Image by Becris from Canva
Bub’s bum has not been a problem for me. It is baby smooth and I am always pleased when the paediatrician gives a nod of approval during routine checkups #proudmama.
What is diaper rash?
Diaper rash, also known as diaper dermatitis, are patches of red, inflamed skin occurring on the bottom or genital areas of babies (or adults) and are related to prolonged contact of the skin against a wet diaper, chafing, or skin sensitivity. Although commonly due to infrequently changed diapers, it may also occur in babies with sensitive skin despite frequent changing.
See: pictures of mild, moderate, and severe diaper rash here from the Desitin website.
Sometimes diaper rashes may become secondarily infected by fungi or bacteria. Bring your baby to a doctor if you notice open wounds, pustules, blisters, or of the rashes look oozy and crusty.
How I've prevented diaper rash
1. Change diapers often. The key is to keep the skin dry and not let the baby sit in pee or poo for too long. I use reusable diapers/ cloth nappies during the day and disposable diapers at night. While reusable cloth diapers have been associated with an increased risk of diaper rash because they are less absorbent than disposable diapers, it has not been a problem for me because bub makes it known immediately when she has soiled her nappy. We change her nappies very frequently so that she spends minimal time in a wet nappy. I don’t recommend using cloth nappies or reusable diapers if you can’t commit to the frequent changes.
I use disposable diapers for daytime naps and nights. I've only tried Huggies Platinum Naturemade Tape Diapers which has not given me any problems so far! I’m simply amazed by how absorbent it is. It nearly never gets wet but instead becomes thick and heavy when it soaks up pee. (The only other diaper I’ve tried is Huggies Gold Tape Diapers, which although slightly cheaper is not as absorbent).
2. Use water-based wet wipes. Some wet wipes may contain alcohol, fragrances, or other parabens which may irritate the baby's skin and increase risk of a diaper rash. This is especially so if your little one has naturally sensitive skin. Most baby wet wipes in the market are water-based, so you are really spoilt for choice. I like to use the Oldam wipes. They are water-based and quite large and thick, so I only have to use a few sheets even for a messy poo.
3. Air dry baby's butt between changes. After wiping her down between changes, I let bub roll around on the playmat without a diaper for a few minutes to let the skin breathe. (But sometimes I might have to mop up accidents!)
Image by ideabug from Canva
4. Slather on the diaper balm. Diaper balms protect the skin by acting as a barrier between the delicate skin and the surface of the wet nappy/diaper. I personally love Earth Mama Organic Diaper Balm, which has a vaseline-like consistency and a nice smell. A little bottle has lasted me a long time!
You can also use petroleum jelly-containing products like Baby Vaseline, or zinc oxide-containing products like Desitin and Drapolene. I keep a tube of Drapolene at home, but have not opened it yet because the Earth Mama diaper balm has been working out very well for us! I recommend reading this highly informative article about the different kinds of ingredients used in diaper creams that can help you decide which product works best for you.
Comments
Post a Comment