[Kathryn]

I'm having such a hard time. My whole family has extremely sensitive skin. Every time I wash my daughters diapers this is what I do (fuzzi bunz, prefolds, bumkins, and kissaluvs): Cold rinse, warm wash (our washer won't get hot for some reason so I have to heat water and dump it in), cold rinse, another cold rinse, and sometimes a third cold rinse. I never use any bleach or softeners and I only use 1/4 the amount of the recommended detergent and I only use the no perfume kind. I never use any kind of perfumed lotion or wash on her and her wipes are perfume free and have Aloe in them. Well, anyway, my daughter has this HORRIBLE diaper rash and she's had it for 2 weeks now. I can not get it to go away. I took her off any solids she was eating, I've rinsed and rinsed and rinsed all of her diapers and clothes to get any soap that might have been in there out, I've taken her off any solids she was on, I've checked for thrush, I've been using Aveeno diaper rash cream, Balmex cream, A&D cream, Neosporin, I've been letting her go diaper free most of the day. What else can I do? What am I doing wrong??!! She is always getting some kind of rash. Anytime I put any kind of clothes next to her skin that have been washed in any kind of softener or Tide or are brand new she breaks out in a full body (even in her belly button) rash that doesn't leave for over a week. I feel so bad for her. I'm even changing her diaper twice in the middle of the night now. Is there anything I can do to help her stay more dry in the night? I use Fuzzy Bunz with a unbleached infant prefold at night. Should I be using a hemp insert or something like that? What would help her? I just feel like breaking down and crying. I feel like I've completely done something horribly wrong for her to have all these terrible rashes all the time.
Also, would it help if I just put her in a prefold and fleece pants at night? Would that wick away the moisture? Should I just lay down a bunch of towels and have her sleep naked?
Ugh. I need help.

 

[lisabc311]

Big

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I'm so sorry...that has got to be so frustrating for you!

Have you tried switching detergents? My DS has sensitive skin to *certain* products only.

For instance, I can use a detergent like Gain (which has heavy perfumes) but I can't use ALL Free and Clear or he breaks out in a terrible rash!

I can use Baby Magic baby wash......but not Johnson's & Johnson's or he breaks out in a rash! I could go on, but you get the picture...

So have you tried switching to a different brand of a "free and clear" detergent? That could be why she breaks out in a rash from her clothing, as well.

 

[Kathryn]

I haven't. I just figured that if it was free and clear it didn't matter what the brand was.

I don't know why it would affect her little booty so badly though. I took a picture to show how bad it is, but I'm not sure if I can link to it. I don't know if it would be considered child porn or what.

Let me know if I can. Maybe I'm wrong and it's not a diaper rash at all and maybe it is thrush again just without the mouth part. That's possible isn't it?

 

[poisonedapple]

Maybe its a yeast infection? To help with that, you can feed yogurt, and what ever the product is that women use, you can also try. I've never had a yeast infection (knock on wood) so I dont know all the names of products, just what Ive gathered when we thought Aislyn had one.

Our local Target has a sample of products, and there is detergents among there, maybe pick up a few and try some different ones.

When William had an awful rash this fall we did a lot of nakee naps on towels with a fleece blanket over the towel to help keep his skin dry. I did overnight once and it was a mess with pee on the floor! But naps always go by fine this way. I wouldnt do a fleece cover, because they dont breath quite as well. What kind of cover are you using? If not wool, maybe give that a try?

Hope she is feeling better soon, and big hugs to you. Oh and maybe she has ecsema (sp)?

 

[Sustainer]

I'd try a natural detergent like Bi-O-Kleen or Seventh Generation and a natural diaper cream like Weleda (or a WAHM one - other mamas here can tell you what some of them are), and instead of using disposable wipes, just use cotton dipped in warm water with a few drops of tto in it.

 

[elizabeth rose]

If its contact dermatitis, hydrocortisone (cortaid ect) 2x's a day works great. I would just use warm water and cloth wipes or washcloths to wipe her, very gently and only after a poop.

Also boil your non snap dipes just to make sure there is no residue in them.. 20 min, then throw them in the washer to rinse out, then dry.

And, I only use like a tablespoon of detergent.
Hth!
Hugs mama!

 

[lerlerler]

i'd be worried that without HOT water, there are still germies...

 

[JoyofBirth]

I was plagued with rash problems most of my life. And finally found out I'm allergic to sodium laurel sulphate (sp?). It's in almost every soap type thing out there. Anyway, I use seventh generation products-laundry soap,dish soap,etc. And I use burt's bees for my little chickie.That has helps me alot. Just check ingredients. And try for a couple weeks. Hope that helps.

 

[gigismom]

We are just coming out of a bad rash episode. I pretty much decided that my dd has eczema that was flared up by a certain detergent (All). I was very bad in any area that wet fabric touched her skin (ie diaper area and under the chin....drool). I used hydrocortizone 2x per day for 3 days and aquaphor at each diaper change and about 5 times a day on her chin. I did not want to go that route but seriously tried sooo many natural products that did not work. She was uncomfortable....scratching crying etc...so something had to be done. Anyway this cleared it up. I now use Tide (very, very little) and the rash is 95% gone on her bottom and completely gone on her chin (still drooling though

) I also rinse 5 times after the wash cycle with vinegar in the 4th rinse cycle. If that does not make sense maybe this will

cold rinse
hot wash with 2 tbls of Tide
cold rinse
cold rinse
cold rinse
cold rinse with vinegar
cold rinse

This may be a bit too much but I am scared at this point to cut back. Maybe I will in a couple of weeks, let her poor skin rest for now before I make any changes. Oh yeah, I also use a fleece liner when she is in a prefold and I stopped using snappis. I think that just laying the prefold in the cover allows more air flow or at least less friction. Hope your babe feels better soon!!

jen

 

[Selissa]

Ds has very sensitive skin and we can only use Tide free and clear. sad isnt' it? Tide? :LOL how crunchy is that? but any thing else, including other brands of free and clear detergent give ds a nasty rash..and it always was worse in his diaper area.

