Diaper Rash?!?! *sigh*

[ImmortalOne]

Well Lilith has the start of a small diaper rash, and I'm really frustrated with that fact.  I've gone through about 120 diapers in the last week that she's been home so I know I'm changing her often but I can't help but feel horrible about it at the same time.  I mean what kind of mom am I if my baby who isn't even 2 weeks old yet has a diaper rash...   What should I be doing differently?

She's breastfed soley, is it something I'm eating?  Is there a good cream to use on her tender behind (I've been using A&D with zinc oxide)?

[pertykitty]

maybe its due to something you are eating?  there are different creams and everyone has their own choice. im sure it should ease up poor baby!  

[Mikeal'smom]

when my ds had a terrible diaper rash (to the point of bleeding, no matter how often I changed him) he told me to use a combo of 3 things, Lotrimin AF (athletes foot cream), hydrocortisone cream, and any diaper rash ointment with zinc oxide.  He also told me to use cotton balls with baby oil when I changed him (no diaper wipes- they can be very irritating to sensitive skin) it can make a huge mess but it worked.  I don't know if this will help, but good luck with your little one.

[SeeingSpots]

[1880]

Try DESITIN, it worked wonders for me

[SeeingSpots]

Opps!  My last message didn't show up for some reason???

Anyway, what I previously tried to say was that my pediatrician also said it might be from the wipes-- that, or when baby's stool changes consistency it sometimes gives them a rash.  That, or I was purposely trying to always coat him with diaper rash cream to prevent diaper rash, and I actually caused it by not allowing his skin to breathe.  It started out small, and I just kept applying more and more cream, but it got worse and worse.  I tried EVERY cream I could find-- did the Lotrimin, left him go diaper-less, etc.  Nothing worked.  Then a friend of mine suggested plain, 100% natural Emu Oil!  I had to get it at a health food/holistic place, and I was a TOTAL skeptic, as I'd never been in to the whole natural stuff (stupid, I know, but wasn't raised that way).  Anyway, my ds's rash was all bubbled up and bleeding, and really bad.  I put the emu oil on before bed, and by the morning there was no more redness and it was all scabbed up!! After only 3 days it was completely gone!!!  Now we just use it daily to prevent any reoccurances, and he's doing great.  If you look it up online, they say that emu oil is one of the best things for the skin, as it's not made of petrolium byproducts, like a lot of the traditional diaper rash creams.   It's worth a shot if nothing else works with Lilith!

[wannabenana]

Both of my kids were allergic to the baby wipes, so I resorted to the old fashion way and used a warm wet washcloth, and neither of them was bothered by a diaper rash again.

[grammy64]

I agree with wanna....I also always let mine roll around w/o a diaper on a waterproof pad or a layer of diapers for as long as they and i could stand it.  The air was a nice break for them and they seemed happiest this way.  Also, air drying for a while after a change or after a bath to make sure skin is dry helps.  Good luck.  

L

[hu73]

When my first was about one she developed a horrible rash.  She was red and swollen and would cry if a diaper even touched her rear.  Turns out, the White Cloud diapers that I was using were causing it.  Something about the particular fiber in which they are made from.  Anyway, I switched to Huggies or Pampers and the rash went away within the next few diaper changes.  You just never know!

[tomel]

I like the Burt Bees diaper ointment, it's more natural.

[SeeingSpots]

oooh... yeah!  I like the Burts Bees bug repellent.  Have you ever tried that?  My dh used the traditional Deet stuff at our 4th of July picnic, and because I was breastfeeding I stuck with the Burts Bees.  He ended up having LOTS of mosquito and chigger bites, and I didn't have a thing!! (only downside is that it leaves a greasy feel... but, hey, better than scratching a bunch of bites!)

[AnnieBrooke]

Someone on this site recommended Vagisil.  It does work like a charm -- ds has only had two or three small (one-day) rashes and that's what I put on them.  Nothing at all if his little bottom doesn't have a rash.  We do use "sensitive skin" wipes.

[ImmortalOne]

I am thinking it might be the equate wipes we have been using the last few days but I can't be certain.  Can we have been changing her too much and rubbing her but raw with the wipes?  I mean... 120+ diapers over 7.5 days... means we are using on average 15-17 diapers a day.

I let her sit on a piddle pad for a little while without a diaper and she screamed her head off the entire time (she HATES diaper changes, always has, even without a rash she screams her head off and gets extremely p/o'd about it).  I wiped her with a warm paper towel and changed her diaper with one as well, then used a clean one to dry it before putting the A&D and diaper back on...

I want to cry so much about this, it really bothers me and makes me feel really horrible to know my baby is in so much pain and there is only so much I can do to fix it.

