Wipes or No Wipes at Home?

A & D ointment work miracles for multiple skin problems. Wash cloths are much more harch than wipes. Just please use the A & D. My son is 14 months and never had a diaper rash cause I use that at the first sign of redness. Oh yea, I didn't bath but once a week when he was that little. Good luck!

We use the Seventh Generation wipes. No fragrance, no chlorine, etc. They are great and my kids are very sensitive to anythig I put on their skin.

Hi T.... I know youve already gotten a bunch of responses but I wanted to suggest bag balm to you. My daughter had the worst diaper rashes ALL the time. We tried ALL the different diaper rash creams (even ones prescribed) and she'd still get them so bad they's bleed. We changed her diapers and went to just wet papertowels for wipes. Then someone suggested bag balm (comes in a green can, is actually used on cow hooves to keep them from cracking) We saw improvement right away and never had the bleeding rashes (or any rashes) again. Just a suggestion if those other cremes dont work. :)

I have 2 boys, 6 years apart, (yes, they have the same father) and the most sensitive skin you have ever seen. One is a red head. I used wipes that were no scent-no alcohol-no nothing fun. If you do decide to make your own wipes with papertowels, use really strong papertowels (Bounty or Brawny)-or they will fall apart as you are wiping. And use a non-fragrance baby liquid soap (Johnson and Johnson has one) and not baby shampoo, even some baby shampoos can be too harsh for a sensitive bum.
For ointments, I used Bag Balm. It's in a green square can, and you can get it at Walgreens or Bartell Drugs. It's the consistancy of Vasaline, so it sticks and stays to the sensitive parts, protects the rash from pee and poop, and it has some medicine in it. Farmers used to use it on cow's teats when they cracked from milking cows. I have very, very dry skin, and have used it for 20 years on my feet when they crack, my hands or fingers when they crack, and my boys' bums when they were broken out in a diaper rash. My older son had a really bad rash from taking antibiotics and it was underneath his little testi sack (the most thin and sensitive skin on a boy). It was better in 2 days. I always had a can on our changing table, and I apply it with a Q-Tip.
I wasted alot of money on alot of different baby ointments on the market, and this was the only thing that worked.
For prevention, I would buy baby liquid soaps that are fragrance free. Johnson & Johnson has a sensitive skin line that works great, or Aveeno has a baby line that works great as well. I would use a very thin, thin layer of the Bag Balm on their bums where they were broken out for a week after they were better. It's just something you have to keep an eye on. When my boys were babies, I would bathe them every other day/or night. I always wiped them down with a wash cloth at night when I got them ready for bed, and then put a little lotion on afterwards.
Feel free to e-mail me directly if you have anymore questions.

37 year old mom of 2 boys ages 12 & 6. I went back to work 6 weeks after I had my first boy, and am a SAHM now.

hi T.,.
looks like you have a lot of the same messages - so i'll just tell you what worked for me too.
I have two boys,. 4 1/2 and 21 months. little Patrick had a very red bum on/off for his first few months.

1. the one thing I did not see anyone suggest is.
Leave your baby bare. this takes a bit of patience - the first few times. but is so darn cute - you'll have lots of pictures.
I used my bouncy/rocker chair, I laid down a blanket or two so it was comfortable and then lined it with towels & !! I used a diaper 'underneath'. if I recall I folded it in half so it layed flat. a set of 'old' style cloth diapers work really well for this too. raise the temp in your house a little,.. put a long sleeve shirt on him,.with socks, etc..
If you wait until he is a bit sleepy it works well for laying him on his tummy, or side. - be sure he has breathing room.

2. I used only clean wet washcloths. I have a box of them on the changing table - lots - in/out of the wash, so you dont' run out when you need them. & had a little container in the bathroom to put the used ones in and washed when full- reg wash with the kids suff - I did not do anything fancy. I use ALL brand 'free clear - no fragrance and such. I used to use Baby All but can't seem to find it anymore. ~ this may go without saying.. but I got the washcloth wet with warm water BEFORE going to the diaper stand. if you smell poop,. bring several,. (I actually used the big boy flushables & or wipes for the first swipes of poop)

3. Lastly.. I did end up going to the dr to see if there was anything they could give us. & there was. he prescribed Cholestyramine. BUT - she said to use TRIPLE PASTE. barrier cream. lots. every time. & it's a great barrier cream. it seemed expensive - but it lasted a long long time. (ok. i still have some & pmk is 21 months).

good luck,. they grow out of it.. but will be sensitive from time to time,.. just did all the above with patrick last week.

