Diaper rash remedies

Diaper rash

Diaper rash…it makes a momma want to cry, too. The redness and burning are painful for your little one. And as a mother, you know that what is painful for your child is painful for you, too. What causes diaper rash? The most common cause of diaper rash is chafing caused by a baby being left in a wet and/or dirty diaper too long. The ammonia and other bacteria from urine and stools breaks through the natural dry barrier of your baby’s skin, resulting in chaffing and irritation and burning. Other causes include adverse reactions to scented wipes, laundry soaps and disposable diapers. You might notice a few outbreaks of diaper rash when you begin feeding your baby juices and/or solid foods due to the increased acid in these items.

Types of diaper rash

1. Perianal dermatitis is a rash appears as a bright to dark redness around the anus. Because the stools of bottle fed babies are more alkaline than breast milk, bottle fed babies are more prone to this type of rash. Being a bottle fed baby doesn’t sentence you to being bothered by perianal dermatitis, however, so don’t think every rash your bottle fed baby has is of this nature. 2. Yeast infections are fairly common in infants. They occur as a result of a baby taking antibiotics. The rash starts as small red bumps that become redder and form in clumps with distinct edges. A yeast infection is very painful. A red, rough rash around the waist and leg openings of a disposable diaper is caused by rubbing of the diaper against the skin and is called tidemark dermatitis. 3. Impetigo is a rash that consists of puss-filled blisters surrounded by redness and yellowish crusty patches. Impetigo can spread to all parts of the body. Because it is caused by staph or strep bacteria, it is important to seek medical treatment from your pediatrician. They will prescribe oral and/or topical antibiotics.

How to treat diaper rash

Treating diaper rash is best done by prevention. And the best prevention is frequent diaper changes. Don’t let your baby stay in a wet or dirty diaper longer than absolutely necessary. Yes, it’s true that the disposable diapers wick away the moisture so baby can pee more than once, but a baby shouldn’t be left in a diaper for more a few hours (at the most).

Air

That’s right, let you little one run around in the buff for a few minutes several times a day.

Baking Soda water

Sit you baby in a tub of warm baking soda water (do not leave unattended) for a few minutes two or three times a day then pat dry thoroughly.

New wipes

Change the type of wipes and/or laundry soap you use.

Cloth Diapers

Studies show that babies who wear cloth diapers have fewer incidents of diaper rash than babies wearing disposables. Why? Because mothers using disposables change their babies less frequently. And just to remind you…keeping a dry diaper on your baby is the best way to prevent diaper rash. In all reality, you won’t be changing their diaper more than 2 or 3 times more per day than you would with disposables, and cloth are a lot more economical and ecological.

Ointments

Topical ointments such as Super Duper Diaper Doo, Desitin, Butt Paste or Triple Antibiotic Ointment can be applied liberally at each diaper change. Just be sure you wash and dry your baby’s bottom thoroughly before applying.

Use less soap

Don’t wash your baby with too much soap. It doesn’t take a lot of soap in the baby’s bath water to get your baby clean. NOTE: Use only soap or body wash for babies.

New Food

Introduce new foods slowly-only one at a time at a rate of one per week. Introducing too many new foods too quickly will cause intestinal distress and increase the chances of diaper rash occurring

Written by

Darla Noble

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