I give up, now what?

PenelopePond

Our cloth diapers have yeast. I've tried everything. I'm totally over trying anything else. Can anything be done with the diapers? Will people buy them? Or do I just throw them away. I feel so bad about this, but I feel so bad for my little guy's butt. It's been months.

tjkdlhb

What exactly have you done?

We had yeast for months.  It took a long time to get rid of, but the diapers and her bottom are fine now.

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stoneycakes

Are you sure it's yeast?

PenelopePond

Sorry for the late response.

I have pocket diapers with GroVia prefolds. 

We had lots of rash problems that the pedi diagnosed as a yeast rash. It never went away with regular creams, looked just like the pictures of a yeast rash. I stopped using the diapers, used anti fungal cream, and the rash went away. I washed (more in a bit) them, put them back on him, and a rash developed within a day (after being totally clear). Had his well check up, dr said it was yeast again. Discontinued cloth, used anti fungal, rash went way. Repeat like four times. 

The things I've tried: super hot water, sunshine, hot dryer, bleach, oxygenated bleach, several cloth diaper friendly detergents, tea tree oil, bac out, washing soda, soaking them in bleach, soaking them in washing soda, rinsing rinsing rinsing rinsing rinsing. Some combination of those things together. 

I hope that answers all the questions.

blondolphn

On a serious note, if you would like help. We can help.

But if you are set on quitting, it sounds like you have some people here who might be interested in fighting the fight for you.

PenelopePond

blondolphn said:

On a serious note, if you would like help. We can help.

But if you are set on quitting, it sounds like you have some people here who might be interested in fighting the fight for you.

If I knew that what I tried next was going to work, I think I'd try. I've just done so much that hasn't worked and I'm kind of sick of it. Not a good excuse, I know. 

Rrrrrachel

When you used the cream did you keep using it for like a week after the rash goes away? I think the usual treatment for yeast is cream and whatever combo of sposies or liners you like for a good period after the rash is gone, plus adding bleach every other wash for like two weeks after the rash is gone. Someone will surely correct me if I'm wrong.

PenelopePond

Rrrrrachel said:

When you used the cream did you keep using it for like a week after the rash goes away? I think the usual treatment for yeast is cream and whatever combo of sposies or liners you like for a good period after the rash is gone, plus adding bleach every other wash for like two weeks after the rash is gone. Someone will surely correct me if I'm wrong.

I did, yes. There were usually a couple weeks between stoping the cloth and starting them again, too. 

nanabanana06

What bleach did you use?

nanabanana06

Oh and how much.

PenelopePond

Nana_Osaki06 said:

What bleach did you use?

Just regular bleach. It's Walmart brand. 

PenelopePond

Nana_Osaki06 said:

Oh and how much.

Honestly, I'm not sure what is fair in this situation. I have 24 pockets (Diaper Safari brand), 24 light blue edge GroVia prefolds, thin fleece liners, four GroVia stay dry boosters, two Planet Wise diapers, an Ubbi diaper pail, and a few other random things to get rid of. 

Into+the+Kitty

PenelopePond said:

Nana_Osaki06 said:

Oh and how much.

Honestly, I'm not sure what is fair in this situation. I have 24 pockets (Diaper Safari brand), 24 light blue edge GroVia prefolds, thin fleece liners, four GroVia stay dry boosters, two Planet Wise diapers, an Ubbi diaper pail, and a few other random things to get rid of. 

how much bleach.

PenelopePond

Into+the+Kitty said:

PenelopePond said:

Nana_Osaki06 said:

Oh and how much.

Honestly, I'm not sure what is fair in this situation. I have 24 pockets (Diaper Safari brand), 24 light blue edge GroVia prefolds, thin fleece liners, four GroVia stay dry boosters, two Planet Wise diapers, an Ubbi diaper pail, and a few other random things to get rid of. 

how much bleach.

Hahaha. Sorry. 

I filled my bathtub half full and used EDIT 1.5 cups think. It was close to that. I let them soak for about six hours. I did try bleach in the washing machine twice: once filled the bleach area to the line, and another time added a cup. 

nanabanana06

Jeez. She's probably getting a rash from all the bleach, not from yeast. I only use 1/4 in my hot wash every other wash while I treat for yeast.

PenelopePond

Nana_Osaki06 said:

Jeez. She's probably getting a rash from all the bleach, not from yeast. I only use 1/4 in my hot wash every other wash while I treat for yeast.

See that's my problem. I never know what to do. I do a search online to find a solution and read what worked for other people. There are so many things, though. None are the same. No one has a good set answer. I emailed the companies and they didn't have great answers. I didn't ask here because I'm not around much and mobile site sucks. 

I did rinse a lot. A lot a lot. They don't smell bleach anymore. There's no bubbles or suds left in them. 

PenelopePond

I'm going to change what I said. When I soaked them in the tub it was 1.5 cups of bleach. I used a 1/4 c measuring cup not 1/2c. Sorry.

nanabanana06

That is still a ton of bleach. Your kid could just be a yeasty kid. Who knows if it would or would not of come back using sposies. I'd treat your diapers and see. What were the pockets you were using? It could be a sensitivity to that or your detergent. Not yeast. I've also had both kids get staph infections in that area too. Those need antibiotics and a diaper treat.

PenelopePond

His butt is totally fine in disposables. No rash.

I started using Tide for detergent. Things were fine. I ran out. For some dumb reason I switched to Charlie's. The problems started. I switched back to Tide and there are still problems.

YellowLily2013

Have you tried a probiotic or yogurt To help combat the yeast?

It is truly a beast... And stressful. I've had a long battle with it / what we now probably have is eczema. I've starred at the rash so long coming and going that I started to think any red was "yeast" ... Until recently I gave up and believe its just a rash.

