Tips on Diaper Rash Treatment

Acids in urine and feces break down a baby's sensitive skin and can chafe it resulting in a bright red, painful diaper rash.  While diaper rash is alarming for your baby to have, it is the most common baby rash. You can treat it in about 24 hours by following these tips that I learned from 4 years of infant nanny experience.

• Air those buns out.

Letting your baby go without a diaper for short periods of time can give the diaper rash a chance to breath and dry out. It can also provide your baby with relief from having a diaper pressing against his burning buns.  If you are worried about accidents, put a towel or waterproof pad on the floor under where your baby is playing.  

• Wipe but not with a wipe.

Commercial baby wipes contain chemicals and alcohol that sting a baby's bottom. Using purified lukewarm water is the best method for wiping. With bulb syringe squeeze water over the diaper area to clean the skin and plot dry with a soft washcloth.  Then gently wipe a second time with a clean, soft, dry cloth.  Make sure your baby's skin is completely dry before you put a new diaper on.

• Is it the brand?

Some diaper brands absorb moisture more than others.  Many diapers also contain harmful fragrances or chemicals.  Switching to a different brand with more absorption or less chemicals may help to reduce diaper rashes. 

• Lather the cream on.

Putting on a thick layer of soothing, medicated diaper rash cream is always a good choice when dealing with a diaper rash. Petroleum jelly, white zinc oxide ointment and aluminum acetate are the most common and effective ingredients to look for in diaper rash creams.  Diaper rash cream can be used every diaper change if your baby is prone to diaper rashes. 

• Change often.

Change your baby’s diaper as soon as it is soiled or every two hours. Sitting in urine and feces not only causes the rash, but worsens it.  Bacteria grows in a dirty diaper and can worsen the infection as well.

• Pediatrician time.

If the rash spreads, continues to worsen or does not heal after 4-7 days take your baby to the doctor. Sometimes a diaper rash can be a result of an allergy which takes a doctor to diagnose.