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Pinstripes and Polkadots
Diapering Basics Registry
DIAPER RASH CREAMS and CLOTH DIAPERS

If you are expecting your first baby, and planning to use cloth diapers, don't rush out and buy 3 tubes of diaper cream.  Chances are, you will need very little if any diaper rash cream while cloth diapering.

Last week, I changed my babies diaper in the morning and she had a red patch and slight bleeding.  I was like oh my. (This is by far the worst we have ever had.)  Diaper rash doesn't develop without cause.  In this case, she had somehow pooped in her diaper probably right before bed and my nose which is super-sensitive and ultra-dependable missed it.  For this diaper rash, I of course washed her very gently with plain water and then kept her in her most breathable cloth diapers for the rest of that day.  By the next morning, it was hardly noticeable and by day two it was completely cleared.  

Determine What is Causing the Rash and Eliminate Problem

Diaper rash always has a reason.  It is not normal.  Before you start applying diaper rash creams, start by evaluating what could be the potential skin irritant.

Conditions That Can Cause Diaper Rash

  1. Teething or illness.

  2. Acidic or allergic food intake by baby or by mother if baby is nursing.

  3. Prolonged exposure to poop.  (Baby should always be changed immediately and thoroughly when poopy.)

  4. Extended exposure to saturated diaper.  (Baby should be changed regularly.)

  5. Non-breathable diapers (like plastic pants or vinyl coated)

  6. Recent exposure to antibiotics can lead to a yeast infection.

  7. Detergent residue  may be left on the diapers due to insufficient rinsing.

  8. Consider whether or not the baby's bum is being dried out and stripped of its natural oils by too much washing.

  9. In rare cases, diaper rash could be a synthetic fabric sensitivity.

Choosing and Using Diaper Rash Creams

When using a diaper rash cream consider protecting your pocket diapers from the diaper cream. Disposable diaper liners can be used to protect the diaper or use a cloth wipe between the baby and the diaper and then wash your wipes separately from your pocket diapers. 

If you would rather not use disposable liners, then choose a non-staining diaper rash cream and plan to strip your diapers after the bout of diaper rash to ensure all residue from the cream is removed.

Standard cloth diapers wouldn't always require protection but it may still be a good idea.  Your washing routine may need to be adjusted to get the diaper cream residues out of your diapers.  Make sure the diapers are washed clean and rinsed thoroughly.

Home Remedies for Diaper Rash

Home remedies for diaper rash include the application of breast milk, olive oil, lanoline (Lansinoh), corn starch, and vegetable oil or shortening.  Be selective about using cornstarch as it is known to make a yeast infection worse.  Also, lanoline is a product that may be an allergen.

A soak in warm baking soda water or salt water is another soothing alternative, this is especially helpful if irritation is caused from baby's stools.

Personally, the olive oil has worked wonderfully for us in the rare instances when our baby had dry skin in the diaper area. We have also recently used lanoline for chapped lips and surrounding mouth area with great results. 

Commercial Diaper Rash Creams

Commercially available diaper creams may be used with cloth diapers.   ALWAYS AVOID DIAPER CREAMS WITH COD LIVER OIL or any other fish oils.  

Diaper Cream Brand Acceptable Choice with Cloth Diapers? Problems Notes
A&D NO Smelly from cod liver oil. Do not use with cloth diapers unless you want your baby to smell like a fish market.
Aquaphor* OK May cause build up on diapers (all types).  Use with a disposable liner. Used often with dry skin. Used also as a 50/50 mixture with Maalox.  Aquaphor may make a yeast rash worse.
Aveeno* YES   Combination of Zinc oxide to keep diaper area dry and colloidal oatmeal to relieve the dry skin.
Balmex YES Zinc oxide is a drying agent so this would not be the choice for dealing with dry skin. Seems to work best from diaper rash caused by babies sitting in stools. Challenging to clean off between each diaper change.
Baby Bees OK Has strong smell. May Stain, stains tend to come out with time.   Used successfully with rashes caused from acidic foods. Can cause build-up on pocket diapers.
Boudreaux's Butt Paste* OK Staining. Strong smell. Use only with a disposable liner. Can cause really bad staining.
Claymazing Powder YES   Good to use with a rash caused by wetness.
Desitin* NO Smelly from cod liver oil. Do not use with cloth diapers unless you want your baby to smell like a fish market.
Lansinoh OK May cause build up on diapers (all types).  Use with a disposable liner. Great to use for dry skin and as a barrier from moisture.
Northern Essence Diaper Salve GREAT   Great to use with diapers.  No diaper liner needed. Not recommended for use with yeast infections.

Northern Essence

Better Butter Cream

 GREAT   This diaper cream was developed for use with  a yeast infection.
Penaten* OK May cause build up on diapers (all types).  Use with a disposable liner. Has added fragrance.  
Sudocrem OK Zinc oxide is a drying agent so this would not be the choice for dealing with dry skin. May not be available in the US.
Weleda YES Zinc oxide is a drying agent so this would not be the choice for dealing with dry skin. This product does not seem to stain fleece.

Zinc oxide based diaper creams seem to work well with cloth diapers.  Consider Balmex or Penaten these do not tend to stain or cause strong odor problems and they also are noted for washing easily out of cloth diapers.

*Please consider all the ingredients present in the diaper cream you are evaluating and make sure that you are comfortable with the product being in direct contact with your baby's skin. Ingredients that would personally concern me would be petrolatum, petroleum based products, and fragrances.

Also, consider avoiding diaper rash creams whose containers are made with aluminum.

OTHER LINKS:

Diaper creams in relation to diaper rash severity by Dr. Sears...

 

Learn more about the chemicals in diaper creams and what to avoid...

 
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