When it comes to treating diaper rash, many parents are unsure of how to avoid it or how to manage it once it arises. Worse, you really don’t know what any of those ingredients in all those over the counter treatments actually are, do you really want to add more toxins to be next to your baby’s sensitive skin?
We dive into some age-old natural remedies for baby’s rash that your grannies probably used on you! However, first things first, you need to work out the type of diaper rash you are dealing with before starting any treatment.
How to Naturally Treat Diaper Rash
If you want to raise your baby in a natural way, then check out some of these top 10 home remedies for rashes!
Make your own diaper rash cream
If you want to be completely natural and not use any toxins on your baby, then there is nothing better than making your own diaper rash cream. Making your own natural diaper cream is simple.
Ingredients
You’ll need olive oil, shea butter, coconut oil, and beeswax.
Method
Combine equal parts olive oil, shea butter, and coconut oil in a saucepan or glass jar. Heat the mixture to just below boiling (careful not to burn it!), then remove from heat. Let cool for 15 minutes before adding beeswax pellets; stir until the wax is completely melted into the oils.
This recipe also works well with equal parts cocoa butter instead of shea butter (or you can use both).
While you’re waiting for the mixture to cool, sterilize your baby’s diaper rash cream jar by boiling it in hot water.
Pour the cooled mixture into your dish or jar; if necessary, add more olive oil or other carrier oils (jojoba, grapeseed) to reach desired consistency (thinner mixtures are easier to apply). Add essential oils if desired, and stir again. Label your jar or dish with the date and ingredients used, so you know how long your cream will last.
Place the lid on the jar or cover the dish; store in a cool dry place. Apply diaper rash cream as needed to prevent chapping and irritation, especially after every diaper change.
Use breast milk on the diaper rash
Breast milk contains special nutrients that are good for your baby’s skin, such as immune-boosting factors, antioxidants and anti-microbial properties. We’ve done a full guide on the benefits of breast milk lotion on diaper rash (and for any other skin complaints) and how to make it!
Olive oil
This humble kitchen ingredient can be your new best friend when it comes to dealing with diaper rash. Whether it to include in a lovely soothing bath or to add to a homemade diaper lotion, olive oil is fantastic to soothe the skin. It also provides the baby’s skin with a healthy dose of fatty acids, which are needed for proper growth. Read our complete guide to using olive oil with diaper rash here.
Most doctors recommend using olive oil not only on your baby’s bottom but all over your baby’s body to ease diaper rash symptoms. You can use it straight from the bottle or add five drops of lavender essential
Cornstarch
Just like olive oil, this is another kitchen ingredient that can work miracles with your babies rash. Again you can put it in a cornstarch bath for diaper rash or use it directly on your babies skin at diaper change time.
Instead of using talcum powder, use cornstarch to keep your baby’s bottom dry. Store it in a small container in the diaper changing area. Mix equal parts of cornstarch and baby oil. Dip a cotton ball in the mixture and gently rub it over your baby’s bottom to absorb moisture, prevent chafing and make their skin smooth.
Baking soda
Another one to raid from your kitchen (a bit of a theme here, don’t worry it continues!). When it comes to dealing with diaper rashes, baking soda is one of the most effective ingredients you can use. Poop is acidic and causes your baby’s sensitive skin to become irritated. Baking soda neutralizes acidity and helps soothe your baby’s skin. We’ve done a complete guide to baking soda and diaper rashes.
What is the best home remedy for severe diaper rash?
When you need a home remedy for severe diaper rashes, baking soda is one of the best ones out there. Baking soda reduces acid and bacteria from diaper rashes. It reduces inflammation and helps relieve pain.
Mix 2 tablespoons baking powder with lukewarm water to make a paste and apply to baby bottoms with soft cloths.
Apple cider vinegar
I told you there was a kitchen theme here, perhaps we should change this blog to a recipe blog! A cup of apple cider vinegar to your baby’s bath water to get rid of a diaper rash caused by candida, a group of yeasts that can cause fungal infections.
Apple cider vinegar has been used for millennia to cure anything from diarrhea to ulcers, so it may be an effective diaper rash treatment. Furthermore, because apple cider vinegar contains antifungal characteristics, it can be used to treat yeast infections.
Whether used in a bath or as a vinegar rinse at changing time, it will soothe irritated skin and kill of candida spores.
