Diaper Rash - FTM's

Katienu

If there is one thing that I wish someone had prepared me for was the treatment of diaper rash for my DD.  In the first few months it got so bad that she had to be put on prescription creams to help with the open sores. 

Here is what I learned from our doc:

1. It happens so fast. In just a short few hours it can get horrible

2. Often times it is a topical yeast infection.  Athletes cream mixed with Desitin Maximum Strength was a miracle worker for us.  Once our doc told us about that, we never had to go on prescription creams again.

3. Don't use powder.  Powder contains cornstarch which yeast infections love

4. Desitin Maximum was the best moisture barrier.  We used that maintenance mode once the rash was under control.

5. On other tip from our doc, during the bath, you don't have to wipe off diaper cream completely.  That may irritate the wound so leaving some on for protection was fine.

I hope this helps and again, this was our experience so other mom's may have more tips.

SkiChic626

Katienu said:

2. Often times it is a topical yeast infection.  Athletes cream mixed with Desitin Maximum Strength was a miracle worker for us.  Once our doc told us about that, we never had to go on prescription creams again.

We did this for a horrible purple diaper rash DD had one time, per the suggestion of our ped, and the athletes cream actually gave her some kind of UTI-type thing where it was stinging when she peed.  Poor thing would hold her diaper and scream   It did help clear the rash, but it also caused her this other issue.  After that, we found that Triple Paste AF worked best for clearing rashes for her.  *sigh*

ebilbao

I second the Triple Paste. It cures everything. 

Curls919

Another tip - we used A&D on all diapers as a barrier.  DS had so few diaper rashes because of this!  For diaper rashes we used max strength Desatin which cleared it right up.

bearsandbeets7

The only diaper rash issues we have had with DD have been the yeast infections. The cream our ped prescribed us(a very basic topical cream that is used for a ton of other things) cleared it up and has kept it clear. 

I hope this LO will be as easy with the diaper rashes but it's a boy so there is no telling. 

SkiChic626

I just wanted to add that DD never had a diaper rash until I decided to try to be thrify and change up the diapers that we were using.  We never used diaper cream or powder or anything because she really didn't need it, and we always used either Pampers Swaddlers or Cruisers, which are expensive especially as you go up in size.  I heard that Target Up & Up were basically the same and people loved them.  DD was well over a year old when we tried it....and BOOM first ever diaper rash and it was horrible.  We shortly thereafter switched back to Pampers and it's been better, but I feel like her tush never fully recovered - she still gets an occasional rash and she'll be 2 next week.  What I learned.....if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Sunnyn75

The athletes cream mixed with the purple Desitin works like a charm for us!  

bearsandbeets7

@SkiChic626 we used pampers with DD until she was about 17 months and I decided that we would try a cheaper brand. We switched to Luvs and haven't had any issues which I am extremely glad because the pampers were twice as expensive as Luvs. 

Sekerambo

Any brand of diaper can cause diaper rash.  Every baby is different.  The little girl I watched couldn't use pampers without getting a horrible rash but was fine in any other brand.  I've also known babies that could only use more natural and some that couldn't use more natural.  The same thing goes with cloth diapers.  Some babies can only use natural fibers while others need a stay dry barrier.  If a rash isn't going away and it's not yeast then definitely look into trying a different type of diaper.  

SkiChic626

Sekerambo said:

Any brand of diaper can cause diaper rash.  Every baby is different.  The little girl I watched couldn't use pampers without getting a horrible rash but was fine in any other brand.  I've also known babies that could only use more natural and some that couldn't use more natural.  The same thing goes with cloth diapers.  Some babies can only use natural fibers while others need a stay dry barrier.  If a rash isn't going away and it's not yeast then definitely look into trying a different type of diaper.  

That's exactly my point - the Pampers were working for us.  I should have just left well enough alone!

@Lynnlove28 Thanks for the reco!  Maybe we'll give it a try with this LO.  We're getting ready to potty train DD, so I don't see the point in chancing another bad rash at this point.  ugh!

