7 Tips on Treating a Baby’s Diaper Rash
Baby skin is often smooth and perfect in every way, so parents become concerned when they notice red and irritated skin on baby’s bottom. Diaper rashes, however, are quite normal. They aren’t serious problems, but they’ll make your baby uncomfortable and irritated. Every baby gets them. When super sensitive skin meets urine, stool and a covering that rubs back and forth, rashes are inevitable.
Fortunately, you can prevent diaper rashes and cure them in a few days. With deliberate care, you can prevent diaper rashes from ever happening. Here are some tips on treating diaper rashes.
1. Change diapers immediately and often.
You want to change your newborn’s diaper at least every two hours. You can space this out more as your baby wets her diaper less, but never let her sit in wetness or waste for too long. Be sure to clean baby well, but don’t scrub the skin. If possible, give your baby some opportunities to be diaper-free.
2. Experiment with different brands.
Sometimes the glues and chemicals used to manufacture diapers or the chemicals in the adhesive tape can be irritating to some babies. Try a different brand that uses different materials. Consider using cloth diapers that aren’t made with these materials.
3. Ensure a proper fit.
Often a diaper rash problem is easily cured by choosing diapers that fit well. Loose or tight diapers don’t respond to the body’s movements properly and cause friction and irritation.
4. Dry baby’s bottom.
Once you have removed a soiled diaper and cleaned your baby’s bottom, don’t forget to dry her off using a clean cloth so moisture doesn’t get trapped in the new diaper. Don’t rub; pat the area dry. If possible, leave her exposed for a few minutes.
5. Choose made-for-baby skin care products.
Make sure that any creams, powders, ointments, shampoos, and soaps are made especially for babies. Products made for adults often contain strong fragrances, detergents and dyes that can damage sensitive skin and exacerbate an existing rash. Wash baby’s clothes separately in a baby-safe laundry detergent.
6. Apply diaper rash cream.
Before putting on the new diaper, use a generous amount of diaper rash cream. There are several varieties available in stores, so you’ll have to choose one that’s right for you and your baby’s rashes (some products are for everyday use, others are for extreme flare-ups, etc.). Most contain zinc oxide or hydro-cortisone cream.
7. Use vinegar when cleaning cloth diapers.
If you’ve opted to use cloth diapers, you’ll want to make sure they’re especially clean since they’ll be going back on your baby’s bottom. Stale urine is extremely alkaline, so you’ll want to use a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle when you wash cloth diapers.
Written by Holly MacLean from Wee Urban
As a new mom, Holly was driven to start Wee Urban™ to offer the modern family a unique and fresh collection of eco-friendly baby gear and accessories that goes beyond the conventional and explores the exceptional! Tired of traditional pinks and blues and cute motifs, we offer sophisticated designs, “conscious” organic alternatives, practical functionality and superior quality. Using our custom certified organic cotton blends, low-impact dyes, and other trendsetting fabrics, we hope to inspire families to be make better choices and of course- do it all in urban style!
Beyond our organic cotton and azo-free dyes, Wee Urban uses 100% post-consumer packaging and tags for our Wee Dreams™ Sleep Bags. Our distinctive screen-printing is done with 100% eco-inks and are all phthalate free.
We also recycle our remnants and donate as much as possible to local elementary schools to help with arts and crafts programs.
For more information, visit wwww.weeurban.com
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