Newbie, red bums, Sad Mommy

Abbe2b3

We have been cloth diapering our twins and we have red bums. Both girls had some skin break down when they came home from the nicu so we have been trying to eliminate everything that could be a problem.  They are breast fed and poo a million times a day. We are using preemie prefolds and covers. We stopped using disposable wipes and are using flannel wipes and water, no additives. We change them before and after meals so they really only go maybe two hrs in a diaper. We stopped using California baby diaper cream and tried aquaphor.  I am currently washing up some fleece that I had on hand to try for liners.  I also just broke down and used desitin, which we hate the smell of. What else should we be doing? I feel terrible

StacieJane

I know Desitin isn't CD safe, but not sure about the others. Have you been using liners in the diapers to keep those creams off of your dipes? If not, it's possible you have some build-up, which could cause skin sensitivity, and a stripping might be in order.

When I have to use diaper creams (like Desitin, which has only happened two or three times), I use a fleece liner. Then I wash that liner with regular clothes to get the cream off before putting it back in the diaper rotation stash. 

Good luck mama!

pixy_stix

Don't feel bad.  I think newborns get red bums no matter what you try.

I'd change them more often, as 2 hours is just about the max for a newbie.

You might also want to switch up your detergent.

I hope you're using liners with the creams you're trying, because those can cause serious stink and repelling issues. 

Brit710

Are you letting their butts air dry before putting on a new diaper?  That was our issue we found out.  I fan his little butt with the new diaper before putting it on.

thelish

We put on CJs Butter spray and that seems to help with the redness too. 

RouensDream

Like PP stated, be sure to completely dry their bums off after you wipe them, before applying the cream. Otherwise you seal in the wetness and can cause diaper rash. Also, when my little guy was a newborn I changed his diapers all the time. He never went 2 hours in a diaper. Try changing them every hour. What detergent are you using?

monona9

I hate diaper rash and I panic whenever my DD gets the slightest red bum. My DD broke out with a rash as a newborn (at the time she was in disposables coming home from the hospital). I immediately put her in cloth and used Grandma El's diaper rash remedy. It was already looking better in a day.

She recently broke out in a rash while on antibiotics because of her excessive pooping - I broke out the grandma el's again and completely eliminated the disposable wipes (which sounds like you did). I agree with PP let their bums air out completely dry and change more often if necessary. Hope things get better soon!

Abbe2b3

Yes, I have used some of my flannel wipes as a liner when I used the Desitin.  I was told that the CB was cloth safe, is this not true? I will more dilgently dry them between old and new diaper.  If I change them more frequently then I will be waking them up all the time.  this does not sound effective for preemies who need their sleep to develop. If the fleece helps how long will it take to see improvement?