Baby’s diaper rash – How to soothe it

Red bottom, discomfort, crying… The diaper rash triad.
Red bottoms are almost inevitable in the first months of a baby’s life. Fortunately, it is quite easy to limit and relieve them.

Let us tell you more!

What are the symptoms of diaper rash?

• Your baby’s bottom is red, hot and painful.
• The irritation appears as red patches. 
• The rash mainly affects: the buttocks, thighs and genitals. We can simplify by saying that it affects the skin under the diaper.

When to seek medical attention ?
Mild diaper rash does not require medical attention; simple gestures are enough to make it disappear. However, there are cases in which it is important to consult:

• The irritation persists more than 4 days
• The child has fever
• The skin is raw and oozing
• Rashes appear elsewhere on the body.

What causes diaper rash?

This skin inflammation is caused by prolonged contact of the skin with a diaper soiled by feces or urine. Sometimes the simple contact of the diaper (depending on its composition and quality) can generate an irritation.
One might think that cloth diapers are a good alternative to disposable diapers. Although more ecological, they are often less absorbent than their disposable cousins. Baby is therefore in greater exposure to urine and feces. You must also be careful with the detergent and other products used to wash the diapers, as they can be irritating.

Diarrhea can also cause rashes.

How to relieve diaper rash:

Although benign, it is painful, so here are a few things you can do to soothe baby’s skin.

• Clean bottom: Change the diaper as soon as it is soiled (with urine or stool)
• Washing: when changing diapers, be sure to gently clean baby’s bottom. Use a mild hypoallergenic soap such as Le Petit Prince Skin-Protective Wash with lukewarm water. To dry, make sure to use a clean towel and dab rather than rub to remove all moisture.
• Limit: Avoid using disposable wet wipes if they contain alcohol. There are now wipes available that contain no alcohol, perfume or other irritants. 
• Protect and repair: Don’t hesitate to apply a protective diaper cream that will deeply moisturize baby’s skin and relieve irritation. Le Petit Prince nappy change cream is organic and natural, which is great for the fragile skin of your little one.
• Dry buttocks: When your baby’s skin is irritated, it is preferable to use ultra-absorbent disposable diapers to keep his or her buttocks dry.

When possible, don’t hesitate to leave baby’s bottom uncovered.

How to prevent diaper rash?

• Avoid diapers that are too tight.
• If you use cloth diapers, know that bamboo and hemp diapers are more absorbent than cotton ones. Moreover, it is important to sanitize them with an adapted and natural biodegrable sanitizer. 
• For disposable diapers, it is sometimes necessary to look for the perfect diaper and therefore test several brands.
• Wash your hands well before and after each diaper change to minimize the risk of infection.

Did you know?
Contrary to popular belief, teething does not cause diaper rash.
Click here for a solution for teething problems.