Nobody likes diaper rash. It’s not fun for you, and it most certainly is not fun for your baby. Even when you think you’re taking the correct steps to avoid it , it’s one of those things that just might happen. Thankfully there are plenty of products out there to give you peace of mind in knowing that your baby will be comfortable! And hey… Maybe that can let you finally get some sleep.
What is diaper rash, and what causes it?
Before we can talk about treating and preventing diaper rash, it’s important to know what it is and what causes it. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Diaper rash is a common form of inflamed skin (dermatitis) that appears as a patchwork of bright red skin on your baby’s bottom.” It’s caused mainly by wet or infrequently changed diapers, skin sensitivity, and chafing.
You can spot diaper rash visually. Skin around the diaper area will appear red and tender-looking. Your baby will also let you know something is wrong in the two ways that they can: crying and moving around. If they seem to do this more than normal, check for diaper rash.
How do you avoid diaper rash?
Now that we know what it is, how do we stop it? One of the easiest yet most important ways to avoid diaper rash is to change your baby’s diaper frequently.
Try to catch a wet or dirty diaper as soon as possible and get rid of them. When changing, rinse your baby’s bottom with warm water. If you use soap, make sure it’s mild, and don’t use wipes with alcohol or fragrance. When you’re done with that, make sure you pat your baby’s bottom dry, or allow air drying.
Air is important to avoid unnecessary moisture from building up. Consider letting your baby be diaper free for a short amount of time. I know, I know… Accidents can happen. Try placing a towel under your baby during this. When you do put a diaper back on, don’t over tighten it. This will restrict airflow, which can cause “humid conditions.”
If you feel that none of these steps are working, there are some products that you can apply to your baby to help stop these conditions from happening.
Diaper Rash Creams
In all of my experience and research, I have found some creams that have become pretty popular for moms and dads, and well, the babies too! Here is a list of some of the ones that I personally like. Keep in mind that this is not an end all be all. There are a lot of options out there.
Boudreaux’s Butt Paste
This product is great to prevent and treat diaper rash. The maximum strength version contains 40% zinc oxide which is recognized by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration in the United States) as an ingredient to combat diaper rash. It contains no dyes or other additives that might irritate your baby.
Parents are liking this saying it has less ingredients compared to other options they have been using. Others like the convenient travel sizes that you can get. Of course, people love how fast it works, with many saying problems are gone in one day!
Burt’s Bees Diaper Rash Ointment
Burt’s Bees makes a large selection of natural beauty and health products. Naturally they would care for your baby’s too! As expected, the ingredients are 100% natural and it contains 40% zinc oxide, which we have established is a good thing! It also contains natural oils to help maintain and care for your baby’s skin.
It seems that if parents have tried everything else, and nothing is working for their baby’s rash, they turn to Burt’s Bees and find success! Reviewers rave over how fast it works, and many claim that it has worked wonders on babies that have very sensitive skin.
Cetaphil Baby Diaper Cream With Calendula
Cetaphil is known for its line of baby care products. This lotion helps protect your baby’s skin, and keeps it as smooth as a baby’s bottom. That pun was intended! The natural oils are a big turn on for many, as well as the scent. For an all around good skin care product for your baby, you can’t go wrong.
Diaper rash is a pain in the butt (literally!). Thankfully it is easy to prevent, and even easier to treat if it creeps up. The biggest thing to remember is to just keep you baby clean and dry! A pain free butt leads to a happy baby, and a happy baby leads to a happy mom and dad!
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