[SeeingSpots]

Sounds like you are definitely changing her frequently enough! LOL!  (And she's definitely keeping hydrated!)
Are the wipes scented? Do they have aloe in them?  I'd probably use a soft baby washcloth instead of a paper towel (a little more gentle on the skin).

My son still to this day hates changes.  He's a little worm on the go now, so it's difficult to keep him down and still long enough to swap out a diaper.

I felt like it was my fault with my son's diaper rash too... I was even embarassed to ask my pediatrician about it, because I was afraid she'd say I wasn't changing him enough or it was something I was doing wrong.  Truth is, she said that 99.9% of babies get a diaper rash at some point.  They don't have all the answers.... it could be from something you'd eaten, the warm weather, an imbalance of pH, an allergic reaction, etc.  It's often hard to pin-point the reason.  One thing she did say was to NOT use any kind of baby soap/lotion on the area until the rash has gone away. You don't want to further irritate the area.

Keep your chin up, Lilith will get through this (as will her momma!).

[ImmortalOne]

LOL one would think that after raising 2 other children I wouldn't be like this!  But after 10 years (that is how old my youngest is - not counting Lilith of course) this is like doing it all over for the first time again in many ways.  Thank you for understanding and sharing how you felt SeeingSpots, that definately made me feel better.  I think I will keep using water and maybe a wash cloth or something on her bottom instead of the wipes, I think they do have aloe in them...

[Mozartcowgirl]

I am having that same problem.. zane has a really bad rash on his lil tender booty.. i am now putting on clotrimazole.... and petroleum AFTER i put on the clotrimazole...

but before that.. i wash his butt in the sink.... (he thinks thats funny) then he airs it out on the bed.. ( towel under his pirate booty of course)  when his butt is nice and dry... i put on the clotrimazole.. then.. i put on the petroleum jelly.. then he looks at me as if to say.. sheesh mom.. you could have done this sooner.. lol..
so far.. so good..!! hes getting better...  the clotrimazole is only twice a day.. keep that in mind.. and you spread a THIN layer of it on the babies buttinski.. its an antifungal.. and CAN be used for butt rash.  seven kids.. all are well..lol...

hope this helps..

[Trudy80]

You have some really good advice above especially zinc based products being used to treat it but find the cause....My little girl had similar problem and it ended up being that if I had any citris foods...oranges or orange juice, any juices at all really and most fruits she would get a rash the next change or two....I now watch those intakes and dont have them and she hasn't (touch wood) had a rash in ages...now 3months old.

[ImmortalOne]

LOL where do I get that stuff?  I forgot you had 7 of these little buggers!  Its good to see you poking around on the boards, never got a response to my response on myspace lol.  

With Lilith its like a fountain of pee, or a bullet squirt of poo and probably could reach across the room with the later if she was allowed to try.

[tiredbuthappy]

i was going to ask the same thing the other day because dd had a sore on her bottom that wasn't healing after 1 1/2 weeks. we tried a&d, desitin, butt paste, and so on. we finally tried triple paste and after using that for 2 days it's finally almost healed. nothing else was working. i would hold off on the lotrimin that people suggested, because that would work if it's a yeast (fungal) rash, and you don't know if that's what it is. my dd is also on breast milk, so we change just as many diapers. i had my lactation consultant look at her butt the last time she was here (she is also a nurse). she said it was simply from having so many bm's in a day.
we use the pampers sensitive wipes. i'm afraid to try anything else for now.  

[fungirl1011]

When my son was a baby, he had diaper rash so bad from his antibotic (antibiotic) that his bottom was bleeding.  The doctor gave a ointment called BUTT PASTE.  It is wonderful stuff.  Now they sell it at Wal-Mart.  It does wonders.  Good luck

[Weaversgirl]

It could be the brand of diaper or the wipes. Same thing happened to both of my daughters. Both times it ended up being the brand of diapers.

Mozart- You have 7 kids? wowie. Do you get alot of rude questions/remarks as to the size of your family? If so what do you say to them. DH and I are TTC #4, and will eventually try for #5. Ive gotten alot of rude remarks about the size of the family we want. I could understand if we were finacially unstable, or incompetent, but we just want more kids than the norm. So could use a little advice from someone whose been there done that. Thanks :)

[TonyaB]

I would agree that it could be the brand of wipes or diapers.  My DS doesn't do very well with the inexpensive store brand diapers, I believe it's probably because they don't seem as breathable as Huggies or Pampers and we only use the unscented soft cloth wipes.  We have used this diaper cream call Beaudrex's Butt Paste, funny name but it works well for us.  It may be something she is sensitive too coming through the breast milk too.  I wish you and her a speedy recovery for that sore bottom though.  I know how sad the whole thing can be!

