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perhaps a silly question re: diapering
First, let me fully admit and disclose my naivete: I'm a first-timer, and I simply assumed that the abundance of options available in diaper creams and salves meant you naturally had to pick one to diaper your baby.
But my local CD expert recently cautioned me against using the diaper cream I picked, because it will make CDs really stink. She also provided a resource that mentioned not using a cream.
So here's my question: can you diaper a rash-free baby without any creams, jellies, moisturizers, etc.?
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Re: perhaps a silly question re: diapering
You don't need anything unless your LO gets a rash - don't need to prevent it before the fact with creams, etc (although once you know your baby's skin better, you may find times that you do want to do this - we try to add some cream when we're doing a several hour car trek and DS will be sitting for an extended period of time). Rash issues tend to be less in cloth anyways, as long as you change often enough.
www.pinstipesandpolkadots.com has a section on diapering info & diaper safe creams and detergents you can use. We use Aveeno, although they say it's not 100% safe, we haven't had any issues with it. We also love Wadela's Calendula Diaper Rash Cream (not sure on the safety of that, although we've had no issues at all - we usually have liners with it, though). I know california baby is 100% cloth safe.
HTH.
Those creams are just barriers- the provide a layer of protection between the skin and the ickyness of the diaper. If you are using a CD with a stay dry liner, and changing poopy ones quickly, rashes should be rare.
In 7 months, we have had 1 rash.
When we started CD we never had an issue with rash, but DD was a NB and was changed like every hour.
Then we had issues with rashes once we got her into larger diapers and there was more time between changes and pees.
We have added wool covers to nightttime and occasional days, and I took a cheapo fleece blanket she got as a shower gift that tore in the wash and made liners for her fitted and non-suedecloth diapers and that little layer (no stitching, just cut, washed, dried and they don't fray) seems to keep moisture from her skin and we maybe now use diaper cream once every other week when we see a hint of pink.
That being said, the rash we DID get was nothing compared to what my friends have had with their children in disposables. I thought some pink between the cheeks was terrible, but gosh the rash that babies can get! We have NEVER encountered that with CDs.
Contrary to popular believe, you do not need a rash cream of any kind unless your child actually has a rash. I have found (and this isn't true for everyone) that we've had little to no rashes since we started cding. Before we switched at 7 months ds had a red bum every week or so that needed cream. Now it's once in a blue moon and usually related to teething poop or being in disposables for a bit for some reason.
I usually do nothing and just put him in a particularly breathable cd and it clears up quickly on it's own but once or twice when it's been really bad after a boute of teething I've put cream on him and just put a liner between him and the diaper to protect it. I really like Badger baby balm myself.
Definitely! You might want to have one on hand just in case, but for most babies it's something you just need every once in a while, not all the time.
The ingredient that makes CDs stink and is in a LOT of diaper creams is fish oil (cod liver oil). There's usually a fragrance that covers the fishy smell so if you use disposables you'd never know it. But once through the washing machine, the covering fragrance is gone and WOW, THAT'S FISHY. Seriously fishy.
Oh, but moisterizers should be ok, they don't really sit on the skin like diaper cream or vaseline would. (vaseline won't make CDs stink, just make them repel and not work)
My sister uses diaper cream on her youngest every time she changes even when she doesn't have a rash. To me that's a waste of money.
I only use it if he has a rash, which is really rare. At night, I will put on a salve since he sleeps 12-13 hours in a row. It helps keep the pee off his skin and when he poops in the morning, it makes it easier to get off
We really like the Northern Essence Salve and Better Butter Cream.
Tales of the Wife