diaper rash question?

[brightblonde]

Hi Mamas, I'm new to this board but I'm hoping someone can offer some advice!

My daughter is 10 mon old, eating solids reliably for about a month (still nursing frequently too!). Over the past 2-3 weeks has developed a diaper rash (was never a rashy baby before). The rash is almost entirely over her vulva, there isn't much redness around her anus, rash is red, flat, no blisters/pustules or other discrete lesions. It looks like a regular "diaper dermatitis", but it's just weird that it started now! I initially attributed it to all the fruit she was eating (she LOVES blueberries, peaches, grapes, etc) so have cut back on the fruit but it's still happening. Furthermore, the rash doesn't seem to be in the distribution of poop which seems to make a problem with acidic fruit less likely also.

We CD, and no recent changes in detergent or washing process. We have been using some powder on it, when it's really bad some diaper cream with a liner, and airing it out as much as possible. It doesn't seem to bother her but it looks terrible!

[Knitting Mama]

I think it definitely could be food allergies. I would phase out completely one food she eats commonly for a couple of weeks, and see how it does. Then try another food if the rash persists.

Or, you could just go see a doctor and ask them to allergy test her, though I think the home way is less invasive.

[ErinYay]

I would think a food-related rash would also have the bullseye ring around the anus, too, but all kids are different. Could it be time to strip her diaps?

[treeoflife3]

if she is getting her rash in the wetzone and you CD, my first thought would actually be build up on your diapers, not food. I don't mean detergent build up... uric acid build up. Does it get worse with nighttime diapers?

[Knitting Mama]

Originally Posted by ErinYay

I would think a food-related rash would also have the bullseye ring around the anus, too, but all kids are different. Could it be time to strip her diaps?

I've seen it from pee as well as from poop, that's why I thought food.

But yeah, you ladies are right, a diaper strip might be a good idea to eliminate that reason!

[brightblonde]

Thanks for the helpful replies!

We have been having problems with stinky dipes (using BG 3.0) and have been washing/rinsing them pretty aggressively over the past few months. Typically having to use bleach once every 7-10 days, after which I do another full wash cycle with no soap, and sometime even another rinse only to make sure it's all coming out. I initially thought it could be from the bleach but really, it should be all washed out after that many rinses, right?

I stripped all the dipes maybe 6 weeks ago, but will try that again as well. We haven't had any problems with repelling so hadn't thought to try that again.

Thanks!

[ErinYay]

You may be using too much bleach too frequently. IIRC the BG diaps should only be bleached once a month, if that.

You might also need to change up your wash and rinse cycles- cold rinse, hot wash, warm rinse, or some other combo to ensure the detergent is gone.

The joys of cloth!