Having a Girl: How Do You Prevent and Get Rid of Diaper Rash?

I have a one year old who had bad diaper rash when he was younger. I breastfeed and nothing helped, So the doctor told me let him go naked. I still let him have 5-10 min. of naked time before a N. diaper goes on. He has not had any problems for the longest time, That was until my mother bought him some pampers diapers, which he seems to have a bad reaction to. That is something you my need to know. Baby's can have a reaction to different brands of Diapers.

Breastfeeding is a great way to prevent diaper rash. The poops are ph balanced (I know that sounds odd) but they don't irritate the skin as much. I never used anything for diaper rash persay, but once solids started if he ate something too acidic and got the ring around his bottom, I used A&D. It worked great!

Sylvia,
First of all congrats!! I have been doing daycare in my galewood home for 13 yrs , the best diaper rash cream in my opinion is sold at WHole Foods, it works!! and it smells good.

Desitin - Desitin - Desitin - I don't like the creamy type though, because it comes off to easily.

We use Weleda diaper care cream. You can buy it at Natural Food stores or on line. It is the best, by far. My first son was allergic to citric acid and I didn't know it. He kept getting terrible diaper rashes, not matter how much I changed him. He would bleed almost instantly. When we had to change him, he would scream at the top of his lungs- people in public would get concerned and would ask me if he was ok. This is the only cream that worked for us. We tried it all (well, not the browned flour, cornstarch did not work for us). I would put it on, and mix it with vaseline overnight. He would be MUCH better, if not cured, the next morning. The stuff works WONDERS.

You are chatting with the diaper rash queen! I babysat after my son was born and it seemed like the children I watched never got changed or something because they always had diaper rash. Leave the creams alone and buy your self some cornstarch. You can make it into a paste (I never did) or just put it right on their bottoms in the powder form. I used several different creams on bottoms and it would not clear it up quick enough and they would be worse the next day when I would get them. The cornstarch worked everytime! My neice came over with a rash so bad her skin had started to peel off (YUCK) and everytime I changed her diaper she would scream at the top of her lungs. Eventually she would calm down when I told her I was using Aunties medicine because it doesn't sting like the creams do.

I also watched another little girl that always had the toxic runs because of medical problems. This is when their poop is so runny and litterally toxic that they get diaper rash even if you change them immediately. I went through lots of cornstarch on her because I always put some on her butt just to keep her bottom from being so sore for her. When she got sick with the stomach flu and had the toxic runs every few minutes I kept her bottom rash free with the cornstarch.

Change your babies diaper frequently, especially after a bowel movement. They are lots of creams out there to help prevent diaper rash and help it go away if your baby does get it. My absolute tried and true favorite is Country Comfort natural baby cream which I have used for my four children. I put it on after every diaper change. It is a strange green color, but goes on clear, and I can count the number of diaper rashes I've had to deal with on one hand! Another one that is zinc-based that I like is the Aveeno brand. It is white and more pastey, but provides a good moisture barrier and helps a rash heal quickly as well. I discovered this one recently, when I ran out of my other cream, and my mom bought it for me.
Then if your baby does get a rash keep your babies bottom dry as much as possible and give your baby some time without a diaper with something under her for any accidents!
That's my best advice on that subject!
Sometimes using cloth diapers help prevent rashes as well, because it's easier to tell when the diaper is wet!

the best advice i ever got on diaper rash was to use the leftover Lansinoh lanolin ointment (the purple tube) that you may be already using for cracked skin, etc. Its sort of expensive, but works so fast if its a really bad diaper change. I had leftover Lanolin because it healed up my breasts so quickly, and I've used it not as a preventative, but rather as a "cure" when my son had diaper rash. worked like a charm. I also like it because you know since you can use it on your nipples where your baby puts their mouth, that its not unsafe if they happen to get their hands on it (so I've also used it to prevent chapped lips in the winter - again, worked like a charm - only thing is people say it stains, i've never noticed, but i thought i'd pass that on).

