Baby rashes are common but many parents don’t know what causes them or how to fix them. If your baby is continually getting rashes, you need to work out why and prevent diaper rash. Remember, prevention is always better than cure!
Let’s dive into the common causes and look at some more rare reasons!
Diaper rash can be a real pain for babies and parents. You’ll find out what type of diaper rash it is, what causes it, how to prevent and how to treat diaper rash with home remedies.
Baby’s Diet
When babies first start to eat solid foods, some will have diaper rash. This can be a normal part of the development of their digestive system, so don’t worry.
If however, you notice certain foods are triggering a rash, this could be a symptom of an allergy or food sensitivity that causes diaper rash. It might be worth keeping a food diary and noticing if the diaper rash is particularly worse after certain foods. A diary is the best way to keep track of this.
Baby’s poop will react to the type of food your baby is eating, and if the baby has a bowel movement that contains acidic poop, then it can instantly cause tender looking skin. The sooner you change this poopy diaper the better! The rash appears quite quickly with acidic poop diaper rashes so ensure you have a barrier ointment on and a clean diaper put on quickly.
Also, if the solid foods you are feeding your baby causes constipation, this can cause diaper rash.
We’ve also noted the common foods which may cause a baby’s diaper rash and list these below:
| Gripe Water Can Cause Diaper Rash Breastmilk |
| Gatorade |
| Known potential allergy foods: Gluten Eggs Yogurt Milk |
| SPICES which may cause diaper rash: Ginger Garlic Cinnamon |
| Fruit & Veg: Apples Fruit juice carrots Grapes Bananas Blueberries |
Allergies
Aside from food allergies, your baby can also get irritated skin from anything which comes into contact with it, from toiletries to diapers! This is especially true if you’ve recently switched brands or tried a new product and noticed your baby’s skin is irritated. This is because your baby’s skin may be experiencing an allergic reaction.
Common causes include bubble baths and baby lotions. Most babies have sensitive skin so really you just need a mild soap to clean them. But also things like chlorine can cause diaper rash, have you been taking your baby swimming recently?
The first stage of treating diaper rash is just working out what is causing the skin irritation then you can remove it from the baby and therefore will be preventing diaper rash from reoccurring. Allergies to toiletries usually present as bright red skin initially and they will get even into the skin folds as they irritate skin all over rather than those just in direct contact with the diaper.
Diapers & Baby Wipes
It’s very rare for babies to have a diaper rash that requires a change in disposable diaper brand, however, allergy to disposable diapers is becoming more common switching diaper brands is worth trying. If your baby’s skin is red and irritated, try changing the brand of diaper and see if this helps.
Also, diaper wipes are one of the main culprits of irritating baby’s skin. At diaper change time, if you use scented wipes or wipes full of alcohol these can be very harsh on sensitive skin. Switch brands to a more natural formula or better still just use a soft cloth or cotton balls with warm water.
When changing diapers it’s vital to ensure the diaper region is thoroughly clean and dry with excess moisture patted dry. Inflamed skin will be made much worse if moisture is trapped when you change diapers.
Also never leave a soiled diaper on a baby at night time, read our guide to how long can a baby wear a diaper at night.
Cloth or disposable diapers?
It doesn’t matter whether you use cloth diapers or disposable diapers. Use whatever works for you and your baby.
What matters more than the type of diaper is ensuring that you change the baby’s diaper as soon as it is soiled. A wet or dirty diaper will always make a diaper rash worse, so one of the first and easiest diaper rash treatment tips is to change the diapers frequently, even at night!
Whilst you can use zinc oxide, baby powder or petroleum jelly to form a protective barrier, it’s much better to ensure dirty diapers are changed quickly and replaced with a fresh diaper.
Go up a diaper size.
Diaper rash often occurs in babies who wear diapers that are too tight. To avoid irritation and moisture trapping, try going up one size in diapers for a few weeks until the rash has cleared up. This allows more air to get to the baby’s bum.
Whilst changing a baby not quickly enough causes rash, so does changing a baby too often cause diaper rash. If the wipes or any other part of the diaper change routine are the issue, this can trigger rashes.
Washing cloth diapers
If you use cloth diapers, then how you wash diapers is key. Get your diaper washing routine nailed so that your diapers are thoroughly clean, disinfected and don’t have any soap residue.
Diapers should be washed in hot water with a mild detergent and bleach. You can also add vinegar to the wash cycle to eliminate odors and rinse out detergent residue. If you think you have detergent build-up which is causing your baby to develop diaper rash then you need to do a strip wash.
Also, it’s important you ensure your diaper cream is cloth diaper friendly. If you use a barrier cream, fabric softener or dryer sheets in your diaper changes routine then your cloth diapers can start repelling the urine rather than absorb it.
Some babies may get a diaper rash from fleece or other fabrics (more likely to be a heat rash, but worth investigating.)
Antibiotics
If your baby was prescribed antibiotics, this might be the cause of a yeast infection. When baby takes antibiotics, it may kill “good” bacteria in the gut, which can lead to diarrhea. Diarrhea from antibiotics often contains high levels of digestive enzymes which causes skin irritation.
Antibiotics destroy bacteria, upsetting the delicate balance of yeast and bacteria in. This permits the Candida fungus to grow, resulting in itching, burning, or diaper rash. Yeast infections are relatively simple to cure with over-the-counter antifungal drugs.
If you are taking antibiotics and breastfeeding your child, this can also cause issues. Here is out guide to Amoxicillin and diaper rash.
When Should I Call the Doctor?
If your baby’s rash doesn’t go away, gets worse, or if sores appear on his / her skin, talk to your baby’s doctor. Get medical care if your baby has a fever, pus is draining from the rash, or if your baby is fussier than usual.
If your child’s diaper rash is a bacterial infection or a fungal infection you will need to ask your Doctor for diaper rash treatments that are specific for them like an antifungal cream or antibiotics. If the rash spreads and appears on other parts of the body plus is accompanied by any other symptoms then seek medical advice from your child’s doctor.
Bottom line
To prevent diaper rash from getting worse and developing into a yeast infection, always keep your baby’s diaper area clean and dry. Dry skin and thoroughly cleaning is essential and one of the most effective diaper rash treatment tips we can give you.
Your baby’s skin is sensitive, avoid irritants in the diaper area and do a diaper change as soon as your baby has done a bowel movement. If you feel your baby has a bacterial infection in the diaper area then speak to your baby’s doctor for advice.
If your baby is continually getting a diaper rash, then it’s vital that you work out why so you can both give the best diaper rash treatments and prevent the diaper rash from reoccurring.