T.,

I have read some of the responses so far and they have some great advice. Bag Balm is great for healing cracked skin. Bathing often is fine as long as you are not using soap as it has a tendency to dry out the skin and make it more sensitive. At least that is what my pediatrician and my experience has told me. Washing with warm wet paper towels (the kind that don't fall apart) and/or wash cloths sounds like a great idea to me. Also, if you want to use something that will clean better than just water, you might try Witch Hazel. I have used that on sensitive skin and it works well.

My sister and I both have new babies. My little girl is 6 months and her little boy is 3 months. We made wipes, you cut a paper towel roll in half take out the cardboard center, put in a sealable container. Mix 2 cups of hot water, 2 tablespoons of baby wash, and 1 tablespoon baby oil, and pour it over the paper towels. let it sit for about 15-20 minutes and flip the container upside down and let it sit again for about 15-20 minutes. They are an amazing wipe! And they are alot cheaper than buying a box of wipes! Good luck.

Your son may have excema. my daughter has it and when she was a baby would get bad diaper rashes no matter what I did. You should call his Dr. Good luck!!!!

I have never used conventional wipes on my kids due to their sensitive skin. I have always used warm wash cloths, no soap. You could keep a bucket next to the changing table for the poopy washcloths. Rinsing them in Bac-Out and washing them in Bio-Kleen will keep them sanitary and hypo-allergenic. You can find both products at Fred Meyer in the "health food" section.

I discovered that when my kids eat a lot of dairy, their rashes get much, much worse. You might want to take a look at what you are eating if you are breastfeeding, or his formula if he's bottle fed.

It's so hard when they hurt. The only thing my kids can tolerate is Jojoba oil (from Trader Joes) on their rashes. It goes on without much rubbing and seems to soothe them. Bathing never really made a difference that I could tell. We pretty much give them a bath every night. But if their rash is really raw, we skip it.

Thankfully, we don't have to deal with rashed very often. Now, they only get one occasionaly. It took me a while to figure out what works, hope this is helpful to you.

Good luck!

Good morning T.,
This is something that I have gotten lots of havic from, but my now 3 yr old daughter was the same way. She is super sensitive to wipes, citrus and diapers. I could only use one kind of diapers on her. My great friend told me about Viva paper towels. (they are strong and super soft) so I used those as wipes. I still used the changin table and just used the paper towels. I would go wet them with warm water and ring them out then use them just like baby wipes. They fold nicely so I just put a bunch in a clean baby wipe container and kept some in the car, diaper bag and so on. They saved her little bum lots of pain. Hope this helps.

Tee

I'd just use cloth and water. (But then again we cloth diaper and use cloth wipes.) I did have to do a bit of experimenting, 1st I got the wipes wet on the way to change the messy diaper, then I kept a spray bottle next to the wipes to dampen as needed, now I dampen 8 wipes in the morning and place in the wipe warmer so they are ready to go just like regular ones.

HTH
E.

Hi T.. I have 2 boys, and both of them have had mean diaper rashes the entire time they have worn diapers. I also think mine have wipe sensitivities, but they even had issues when we didn't use wipes. I found out my boys for some reason end up with yeast infection diaper rashes that are really hard to get rid of. I use a prescription antifungal cream and the heavy duty desitin, as well as hydrocortizone (sp?) every diaper change. My oldest has eczema also, so I try not to give them baths every day. I think that can contribute to the problem, but keeping their diaper area clean is important too, when they have a rash like that. Anyway, I am sure you have talked to your dr, but make sure it isn't the yeast infection. If it is, you might need to use the medications I mentioned. If not, sounds like your little guy just has sensitive skin & will need extra care as my boys do. Good luck! I highly recommend the heavy duty desitin (it helps heal and protect the rash), and it comes in HUGE 16 oz tubs for cheaper (walmart, target, etc.) Oh, and one last thing, my dr told us NOT to use baby powder (with corn starch). That can contribute to rashes, esp the yeast ones!

