Dr. Maxwell’s Diaper Rash Guide. Always talk with your doctor before starting any of the following treatments to ensure appropriate diagnosis and dosing. This guide is for education and reference purposes only.
Diaper Rashes are among the most common things I see in infants and toddlers. Fortunately, most diaper rashes can be managed at home with over-the-counter diaper creams and products.
CONTENTS
General Principles
- Immediate Diaper Changes
- Gentle Wiping / Rinsing
- Diaper Creams
- Patience and Time
Immediate Diaper Changes
For both prevention, and especially for treatment of diaper rashes, always change your child’s diaper as soon as possible. Be sure to discuss with other caregivers or daycares the need to ensure your child’s diaper is changed in a timely manner.
Gentle Wiping / Rinsing
Infant skin is very sensitive and can become irritated by over-aggressive wiping or by chemical irritants in diaper wipes. In fact, you can opt to simply rinse with water instead of using wipes, and then allow your child to air dry, or pat dry with a soft towel or washcloth (single-use and reusable options are easy to find).
Here are some products that I have used, or that have been recommended to me, that you can try!
Diaper Creams
Most brands produce a similar product and it may take some trial and error to find the brand that works best for your baby’s skin.
Here are some of the most popular/common brands that I would recommend:
- Desitin Maximum Strength – THE Classic, contains 40% Zinc Oxide
- CeraVe Healing Ointment – Always a HIGH QUALITY brand, with Petrolatum to protect, and Ceramides and Hyaluronic Acid to moisturize and heal
- Tubby Todd – EXPENSIVE, but anyone who buys it swears by it
- A&D Ointment – Petrolatum and Lanolin-based
- Boudreaux’s Butt Paste – Well-known classic Zinc Oxide-based cream
- Aquaphor Healing Paste – Non-pasty, Zinc Oxide-based cream
Click on each image for a direct link:
Diaper Cream Brush/Spatula
Sick of getting your hands dirty applying diaper cream? Worry no more with this soft, yet durable, diaper cream spatula made of silicone so it is easy to wipe clean, wash, or sterilize. Once you try it, you’ll never go back!
Baza Cleanse & Protect Spray
Pediatrician recommended and great for sensitive infant bottoms. Helps both to loosen the stool and reduce the smell before wiping, as well as protect the skin after wiping by creating a protective layer. Can be used in addition to other diaper creams.
Active Ingredient: Dimethicone.
Diaper Rinse
Peri Bottle / Portable Bidet / Spray
If your baby’s skin is very irritated, wiping can sometimes make it WORSE. In those cases, washing with water to reduce wiping can really help their irritated skin.
Gentle Wipes
Sensitive Dry Wipes
Just get wet with water and they will work like a regular wipe.
Boogie Wipes
Nasal saline wipes
Typically used for the nose and face, but can also be used as a gentle diaper wipe
Reusable Washable Cloth Wipes
Just get wet with water and they will work like a regular wipe.
Patience and Time
You might be doing everything perfectly, and there’s still a good chance your baby will get a diaper rash. Don’t blame yourself for missing a diaper change, or for using the wrong soap, or for trying a new diaper brand. Life happens! Hopefully with patience, persistence, and time your child’s rash will go away on its own. If not, reach out to your pediatrician and they would be more than happy to schedule an appointment with you.
When to Call Your Doctor
You should always feel comfortable calling your doctor if you are unsure about your child’s diaper rash. Also, if your child is irritable or bothered by the rash, bleeding or draining fluid, if you are concerned about a skin infection, yeast infection, or if the rash is getting worse or not going away, you should discuss with your doctor.
The Pediatrician's Corner 
Leave a comment