Does your baby seem irritated when you put a diaper on them? Well, they can possibly have a diaper rash. These types of rashes appear similar to red scales and splotches on your baby’s bottom. Diaper rashes can result from wearing a tight diaper for a long period of time, irritation from urine or poop, using certain products or feeding your baby a new food item, or even if your baby has very sensitive skin.
If your child becomes uncomfortable or seems to be in pain because of a diaper rash, try some of the tips below to treat your child’s rash.
Frequent Diaper Changing to Keep Your Baby Dry and Clean
Keeping your baby’s diaper area dry and clean will call for frequent diaper changes. Make sure the baby diapers are always clean and it is the best way to prevent diaper rashes. Using natural diapers is also the best way to ensure your baby is comfortable while having a rash to clean the diaper rash area with natural baby wipes and then apply a cream or ointment. Certain products with petroleum jelly and zinc oxide help protect the skin from excessive moisture. Remember when cleaning your baby’s diaper rash area never scrub, but gently wipe the area to avoid causing any more pain or discomfort to your baby. If you want to remove the leftover ointment, try using natural baby wipes, or soak a cotton ball in mineral oil and apply it.
Apply Ointment or Cream
There are plenty of over-the-counter diaper rash medications that can be bought without needing a prescription. Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about which cream would be best for your baby. The most popular over-the-counter products are Balmex, A + D, Lotrimin, Triple Paste, Desitin, and triple paste. You can also apply petroleum jelly on top of the diaper rash cream to prevent the diaper from sticking to your baby’s skin.
Make sure you stick to products that are made for protecting your baby’s skin. Try avoiding products that contain baking soda, camphor, boric acid, phenol, diphenhydramine, benzocaine, or salicylates. Some of these ingredients can be harmful to the skin, so always check the label before buying any products.
Keep the Area Exposed
If you want to help your baby’s diaper rash heal quickly, try increasing the air exposure on your baby’s bottom.
- During the night try to keep your baby as dry as possible, even if you have to let your baby sleep without a diaper on.
- Limit the amount of diaper rash cream you apply to your baby’s rash to about 2-3 times a day, to let the rash heal.
- Avoid using diaper covers or non-breathable fabric on your baby.
- Until the rash goes away, try to use a larger size diaper on your baby so you don’t restrict airflow.
A diaper rash can be treated successfully at home when following the tips above. If the diaper rash seems to get worse or last for more than a few days make sure to contact your baby’s doctor.