T.,
It looks like you have gotten a lot of good info. Something that I haven't seen addressed though is the possibility that it could be something irritating him systemically rather than topically. Are you breast feeding? If so, something that you are eating could be causing the rash, or making it worse periodically. You may want to keep track of what you have eaten the day before the breakout. With my 4 little ones, they would get rashes if I had too much citrus, especially pineapple, tomatoes, or anything with tomatoe in it, and too much wheat ingredients, especially wheat germ. If using formula, there could be ingredients such as forms of wheat or soy that are causing it. One of my babies had a continual yeast rash, and my midwife had me put Clotrimazole cream on it. It is the main ingredient in Lotrimin foot cream, but I used store brand. It definately helped. I am also a huge advocate of the homemade wipes. I suggest viva papertowels, or baby flanel. Tea Tree Oil, or Melalueca is a natural antifungal, and if you add a drop or two to the wipe liquid or your diaper wash(if using cloth diapers)it might help. Good luck!

A little about me:
I am 25 and very blessed. I have 4 children under the age of 5, and I am the best kind of busy.

Hi - when my son was about 3 months he got a bad rash as well. We tried all these different ointments that the doctors recommended. Finally after taking him back for the third time, one of the doctors explained that it was due to too much wiping because of poop, and to use a wet washcloth to clean it off. So we did that and literally in 3 days it was almost gone. It sounds to me like you may be bathing him too much. Little babies dont need that many baths. They are not getting dirty really. My son is now almost 14 months and I only bathe him 2 times a week. So maybe that is contributing to the rash? I would try cutting down on the baths. Keep using the wet washclothes to wipe and dry his bottom off with a dry one. That might help...I have found that Original Desitin (purple and white tube) works really well to clear up redness. I would also talk to you babys doctor about the cuts to see what he thinks.

When my little ones have problems I sprinkle a little baking soda into their bath once we are done with the washing and let them sit for a few minutes. Also if you live near St. V's in Portland then you can go to the Nursing center and they have these great dry wipes for sale. Very afforadable. (can't remember how much because a year ago we bought a ton to keep on hand) You just get the wipes wet in warm water and use them. there is no solution on them just like a very durable and soft napkin. Also try "naked baby" time. Put a layer of towels on the floor and let him just hang out. Air and sunlight are great for rashes. Open the curtains on the windows and just let him hang out. Make sure it is warm enough in the room first! You can put on a little cap and socks to help keep him warm and once his arms and legs start to get a little chill then get him dressed again. I do this for about 10-15 min with great results when my little ones get a rash.
Good luck!
C.

Use water instead of wipes. Lots of water, run his little bum under the tap, specially when he gets dirty.
Do give him a bath every night, he will also sleep well after a bath. You don't need to use any soap but bathe every day.
as far as prevention, olive oil or any other eatable oil is good. Watch out for mineral oils, not good, neither is vaseline.
An other good prevention is to let him without a diaper, may be when sleeping, as long as it is warm enough.

J. (mom, grand-ma, prenatal educator)

I made homemade wipes for my kids. Cut a roll of paper towels in half, use a round tupperware container large enough to hold it but not too large. Place 1 cup of warm water in the tupper ware container, add 2 tablespoons of baby wash and 2 tablespoons of baby lotion. Shake it until it's mixed, put in 1/2 of the paper towels, let it soak up and then flip it over. Remove the cardboard and you can pull the towels out from the center. You can use gentle soap and lotion for sensitive skin. I bathed my babies just about every day just to remove germs and it was a great way to end the day.

I use Costco's brand - Kirkland Signature, the unsented wipes. they are softer than Wal-marts brand and of course cheaper than Huggies and Pampers...even with those they can be a little rough. I only like unsented...baby's skin is so sensitive - especially down there. For rashes I use Boudreaus Butt Paste - it is phenomenal!!!

You can also make your own cloth wipes. Cloth is much softer than paper. (Just think if you were trying to wash yourself with paper towels vs. a washcloth). It's super simple. You can do it one of two ways. If you have a wipe warmer you can put your cloth wipes in that and make your own solution ("recipe below"). Or, you can keep your solution in a squirt bottle (the peri bottle that you got from the hospital works too!) or a spray bottle. Keep the squirt bottle and the dry wipes next to the changing table and just wet them as you need them. This way, you control what goes into the solution and it's very simple. Have you read the ingredients on the disposable wipes?

