Cloth Diapers & Powder?

I have not used powder with my son yet. I have been cloth diapering for about 6 wks. However my mother in law has said back in the day they used corn starch. She even recomended getting a large shaker bottle ( like for sugar or parmesan cheese) to put it on!

Hi M.-
I've used cloth diapers through many diaper rashes with my son. The trick is using a cloth liner so the cream doesn't get on the diaper. You can just cut up some t-shirt material into squares or rectangles and use those. Or, what I like even better, is to wash some disposable wipes (I accidentally did this when someone put them in the cloth diaper bin) and use those against his skin. They are thin and soft, but still protect well.
Good luck!

K.

I didn't try cloth diapers until my daughter was 12 months old. Until then, she never had a diaper rash. After weeks of trail and error, I found I was not rinsing all the soap out and I really needed to use bleach. I have the fuzzy bunz diapers which state no bleach. But after talking to my mom and grandma (they only used cloth) they told me definately use bleach. Once I started bleach (1/4 cup a load) and running them through an extra rinse cycle...no more rash. Also, sun dry them at least once a week. Hope this helps. M.

M.,

I hope your daughters rash is clearing already. My dd has had several really bad rash's that were related to antibiotic use. Although we never used cloth diapers, we were told to NEVER use powder on our DD. She was born very premature and was in the NICU for 2 1/2 months. The doctors and nurses (and our pediatrician now) say that the particles from the powder will invade the lungs of you and your child and can cause allergies, asthma and other respiratory issues.

We do use Dr. Smith's cream and it is fabulous just like the other mothers have said. I also don't think it leaves the stain like some other creams do.

Good Luck with the rash.

Do you have an iron skillet or know where you can borrow one? Take plain flour and brown it slowly on low heat, let it cool and use that. My first born had it so bad she had blisters. My doctor told me about this, tried it and it worked to get rid of the diaper rash. Used this on my other 3 when there were problems and it helped them also. It has since been used on my grandchildren. My first born was born in 1955, so this is not a new thing. Cornstarch is good as powder at diaper changing time.

Good Luck.

It appears that there are TWO challenges here...get rid of the existing diaper rash and to figure out what is causing it. Did your doctor indicate if it was a yeast infection or not?

I've used both cloth and disposable on my daughter--there were some disposables that would make her red within 15 minutes of putting it on!

Try changing your laundry detergent and make sure you are double-rinsing your cloth diapers (assuming you are not using a diaper service).

My greatest success in preventing or curing rashes is a HAIR DRYER. Use it on lowest heat setting to ensure that she is completely dry BEFORE re-diapering--whether you use any ointment (calendula cream) or not. It was also very calming for my daughter and it helped us both through some colicky nights. I've also used Aquaphor ointment (don't buy it in the baby section; price is all jacked up)--not all natural but gave me consistently good results when nothing else was working.

It you continue to have a problem, consider eliminating dairy from your diet until she is 4-6 months old. It can solve a multitude of problems. It takes about 2 weeks to take effect, but I was able to start adding dairy back in once she was 5 months.

The best power I have ever used for diaper rash was corn starch. Just use it like baby power won't hurt them in any way and keeps them from getting the rash.
Good Luck

I use cloth as well and use vaseline and corn starch (both light coatings) to help protect tiny hiney and to clump the poop. It doesn't mess up the diapers and I use the oxyclean baby detergent to soak them in before washing. Stains gone. My pedi also recommended that I add a small coat of neosporin if a diaper rash does occur. Good Luck!

Baby powder is not really recommended for a little girl as it getsinside and can cause problems. Corn starch should be used rather than powder. Also vaseline is good, keeps the moisture off the baby bottom. Beaudreaux but rub is what my daughter was given as a joke but turned out to be the best for diaper rash as well as vaseline.
Hope this helps,
A.

I use cloth also. The #1 cause of diaper rashes with cloth diapers is detergent & bacteria build-up. If you're not using Allens Naturally, or Charlies Soap detergent I would HIGHLY recommend switching to one of them. You should not be having diaper rashes with cloth, especially if you are breastfeeding. Be sure to run a rinse cycle first with cold water, then wash in hot, then run an extra rinse cycle. Microfleece liners will also help. I would stay away from powder and ointments if at all possible. They will stain your diapers.