Does apple cider vinegar help with yeast diaper rash?
Apple cider vinegar can help treat fungal infections. Having this product is useful in removing diaper rash quickly. The fermented liquid destroys bacteria that make it worse and prevents fungi from growing.
Coconut oil
OK I’ve ran out of kitchen/recipe jokes.. but yep another food ingredient. Coconut oil for diaper rash is one of the best natural remedies. Coconut oil is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial. It also provides moisture and energy to skin cells.
Aloe Vera Gel or Aloe Vera Juice
Aloe vera is a natural, herbal remedy for diaper rashes. It is also anti-inflammatory and has anti-bacterial properties, so it can take the pain and burning sensation out of a bad diaper rash. We’ve written a detailed guide on aloe vera to treat diaper rash but you can just pat this on your baby’s bum with a soft cloth to heal any skin.
What is the best thing for diaper rash from diarrhea?
Rashes from diarrhea are is usually irritation caused by the acidic poop causing a diaper rash. You need to create a barrier between the skin and stool. For this we recommend milk of magnesia mixed with aloe vera (yeah honestly!) or with non-nano zinc oxide. Read all about this here.
Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender is one of the gentlest essential oils on skin, and it’s safe for babies in diluted form. Mixing a few drops with coconut oil adds additional hydration and anti-microbial properties.
Lavender oil is very effective for skin regeneration and it also has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. Either use in a baby soak or in a diaper cream. It’s anti inflammatory properties will soothe any the affected area.
Non-nano zinc oxide
Zinc oxide is an essential mineral for the body, but it’s also used in traditional diaper rash creams to protect healing skin against the inside of a diaper.
A safer alternative to diaper rash cream is to make your own zinc oxide diaper rash cream using zinc oxide powder and coconut oil, shea butter, or another base that is safe and healing for your baby’s skin.
Browned flour
Yes back to the kitchen, you just knew we couldn’t stay away for long! Burnt flour is another of granny’s remedies that actually work. You need to burn the flour to kill any microbes, and then it’s just like cornstarch. We dive deep into browned flour for diaper rash here.
Natural Yogurt
You know where this is going.. but plain yoghurt anti fungal properties make it ideal to treat yeat rashes. However, some babies might have an allergic reaction if they have a dairy allergy s always test first.
Epsom Salt
Not quite back to the kitchen but another old favourite which works great in a bath, check our full guide to epsom salt for diaper rash to promote healing. A lot of these natural ingredients can be found in your house.
Shea Butter
Often used as an ingredient in diaper rash cream this is amazing on its own. Read our guide to this shea butter to treat diaper rash here.
Egg Whites
Yep… couldn’t resist one last little trip to the kitchen but read our full guide to egg whites for diaper rash here!
What About Cloth Diapers?
Not all of the above treatments are suitable for use with cloth diapers. Check out each of our guides for these diaper rash products to see which are safe to use with cloth!
Other Things to Prevent Diaper Rash
Always remember to:
- Change diapers frequently, when skin is irritated diaper changes should be done straight away, especially if it is a poopy diaper. Leaving your baby sitting in dirty diapers or even a wet diaper will make your child’s rash worse.
- Give your baby plenty of diaper-free time
- Work out what caused the irritation and avoid it.
- Ensure when you put a new diaper on to make sure you only use natural products or fragrance free, your scented baby wipes could be the issue!
- At diaper change time, use warm water (plain water is best) with a soft washcloth to clean your baby and pat dry or air dry your babies bum until it is completely dry.
- There are natural alternatives to petroleum jelly which can be used as a barrier.
- Bathing helps diaper rash, so give your baby lots of baths in natural ingredients.
When to see a doctor
If your baby’s skin doesn’t improve after a few days of home treatment, talk with your doctor. If the inflamed skin in the diaper area on baby’s bum becomes worse then it could be an indication of a yeast infection rather than just diaper dermatitis which may need a prescription medication or an antifungal cream to treat diaper rash.
For any severe inflammation or bacterial infection, always speak to your medical advisor.
Take Away on Natural Home Remedies for diaper rash
There are many natural home remedies for diaper rash that can be found in your house (yes we mean your kitchen mainly!) These ingredients include yogurt, Epsom salt, shea butter, and browned flour. By using these ingredients, you can help to soothe your child’s skin and promote healing. If the rash does not improve after a few days of treatment, please consult your doctor.