Keep the diapers as dry as possible... so change often. I find that diaper creams tends to make it worse and swear by Vasoline. If I do use a cream, I find Butt Paste works wonderfully. Yes, it's really called "Butt Paste". :)

Hi Sylvia,

I used cloth diapers on my daughter and she never even got a diaper rash! My favorite website is www.heinyking.com if you are interested. They are so easy to use and wash! As for diaper cream my favorite is sold at www.earthmamaangelbaby.com It's called "Angel Baby Bottom Butter" and can be used on the bottom and even on cuts and scrapes!

Sylvia:

If your daughter gets a rash I recommend using Calenduala on it...

Noodle and Boo has a "special" wipe... I don't know anything about it... they sent some information I have yet to see the product. ( www.noodleandboo.com)

P., RLC, IBCLC
Pres. Lactation Support Group, Inc
www.lactationsupportgroup.com

keep as dry as possible. For my son (he is 3.5 now) I would put vasaline on his butt every night (when he did not have a diaper rash) since that is when he went the longest without being changed. It works as a barrier to keep moisture away from them. I worked as an aide in the hospital and this is what we would do to our bed ridden patients.
worked for me.

good luck and congratulations!!!

Hi Sylvia,

I have a boy, but he does have sensitive skin and tends to get diaper rash a lot. The only difference with a girl is that you have to make sure you always wipe front to back. The best way to prevent and treat diaper rash is to keep the area dry. After I clean the baby's bottom, I just blot it with the clean diaper to make sure his butt isn't overly wet from the wipes. Then I put a little bit of Bordeaux's Butt Paste on his butt and that's it. I use the butt paste for almost every diaper change since he is so sensitive. Bordeaux's is a bit more pricey but it smells so good I think it's totally worth it.

Congratulations on your N. baby!

L.

Hi Sylvia,

The information that you have already been given is great and there is nothing else that I myself would recommend.

I am basically responding about the seeking in-home daycare.
Where are you located? Try contacting the Lake County Home Daycare Network. The referral line is ###-###-####. They can give you a list of home daycare providers in your area. If that doesn't work try contacting DCFS or the YWCA they will also give you a list of people in your area.
If you have any questions about the process or good questions to ask please feel free to contact me. I myself am a home daycare provider.

I hope this helps!
J.

I think that it depends on the baby - my son almost never gets diaper rash, and neither does my cousin's daughter. Make sure that her skin is dry before you put on a N. diaper (leave it exposed to the air for a few seconds). And, my pediatrician recommends A & D ointment over zinc oxide creams. It's good for everything - rashes, chapped skin, etc. Good luck and congratulations!

Not a big deal- try to keep them dry- don't keep them in a wet diaper for too long---I usually put a little bit of baby posedr in the diaper too if they are not allergic.... desitin or some cream to soothe when it is red and raw...

I have two girls and a combination of the above always did the trick.

I have always had luck with DRC (diaper rash cream) behind the desk at the pharmacy. Use that and top it off with some vaseline to coat it so the acid and all that will slide right off and it will go away in a day.
Good luck with everything.

Sylvia,

This is what I found with my daughter, she never had diaper rash until her teeth started coming in. The only time she did get diaper rash was when I needed to use a friends baby wipes, if the wipes were not Pampers sensitve she broke out in a rash. I never used any powder or cream to prevent. When she did get diaper rash I just used aquaphore, may not be spelled right. I don't think it is such an issue until your daughter comes and you see how her skin reacts.

Dr. Smith diaper rash creme - sold in Walgreens are very useful to my kids & my friends' kids.

A few people have mentioned powders, but they say not to use powder-based items on baby bottoms because the dust can be breathed in by the baby during changing.