Wipe solution for wipe warmer:
about 2-3 cups distilled water
2-3 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil
squirt of gentle (baby) soap

For the wipe warmer the distilled water and Tea Tree Oil (TTO) are key to preventing a musty smell. What I did was buy the distilled water, pour out a little bit, then added the TTO and soap to the big jug, put the cap back on and shook it up. That way it's ready to go when you refill the wipe warmer. Just remember to increase all of the ingredients because you're making a gallon rather than a few cups.

For the squirt bottle you just need water and I usually put a little bit of soap too. Essential oil is sometimes nice, but not required).

We used the wipe warmer at home and the squirt bottle when we were out and about.

There's also some commercially available wipe solutions/bottom cleaners that have all natural ingredients.

Oh, and for the wipes, you can buy those from a cloth diaper retailer (myself included www.cozybabyboutique.com) or you can use washcloths. The advantage of buying cloth wipes is they are usually a little softer than washcloths and most are 8x8 so they fit folded once over into the wipe warmer (if you're going that route.)

Many cloth diaper retailers also carry reusable waterproof/wet bags so when you're changing baby's diaper when you're out and about, you can put them in a zippered bag, then come home and empty it into the laundry without touching soiled wipes.

As for the rash, at the risk of sounding self-promotional, you might think about trying cloth diapers. They are way more modern and easy than the cloth our parents used. They function like a disposable and washing is super easy. I do have a free loaner program where you can try them out before you buy them. No cost or obligation to you.

I suggest this because in 1950 when all babies were in cloth, the diaper rash rate was 7%. In 1990 when 90% of babies were in disposables and only 10% were in cloth, the diaper rash rate was 78% So, if the rash persists, that's something you could look into. I teach diapering classes at Evergreen Hospital and the Puget Sound Birth Center and am happy to help you in any way I can. I won't be salesy or pushy - I just want to help. My contact information is on my website (and in my profile here) and you can email me or give me a call.

Good luck!
A.

My sons & daughter got this too sometimes, and we try to use a lot of natural products. But their bottoms would just get raw, or they would have those little cuts down there. I found this medicinal powder called Domboro. You sprinkle it in the bathtub and it heals wounds very quickly. We didn't put any bathsoap in with the water - just the Domboro solution. It's about $14 at the Drugstore. It comes in a box with individual packets, so you use them when needed. For a wonderful moisturizer you could try the natural baby cream with Calendula in it. It's an orange tube/box. It's so nice and natural and heals great! I find that at my local Co-Op and in the natural section at Fred Meyers. Good Luck!

HI T.,

I would maybe try warming up the water in your sink and rinsing your wipes with warm water. I do this when my son has a rash and it gets rid of all the wipe solution. He would cry before even though the wipes were suppose to be free of any perfumes and very gentle. Hope that helps!

~M.

Hi T.

I make my own wipes. We used a roll of paper towls, cut in half so you end up with 2 short rolls. Then mix a tablespoon of baby shampoo and 2 tablespoons of baby oil with 2 1/2 cups of water. Pour it over the paper towels and let sit for 12 hours then they are ready to peel off the roll and use. The most challenging part is finding a contanier with a lid to place the 1/2 roll of papertowels in so they can soak up the moisture but I found my last one at Walmart.

We used a damp paper towel instead of wipes when our son had diaper rash. That's what our pediatrician said to use.
Also, you say you give him a bath 3-4 times a week? 3 month old babies don't need a bath that often. That could be one of the reasons for the rash. When you do bathe him, only use soap on his head. You only need to bath him once a week when he's this young. When he gets older, say about 7-8 months old, then you can bathe him more often.
Hope this helps.

I would continue doing what you are doing until he is a little older. Their newborn skin is so sensitive. When it is just pee, you really don't need to wipe as urine is sterile and you give him enough baths. When he poops, I would just use a soft wet paper towel or washcloth. That is what I did with my daughter. I had a roll of paper towels with a squirt bottle to wet them on her changing table. I wiped up as much of the poop I could with the diaper and then used the paper towel for the rest. The lactation office had actually told me not to use wipes until she was older.
Babies actually only need a bath 2-3 times a week. They don't get dirty and again, their skin is very delicate.
Not sure about the raw slices on the bottom of his pee pee, my son never had that.
You might want to try a different diaper? Sometimes diapers cause diaper rash and just switching diapers helps.

