As parents, we do our very best to prevent red baby bottoms, but sometimes that painful diaper rash keeps coming back. No need to worry: Diaper rash can be unpleasant and painful for your baby, but the condition is common, and with a few tips and tricks, getting rid of that sore and red baby bum is easier than you might think.
Clean the skin
If your baby’s skin is red or damaged by diaper rash, the skin needs the best possible conditions to heal. First, clean the area in a very gentle way. Use a soft cotton washcloth or gentle baby wipes such as Bambo Nature Wet Wipes that can be used daily and are perfect for a mild cleansing. Pat the skin dry or let it air dry. Do not rub. This will leave the protective layer of the skin intact.
Moisturize and protect
When your baby’s bum is clean and dry, apply a protective barrier cream or diaper rash cream such as Bambo Nature Soothing Cream to protect the skin against urine and feces. Apply only a thin layer to ensure that the skin can breathe. Let the product dry for a bit before putting on a fresh diaper.
A protective barrier cream is essential to treating diaper rash, as it:
- Repairs the protective layer of the baby's skin.
- Provides moisture to the skin.
- Reduces water evaporation through the skin, causing the skin not to dry out.
- Leaves a protective layer on the skin so that the skin is better protected against urine and feces.
In addition to using the right skincare products and routines, changing your baby’s diaper frequently is very important. Wet or damp skin is more sensitive to friction and irritation. Therefore, change the diaper as soon as it’s wet or immediately after your baby poops. Use a diaper with a wetness indicator – this is usually a line on the outside of the diaper. The wetness indicator will change color when your baby pees and show you when it’s time to change the diaper. Change the diaper more often than you would typically if your baby is experiencing diaper rash
Treating the rash - step by step
If your baby is experiencing diaper rash, here's how you go about it:
First
Try identifying the cause of the rash. Maybe go for the exclusion method:
- Try changing the diaper more frequently.
- Try a different size diaper.
- Try another diaper if the ones you currently use are not breathable.
- Try to loosen the diaper to make sure it is not put on too tight.
Second
Make sure you are really careful when washing and cleaning the red area. See more on the proper skincare routine below.
Third
Try leaving your little one without a diaper for just 10-15 minutes a couple of times a day to let the skin breathe. Nothing is more healing to a red baby bum than air.
Fourth
Make sure you use gentle and safe skin care products developed for sensitive baby skin to create a barrier to help the skin heal.
Can diaper rash be prevented?
If your baby has experienced a diaper rash, you know firsthand that it can be really painful for your little one, so of course, you want to do everything you can to prevent another rash from developing. Prevention is key when it comes to diaper rash since preventing a rash is so much easier than dealing with an unhappy baby and a sore bum.
Even if your baby’s skin is less prone to diaper rash than other babies (lucky you!), it can still happen, even when you think you have taken all precautions and done everything right. Maybe your baby is teething (for some, that is almost a guarantee for a red bum), or your baby has been eating certain types of acidic foods like tomatoes or mandarins. The sooner you discover the rash, the sooner you can do something about it before it develops.
We cannot promise that your baby will never experience diaper rash again, but these tips can help prevent future rashes or at least keep them to a minimum.
Our top 7 tips for diaper rash:
- Change the diaper if it is wet or dirty.
- Gently clean your baby’s skin. Use a soft washcloth or sensitive baby wipes. If you use soap, choose a mild, skin-friendly type with the correct pH value and without perfume and color.
- Gently pat the skin dry or let that baby bum air dry.
- Use soft, skin-friendly, and breathable baby diapers.
- Make sure you have chosen the right size diaper and put it on correctly – neither too tight nor too loose.
- Remove the diaper a few times daily and let your baby’s bum air dry. This is a natural and gentle way to dry your baby’s skin. You can place your baby on a soft towel or a disposable absorbent changing mat to prevent accidents.
Always use common sense when it comes to your baby’s health. We cannot see your baby, so when in doubt – or if your baby’s skin is damaged, bleeding, or blistered - ALWAYS consult your doctor or health visitor.
Are you in doubt whether your baby’s rash is even diaper rash? Read our blog post on what diaper rash is and how to recognize it. If you’re still in doubt, always consult your doctor.