I'll throw my vote in for the Desitin creamy myself. I'd also like to point out that some kids do get teething rashes - sometimes so bad that no amount of changing or diaper cream will really make a difference! My son had these, and it seemed that no matter what I did he would end up with some open, bleeding areas on his behind! I found that the Pampers Sensitive wipes were gentlest on him (or just a warm, wet cloth when it gets really bad!) and the pediatrician recommended I put some Neosporin on it to help prevent infection - I also used the version with pain reliver that seemed to help as well. I also found that mixing Neosporin and Desitin was a BAD idea - it seemed to burn the first time I did that so I went to using one or the other, depending on the severity of the rash.

He was an extreme case, however. My daughter gets a small amount of rashiness when she teeths, but otherwise has no troubles at all. I rarely even bother with the Desitin, as the cloth diapers I use seem to keep her comfortable. I use a disposable liner to keep the wetness away and it works fine. In fact she seems more likely to get a rash with disposable diapers - I think they make her skin overly dry, which is why the need for the creams is so great these days.

Congratulations and good luck! You'll find what works best for you through a little trial and error. :-)

My daughter is almost 6-months old and we've been really lucky as she hasn't really had a diaper rash yet. She has gotten a bit red but that's it. Now that we are on formula and solids we are using a preventive cream on her - it's called Mustela Vitamin Barrier Cream. It's worked great for us!

A&d did it for me! just make sure u change your baby often and if u get a diaper rash cream make sure it contains zinc oxide which most do, but the 2 that seem to work best are a&d and buttpaste

Hopefully you will have a little one that is not very prone to diaper rash. My little girl is 5 months and only had it once. That time I used Desitin and it cleared it right up. If I notice that she is getting a little pink, but not full blown rash--I just use plain petroleum jelly and that works great for preventing it. Plus it is cheap! Good luck.

The greatest anti-diaper rash remedy I have found is a good old fashioned hair dryer! Sounds strange, I know, but after you wipe her, give her a few (10 to 15) seconds of the hair dryer in that area. The wipes are wet and my two girls always got diaper rash no matter how often I changed them. When you use the hair dryer, it will dry her completely and you should completely prevent or cure diaper rash. Added bonus: it feels great to them -- both my kids loved it! They would actually smile when they saw the hair dryer come out. I just kept it at the changing table. Good luck!

DESITIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Works wonders! Apply it at every diaper change. Give her butt 'naked time' to air out daily. Be gentle when you wipe her butt with the wipes - their skin is so fragile down there in the first months.

You want to stay AWAY from the commerical products. They are full of chemicals which aggravate your babies skin and keep you adding more products. Air drying her bum is a gret way to work towards preventation. When/if that fails, then try Arbonne diaper rash ointment. Send me an email and I can email you the ingredients, testamonials regarding the oinment specifically and the reason why it works. Good luck.

With every diaper change, I use baby powder w/ cornstarch. THen I use A & D. Make sure to change the diaper frequently. Also, I like to use Desitin at night. It is thicker, (messy) but really does a great job protecting their little tushies. The best cream if a diaper rash occurs is Triple Paste. It's expensive, however, it is the gold standard of diaper cream. ALso, if a diaper rash occurs, an oatmeal bath is good to calm the skin (also good for ecsima)). Sometimes you can try everything, he/she will ultimatly get a rash. The baby might have very sensitive skin. It's good to be prepared.

Good luck and congrats in advance!!

Jolie

Hi,

When my daughter was born she had very very bad diaper rash. Desitin was ok, but what really worked for us was Boudreaux Butt Paster (available at BRU, Target etc). I'm sure other moms have other creams that worked wonders for them. Desitin was great with my son but my with my daughter only the butt paste worked. Also, leave her open as much as possible i.e. without a diaper. We used to put her in a sunny spot (near a window etc) on a sheet on the ground without a diaper for a while. Also try using bigger diapers when she has a rash - they are more absorbent. You'll just have to deal with leaks if they happen but thats ok I guess. But do try and leave her without a diaper for some time period. You can leave her on a diaper so that if she poops the diaper catches it... but just leave it open.