Baby powder breaks down the skin. Use it very sparingly (like if she's stinky from a yukky diaper). To avoid future rashes, keep her clean and slather on the petroleum jelly. It'll keep her skin soft (not that that's a problem) and act a s a sealant protecting it from the acid in her urine and stool. Do not use petroleum jelly until the rash goes away because it will seal in the rash, and it won't go away.

(Also, use tea tree oil to help get rid of the rash and to keep it away. Don't be so quick to get a prescription for such a young body.)

My doctor does not want us to use baby powder on our daughter because it can get into their reproductive system and cause infections in the urinary tract, etc. Also, I've read that it can cause asthma problems in babies. I have had good luck with Boudreaux's Butt Paste. You can find it in Target and Babies/Toys R Us. I'm sure they have it at Wal-Mart too but I never shop there. Also, both of my kids were exclusively breast fed as well (a boy and now a girl). Sometimes if my son's poo was a little acidic from foods I ate, I would see some rashy looking stuff and would back off of those foods and use the Butt Paste. Would clear right up. Haven't reallly had an issue with my daughter so far (5 1/2 months now).
Hope this helps.

Yes, use baby poweder that is corn starch. The other baby powder can cause pneumonia, because the baby can inhale the powder. You can buy diaper liners for cloth diapers so please use the cream "A & D" it works best. I used cloth diapers. By the way there is a product that a baby changing fold out table that you install above the toilet, therefore when you change the baby you can can use the sprayer that comes with it to wash the baby's bottom. I did not get one because I was not having anymore children (have 3) but if I had known about it from the firt child I would have purchased one.
http://www.babychangenbathe.com/learn_More.html
http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/other.htm -- look for the snape fastners for pre-folder diapers
You will save hundreds by using cloth diapers. I used the pre-folder and was a time saver folding diapers

M.,

I know all about diaper rash. My second baby girl had an awful time with it. Prescriptions from the pediatrician, cloth diapers, powder, corn starch, I went through it all. My mother kept saying that it looked like it was more under her skin. I would tell the doctor that and I would get another salve prescription from her. It was exasperating. And my little one cried and cried.

Well we had some bad storms come through that knocked out the electricity for three days and there was a wild rush on the grocery stores for formula. By the time we needed to buy more there was no more of what the pediatrician had recommended. It was the brand my baby had been on since birth. We had to buy another brand. After two bottles the rash cleared up. We stayed with that brand and had no more problems.

Now ask me what the brand is, I really don’t remember it was 22 years ago. But it is just a thought. Try a new formula and good luck. I know you are worried.

D.

My mom used cloth diapers on my sister and I because they could not afford disposable. However, when I had children she STRONGLY recommended against using them ... especially in Houston. She said we constantly had a diaper rash just because of the heat and because the cloth diapers aren't as absorbant and because of the rubber pants you have to wear with them. If you want to use the cloth diapers, get very used to the diaper rashes.

You can use any cream labeled "organic" as they do not contain petrolatum products. Creams that use zinc oxide but not petrolatum or paraben are not damaging to cloth diapers. I prefer the Avalon organics brand or the Earth's Best brand creams which can be found at HEB.

The secret to overcoming diaper rash, though, is frequent changes. If you even suspect that your child is wet or dirty, or even just hot and sweaty (and, therefore, damp) get a little air on that bum! Take a lot of time with the change, letting the child air out and dry. It worked for us.

Good Luck

I almost always put Burt's Bees Baby Powder on my daughter's bum with every change and have cut her diaper rashes by about 90%. I have been amazed at the difference. Hope this helps! -A

Dr. Smith's is wonderful! I was never a fan of powder in the diaper, it gets clumpy with moisture.

I have 3 kids and I have found that Dr. Smith's worked the best.

My doctor told me not to use baby powder (I don't know if that's the same as plain corn starch or not) - that it could cause allergies for your babies. I read that in What to expect the first year too. so, I just used vaseline as others have said once the rash clears. Ask your doctor.

