This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Balmex. All opinions are 100% mine.
There is nothing worse than knowing your little one is hurting and sometimes it seems that nothing will make the diaper rash you have been battling better. Know you aren’t alone though! We have compiled more than 20 of the best tips from hundreds of Moms on how to fight diaper rash to make your little one feel better. Plus make sure to grab the special coupon from Balmex.
“You did what to help heal our son’s diaper rash?” My husband’s words after I told him what I did that FINALLY made our baby’s diaper rash start to go away.
It was summertime in South Carolina and to escape the thick summer heat my 16 month old son and I spent a lot of time at the pool that summer. We had dealt with diaper rash before a few times, especially when he had been on antibiotics, but this time he wasn’t on any medication but started getting a rash that we just couldn’t kick. It started out and each day seemed to multiply instead of showing any signs of improvement. It got to the point where his skin was raw and starting to crack and it seemed like each and every moment of each and every day was miserable for my poor baby.
As a mother there is nothing worse. Seeing your baby hurt is like a dagger to the heart. I started researching and more importantly asking every mom I knew if they had ever dealt with extreme diaper rash and what to do to get rid of it as quickly as possible! Reaching out to other moms is like putting out a smoke signal to your tribe. They come out in the masses to help, support, and offer words of wisdom to get you through those tough moments of motherhood.
One of the many great tips I got was to give baby a bath cleanse the area with a gentle baby soap, pat dry with a clean cloth, then use a blow dryer on cool setting to dry the area for 3-5 minutes. Then apply a high quality diaper cream like Balmex with ActivGuard, and a clean fresh diaper. It sounds crazy! I know! If I would have told pre-kid self that I would be blow drying my baby’s butt I wouldn’t have believed it. But somehow the combo of completely drying the area (via the cool setting on the blow dryer) plus a great diaper cream (Balmex), really worked for us and my little guy’s rash was dramatically better the next day and continued to improve each day after.
He went from a red faced, uncomfortable, constantly miserable, understandably grumpy boy back to my sweet, smiling baby boy. I was so thankful for my friends and those nuggets of wisdom.
If your baby has diaper rash the BEST and FIRST thing you should do is consult with your doctor. I am not a medical professional and am sharing this list as a fellow mom who gathered tips on treating diaper rash from moms. Only your doctor can offer advice on your baby and their specific needs so please do not use this list as a treatment plan, but rather a reference to discuss with your pediatrician.
20+ Ways to Fight Diaper Rash from Moms
- Use a medicated diaper rash cream like Balmex. It is proven to reduce redness in ONE diaper change, making it easy to help treat and prevent diaper rash irritation. Formulated with doctor-recommended zinc oxide plus three soothing botanicals and skin nourishing vitamins B5 and E to help soothe and treat diaper rash, while moisturizing and nourishing baby’s irritated skin. Goes on smooth, wipes off easily. You can even get this Balmex Diaper Rash Cream Special Offer to try it out and see if you like it as much as we do! Balmex is available at retailers such as: Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Toys-R-Us/Babies-R-Us, CVS, Kmart. Fight irritation. End the red. Use Balmex instead.
- Blow Dry. Use a the cool setting on a blow dryer for 3-5 minutes to fully dry the area fully after a bath. Then apply Balmex and a fresh diaper.
- Baths. Bathe baby frequently to make sure you are keeping the area clean and washing away the bacteria that causes the diaper rash.
- Don’t use wipes. In some cases the ingredients in baby wipes could cause further irritation. Use a cloth or paper towel dampened with water instead.
- Petroleum Jelly Barrier. After applying your diaper rash cream, apply a layer of petroleum jelly on top of the cream to create an additional barrier between the diaper, wetness, and your baby’s skin.
- Go naked. Many times the rash is a result of the moisture trapped near the skin causing irritation. Let your child go naked to keep the area aired out and dry as much as your sanity allows.
- One size bigger diapers. Move up a size in diapers to help give more room as less friction between the irritated area and the diaper.
- Change diaper often. Try to keep an eye on your baby and change the diaper as soon as it becomes soiled.
- Baking soda bath. Adding a small amount of baking soda to bath water is said to neutralize acids.
- Cloth Diapers. If you have access to cloth diapers try them to see if it will help.
- Avoid acidic food. If your child has been eating strawberries, citrus, tomatoes or other acidic foods, it could be causing additional irritation.
- Avoid swimming. Young children have a tendency to swallow more pool water than older kids or adults. This can affect their systems and cause diaper rash.
- Rinse bottom after every change. If you can’t bathe baby after every diaper change try to at least rinse the area in the sink or use a sitz bottle to rinse the area after every change. You can place the soiled diaper under the baby to catch the dirty water.
- Yogurt with Probiotics. If diarrhea is causing the diaper rash and your baby is old enough for foods, try feeding your child yogurt with probiotics to help regulate their system and get rid of the diarrhea.
- Breast Milk. After cleaning the area put some of your breast milk on it and allow to dry before adding diaper cream.
- Oatmeal bath. Add a small amount of oatmeal to baby’s bath to soothe area.
- Cornstarch. After cleaning the area apply a paste of cornstarch and water, which will draw out the moisture as it dries. Rinse, pat dry with clean cloth and apply Balmex.
- Egg whites. Keep egg whites in the fridge and apply to the affected area after washing and drying. The coolness will soothe and as the egg white dries it draws out moisture.
- No harsh soaps. Make sure that the soap you are using is very gentle and not further irritating the area. Also, eliminate the possibility your baby could be allergic to it.
- Change diaper brands. Try a new brand of diaper to make sure your baby is not reacting to the diaper. Even if the baby has never reacted before it is possible to develop a new allergy.
- Change wipe brands. Try a new brand of diaper to make sure your baby is not reacting to the diaper. Even if the baby has never reacted before it is possible to develop a new allergy.
There is nothing worse than knowing your bay is hurting. Discuss options with your doctor and create a treatment plan and hopefully your little one will be feeling better in no time!
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