Reaction to my CDs

[sahm2two]

My ds is almost 8w and my CDs are giving him a red bum! He is my second in CDs and I'm doing all wash routine and everything the same but as soon as I have him in for a day - fire engine red bum. We have a mix of pockets, fitteds and prefolds.

I have to go to sposies to use the heavy duty bum creams to clear him up and it takes a couple of days. I've tried California Baby and like it but this reaction is *bad* - worse I've seen in all my kids.

I don't think it is my diet.

What should I do mamas?!

[Michigan Mama]

What's your wash routine?

What kind of detergent? Some babies seem to be sensitive to certain ones (in combo with urine), like Charlie's for example.

Have you ever stripped your diapers?

Any difference in synthetic vs. prefolds?

Lots of questions, I know, but they might help us help you get to the bottom of this!

Poor baby. I hope you can figure it out and get his little tushie shiny and new!

[sunshynbaby]

My first thought is maybe he developed an allergy to your detergent. I would try another detergent and add an extra rinse.

[norajune'smama]

this also happened to me. if he clears up when he's in sposies, it's either your detergent or your wash routine.
i stripped mine with vinegar and now wash with bac-out in cold and then in salt and vinegar in hot. it works for us. hth!

[sahm2two]

Argg.... I was hoping it wasn't my detergent but now I have a feeling that it is.

I don't think (?) that I need to strip the dipes since they are absorbing great - no repelling or stink or anything. I have an HE washer (whirlpool duet) and do a quick wash on cold with no detergent and then a whitest whites cycle with the extra rinse with half detergent amount. I can't find an HE detergent that I like. They all seem to suds up on me unless I get a mainstream HE brand or I don't use enough and the clothes don't get clean.

Silly question - the redness is only on his bum - not up or around his penis. Wouldn't it react there too?

[sahm2two]

OK - so I checked and my detergent has enzymes in it that are likely bothering DS's bum.

So my question is - If I switch detergents and re-wash will the dipes be ok or are they wrecked? Any tips? I can not afford a new stash!

[Michigan Mama]

Oh - you should be able to rinse them well enough so they won't bother him. I personally think hot rinses are much more effective than cold, so I might do a few extra extra hot rinses (I turn my hot water heater up to do this) to make sure all the gunk is out. You might even consider adding one extra hot rinse after your normal wash routine just to make sure all the detergent is out.