Hi M.,

My daughter had horrible diaper rash when she was breastfeeding, although we used disposable diapers. We too tried everything. We ended up buying vitamin E gel caps, pricked a hole in them with a pin and smeared it all over the rash and buttocks. The thickness of the Vitamin E kept the dampness away from her skin. Within 3 days, there was an improvement.

C.

wife of 19 years and mom of an 11 year old daughter

Hi, my youngest son is now 2 & is so sensitive to everything. The best diaper rash cream is Dr. Smith's, it's a little more expensive but works almost instantly. You will need to lather it on thick & alternate between changes with pure corn starch. We put the corn starch in our sugar shaker to make it easier to apply.

I have a 2 year old boy, 15 & 17 year old daughters.

Dont know where I heard this and dont know if it is true so just sharing... that baby powder can be carcinogenic (spelling???) dont know if this is true or not...

Dr Smiths diaper ointment, available at Walgreens. Its $8 for a small jar....we spent $85 for the Dr's visit to be told to use it. Once we started using it I noticed that lots of Moms on this source recommend it....wish I'd paid more attention.

We went through the same thing when my daughter (now 20) was in diapers. It turned out that she was allergic to wipes. We switched from using wipes to using a washcloth with warm soapy water followed by a clean rag with clean water. Afterwards, I applied a thin coat of vaseline to the area. We continued to use the vaseline after the rash was gone and she had no more problems. The vaseline helps keep the urine away from the skin which helps prevent the ammonia in the urine from causing a rash.
Kudos for the cloth diapers too! I'm a bit old fashioned anyway but disposables seemed to cause more of a problem with our hot weather and I believe that those youngsters that wear cloth diapers potty train faster because they can actually tell when they're wet.

So why can't you use diaper cream with cloth diapers? I did. Powder with little girls can cause vaginal problems I hear. Putting them down for a nap (in a sunny window) with no diaper on, just underneath, worked to get rid of a bad rash.

Hi M.,
I also use cloth diapers (birdeye) and my son was getting rashes. I strongly recommend buying a yard or so of microfleece , cutting to size and using them as a liner. The microfleece will wick moisture away from the skin and will prevent diaper rash. Also, poop doesn't really stick all that much to microfleece. This technique cleared up my son's rash within 48 hours. Also, I use Lotrimin (for athlete's foot) as perscribed my my doctor when he got a nasty rash in the past and it is fantastic.
here is a link to a place that sells microfleece, and you do not need to sew it because it doesn't fray.
http://www.verybaby.com/ccp0-catshow/fleece.html

Also, what kind of detergent do you use on your diapers? If it has a lot of perfume or softeners, it could be clogging your diapers and causing them to no absorb as much.

If you work this my not work for you but when my oldest son Daniel was 3 weeks old he got diaherrah for a week from that he got a diaper rash we couldn't get rid of. We tried everything from Destin and other ointments to cornstarch to powders. In the end the only thing that worked for me was to keep a towel handy and rinse him off in the sink. Even when your out bathrooms with sinks are everywhere.I know its a little inconvienent but it saved me money and he never in his life never had another rash.We did this even when he peed. I did this all 3 of my boys and the other 2 never had even one diaper rash..Hope it helps you.

Hi there,
First of all congrats for using cloth diapers!!! We use cloth and are still able to use diaper cream. We use the Earth's Best diaper cream. The only place I've been able to find it is at Baby's R Us. I know there are some other brands that you can use with cloth, but that's the one we use.

Austin Baby www.austinbabystore.com, which is in S. Austin carries some of the other diaper cream brands. I just can't think of them off the top of my head.

Hope that helps!

I use cloth diapers. I know that some say not to use ointment with them but my first diapers had Beudreauxs stains and she used it regularly.

Really, a key is to change right away. I use disposables at night since I don't change at night but cloth during the day and have been fine.

S., mom to 4 girls and due in March

We've used cloth diapers for 2 years now on our little girl.

We had some brushes with diaper rash. Whenever she has a rash, we use a disposable rice paper liner inside the diaper and some diaper cream until it goes away (usually no longer than a day). Then we go back to normal.

On the lines, one brand is Imsi Vimsi; in Houston one brand is available at Young & Restless Resale. Many of the liners are flushable; they usually run $8 or so for 100.

Our hospital class recommended against baby powder.