I don't know the answer, but I do know that I have used the same cheap diapers for both kids. One got diaper rash alot, one never gets it. Some kids just have more sensitive skin. Also, don't forget about air time. Messy, but it does help. I did bathe my first child (who got more rashes) more often than my second child, who never gets diaper rash. With my second, I keep use of products to a minimum, and wipe only when nessessary.

I am a mother of three kids. I have just graduated my last into underwear full time! All three of my kids had skin sensitivity to wipes. I found it wasn't to wipe or not to wipe as much as it was "what to wipe with"!

The Kirkland brand wipes (made by Costco) are very inexpensive to buy and often parents get these without realizing that almost every child I have ever know has gotten skin irritations from them. Words of Wisdom: Never buy wipes as a good deal! Instead buy wipes that work the best for your child regardless of price! I was a huge fan of huggies wipes! They are big, soft, and more "cloth" like. The make a sensitive with aloe that we grew to love. Target even carries the refill bags for a fair price!

The twins however, no such luck.... nothing over the counter worked for them at all. I have a great recipe for making baby wipes if you'd like to try them.

1 Roll Bounty Select a Size paper towels
(the thicker the better)
1 tall round tupperware container with lid.
(Like grandma's old tupperware she used to keep on the counter with flour in it )

Mix:
6 cups hot water
one tablespoon baby bath (not shampoo)
one tablespoon baby lotion
one tablespoon baby oil

*From experience please DO NOT MICROWAVE this mixture! Please make hot water on the stove with a teapot or use very hot tap water. The only reason you need hot water at all is to dissolve the mixture together.

Once you have the mixture dissolved together, cut the roll of paper towels in half. (If you have a husband he is very helpful with this part) You will now have two short rolls of paper towels and this short roll should fit perfectly into your tupperware container.

Leave the roll in-tact. Place into container and pour warm mixture over the roll soaking it completely. Put lid on container and turn upside down and back up several times.

Once the water inside has saturated the towels there should not be much left for spilling so set it back upright and remove lid. The cardboard center of the roll should be nice and wet for you and easy to grab. Pull it directly up from the center of the roll and remove. It will bring a paper towel up with it and that is the starting point for your tear-sheets from here on out. Just place the container by your changing table and pull from the center just like you would baby wipes and you have home-made wipes that you know your child won't be irritated by. You'll love how inexpensive and simple making your own can really be. And how long they last it's great!

Hi T.! You've come to the right place alright! First, I'd
get rid of the "jelly" you are using. It's not an effective enough barrier for the urine, and that's why your baby has
diaper rash. Use BRUDRO'S BUTT PASTE ....sounds funny, but it
really works! Also, you can use Renew lotion, which has tea
tree oil in it, and it works wonderfully well also. Ask
a new mom more about this subject at ____@____.com
:>) J.

As a grandmother of 12 who frequently babysits, I have experience with sensitive bottoms. I use no wipes for just wet. After a messy diaper requiring wipes, I use Aveno baby rash cream immediately and have found it to be better than anything else at preventing a rash. If the youngest does come to me with a rash already, I use the Aveno and he's dramatically better by the next change.

i heard some where that for diaper rashes corn starch will work.

and the wipes thing y not use a damn wash cloth when it;s pee and just rinse it bc leaving the pee may cause bacteria to build up, just a thought, and use a paper towel for #2.

a bath every day would do harm but you may want to speak with ur dr about this problem.

First, try changing the type/brand of diaper you are using. As some moms noted here, even kids in the same family have different reactions to the same brand.

Secondly, if you make your own wipes, look for a way to avoid baby shampoo. Many shampoos, lotions, etc. contain phthalates, which are suspected of causing reproductive harm. See
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22979800/
for example. Kids powdered, lotioned, and/or washed with these products have elevated levels of these chemicals in their urine. Animal studies have suggested that phthalates can cause reproductive birth defects and some activists believe they may cause reproductive problems in boys and early puberty in girls.

