Diaper rashes can be a pain in the buttocks, both literally and figuratively. The house is a complete shambles when babies screech in pain and us, the parents, have no idea what to do about it.
When my baby had rashes, he would get so fussy that changing his diapers, feeding and putting him to sleep became impossible. Watching my junior suffering like this made my life a living hell.
And the worst part is, diaper rashes are inevitable. No matter how many times I changed the diapers in a day, switched the brands, red rashes would pop up out of nowhere.
After hours of research on the web and several trials and errors, I finally found a couple of ways to prevent these painful rashes from coming back. If these worked on the super tender skin of my son without any side effects, I’m sure it will do the same for your baby too.
5 Quick Diaper Rash Remedies That Actually Work
To be on the safer side, I made sure to run my methods through my dermatologists before trying them on my kid.
So here are five quick Diaper Rash Remedies that actually work, irrespective of the skin type:
1. Switch to Skin-friendly Diapers
Let’s begin by addressing the biggest elephant in the room- the diaper itself. Most regular diaper brands use harsh chemicals as absorbents. These diapers contain irritants, i.e., Dioxin, sodium polyacrylate, or super absorbent polymer (SAP), TBT, or Tributyl-tin.
These harmful chemicals not only trigger painful red rashes, allergies, and eczema but can also lead to several other health problems.
Do yourself and your baby a favor by switching to non-toxic, eco-friendly diapers, tailored for super sensitive skin. These baby diapers for sensitive skin are made from all-natural materials. These do not contain irritants, dyes, allergens, and artificial perfumes that usually make the rashes worse.
These diapers leave a minimal environmental footprint, which also makes it a much better and safer option in this era of global warming. When it comes to diaper rash remedies, this may be the easiest one!
2. Toss the Wet Wipes Away
Most wet wipes have alcohol and synthetic perfume on them. These are the last two things you want to bring in contact with your baby’s skin. Use plain water and a soft washcloth to clean your baby’s buttocks.
If water alone won’t clean the poop off, you could use a mild cleanser specially made for babies. In addition to skin-friendly diapers, doing this will quicken up the healing process.
3. The Healing Effect of Coconut Oil and Oatmeal
Not every diaper rash remedies are suitable all babies, especially the ones with unbelievably sensitive skin like mine.
However, two remedies that work within 24-48 hours on the most severe diaper rash cases are coconut oil and oatmeal.
Unadulterated, cold-pressed coconut oil has antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. Applying it on the affected area will slowly kill the germs and bacteria, causing the rashes and inflammation.
Diaper rashes can be a byproduct extreme skin dryness as well. To counter this, the healthy saturated fat in coconut oil will keep baby butt cheeks hydrated and smooth for hours.
Oatmeal, on the other hand, has incredible anti-inflammatory properties. 15-20 minutes of oatmeal bath for babies twice a day can relieve your little one from the agony of diaper rashes. Oatmeal contains saponins that unclog the pores, wash away the dirt, creating a hygienic environment where bacteria can’t thrive.
4. Diaper Rash Cream for Immediate Relief
After soaking his bottom for 15 minutes in a warm oatmeal bath, wipe him dry, and apply a diaper rash cream. It will quickly get him rid of itchiness and irritation, putting a big smile on his face. Also, sprinkle some baby powder on the butt to prevent the cream from rubbing away.
When purchasing a diaper rash cream, make sure to look for zinc oxide on the ingredients list. It is a mild astringent and antiseptic. Creams containing zinc oxide can also relieve the symptoms of skin chafing caused by tight diapers.
It’s even better if the cream formula also includes petroleum jelly. It will keep the skin moisturized and create a protective barrier against the diaper, thus, minimizing the chances of rashes.
5. Let the Skin Breathe
Lack of air circulation is one of the primary causes of diaper rashes. Try to keep your baby diaper-less for as many hours as possible. To do so, here are a few tricks you can try:
Extend the bathing time by a few minutes. During tummy time and playtime, place a waterproof cloth on the floor, then put a clean towel or washable blanket on top. Your baby can sit on this for about an hour 3-5 times a day. This method is one of the fastest ways to make the rashes go away and prevent their return.
Diaper Rash Remedies
You might feel that there’s no way to get out of this diaper rash hell you and your baby are in right now. But trust me, diaper rashes will heal fast and never come back if you follow the tips above.
Apart from the ones mentioned above, you need also to change diapers frequently and of course, consult a doctor immediately if the rashes are widespread and long-lasting.
