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Posts Tagged ‘diaper rash’

by Carrie Lauth

No parent likes to see their little one in pain and unfortunately, diaper rashes can cause your baby to cry, scratch and complain. Some diaper rash creams offer little or no real treatment, and can actually cause the rash to become worse. If there is broken skin, the diaper rash ointment can get under the skin and irritate it. It also masks the problem and leaves the bottom area still moist under the diaper. Instead, the rash should be taken care of in a natural manner that is safe for baby and gentle on his skin.

Step One:

When you change the baby’s diaper, switch to using a moist (with water only) baby washcloth to cleanse your baby’s bottom instead of baby wipes, which often contain drying and irritating ingredients. If you’re on the run, you can carry some wet washcloths in a baggie. Look for washcloths made with unbleached, organic cotton, if possible. If this is too difficult, then at least look for hypoallergenic wipes that are unscented and that do not have preservatives and alcohols but that use essential oils and botanicals.

Step Two:

Prepare a bath with colloidal oatmeal. You can make your own oatmeal bath by grinding oats finely in the blender or Vita-Mix and then putting them in the bath either straight up or in a muslin tea bag (less mess). You can also find products at the health food store that contain colloidal oatmeal that helps reduce the inflammation and itchiness of the rash. Make sure the bath is nice and warm, but not too hot. Let your baby play in the water about 10-15 minutes.

In the bath, be sure to only use unscented products with no perfumes or dyes. You want to be gentle with baby’s skin and only use products that won’t irritate the skin with fragrances and dyes. When the bath is done, rinse your baby off with warm water. After drying, only apply your unscented lotion to parts of the body that does not contain the rash.

Step Three:

After the bath, and after each diaper change until the rash has healed, allow your baby to be naked for as long as possible. This allows the rash to be exposed to air an begun the healing process, naturally. When the diaper is on, it only blocks bacteria and moisture back into the skin, which doesn’t allow the skin to breathe.

During this “naked time” you can do several things. You can either leave your baby naked, or if you are afraid of him or her soiling furniture, you can use a clean, cotton cloth to create your own diaper, the way diapers used to be put on. Or if you happen to have reusable cotton diapers, use one of those instead. At the end of the naked time, do not apply a diaper rash cream. Put on the diaper loosely and check often to see if they need to be changed.

Finally:

Depending on the severeness of the rash, you should see a visible improvement within one to three days time. If you are concerned the diaper rash has worsened or is not diaper rash at all, be sure to call baby’s health care provider to see what steps must be taken next.

If the diaper rash is constantly reoccurring, consider switching to chlorine-free, fragrance-free and hypoallergenic diapers instead, or cloth diapers. Incidentally cloth diapered babies get fewer episodes of diaper rash in the first place. If you’re already using cloth, try removing the waterproof cover for as long as possible and simply letting baby wear a pinned on prefold for maximum air circulation.

For more tips and resources to help you raise your baby naturally, visit http://www.NaturalBabyWorld.com – be sure to grab your free Organic Baby report too!

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

by Kristi Sayles

If you have a baby, you have most likely experienced diaper rash to some degree. It can be a mild case that will disappear with a fresh diaper or can become so severe that it may crack and bleed if not taken care of. Diaper rash occurs on babies’ genitals, buttocks and in the fold of skin on the thighs. At times, the rash can also develop on the abdomen and is caused by being exposed to wetness for a prolonged period of time.

In the more mild cases of diaper rash, treatment can be done relatively quickly and easily. First, clean the area very well, making sure not to skip over folds in the skin. Then apply diaper rash ointment, following the directions on the label. It will be very important to change diapers frequently as you are trying to keep wetness away from the area. If it is possible, take the diaper off the baby and let the area stay exposed to air for as long as possible.

When you clean the baby, make sure the wipes you use do not include alcohol as an ingredient, as this will dry out the baby’s already sensitive areas. Instead, use a soft cloth or paper towel that is dampened slightly with water.

In addition to the diaper rash ointment, adding some Maalox to the area will help neutralize the acids in the child’s urine and will also provide a cooling effect when drying.

Other mothers swear by using cornstarch on your baby’s bottom to absorb the baby’s wetness, sometimes being used after spraying vinegar over the area and allowing it to dry. Still others prefer to use anti-inflammatory lotions such as Neosporin and Lotramin AF to help with the swelling and pain. Many pediatricians recommend using chlorine-free diapers to reduce the chance of a rash.

If the rash has gotten to the point that there a blisters or pus-filled sores, call the doctor immediately. Also, put a call into the doctor if the rash spreads to other areas. This could be caused by something more serious than just sensitive skin and should be looked at by a pediatrician.

Kristi Sayles, Child Development Coach, invites everyone to visit her site at http://YourChildandYou.com for more parenting advice, forum, information, shopping, and more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristi_Sayles