[RockRose]

I agree with everyone who has used antifungal treatments.    All three of my boys had yeast diaper rashes,  which are TERRIBLY painful,  and red and pimply,  and are caused by yeast outgrowths in the baby's bowels.

I used antifungals - usually vagisil - and it would clear up in one day.  I don't know why antifungals aren't sold in the diaper rash department of grocery stores, and why pediatricians don't say use yeast cream on that butt,  it will clear it up in the blink of an eye.  Otherwise, you're days and days into trying to cure it.  It's just yeast.

And use paper towels and warm water - toss out the diaperwipes - your baby will heal before you know it.  

[Renogirl]

I know that several of the mom's at our preschool have mentioned using warm washclothes instead of wipes - certain wipes just disagree with sensitive skin - the other thing that we use a LOT at the school is Bag Balm.  Not sure if you are familiar with that or not - I know this sounds weird - bear with me - you can but it either in the first aid section at Walmart or in their pet section.  It was originally designed for cow's udders to keep them from getting cracked and to help them heal.  It comes in a little square green tin with strawberries on it.  It's relatively inexpensive - a little goes a long way - and don't feel bad, you are trying everything you can for Lilith - lordy knows you are changing her enough Mom - lol - good luck

[AnnieBrooke]

I'm sure it was your earlier recommendation of Vagisil that set me that way.  My little boy's butt is beautiful almost all the time, and the two or three times it looked like it might be leaning towards a rash, I used it, and did it ever clear up in a blink of an eye, just like you mentioned.  Thanks for the great tip.   Annie

[Weaversgirl]

Have you ever tried "Udderly Smooth" for your skin? It was originally made for cow's teats to keep them from getting dry and all that that goes with it. Works great on kids too because it has no perfumes and no dyes either.

[daprincess21]

i only readt the first post, b/c i am late for work. i wanted to tell you tho after reading, that it is common for real little ones to have diaper rash more than older babies d/t their skin being so sensitive. as far as the ointment? i always used butt paste. no kidding thats what its called. good luck!

[tomel]

I use chlorine free wipes. They are a little more expensive but seem to be a little more gentle on the skin. They really reccomend using something like that on newborns, in fact the hospital sent me home with a sample of chlorine free wipes.
I really think its the diapers and wipes that cause rashes... I invest in Chlorine free diapers as well...no rashes yet...knock on wood

Seeingspots-I love Burts Bees. I have tried the bug spray....good stuff.

[have 2 kids]

Perhaps she is allergic to the brand of diapers you are using.  We had that with our daughter.  She would get a rash and within hours it would be bleeding.

[AndiJ78]

I noticed with all my boys that they would start to react to ciapers and wipe with perfumes in them. Pampers diapers caused some serious bleeding rashes with my oldest two. Surprisingly enough, my youngest hasn't had an issue and the only brief rash was due to my anti-biotics for mastitis. One dab of nystatin and it was gone.

If you go with the paper towel/water route here is my suggestion: Get Viva paper towels, they are super soft and make a soution of baking soda and water and put it in your peri bottle from the hospital (sterilie first if needed) and place a towel under baby's bottom, squirt the lukewarm baking soda water on it, sponge lightly with the paper towel, allow to air dry and then apply zinc oxide based cream. Try the yeast treatment. If it is yeast, one or two doses should show signs of improvement. If it isn't yeast, it will not show any signs of getting better and you can move on to something else. I swear by the old school desitin type creams, nice and thick. Kroger and Safeway have generic brands that equal original desitin for half the price.

If it is the diapers, Huggies Supreme used to be okay and we also like the Kroger brand diapers. Target also makes one that is unscented and gentle. If you can smell the diaper, avoid it ; )

[anxiousmomtobe?]

I use cloth diapers as much as possible and use a wet facecloth to wipe.  I dry the area before I re-diaper.  

I found olive oil excellent for your garden variety chafing in the diaper area.  Messy, but all natural.

Try and find wipes and diapers that are scent free.

Hope her little bum clears up/.

[ImmortalOne]

We only have Pampers and Huggies Supreme diapers for her right now (I stocked up on sale packs when I was pregnant.  I've been giving her tummy time (nakie) and that makes her really angry (angry enough she turned herself over from front to back).  We've also been using corn starch on her bottom and desitin.  Also started trying to use washcloths, papertowels, and went back to the old wipes we were using.  Hoping this helps soon.  Thank you everyone for helping out!  I appreciate it so much I can't express it.