GOod luck.
Aarti.

Congrats first of all! I have 4 girls and I have tried almost everything out there for diaper rash. By far the best cream is made by Arbonne..it is some sort of herbal diaper rash cream. I am not one for this all natural/herbal stuff but I received this for a gift from my mother in law. this stuff is so good it seriously clears it up almost instantly. Their website is www.arbonne.com and the stuff is called Item#: 853
Arbonne Baby Care Herbal Diaper Rash Cream. It is $14(I know it seems like a lot but think of the money you spent on things that didnt work), but I swear to you it is worth it and it really lasts a long time. Good luck and I hope this helps you!

We just used Desitin Creamy. Diaper rash was never a big problem.

Congratulations! I have a girl... she is 10 weeks now. I'm breastfeeding her and because they poop so often she did get a diaper rash. I use desetin or butt paste... both work really well. Also, when it got bad, I called her pediatrician and she had me apply some antibiotic ointment with bacitracin in it... you can buy it at any drug store, cleared it up right away. Main thing is... keep them dry and clean. You will be amazed at how many diapers you can go through!

PS... I use the Lansinoh wipes for breastfed babies... you can get the target brand, they are $1 cheaper per package.

I recommend the A&D ointment over the Desitin. I started with the Desitin but when she started teething and the rash got real bad the Desitin was stinging her and she would scream everytime I put it on. I switched to the A&D as a recommendation from the daycare, as that is what they used, and it cleared up quickly and never burned. I have used it ever since and it is a godsend.

Hi Sylvia,

The best that has worked for me and my 2 girls is to "fan" the baby's bottom after you change him/her to let it dry. I have tried mutiple diaper creams and the best ever is Jafra's diaper rash cream. I sell Jafra, please feel free to go to my website if you wish to order. We do have a 20 day money back guarnatee, but trust me, you'll be so happy with this prodcut.
www.myjafra.com/hjohnson2...order online 24/7 and I will deliver via mail or can drop off too. Your choice.

;-) H. J.

My daughter is now 2 years old and she's had several diaper rashes and I have found that the only thing that works is Budreaux's Butt Paste. This stuff is the BEST!!

Congratulations on the impending arrival!

My daughter is 13 months and gets diaper rash quite freguetly while teeth are coming in. MY pediatrician told me to avoid to many fruits or juices or anything sugery. I used a&d for my first two but it did not work for this one. I tried a desitin and it didn't seem to help either. A friend in day care recomended a cream called beuadroix's (pretty sure i spelled that wrong) butt paste and it worked great for a while she said it had 16% zinc as apposed to the 10% in most creams. My little one still had problems and now when it gets bad we use a desitin that comes in a purplish tube or tub if you look at the ingrediants it is 40% zinc and it works great usualy clears within a day if not hours. I may use a lil powder to dry the area before adding cream.

Hi there & Congratulations! So many good responses!! After I give my son a bath I give him 'naked time' to air out the area - this is also a good tummy time thing since he doesn't mind it when he's naked!! A good prevention cream we use is A & D ointment and, to quickly get rid of diaper rash is the Butt Paste. Good luck!

breastfeed, breastfeed, breastfeed!!!!

hi i had nothing but trouble with my boy with diaper rash he has egzema and keratosis pilaris most of these this kids out grow it. what works best is use sensative wipes or warm wash cloth. always make sure skin is dry . i use baby powder with corn starch, make sure you dry skin with powder.then use A and D ointment with Zinc. it works!

Hi Sylvia. I have 3 kids and I know how nasty diaper rashes can be. I'm sure all the moms will agree.
I do agree with "naked time" suggestion. It works well. There are also 2 diaper rash creams you can get that are AMAZING! The first is called Nystatin. You can ask your doc for a prescription. The other one is called Resinol. It's not sold over the counter, but if you go to the Walgreens pharmacy, ask them to order it for you. It's not a prescription. It works really well. Much better than the stuff they sell over the counter.