Thirdly, we never use wipes except on the road, and we don't go to the hassle of making our own. Water and cotton balls clean up most messes; if it's bad we start with a wipe but rinse it all down and tidy up with cotton balls.

Next, make sure the skin is DRY before you put anything else on it! Otherwise you are trapping wetness under the other stuff, and my pediatrician & several other sources I read said this is really important. I know this will sound like a hassle to some (though I think making your own wipes sounds like a super drag), use a hair dryer on cool to really dry the skin before putting a new diaper on. If you use disposables, you're basically wrapping them in plastic, so that extra drying helps give their skin a little non-damp time before the next wetting.

We got in the hairdryer habit because our baby got a terrible yeast infection in her first days (she was on antibiotics right after birth) that hung on for quite a while. It's really quite easy to wave it around for 30 seconds and has made a huge difference.

I think you might be bathing him a bit too often during this weather (temperature changes and dry indoor heating). His skin probably needs more dry time and less wet time. Lots of books say to give them some diaper-free time every day if you can when they are rashy.

Boudreaux's Butt Paste and products like it might help too. But water, cotton, and a dry bottom are all we've ever really needed--never a rash since.

Try the seventh generation brand of wipes. they are cholrine free and unscented. My second child was had the worst time with diaper rash. He actually developed a yeast infection that i just thought was bad diaper rash and just went putting on organic creams and wiping more and more which in the end was making it worse. I was actually told by my doc that babies only need to be bathed once or twice a week. that bathing them to much can wash off good body bacteria they need to fight off things like yeast and what not. Do you used clothe or paper diapers? If you use paper try the seventh gen. brand as well they to have no cholrine and that is really rough on babies skin. And if all else fails call your pedi. they will surely have some ideas for you!!

Hi I looked over the responces and one thing not mentioned is are you breast feeding? If so the rash could be from something you are eating or drinking.

I know you have gotten a ton of respones but I just wanted to add a little bit. My son has very sensitive skin, he got real bad diaper rash that wouldn't go away when he was reall small. We tried everything but it didn't completely solve the problem. It ended up getting infected because the skin was broken and when he pooped bacteria was getting inside. He ended up having to go to childrens and have surgery on his bottom because of it. To make a long story short, what works for us now is no wipes...would use warm wet cloths when he poops and change him immediately when he's wet or poopy. Also, after he pees, like right after, I will let him "air out" no diaper for 10 or 15 minutes. I do this a coulpe times a day and it really seems to make a difference. Also when your going to be out just bring a baggie with a couple damp cloths so you don't have to use wipes while your out either, when your finished with them just put them back in the bag and wash them out when you get home. We use no creams or anything anymore and no regular wipes, and I give him a bath sometimes 2 times a day, wee just only use soap every other day (babies don't get that dirty) we just bathe because he loves baths! Also, you might try changing the soap you use. So many baby products contain so many addities and perservatives that can be harsh to babies skin and health. Try to find something natural, with very few ingredients. And try to stick with bar soaps, liquids contain more additives. We currently use a olive oil bar soap from Kiss Your Face it's soft and gentle on his skin and only has like 3 ingredients. Also a side note....baby boys should not uses products containing lavender, tea tree oil, or BPA....they all cause low testosterone levels in pre-pubesent little boys! We also switched to cloth diaper verses disposable and I think that really helps as well, there are all kinds of terrible things in disposables. We even tried the Chlorine-free ones from seventh generation and that gave him an even worse rash. For about $100 you can have a good cloth diapering system, and as long as you use a "Rinse clean" laundry soap the chances of diaper rash go way down! Good luck to you and your son!

We use Seventh Generation Diapers and NEVER had a diaper rash. As for the wipes- if you can deal with it, wash clothing it might be your best bet? We use the Kirland Costco brand and have had no problems- but my son might not be sensitive.

My friends baby had bad diaper rash and they went to the seventh Generation diapers to get rid of it. They were using cloth before then.