To guard against further rashes in our humidity, we use a liner and cream at night.

I've used cloth diapers for both my boys. You've gotten lots of great responses. My oldest boy never got diaper rash (unless he was wiped out by antibiotics and we didn't get on probiotics right away) and my younger one is much more prone, so don't spend a lot of time blaming yourself about not changing frequently enough. Some people just have more sensitive skin.

What worked for me...1) always use microfleece liners with my prefolds (SUCH a cheap solution and is GREAT at preventing it...just buy a 1/4 yard at fabric store and cut up...no hemming or anything!). 2) Boudreaux's Butt Paste...I was desperate and my parents went to the store and came back with it. I'm pretty picky about what goes on my kids' skin, but it cleared it up right away, so I use it only when necessary. 3) olive oil! Has natural anti-inflammatory properties and helps my boy's skin in general.

No powder or cornstarch. MESSY!

Good luck....

Hello if the baby is breastfeed then it sounds like a citric acid burn. Babies are not able to process the citric acid and it is in their urine and burns their skin.
If you are consuming anything with citric acid ie.. oranges or orange juice, lemons or limes or lemonade, This will then be transfered to the baby thru your milk and burn the babies skin.
We see this quite often with breast feed babies
Deb

Let her nap on her stomach on the diaper (open underneath her) and let her bottom air out with nothing on it! I never used wipes on my kids unless they were messy. If I was changing a wet diaper, I would just change it. Urine is sterile and is usually soaked up in the diaper. You are adding unnecessary wetness and causing a rash. I read that and followed it with all my kids. I also never used powder, as most people use too much and it caused problems instead of fixing them. That is what the hospital recommended to me and I followed it with all 3. If you do use it, only use enough to spread with your hand, not enough to fall into the diaper. My MIL swears by cornstarch? The advantage of disposal diapers is that they hold the wetness away from the skin. If you're going to use cloth, you will have to change her frequently if you don't want her to get a rash. The older she gets though, you won't have to change her so often. FYI: I used both cloth and disposables.

Many have already suggested, but I wanted to put in my vote for Dr. Smith's cream. It is the best thing ever!! My daughter is 5 and still gets red down there sometimes b/c she has very sensitive skin and I still use the Dr. Smith's on her. Works miracles over night!!
Good luck to your and your little princess!! =)

I will tell you what has always worked for me. Whenever she has a dirty diaper, be sure to use plenty of clean wipes. The add soap (Aveeno is good) to clean off diaper area. Rinse well and apply A & D ointment. I do not recommend powder or other creams. It's worked for my family and friends for years. Hope it works for you.

try vasoline and cornstarch. change her regularly. the vasoline will keep the wetness away and the cornstarch will stop any itching..
Dr. smiths diaper rash cream is also really good. CLoth diapers can be great, and a lot cheaper..

My 2nd son had crazy diaper rash. It was so bad we took him to a dermatologist. Finally after special creams and constant changing of his diaper our Pedi said try Mineral Oil. Worked like a charm. It did take a couple of days, but we swear by it now. Make sure you put it on with cotton balls.
Good luck,
C.

M., you should use an all natural diaper cream that isn't petroleum based. Burts Bees, Earths Best, plus others are available at HEB or any other store. :)

With my first born, I used cloth diapers and Baby Cornstarch by Johnson & Johnson. With my second, I used Huggies and the cornstarch. With my grandaughter, it was Huggies and cornstarch. Very rarely did they have diaper rash, and if there was any, I used Desitin and it lasted only a day or two.
Just be sure your cloth diapers are washed with Dreft or a detergent specifically geared towards babies.

Hello,

I am sorry to read your daughter has a diaper rash.
I didn't use cloth diapers for my daughter (18 months).
As far as the powder is concerned, I used and am still using the Soothing Powder by Mustela.
She rarely has a rash, except when teething or sick (or intensive use of wipes at daycare). At home, we never use wipes : cotton, water and cleansing milk

I hope this could help you.

Take care

I (sometimes) use cloth and Burt's Bee's powder to prevent rash. If there's a rash I use Lamasil (1st), Burt's Bees rash cream (2nd)AND POWDER (last)overnight. In the morning the rash is almost always gone.(knock on wood!) Good luck!