You've gotten so many responses so I hate to add another one but! It really is quite simple. Desitin. I have an 8 month old and we do nothing special like air drying, baking flour, etc. We just put a little Desitin on her bottom and on her top front after every diaper change and we have had absolutely no problems. My friend has done this as well with her 1 1/2 year old and no problems there either.
As a side note, I've heard that baby powder is not good for baby girls as the powder can get trapped inside and cause problems. I didn't do any research on it but a few friends told me about it so we don't use it at all.

Hi Sylvia,
I know you have tons of responses, but I had to pitch in! I give my daughter "naked time" during the day (just a couple minutes) to air dry. At night we use more Budreaux's Butt Paste than usual. That stuff is GREAT! It has gotten rid of a diaper rash faster than anything I have tried. It is more expensive, but I would swear by it. I nursed my daughter, so she had lots of diapers. When I noticed any irritation, I would use wet cloths instead of wipes. This was suggested to my by the hospital nurses, since the soap can get irritating if your baby has sensitive skin. Good luck and Congratulation!!!!
E.

Hi Sylvia!
Congratulations on your N. baby in May. I too am expecting in May and am looking for FT in home day care. While I don't have any diaper rash advice, I wondered if you were open to a nanny-share option. I will be home for about 3months and am looking to consider sharing an in-home nanny after that. Depending on where you live and what you are considering maybe we could exchange ideas. I live in the suburbs near Skokie and Niles. Thanks, A.

I love aquaphor--not full of chemicals other creams and ointments have and can be used on any body part.

As others have already mentioned. Try to change the diaper as often as possible if you see signs of a rash. With my daughter, I always use a cream at night(desitin or butt paste).
If she gets a rash, butt paste works well. My pediatrician also said that if it gets bad, rub some mint flavored mylanta on first with a cotton ball and then use cream over it. I know it sounds wierd but the mylanta cuts the acidity in urine and feces so it's an extra barrier. This is just if the rash gets bad.
S.

This may sound a little weird but it does work. If you brown flour in the oven and let it cool, this will get rid of diaper rash. My son has had a few really bad diaper rashes and this is the only thing that soothed him. People look at me like I am crazy when I say this, but it works so I will continue to use it.

From the day my son was born we put diaper rash on every time we changed him--the nurses said it was only necessary if he got a rash, but I wanted to be preventative and so far, (he's six months) it has worked. He has only had minor diaper rash twice and when I notice the beginnings, I wrap him up loosely in a towel, but a dispoable changing pad under him and play with him on the couch for a while--sometimes even up to an hour. It is gone by the next morning. Air is the best cure :)

Something I haven't yet seen mentioned is just letting the baby not wear a diaper for part of hte day. NOt long with a newborn, obviously, but for a few minutes after changes and stuff does help. Air obviously helps to keep the area dry and that's the foolproof cure I've heard from everyone, when other creams and ointments haven't worked.

My younger son has very sensitive skin and Desitin makes him shriek with pain (even if he has the slightest redness that isn't even a rash). So don't buy the economy-sized tube until you test it out. I've heard people rave about the Boutreux butt ointment, but since it also has zinc oxide I never tried it.

To prevent diaper rash, change dirty diapers immediately. Let them airdry. I avoid using wipes when there's any irritation (I use a warm wet washcloth.) Usually when the rash gets bad, it's yeasty - I have a prescription ointment that I got from the pediatrician that i use if the rash gets bad.

When he just has the start of a rash, I let his bottom dry and then put a thick layer of Aquaphor or A&D ointment on. Aquaphor is good for just about every type of skin irritation, so good to have on hand anyway.

I've also tried a tip I read online - alternate diaper changes - one with Maalox (it cuts the acid and soothes/dries) and the next with A&D.