The Main Causes of Diaper Rash

The main culprit in diaper rash development is simply wetness. Although today’s diapers are designed to absorb liquid and keep it away from the body, all diapers leave some moisture on the baby’s skin. When you leave your baby in a dirty diaper for too long, the baby is likely to develop a rash. However, many babies have very sensitive skin and can develop a diaper rash even if their parents are very diligent about changing their diapers.

Other common culprits in diaper rash is chafing and sensitivity. This is when the diaper rubs against the baby’s skin too much and creates a rash. Disposable diapers that have chemicals or additives in them can also cause chafing and diaper rash. However, a baby can develop diaper rash from cloth diapers if they are sensitive to the type of laundry detergent that you use. Babies have also been known to develop rashes from powders and lotions as well.

Another cause of diaper rash is introducing new foods into the diet. When babies begin eating solid foods, it is common for diaper rash to appear. This is due to the fact that the composition of the baby’s stool has changed and the baby’s bowel movements increase. The body is not always prepared for these changes and a diaper rash may occur. Additionally, breastfeeding mothers can influence a change in the body due to the types of foods they are eating, which may also cause diaper rash to occur.

Finally, a skin yeast infection is a cause of diaper rash. Because the area is moist and warm, bacteria and yeast often flourish in the diaper area creating a diaper rash. These rashes tend to occur in your baby’s skin folds and cracks.

Preventing Diaper Rash

The best prevention for diaper rash is simply keeping the baby’s bottom as dry as possible. This means changing your baby’s diapers as soon as they become spoiled.
Cleanliness also plays a large part in preventing diaper rash. Thoroughly clean your baby’s genital area after each and every diaper change. Gently pat the skin dry rather than rub it.

Use a thin layer of protective ointment after each and every diaper change if your baby seems to be prone to developing diaper rash. Plain petroleum jelly is a convenient and affordable option. You can also use a paste that include petroleum ointment and white zinc oxide, which is particularly good for very sensitive skin.
Use a cornstarch-based powder to help dry your baby’s skin. Always place the powder on your hands rather than shake it directly on the baby, as you don’t want your baby to breathe it in. Always clean off any leftover powder in the baby’s skin folds after each and every diaper change and before applying more.

Introduce solid foods once new item at a time. This will help the body adjust and you will be able to determine if certain foods are causing a diaper rash. Once you recognize that one food may be causing problems, you can eliminate it from the diet for the time being.

Don’t secure your baby’s diapers too tightly, as they do need air flow to keep the skin as dry as possible. Avoid plastic pants and airtight fabrics that don’t always the baby’s skin to breathe.

Finally, if you’re using cloth diapers, do not use detergents that use fragrances. You should also avoid using a fabric softener. Use hot water and double rinse the diapers to ensure that detergent is not left in the fabric. You can also add a cup of vinegar to the first rinse to help eliminate any irritants that may be left in the diaper fabric.

Many people do not put a lot of thought into the type of diapers they are going to use on their new baby. Many new parents expect to be able to go to the grocery store and pick-up a pack of Huggies or Pampers and think they will all be set. However, what happens when your baby has an adverse reaction to one of these name brands?

Additionally, for a family that is tight on funds, disposable diapers may not be the best option due to their price. Diaper coupons can help to offset the price, however, cloth diapers may actually be the most affordable option for parents that are strapped financially as they are reusable and can be used for a variety of different household uses after their life as a diaper.

Disposable versus Cloth

Technology has come a long way since disposable diapers were first introduced to parents in the early sixties. Before then, cloth was the only option, although several absorbent inserts had been created to make cloth diapers more absorbable and to last longer. Today’s disposable diapers are almost cloth-like in their construction and use a unique fiber that helps to wick away the moisture from the body so that a baby doesn’t require an instant diaper change and they buy the parent a little more time if they are away from home and can’t change the baby. They also help to prevent diaper rash. However, disposable diapers are one of the notorious items filling up today’s landfills.

Due to environmental concerns, many parents are choosing to use cloth diapers instead. There are several options available in cloth diapers including pre-folded cotton, fleece knit, French terry and woven jersey. Each of these different types of fabrics have their own advantages and you can try each of these different types of cloth diapers to find which one is ideal for your baby.

Cloth diapers are also more affordable to buy and are easily cleaned with your home washer and dryer. Cloth diapers are also ideal if your baby is one of the few that has an allergic reaction to the materials used in disposable diapers. You can even choose from organic fabrics as well, although these diapers tend to be more expensive than traditional cotton cloth diapers.

Deciding Which Diaper is Best for You

Now that you know your options in diapers, it’s up to you to decide which diaper option is ideal for you. If you want to follow in the footsteps of those before you, you may want to continue the age old tradition of cloth diapers. The good news for you is that there are diapering services that are available to do the cloth diaper cleaning for you. You simply sign up and pay for the service and they deliver clean cloth diapers to you on a regular schedule and pick up the dirty diapers from you. Diapering services are not available in all areas, but this may be an option you may want to explore. Or, you can use your home washer and dryer to clean them, which is often more affordable. If you’re environmentally concerned, there are more and more “green” disposable diapers that are being introduced onto the market. Soon parents will have several brands to choose from, but for now you can expect to pay a little more for these environmentally friendly disposable diapers.

Finally, if you decide that disposable diapers are your only option, then you’ll find several brands to choose from. Many parents will simply go for the brand that is more affordable. However, due be aware and check boxes to see what types of skin conditioners or other additives have been added to these diapers. Some brands have chemicals included in them that may cause your baby to develop an allergic reaction. In this case, finding the best brand for your baby is a matter of trial and error. In some cases, babies simply can’t wear disposable diapers due to skin allergies and cloth diapers become your only option.

If cloth diapers aren’t something that appeal to you, but you are still concerned about the environment. You can also choose from the many new environmentally friendly diapers available today. These diapers are designed to degrade quickly so they do not contribute to the every growing size of our landfills. These diapers are designed to degrade within one month of being exposed to the outdoors.