Bookhousegirl

DS got a few pretty bad diaper rashes when he was an infant. The most effective for us was triple paste (I was using an organic brand that we still use for general diaper changes, but we definitely needed he heavy duty stuff to treat a bad rash) and air drying after a diaper change. Wipe as little as possible (my doctor also said, don't wipe all the cream off - just enough to clean him) and then take an extra 30 seconds to let everything dry before closing up the diaper. The moisture is what the rash feeds on. 

ThisisNumber3

We love coconut oil for cloth diapers but also for just regular maintenance.  The daycare ladies would be so surprised at how the coconut oil would clear any redness after just one diaper change. 

charmedlifex3

@thisisnumber3 we'll have to try that! The cloth diaper safe diaper creams seem to be so expensive, and mostly coconut oil anyways...

SkiChic626

@ThisisNumber3 said:

We love coconut oil for cloth diapers but also for just regular maintenance.  The daycare ladies would be so surprised at how the coconut oil would clear any redness after just one diaper change. 

Where do you live that they allow cloth diapers in daycare???  I've never heard of this.  I wanted to try cloth with DD, but that's a big no no for daycare so we nixed the idea.

jamiesc58

I agree with the things that other pp's have used to treat diaper rash. I just want to add...we make our own wipes as dd couldn't use any kind of store wipes without getting rashes. It is so easy and way cheaper. I will continue doing this with lo. I will have 2 in diapers so the cost savings will be amazing.

charmedlifex3

@skichic626 Our daycare was fine with it! We looked at three - one said absolutely not, one said she would be willing but had never done it, the other the director said it was TOTALLY fine, and she had cloth diapered her kids, and she would make sure the infant teacher was up to speed before we started - also if we had questions regarding cloth diapers in the first three months, feel free to email her.

It really seemed to be center dependent around here.  

@jamiesc58 What do you use to make wipes?

 We have some cloth wipes someone gave us, and a few sites just recommended getting cheap wash cloths. One site recommended a "bum spray" then using a dry (cloth) wipe, whereas I've also seen a couple of wipe soaks you can make.... *overwhelmed"

jamiesc58

@Allisun85 we use Viva paper towels. You cut them in half and take the core out. We found a cylinder shaped tupperware at Meijer that works perfect for holding them. You put one half of the paper towel in there and add 2 cups of water mixed with 2 tablespoons of whatever kind of bath wash you use for baby. They smell better and clean better in my opinion and, like I said before, cost less.

ThisisNumber3

SkiChic626 said:

@ThisisNumber3 said:

We love coconut oil for cloth diapers but also for just regular maintenance.  The daycare ladies would be so surprised at how the coconut oil would clear any redness after just one diaper change. 

Where do you live that they allow cloth diapers in daycare???  I've never heard of this.  I wanted to try cloth with DD, but that's a big no no for daycare so we nixed the idea.

@SkiChic626 -  Florida.  You can look it up.  Some states require they allow cloth, some states just permit it.  Its mostly up to the center.   We used liners to catch any solids so they would throw the liner away and put the dirty diaper in a bag.  We cleaned them at home.  Also, we used pockets and sent them pre-stuffed.  So really no work for the daycare, just put on like a normal diaper. 

@Allisun85 - Yup!  It worked great with cloth, much cheaper to just buy the big jar from Walmart! 

Sekerambo

@Allisun85 - Several cloth diaper stores carry wipe bits, that are a great solution when using cloth wipes.  I bought a yard of cheap fleece, cut them up, finished the edges and made my own wipes really easily.  I prefer wet wipes, so at home I have an Oxo brand wipe box. I accordion fold the wipes and add solution so they are wet.  

Alygohome

I let my daughter naked as much as possible. Helps her rash so much.

charmedlifex3

So I brought home coconut oil for cream, and DH asked if we were going to deep fry the baby.... sigh.