Diaper Rash Management: What You Need to Know to Prevent and Treat a Diaper Rash
- Eva Healey
- Jul 1
- 3 min read
Diaper Rash:
The best treatment is prevention.
Creating routines can help make prevention more attainable.
A diaper rash is going to happen at some point.
When it does, intervene quickly and appropriately to avoid broken down skin.
Baby's have extremely delicate and sensitive skin. It requires extra TLC.
Keys to Successfully Managing Your Baby's Diaper Rash:
Keep it clean and dry
Use a barrier cream/paste
Oxygen is the best cure
There are a lot of remedies out there. Find one that works best for your baby and their skin.
Clean & Dry
I often get asked how frequently you should be changing your baby's diaper. I recommend you get in the routine of changing their diaper before every feed and every time they wake up. Sometimes, especially in the first few weeks this falls at the same time, which is great! It's important to change their diaper before a feed because it will stimulate them and make them alert to eat. Also, if they fall asleep during or after eating, they will already have a fresh diaper and you won't need to wake them up even if they dirty their diaper during the feed since you are applying a barrier cream with every diaper change. They will likely wake up in an hour or two to eat, and you can change it then.
The only exception is if your baby already has a diaper rash. In this case, you should absolutely be changing their diaper every time it is dirty!
Another key to keeping that area clean is to wash it with soap and water daily. Even if you choose not to bathe your baby on a daily basis, this is an important step to staying clean. Feel free to quickly wash it in the bathroom sink. Be certain that all the soap is rinsed off because any leftover suds will be too harsh for their skin to handle and can make matters worse.
Barrier Cream
Using a barrier will drastically help your cause and is something I recommend using with every diaper change. A barrier can be something as simple and cheap as Vaseline. If you prefer a cleaner brand, there are tons of options out there. One I personally like to use is Rocky Mountain Soap Company's baby bum balm. Your baby's skin is going to react differently to different products and that may change as they age; don't be afraid to try multiple brands. Just because one product works for your friends's baby, doesn't mean it's going to work for yours. If your registry provides a goody bag with multiple products included, use them all! Be aware that certain barrier creams marketed for diaper rash can actually make it worse and should only be used for prevention. For example, Boudreaux's will worsen the rash because it adheres to the skin and can cause it to rip when wiped off or when cheeks stick together and already have open skin. If you are going to use this, do not rub it off. Dab it gently and know it will not come off completely with each diaper change.
FOR SPECIFIC QUESTIONS OR TO LEARN BEST APPLICATION TECHNIQUES, FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME DIRECTLY!
**If your baby is requiring certain formula or supplementation of breastmilk for other reasons, know that higher caloric milk will put them at a higher risk for getting a diaper rash.
Oxygen
In the medical world, oxygen is considered a drug and requires a prescription to be used. Simply put, it is a powerful tool and will create results fast! It's easy to create your own oxygen treatment right at home! Lay a big towel (or try doggie training pads) on the ground, strip your baby butt naked, place them on their belly and point a fan directly at their booty! The smaller the fan, the better! Smaller fans have more direct airflow which will help keep your baby from getting cold and efficiently get the job done.
Remedies
Again, there are plenty out there, but one I like to highlight is breastmilk. Warm it up and put it in a basin or bucket for your baby's bottom to soak in! Think of breastmilk like the windex in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". It can cure anything!
Bonus if you are breastfeeding mom and you decide to have an alcoholic beverage (or two) and have to "pump and dump"? Don't Dump! Although that milk is unsafe to consume, you can use it for this purpose and not have to waste it!
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