Personally I would use a semi-wet washcloth at all times since I am not sure how acidic the urine might be. But hey- if you are seeing it go away stick with what is working! :) We have pretty much used a diaper pad wherever we are in the house because of my back I want to be on the floor changing him. I HATE those stupid tables that want you to bend in all wacky positions. heh.

hey there. try olive oil. my daughter was a bit red in the tush those first few months, and our midwife suggested olive oil. we tried the whole "no-wipes" thing, and it didn't work for us. we used seventh generation brand. they are quite sensitive. also, the brand WELEDA is amazing. a miracle cream. if you feel uncomfortable putting olive oil on his tush (it's just like other baby oils), try the weleda brand diaper cream. i swear by it. i even use it on some of her cuts now that she is 3 yrs old. and i would not encourage bathing your baby daily. thier skin is too sensitive for that much water and that much soap. it will irritate and dry out there skin. much luck~sb

We had trouble with rash when my baby was newborn. Now we are able to do the same routine with wipes that I started out with. And no problem. How long have you been using the washcloths? Wipes might not cause an issue anymore.

I could suggest using cloth wipes. There is a good solution for them that you make in a bottle and just pour over the wipes when you need to use them (or you could you just water if you want) on www.punkinbutt.com. They fit in a regular wipe container, and you can put them on the changing table. We love them! We also do cloth diapers. You might want to consider the chemicals in disposables as the culprit as well. Good luck!

maybe try something like the wipes(paper towels) they give you at the hospital and buy a wipe warmer get all the towels wet(enough for a couple of days). at three months old i give a bath maybe every 3 or 4 days. to much drys there skin out and unless they are spitting up they almost get a bath when you change there diaper. my 4 year old and 2 year old get a bath everyother day and we have very little actually almost no problems with my 2 year olds excema, because we are not drying her skin out with baths.

My 8 month old son has the same problem. We have to use clorine free wipes. (Found only at Babies R Us) He still some times has problems but it's gone down a LOT. I hope this helps!

Buy some used (or new cheap) sheets, cut them up into little squares and keep them in a small container of water.That way you can wash and reuse them. A great alternative to wipes.

You can still avoid wipes and use his changing table. Cut up an old flannel sheet [from a thrift store] into wipe-sized pieces [or use the washcloths you've been using]. Put some water [or solution of your choice - cloth diapering sites have a few recipes] in a peri bottle, or other bottle you can easily squirt a little fliud out of [like a sports drink bottle]. Simply dampen the cloth pieces as you need them for wipes.

It sounds like his body is telling you it does not like the wipes with the rash outbreaks, and I think we don't listen to our bodies enough in this era. I would say to continue with the washcloths, either wet or dry. Many people are unaware of this, but urine is a sterile byproduct of the body, and using the washcloth is no different than using toilet paper on yourself. If you let him air dry, it won't hurt a thing.

I even confirmed this with my doctor when my youngest son was being circumcised and he wet on her, she cleaned it up with a sterile wipe...I asked her why that was done if urine was a sterile body fluid. She said, she really did not know why...that urine being sterile was correct...she guessed it was just habit!

I see other people have suggested the cloth wipes which I used. I would add to that a suggestion to add a little olive oil to the water that I used to wipe with. I stored little rectangular wipes (made some myself after buying a set that came in a little box) in the oil/water and my daughter didn't mind them being room temp. After we used olive oil, she never got a rash. Not sure how the warmers work but you could probably use that with this method. We also made sure she was really dry after cleaning her off-even used a hair dryer for a while when she had the worst rash. Good luck!

Since your baby is so sensitive to the wipes I would suggest that you not use them at all unless you absolutely have to like when you are on a trip or some such thing. Keep a supply of washclothes nearby and use those. They will end up being cheaper in the long run anyway as they are easily washable and will last a long time. If you do use the washclothes and decide that you need to use bleach on them then always do an extra rinse when you wash them so that the bleach doesn't bother his bottom.

Are you also using disposable diapers on your son? If so he may be sensitive to what is in them? I might suggest that you start using cloth diapers on him then and washing them at home yourself. Wash them the same way as you do the wash clothes with the extra rinse. Also leave his bottom open to air for awhile each day. You can place him on a blanket on the floor or in his play pen where he can't hurt anything or himself should he move around when he is out of his diapers. My son was sensitive to the disposable diapers so we used cloth diapers on him until he out grew them then we found a brand of disposable diapers that did not irritate his skin and have used them ever since. Our preference for disposable diapers is Tena Ultra. They are working great on my son.

