Diaper rash cream as preventative measure

[coffeegirl]

I sure do have a lot of questions for yall lately! Thanks for taking the time to reply...

When my baby was in the NICU the first few weeks of her life, the nurses used a diaper rash cream (Balmex, I think- zinc oxide cream) on Annie at every diaper change. She didn't have a diaper rash, but they said that it's now recommended to use the cream as a preventative measure against diaper rash, instead of just to treat it. I've also heard that Vaseline would work just about the same.

HOWEVER--- big however here-- now that I'm using cloth dipes part time, I have read online that you should not use diaper rash cream with cloth dipes because it affects the absorbancy of the diaper. Have any of yall heard this? And if so, does it just make the diaper less absorbant during the time the baby is wearing it, or does the cream physically destroy/break down the diaper? Even if all remnants are washed away on laundry day?

Just wondering if anyone has heard of this, and if experience has told any of you that the diaper rash creams do indeed mess up cloth diapers. And if so, what do you use on your baby's bottom to protect against rash? What about baby powder, would that be better?

(Recently my baby had a yeast infection and I started using unscented baby powder on her. I was also told that baby powder is no longer recommended, of course, but I'm being a rebel about this. Generations of mothers have used baby powder and I don't sprinkle it anywhere near Annie's face so I'm not afraid that it's going to hurt her...)

Anyhow...as always, TIA for any replies!

[treeoflife3]

Personally, I would not use most diaper rash creams you buy in stores as a preventative no matter what kind of diaper I use. I'm wary of the ingredients in them and I find them to be drying on my little one.

However, I would use something like olive oil at every diaper change especially with a bit of lavender and/or tea tree oil essential oils in it. I'd also consider using something like lusa organics booty balm at every diaper change since I trust all the ingredients in it, I trust the company, and its organic.

I wouldn't use talc (baby powder, unless talc free specifically) either though on my child. Not a fan. Nor any petroleum based products such as vaseline. Only natural products with no doubts about safety on my baby's booty

[cristeen]

Sounds to me like a way to sell a lot of diaper rash cream.

We didnt use anything but a bit of coconut oil and occassionally talc-free powder on our guy for the first year. Hedidnt get anything more than a minor irritation until then. Now we've been battling yeast for over a month, but zinc oxide cream wouldnt prevent that.

I would not use a talc powder anywhere near my baby, and in fact have switched dh from talc to cornstarch powder. My parents didnt put me in a car seat, either, that doesnt mean i think its a good idea to follow suit. The potential risks of talc inhalation are not worth it when there are alternatives available.

As for zinc, it does affect your dipes long term.

Right now we're using a blend of unpetroleum and cornstarch to treat his open sores. I bought a tube of this special cream his ped recommended for it, but when i saw the main ingredients were petroleum, zinc and cornstarch, i figured id give this a try (its what a friend swears by). But for just a mnor rash, there are a dozen other things you could use other than zinc oxide cream.

[katelove]

We use pawpaw ointment. Not at every nappy change but probably 50-80% of the time.

FWIW the only rashes she's had are thrush when I had nipple thrush and a bit of heat rash on one occasion. We fixed the heat rash with nappy-free time. When she had thrush we used zinc oxide as well as the anti-fungal cream as it is a pretty effective moisture barrier.

I do think the pawpaw oint. as made our Flip microfibe inserts a bit water repellant but other than that I haven't noticed a problem. If they get worse I'll try stripping them and see if that helps.

[jimblejamble]

I think you just have to worry about the petroleum-based ones. I've been using Avalon Organics zinc cream for a year now and haven't had any issues with Jude's diapers. And I'm using it with no liner between him and the diaper.

[dejagerw]

I've never used anything as a preventive measure. My LO's bum was rarely red, and if it ever got a bit red, I'd just squirt some breastmilk on it. Its awesome for rashes, safe for diapers, baby, and free

[rhiOrion]

You'll likely have fewer diaper rash problems with cloth diapers anyhow.

I don't use it as a preventative, but I do use it as soon as things start to look red. But, she's in daycare, so I just put diaper cream on in the morning when I know she'll be in disposables all day.

Part of how diaper cream works is to repel moisture, which is why it can mess up cloth diapers. I've known some people to use it with no problems, and some people have had repelling problems.

And just as an added note, I use the Method brand diaper cream and like it. Not as crunchy as many of the types you'll have recommended here, though.

[mumkimum]

I don't use rash cream as a preventative. I sorta did with dd1 and her bum was a lot more red more often, I've rarely used it with dd2 (after figuring out that she's at least a little bit sensitive to too much of anything with zinc oxide). I mainly use an olive oil based salve and if I use a zinc cream I sorta mix them together so it's not as strong.

IMO, if you want to use a rash cream often with cloth it's good to be careful about the ingredients and consider using liners.

[Marissamom]

we never used diaper cream with every change. we do use it if she's looking red, like she's going to be getting a rash. my understanding is that most diaper creams waterproof the cloth diaper, and subsequently have to be stripped, but there are a couple out there that are CD friendly.

[Galatea]

I would just use some natural oil as a preventative.

[Adaline'sMama]

Ive never used any cremes as a prevenative, partially because Ive heard that they make your cloth diapers water repellent. We have used some motherlove nipple cream when she did get a rash though. Mainly because its what I had and its made of olive oil and comfrey. We put one of our fleece wipes inside the diaper so the oil didnt get on the diaper, it just got on the wipe.

