Five Expert Tips to Prevent Diaper Rash

Diaper Rash can strike fear into the hearts of any new parent. Thinking about their baby being uncomfortable in their most sensitive area sounds frankly, just terrible. So let’s talk about how to prevent it with our five expert tips to prevent diaper rash.

[But let’s face it. Sometimes rashes happen, so if your baby develops a diaper rash, we have tips on how to treat it also.]

You may be surprised by the order of our recommendations, but hear us out!

Diaper Rash Tip number one: Air

Let your baby dry out after every diaper change. Never apply diaper cream to a wet bum. If your baby is playing on a mat you can give them some naked time! [Make sure you lay something down under them! And that they are laying on something MACHINE WASHABLE].

Diaper Rash Tip number two: Brand of diapers

Not all diapers work for every baby. My baby reacted to every diaper brand except for two, and she was even allergic to many of the fabrics in cloth diapers. It took trial and error to find a diaper that worked for us [it was honest and seventh generation]. This is why we generally recommend putting different brands of diapers on your registry list! And remember that most stores will return unopened boxes of diapers for store credit. If your baby is getting red consistently after soiling diapers, then the actual materials in the diaper may be the culprit.

Diaper Rash Tip number three: Brand of wipes

Below is the ingredients in a popular brand of baby wipes

“Water/Eau, Citric Acid, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Citrate, Sorbitan Caprylyl Sodium Benzoate, Disodium EDTA, Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Xanthan Gum.”

Ingredients in a popular brand of baby wipes

Even “sensitive” and “natural” baby wipes can have a long list of ingredients. We recommend wipes that have minimal ingredients and no scent, like Water Wipes. You may still need to try a few and see how your baby reacts. Some babies that are really sensitive may need to use wet paper towels, or soft wash cloths. This can also be a more convenient and economical option.

Diaper Rash Tip number four: Preventative cream

This usually isn’t a necessary precaution, but if your baby has sensitive skin some parents choose to use a cream at every change. The general rule is that “clear goes on clear”. So if your baby does not currently have a rash, then a thinner clearer cream is all you need for prevention purposes. We like Motherlove Diaper Rash and Thrush, or you can even use vaseline or coconut oil. For overnights, if your baby is sleeping a longer stretch, then you may want to use something thicker like Tubby Todd, Boudreaux’s Butt Paste or Triple Paste.

Running with our theme, you may need to try a few and see what works best for you. I’ve even had parents that love using straight lanolin, which you may have on hand if you are breastfeeding.

Tip number five: Is something wrong?

Often times when we see babies with pervasive diaper rash it’s one of three things. Thrush, Allergies or reflux.

Thrush:

Thrush is a yeast rash. It needs to be treated by a doctor. But the cause is usually a gut imbalance and/or a consistently wet diaper area [see tip #1!] Parents that are breastfeeding can take a probiotic or eat more probiotic rich foods and less acidic foods, and babies that are formula fed can be offered a supplement or look for a formula that keeps gut health in mind.

Allergies:

An allergy rash that is red right around the anus is usually caused by a dairy allergy. Changing to a hypoallergenic formula or having the breastfeeding parent cut out dairy may show improvement. Generally allergies can create poops that are acidic and may have mucus in the stool, which may cause an all-over rash when stool is on the skin for a prolonged period of time.

Reflux:

A baby with reflux may also have poops that are acidic and can burn their tush. It can be a painful rash, and the baby should be assessed.

Diaper Rash Tip Five: Call the Pediatrician

If your baby has a really bad rash that seems to be taking forever to go away, then a trip to the pediatrician is in order. Sometimes prescription strength cream is what’s needed! If it’s an allergy, thrush or reflux that is the cause, it needs to be assessed by a doctor. Take photos of the rash and of any abnormal stools so the pediatrician can be armed with more information!