cream is always one of our top 2 selling productsand it is a diaper cream for cloth diapers. So, I hope it was worth the wait, and you find this post to be a lifesaver for your baby’s bottom
Most babies spend 2-3 years in diapers, and you are one of those unicorn parents if you make it through that entire time without having to tackle a diaper rash. We have had to deal with one bad rash already after my son had to have a round of antibiotics. Did you know that antibiotics can trigger a diaper rash? There are too many causes of diaper rash to cover in the post, but I will explain the most common ones below
Causes of Diaper Rash
-Prolonged contact with urine or stool- Urine and stool contain waste products and can be quite acidic.
-Reactions to diapers, wipes or creams.
-Teething- It is quite common to see at least a mild rash with teething from the excess saliva causing changes to the stool which can aggravate the skin.
-After a round of Antibiotics- Antibiotics kill not only the bad bacteria, but the good as well. This can lead to a change in the ecosystem on your baby’s bottom which allows yeast to flourish.
-Acidic Foods- Eaten by either mom, if breastfeeding, or baby, this can cause the stool to become more acidic and when it sits on the bottom can cause irritation.
-Food Intolerances- Foods that baby is reacting to can cause irritation anywhere on the skin, but it is especially prevalent in the diaper area. This is even more common in babies who have eczema.
How to Prevent Diaper Rash
As I said above, even if you do everything perfectly, there is no way to guarantee that you will prevent a diaper rash. So please do not beat yourself up if/when you baby gets one!
-Frequent Changing- The best defense is to change the baby as soon as they soil the diaper to minimize the time for contact irritation to occur.
-Wipes- Choose wipes that are non-toxic, with simple ingredients and non-irritating. My personal favorites are: Seventh Generation, Water Wipes and Pampers Pure.
-Diapers- Same thing goes for diapers. Choose either cloth, or non-toxic disposables. Regular diapers contain, chlorine, dioxin and fragrances. My favorites are Pampers Pure, Rascal and Friends and Seventh Generation
-Barrier Cream- When most people think of a barrier cream the first thing that comes to mind is zinc, but zinc is not the only or best option. For starters, zinc cannot be used on cloth diapers, as it reduces their ability to absorb. Our Diaper Cream acts as a barrier, because is 100% oil and butter based. How it works is based on the science of oil repelling water. This helps to keep the water/moisture off your baby’s bum. Having too much moisture on the bum allows bacteria and yeast to flourish.
How to Help Once Your Baby Has a Rash
-Frequent Changing
- Diaper Free Time- “Airing out” the bum helps to keep too much moisture from getting trapped.
-No Wipes- When your baby has a rash, skip the wipes altogether and use a cloth and warm water.
-Baking Soda- Add 1 TBSP of baking soda to the bath water to help with the pH balance on the bum.
-Hair Dryer- Dry baby’s bum after every change with a hair dryer on the air setting. If they are still wet after wiping and have a rash, it can encourage the growth of yeast and bacteria.
-Offending Foods- Remove both citrus foods and tomatoes from mom, if breastfeeding, and baby’s diet until the rash is healed
-Herbs- Choose a Diaper Cream with herbs! Our Diaper Cream contains herbs that are anti-bacterial, anti-yeast, anti-inflammatory and wound healing to help reduce baby’s discomfort and get their rash healed faster, often overnight.
So, there you have it. I hope you learned something from this blog! It is one to bookmark, as you are almost guaranteed to encounter a diaper rash at sometime in your parenting journey!
Has your baby had a bad diaper rash? What did use that helped? Post in the comments below?
Dr Alexis
Dr Alexis sees patients via telemedicine and is currently accepting new patients. Click here to book your appointment