[SeeingSpots]

Just saw your last comment and remembered this--- when my ds had his diaper rash and I called his pediatrician, I was told to absolutely AVOID using corn starch.  (I know, it's an old time remedy my mom recommended too.)  Anyway, the reason being that IF Lilith's rash is due to a yeast infection (like AndiJ78 mentioned), yeast love to feed off of the corn starch and will multiply.  Obviously if it isn't a yeast infection it shouldn't hurt too much, although there is always yeast present in baby's neather regions, so you may not want to be feeding it!

Hope her bottom is feeling better soon!

[daprincess21]

podwer cause yeast infections as well...if it is just a normal diaper rash, my mom and babysitter both have used corn startch on dd, and it works! thats just my opinon!

[SeeingSpots]

Yeah, my sister used it on her daughters too that's why I was using it at first-- but it only worked if it wasn't a yeast based diaper rash.

[daprincess21]

you can ususally tell if its yeast...it will be more "spoty" and i was agreeing with you and adding that baby podwer can spread yeast as well.

[mum2beagain]

Poor Sam's bottom is red raw today, he has had 4 or 5 runny BM's every day for the last few days, he has been teething really badly, cries if anything touches his gums and so has eaten very little solids and has been nursing/having more bottles than usual instead (I am still persevering with nursing 4 times a day despite the biting it is the only thing comforting him when he is upset). His bottom is clearly painful, he screams every time I change him, I have been using cotton wool balls an baby lotion to clean him up followed with warm water on cotton wool balls. I have been using the destin cream too but it isn't making a great deal of difference. Poor kid, what with his sore gums and sore bottom he isn't happy at all right now.

[SeeingSpots]

Have you tried the Hyland's Teething Tablets (they sell them at Wal-Mart).  They are homeopathic, no side effects and 100% natural.  They dissolve instantly, and really seem to help.  My son now recognizes the bottle and opens his mouth before I even get to it.  For us they really are a life savor!

[mum2beagain]

I've seen the hylands colic remedies but never the teething tablets, I will have to keep a look out for them.

[ImmortalOne]

... powder is bad... corn starch is bad?  I'm confused!  I am sending the DH to get Vagisil I guess, maybe that will help because she isn't screaming (I changed the wipes we were using and she stopped freaking out) when being changed now.

[Mozartcowgirl]

OMG i am so sorry.. i never saw a post form you there.. i will definately check my mail there.. im so glad that everything is going well for you!! except for the who booty rash.. i got the yeast cream at any drugstore.. in the athletes foot fungi section..lol... its owrking great..

weavers.. yes.. we get that alot... omg! you guys have been busy!! blah blah blah.. sometimes.. i say.. oh yeah..  hes THAT good.. i even got dh a shirt that has an arrow pointing to his face.. and says.. THE MAN. and an arrow pointing down thats says THE LEGEND.. when he wears that shirt.. we get lots of looks.. and being htat he us 6'7 and i am 5'2. well. you can imagine..LMAO>. i wanted to have more children.. lol.. but am VERY satisfied with 7... i LOVE large families.. and would be lost without my kids.. most of the time.. we get complimented.. on how well behaved our children are.. then we get asked if we are mormans.. or catholics.. then.. we get the onslaught of.. how do you do it!!
ok .. well.. here goes..
I feel like a lunch lady sometimes.
its a miracle in of itself that we actually had sex. im surprised he didnt just donate on the way out the door..lol..
in mad rushes.. I HAVE tried to put on my daughter underwear because i was in such a hurry.. plus i like cinderella undies...lmao
its ok to let a 5 year old do her own hair sometimes..lol
sandwiches for dinner! sure
oh look.. the house is messy.. lets have a pillow fight.. and sleep in the living room!!! and eat panda express!!
its ALOT of fun.. as the guy from 300 would scream.. MADNES!! LOL
I wouldnt change it for anything. just last night.. in the wee hours of 2 am.. dhand i were cuddling with zane.... he would look at me.. then he would look at dad.. look at me.. then look at dad... then dh and i look at each other.. and without saying a word.. we just smile... scooch in closer.. beathing in the wonderful baby smell.. and listen to the gentle cooing.. and realize we wouldnt want it any other way.

[Mozartcowgirl]

ps. i meant to add this in there.. so you can see all the kids.. there is a slide show of them all.. would be nice to see all your little ones as well!! I wish you the BEST for continuing your large family.. and to everyone else waiting for their special arrival.. TTC.. or who are pregnant.. you guys are awesome >>NEVER GIVE UP.. and always cherish your loved ones.. and YOURSELF
www.myspace.com/Mozartcowgirl