Are you using any creams?

PenelopePond

YellowLily2013 said:

Have you tried a probiotic or yogurt To help combat the yeast? It is truly a beast... And stressful. I've had a long battle with it / what we now probably have is eczema. I've starred at the rash so long coming and going that I started to think any red was "yeast" ... Until recently I gave up and believe its just a rash. Are you using any creams?

I have used probiotics when his rash was really bad. We've been using disposables pretty much non stop the last month or so. The yeast problems started about six months ago. When the rash first started, we tried several different creams but none of them touched it. Then we switched to Triple Paste AF. That cleared it up within a few days. I continued with a Triple Paste and regular anti fungal cream. I tried another thing to get rid of the yeast a couple weeks ago after two weeks in disposables. He had a totally clear butt, and the rash started again a day later. DH doesn't want me to try anymore. We've spent a few hundred dollars on creams, soaps, and dr visits. 

Mandmeesh

Charlie's is Also one of those detergents that works, or causes a horrible rash. If tide works, get tide

PenelopePond

Mandmeesh said:

Charlie's is Also one of those detergents that works, or causes a horrible rash. If tide works, get tide

I switched back to Tide and we are still having problems. 

tjkdlhb

When we had yeast, the Dr suggested we continue to use the antifungal cream for a month after the last sign of the rash was gone.

In addition to this, we used about 15 drops each of tea tree oil AND Grapefruit seed extract in the hot part of the wash routine.  From what I understand, you need both to treat the diapers.  We have an HE washer and add water to each part of our routing (warm rinse, long hot wash, additional rinse).  We have continued to add the TTO and GFSE to each wash for the month after the last sign of rash.

It might seem like overkill, but it worked.  If there's any spores or anything left, then the rash will keep coming back.  You have to get rid of it entirely.

bumpuser5078523

Man, this makes me feel lucky!

We had one issue with yeast, when he was a nb. I used 1/4 cup bleach with my normal wash routine every time I did a diaper load. Once the rash cleared up in a week or two, our issue was gone.

Did you bleach every wash? If not, you were probably introducing more yeast.

PenelopePond

doeie04 said:

Man, this makes me feel lucky! We had one issue with yeast, when he was a nb. I used 1/4 cup bleach with my normal wash routine every time I did a diaper load. Once the rash cleared up in a week or two, our issue was gone. Did you bleach every wash? If not, you were probably introducing more yeast.

I didn't leave him in the cloth while he had the rash. I switched to disposables, made sure the rash was clear, treated the diapers, and then tried them out again. I wasn't regularly using bleach in my wash cycles. That's something I will start doing if I try again. 

bumpuser5078523

Hmmm. Maybe your doctor is wrong, and it's not yeast?

unaveragejane

Okay, I'm just going to say I would be totally frustrated in your shoes! Rashes suck, especially when it's difficult to figure out the cause. FWIW our pediatrician misdiagnosed a yeast rash on DS at one of his regular check-ups. He had a pink patch on his belly with some raised red dots, and the doc thought it was yeast. I felt more like it was a combination of slight ammonia burn and irritation from a wool cover. It went away after a couple of days of keeping it very clean, dry, and moisturized.

freezorburn

PenelopePond said:

His butt is totally fine in disposables. No rash. I started using Tide for detergent. Things were fine. I ran out. For some dumb reason I switched to Charlie's. The problems started. I switched back to Tide and there are still problems.

This kinda makes me suspect that yeast is probably not the problem. 

It may be that you were dealing with yeast, it's all gone now, but something has now triggered your LO's skin to be sensitive to something in the detergent. Skin problems can be tricky that way. You can be going along fine, and then something happens and then you just have to try different things to see what works. You may be rash-free for a little while, but then it doesn't take much to re-trigger the rash. Could be moisture, or a bit of fragrance, or some other residue that is causing the problem.

It sounds like your diapers are probably pretty well disinfected and stripped at this point. If not, take whatever steps you feel you need to make sure they are -- PPs have provided some good ideas. I know a lot of people like Tide but in your case I might try one of the clean-rinsing detergents like Tiny Bubbles or Country Save. Even Original Tide has fragrance, whiteners and enzymes, any of which could trigger a reaction in sensitive skin. Many people never have an issue, but some do.

If you are certain you are dealing with yeast, the only thing I would add to that discussion is to also look at diet as part of the larger picture. Try to minimize the simple sugars for a little while ... that would even include fruit. And any flavored yogurt. Until you are confident that your LO's skin is healthy and back in balance, and then you can slowly reintroduce those foods.

tjkdlhb

I could never use Tide with DD.  She always broke out from it. We use Tiny Bubbles.  Allergies can develop over time as well, so even if LO wasn't allergic at first, may be now.

freezorburn

If I understood correctly she is stuffing PFs into pockets.

freezorburn

PenelopePond said: I have 24 pockets (Diaper Safari brand), 24 light blue edge GroVia prefolds, thin fleece liners, four GroVia stay dry boosters, two Planet Wise diapers, an Ubbi diaper pail, and a few other random things to get rid of. 

Diaper Safari = Diaper Rites? Sorry I'm not familiar with those.

freezorburn

Interesting. Ya learn something new every day!

OP, let us know how you are doing. We know these issues can be frustrating. We are all keeping our fingers crossed that you are able to sort this out.

PenelopePond

Thanks everyone! This is definitely helpful. I need to wash them all again. I will order some of the Tiny Bubbles soap. To start with, I think I'm just going to do a bunch of hot washes and rinses to make sure there's nothing left over from previous attempts. Then I will start over.

When I put prep them, I stuff a prefold into the pocket and then put a fleece liner on top. I will try it with the prefolds on top next time he wears them.