4 Secrets on How to Prevent Diaper Rash Naturally
Top tips for naturally preventing diaper rashes that I wish I knew earlier
Diaper rashes are those dreaded but all too familiar occurrences in our baby’s first year of life.
Who wouldn’t want to know the best ways to prevent diaper rash naturally, without all those unnecessary ingredients?
I remember the first time Haylee got a diaper rash when she was a couple of months old.
Since then, I became almost paranoid that she still had a diaper rash and I was constantly bugging my pediatrician about it.
Every time I went for checkups, I would ask “does she have a diaper rash?” And the answer was always no, luckily.
Eventually, I realized that I had found a method of diaper changing that yielded excellent results and didn’t bring back that dreadful diaper rash.
You ask what my secret is?
Hang tight while I share it with you right away!
Diaper rash causes
There are multiple aspects involved when trying to prevent a diaper rash.
First, let’s understand what causes diaper rashes. Then we can discuss ways of preventing it, and of course, I mean naturally.
According to WebMD, diaper rashes are generally caused by the skin being irritated from poop, pee, or ingredients in the diaper.
It can also be caused by an allergic reaction to the brand of diapers, wipes, or laundry detergent.
Another cause is when the baby’s sensitive skin is rubbed by wet diapers.
These causes make it obvious why almost every baby will get at least one diaper rash in the first couple of years of his life!
How can I prevent diaper rash naturally if it’s so common?
Read on to find out!
Use natural diapers
I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, I may earn a commission. Thanks.
Ditch the wipes
Yup, you read that correctly! Ditch those baby wipes!
Well, not completely, but you don’t need them if your little one just pees. I know people think that you must use baby wipes at every diaper change but this isn’t true.
When Haylee got a diaper rash, my pediatrician recommended we stop using baby wipes and only use damp washcloths with a drop of soap.
So, since then, I’ve adapted this to my everyday diaper changing routine.
My method is as follows:
- No baby wipes if it’s only a pee diaper change
- Use a couple of baby wipes for poop diaper changes
In both scenarios, I use washcloths to pat her dry. If she pees, the area will be a bit moist. And if she poops, after cleaning with baby wipes the area is also damp.
So, to prevent a diaper rash by putting on a diaper with a damp bottom, I pat her dry first.
One washcloth for the front and a different washcloth for the back.
This pack of cute washcloths includes 20 so you’ll have enough for a while.
I usually use new washcloths every couple of days. However, my baby is 16 months old so I’m not changing diapers 10 times a day like I was when she was 3 months old.
Feel free to change the washcloths daily if you’re changing diapers more often.
The important thing is that you’re not using baby wipes at every diaper change.
Even if you use the most natural baby wipe brand out there, your baby’s bottom is so sensitive that it’s best to not irritate it with any unnecessary ingredients.
Obviously, for poop diapers, you can’t just pat it dry. So in those cases, try to find natural baby wipes.
My top recommendations of the most natural and eco friendly baby wipes are:
Change those diapers often
Another key step in trying to prevent diaper rash naturally is by changing your little one’s diaper often.
How often is often?
Well, the first thing to consider is what’s in the diaper. If it’s poop, it should be changed immediately or as soon as you notice it.
For newborns, you may hear that explosion of them pooping.
I remember Haylee was once in her bassinet in the living room and the cats were around. Suddenly, she made an explosion poop and the sound literally scared my cats away!
So ya, you may notice there’s poop just from the sound.
Once your baby gets older, she may be able to signal to you that she pooped. Now that Haylee is 16 months old, she communicates with me so well.
Whenever she poops, she comes to me and pats her bottom. That’s how I know she pooped.
For pee diapers, it’s best to change every 2 hours. If your little one is drinking well, his diapers will be quite full after 2 hours.
Changing diapers often prevents your baby from sitting in a wet diaper for too long. This is a perfect way to prevent diaper rash naturally and efficiently!
Regularly apply diaper ointment
No matter how careful you are to change your baby’s diaper often, it’s bound to happen that it will go 4 hours before you can do so.
Maybe you’re out on a long drive, your little one is napping for a while, or you simply happen to forget, we all do since we’re human!
A great way to ensure a diaper rash doesn’t flare up because of that is by applying diaper rash cream.
There are many types of diaper creams and ointments out there, all with one goal – act as a barrier so the moisture of the diaper doesn’t irritate your little one’s delicate skin.
The more natural the diaper ointment, the better, since it’s in contact with your baby’s skin all the time.
My favorite is Earth Mama diaper balm. It’s natural, free of harmful ingredients, and they don’t test on animals.
It’s not completely vegan since it contains beeswax. However, according to the company, it’s ethically sourced.
I love using my silicone brush when applying the diaper ointment. This way, my hands don’t need to get all gooey and I don’t have to make sure my hands are super clean.
To wrap up
With these 4 helpful tips, hopefully you can prevent diaper rashes naturally for your little one. Or at least keep them to a minimum.
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Let me know in the comments how you plan to prevent diaper rashes from hurting your little one!
Great ideas! It is definitely better to prevent the rashes than what the baby endures during the treatments. We have come a long way from grabbing the talcum powder.
Lottie, yes it’s so much better to prevent our little ones from suffering unnecessarily.