Barrier creams?

[NSmomtobe]

My son's diaper rash finally cleared up, so now I can start using the cloth diaper stash that I started for him over the past month. I didn't want to start while he had the rash because a) I was afraid it was yeast-related and I didn't want to infect the diapers, and b) you can't use rash creams with diapers. But I managed to get a cream from the pharmacist that cleared it up in 3 days (after 4 weeks of rash!) and now I am wondering whether I need to continue using a barrier cream to PREVENT the rash from coming back.

For those of you who use cloth diapers, how often do you use barrier creams to prevent rash and what kind of creams are safe to use with cloth diapers? Or do you use a fleece liner every time?

[quiminco]

As far as I know, it's the zinc oxide in diaper creams that wrecks cloth, so theoretically any barrier cream that doesn't contain zinc oxide would work.

Northern Essence ( http://www.northenessence.com ) makes a fabulous diaper salve. They also make one specifically for when you're dealing with a yeast rash. I use the sensitive diaper salve in the tube, and love it because a) you don't have to get the goop on your fingers/hands, and b) it smells wonderful. My son has super sensitive skin and never has a problem with their products (it also works well for chapped skin and lips; I suffer from horrendously dry and chapped lips, and his NE diaper salve is the only thing that helps!). I've also never had a problem with it gunking up my cloth diapers.

I would recommend continuing to use a barrier cream to protect your son's tender bum, especially since he had a rash so bad it required a prescription cream. Make sure you're letting him air out a lot during the day, too. I found that snapping a onesie without a diaper is a good way to keep the fountain of youth contained, though it generally warrants a bath afterwards! All the more fun for baby

If you have natural fiber diapers (cotton, hemp) you can boil them to kill yeast. A teeny amount of bleach will work on synthetics.

[Erinjvrn]

I use burts bees diaper cream and altho it leave marks in my dipes. it doesnt affect their function.

[mamabrooklyn]

I was actually just going to ask the SAME question in a post! Bella has the WORST rash all of a sudden! She has terribly sensitive skin as is, and I think it's the new detergent we're using/testing out right now Not sure what to use on her that won't make washing the diapers awful. Have been using Burt's Bees but leaves a nasty residue behind and makes for needing to be washed more than once?

[ILovePie]

I have an unfortunate daily relationship with the Northern Essence salve. I love it. Wish I didn't love it so much! (My son has a rash in his cloth diapers if we don't use it.)

[quiminco]

Detergent is one of those awful things; get it just wrong, and it can wreak havoc on your babes! Make sure you check any fabric softener and dryer sheets, as well. Those can be sneaky culprits.

I use soap nuts now, and have zero problems with them (in fact, they're the only thing that can make our dish rags smell not-gross!). You don't have to use fabric softener or dryer sheets with them, either, and they've eliminated the need for an extra rinse when washing clothes. When I'm done the nut, I just chuck it out into the woods behind our house since they're all natural and compostable. I do an extra rinse on diapers just to make sure all the ick is gone.

Detergent tends to build up in the cloth fibers, so when you switch it takes a few washes to completely eliminate the previous detergent. Make sure that if you have to use one kind of detergent because of a sensitivity/allergy, it is used on all of the laundry because residue stays in the washer and gets on subsequent loads.

Hope this helps!

[quiminco]

Oh, and with the Burt's Bees, because it has zinc oxide it will eventually wreck your diapers on top of staining them. It just builds and builds until all the absorbency is gone, and to my knowledge not much can get the zinc oxide out. If you're okay with using petroleum products (I'm not), A+D Ointment works as a zinc oxide-free diaper cream.

[asoulunbound]

[mamabrooklyn]

Hmmm.. will see what i can try out. I'm so touchy about what I use. Came home after grocery shopping and my husband had SOMEHOW found a tube of Butt Paste in the house and trying to be a good daddy used it on Bella - eek! Better figure out something, would be a shame to ruin all those diapers.

[My3guys]

I am a huge fan of the Northern Essence as well.

If you use a liner, it will help save your diapers. I like the disposable ones from Imse Vimse but I don't use them that often. For more regular use, you could probably make some fairly easily.

Good luck with the rash. There is nothing worse.