I use cornstarch baby poweder sometimes if Im in a hurry...It soaks up the moistrure really fast and I dont have to let her air out. (I always try to let her air out for 2-3 minutes in between each diaper)

[coffeegirl]

Originally Posted by cristeen

I would not use a talc powder anywhere near my baby, and in fact have switched dh from talc to cornstarch powder. My parents didnt put me in a car seat, either, that doesnt mean i think its a good idea to follow suit. The potential risks of talc inhalation are not worth it when there are alternatives available.

Originally Posted by Adaline'sMama

I use cornstarch baby poweder sometimes if Im in a hurry...It soaks up the moistrure really fast and I dont have to let her air out. (I always try to let her air out for 2-3 minutes in between each diaper)

Are y'all talking here about just plain ol' cornstarch that you buy in the baking aisle, or specially prepared cornstarch-based baby poweders? If we're talking about the latter.....where can you get some of that? And would regular cornstarch work just as well? (We're on a real strict budget...)

Originally Posted by JessicaRenee

I think you just have to worry about the petroleum-based ones. I've been using Avalon Organics zinc cream for a year now and haven't had any issues with Jude's diapers. And I'm using it with no liner between him and the diaper.

So as far as avoiding petroleum-based creams...Vaseline would be out then? Because it harms the cloth dipes? (Sorry, might be a stupid question but I just like to make sure.)

[Juvysen]

Yeah, you can use just straight up cornstarch. The cornstarch baby powder is in the same aisle (same brand, even - Johnson & johnson carries it) as the talc kind. In fact, I think most of it is cornstarch now, since the talc can cause health problems for the baby. The "baby powder" kind is just scented.

I use a little baby powder if he's looking red, but usually nothing. I've had three kids now and am not even half way through the big tube of "budreaux's (sp?) butt cream" that someone gave me 5 years ago when I had my oldest. I just don't need it that often. Honestly, I think what's key is just frequent diaper changes. What do diaper creams do? they keep the butt dry when the baby's sitting in it's own pee for long periods... sooooo seems easy to just try and pay attention to when baby's wet and change him/her more often, you know?

The butt cream works great on dd's eczema (on her arms) though

[treeoflife3]

vaseline is petroleum based, yes. Personally, I avoid it period haha. I'd rather use something like bees wax (no allergies here) if I need thicker than oil.

I was under the impression that corn starch was a big no no for yeast rashes (makes it worse if I remember correctly?) I'd look that up before considering using cornstarch and making sure the rash you are using it on isn't yeast (if I'm remembering right)

[somegirl99]

I use a CD-safe cream (CJ's BUTTer) and found that if I put it on preventatively, it makes the poops far easier to clean up.

[Adaline'sMama]

Originally Posted by somegirl99

I use a CD-safe cream (CJ's BUTTer) and found that if I put it on preventatively, it makes the poops far easier to clean up.

Wow, thats just awesome. I never even thought about how much easier poops would be.


I use the babypowder cornstarch, only b/c someone gave it to me at my shower. Ive seen it at walmart.

[coffeegirl]

Originally Posted by treeoflife3

vaseline is petroleum based, yes. Personally, I avoid it period haha. I'd rather use something like bees wax (no allergies here) if I need thicker than oil.

I was under the impression that corn starch was a big no no for yeast rashes (makes it worse if I remember correctly?) I'd look that up before considering using cornstarch and making sure the rash you are using it on isn't yeast (if I'm remembering right)

Yes, I agree look it up because this forum isn't the best place for medical advice....BUT I will say that my ped's nurse told me that a paste of cornstarch and vaseline would be good for my baby's yeast diaper rash, while we were waiting for the dr. to call in some nyastin cream for her.

[nikwik]

I honestly haven't used ~any~ powder on AJ, ever, but if I did need to it would be plain old cornstarch (I used to apply it to TJ's bottom with a big kabuki brush and found it was way easier to control that way). I started doing that after realizing that I was paying $3/bottle for "cornstarch" baby powder that looked and felt exactly like what was in my pantry!

I used ointment as a preventative every single diaper change from birth to 6 mos; since then, we've gotten less vigilant about the every change thing, but get back in line if she has a rash or just recently got rid of one.

We use Grandma El's, Angel Baby Bottom Balm, and (Granny Janny's) Green Goop (sold as a nipple cream but also works great for just about everything else from diaper rash to scrapes). I never had ~any~ problems with diaper residue except when I used a little too much Grandma El's (you don't have to slather it, just get a tiny amount and spread it) and didn't have hot enough water in the wash.

I won't comment on the yeast issue, since it's been almost 12 years since I dealt with it (and that wasn't in cloth).

[is it puppies?]

cornstarch gives yeast something to eat.
I've used water and a blowdryer for 4.5 months, pretty much no prob. Slight redness started a couple times so I used a cream that's safe for dipes and I had to strip them each time.
microfleece is easy to screw up! (ie BGs or Fuzzibunz)

[Perdita_in_Ontario]

We use a calendula-based cream if DS is looking red at all. It's nice and oily and protects him, but is safe for diapers. We use Substance, which is exorbitantly expensive, but lasts a long, long time.