A cream that I use on my 26 year old physically and mentally challenged son is a mixture of Lantiseptic and A&D ointment. Both are over the counter products in most pharmacies although the pharmacies usually do have the Lantiseptic cream behind the oounter. You mix equal parts of the two together and then apply it to the babies bottom. I keep a bottle of this premixed at my house and I even use it on some areas of myself where I am prone to rash (under some folds of skin since I am over weight). I learned about this from a friend of mine who runs a nursing home. She had been using it on her clients that she cared for as a bath aide for many years before she actually got to owning her own adult foster care home and now she uses it on the clients in her home. It works wonders. My son has been in disposable briefs for most of his life and was sensitive to everything as most red heads are. With the mixture of Lantiseptic and A&D ointment his bottom is as smooth as a babies bottom now. It is only used on him 2x a day (morning and night) but it can be used more frequently if necessary. We moved our son in to an adult home in Nov. 2005 and they are using the same mixture on him with wonderful results.

As to bathing the child, bathe him as often as you feel comfortable doing. If that is daily then do it daily otherwise stick to the schedule you have already set; it is not going to hurt him.

You may email me if you wish to and I will help all I can.

One of my son's was real sensitive "down there". We found that the best remedy was a mixture of petroleum jelly and cornstarch. We used this every time we changed his diaper. It worked wonders!

My 2 sons did the same thing, no matter what type of wipe we used and I finally found the lansinoh wipes that helped so much. They are the only wipes we use now. I tend not to wipe when they are just pee diapers and I use the lansinoh lanolin on my youngest's bottom to prevent diaper rash since it is made for breastfed babies, who have a wetter,looser stool than other babies. You bathe your son more than we were told to bathe our boys. I was told once or twice a week unless they are exclusively dirty which they don't really get at that age. He might be just getting dried out and chapped? I would try some lanolin or eucerin based lotion.

One other thing that may be bothering him is the Diapers themselves. Many of them have perfumes or other things in them that can irritate little bottoms. Try some all natural diapers. I think seventh generation makes some Fredmeyer's sells them in the Natural foods section. And But Paste is a really good diaper cream.

My daughter is sensitive to wipes too. It took me a little while to figure it out since we use cloth diapers 99% of the time. I wasn't sure it it was disposable diapers or the wipes since usually if I am using disposables I don't use the wet wash cloths like I do when I use cloth diapers. If the idea of using wet wash cloths is not working for you you may want to try rinsing out the wipes.

Personally I would suggest getting away from disposables all together for many reasons, but the best reason I can think of is for your little ones health since there are so many chemicals in the disposables (and I tend to be frugal so I like them for that reason too). It takes a little more dedication, but I feel it is worth it.

I only end up having to do 1-2 extra loads of laundry a week and when I did go back to work the daycare didn't have a problem with using cloth...they just couldn't rinse them so I just brought in a bucket with a lid and they would put them in there so I could transport them easily. I just asked that they put the poopies into a plastic grocery bag first so I could easily sort and then rinse at home (honestly, in writing this sounds more yucky than it is).

I found that the web had a lot of great info, but the site: www.diaperpin.com was the most helpful. I also have had great luck with the Prowrap Classic wraps and the diapers from Tidee Didee (on Foster at 205 in SE Portland)...they sell both, but I am sure there are a lot of other places that might be good if you choose to go this route.

Good luck! Hope your little guy's feeling better soon...I would air him out and use Dr B's Butt Paste and/or A&D (we use that at night, rash or not).

Bathing him more is not usually the solution. Babies do not need to be bathed more than 3 times a week, that's from my doc. My son had the same problem, but at 5 months, and our doc told us it was yeast and to use a women's yeast treatment cream on it and I have never had a problem getting rid of it again. It sometimes flairs up but not that bad. Good Luck

Try the sensitive wipes but rinsed out a few times with water and rung out a little. This will allow you to go back to your changing table, and it should work well. My two year old is still sensitive to the chemical and fragrant wipes.

Hi T., I would suggest that you bathe him every day either morning or night. I sometimes would even bathe morning and night depending on if their little bottoms or privates were sore. Sometimes their pee or poop can be very acidic and cause sores. More bathing doesn't hurt them, they love to splash, and keeps them more comfortable.
A little about me, I have 10 children, 9 boys and my sweet girl. Only 4 left at home now, but i remember those baby days very well. Have fun being a mama.
L. Entze