I think it is worse in the diaper area for two reasons
1) diapers are firmly against the skin and more likely to be in sustained contact with baby all day and night
2)diapers are thicker so it is more likely that all the detergent doesn't get rinsed out of the diapers.

 

[Kathryn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by elizabeth rose If its contact dermatitis, hydrocortisone (cortaid ect) 2x's a day works great. I would just use warm water and cloth wipes or washcloths to wipe her, very gently and only after a poop. Also boil your non snap dipes just to make sure there is no residue in them.. 20 min, then throw them in the washer to rinse out, then dry. And, I only use like a tablespoon of detergent. Hth! Hugs mama!

How do I know if it's contact dermatitis?

 

[Kathryn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gigismom We are just coming out of a bad rash episode. I pretty much decided that my dd has eczema that was flared up by a certain detergent (All). I was very bad in any area that wet fabric touched her skin (ie diaper area and under the chin....drool). I used hydrocortizone 2x per day for 3 days and aquaphor at each diaper change and about 5 times a day on her chin. I did not want to go that route but seriously tried sooo many natural products that did not work. She was uncomfortable....scratching crying etc...so something had to be done. Anyway this cleared it up. I now use Tide (very, very little) and the rash is 95% gone on her bottom and completely gone on her chin (still drooling though ) I also rinse 5 times after the wash cycle with vinegar in the 4th rinse cycle. If that does not make sense maybe this will cold rinse hot wash with 2 tbls of Tide cold rinse cold rinse cold rinse cold rinse with vinegar cold rinse This may be a bit too much but I am scared at this point to cut back. Maybe I will in a couple of weeks, let her poor skin rest for now before I make any changes. Oh yeah, I also use a fleece liner when she is in a prefold and I stopped using snappis. I think that just laying the prefold in the cover allows more air flow or at least less friction. Hope your babe feels better soon!! jen

Sounds like something I'm going to have to do. Where do I get aquaphor and what is it?

 

[~*~MamaJava~*~]

just a suggestion...hydrocortisone is a steroid so you want that as a last resort. when ds had a spot of eczema i got a cream from the health food store (i just asked the clerk for a eczema cream) and it worked just fine. also worked on my friend's baby's cradle crap and eczema.

definitely switch detergents. it will probably make a world of difference...try that before rinsing a zillion times. i'd boil the dipes first, if they don't have plastic snaps, and then trying washing them in something else.
my nephew couldn't have anything with ANY fragrance in it for awhile - read the ingredients and check. sometimes they'll seem fragrance free but it's in there. like johnson's baby soap - you have to get the "baby wash" for it to be frangrance free. the soap has fragrance.

 

[clothcrazymom]

ok we have rash problems if we use ANY diapers or covers that have polyester in them (even in small amounts) We've also had problems with hemp and with texture. The best thing we have found is plain old cotton with wool covers. Now he doesn't have such a problem with texture and we can use cotton flannel flats and be ok but sometimes it is a problem too.

I agree that it's really important to use HOT water when washing diapers. And make sure you are really rinsing the detergent out. You could have detergent build up in the diapers.

When we switched to wool covers the rashes cleared up very quickly too.

I would also try different detergents. We can't use anything with any perfumes at all - no soaps, shampoos, detergents etc.

But I hate to tell you ....I would bet it's a synthetic problem. Everything you listed that you use has synthetics other than the prefolds. And it sounds like whenever you are using prefolds you have some sort of synthetic covering it or in with it. I would try prefolds (withOUT any fleece liners/topped doublers) with a wool cover and see how that goes. I would really avoid the fleece covers and pants. I know there are lots on here that just love them...but many of our babies just can't handle synthetics.

Also stick with 100% cotton clothing. You may even need to go with organic cottons for diapers and clothing.

I feel for you! BTDT You will get through this!

Oh and Aquaphor can be found in the drug stores in the baby section. It's a petroleum based product that may or may not work well for you. Desitin creamy can help for some too. It's really a trial and error thing though - what works for one won't for another.

One more thing - I'd go for using cotton cloth wipes with just water on them too.

 

[Sustainer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by clothcrazymom You may even need to go with organic cottons for diapers and clothing.

My kids have sensitive skin too, and that's what I do.

Click here for a list of sources for organic cotton diapers and organic wool covers:

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=227541

 

[Free Thinker]

Sorry you are having rash problems. It might be the det. you are using. I use Shaklee Basic L free, and a very little amount of it. It's a natural det. You might also try something from your HFS like 7th Gen or Bio Kleen. I would also stick w/ only doing prefolds w/o a cover all day, and just putting a cover on at nighttime (wool if you have one). I don't know if I would put anything on the rash most of the day, just change at every wetting. Il'd also suggest using Wedela or some other cream from the HFS. Hope you get it cleare dup soon.

BTW, my dad and I are both allergic to alot of detergents, and I have noticed that the Shaklee never leaves ANY residue. It doesn't suds up much either. It is the best det. I have found for sensitive skin, but I have'nt tried the 7th Gen. or Bio Kleen, and hear they are similar.

 

[art4babies]

I didn't see it - did someone mention the benefits of Tea Tree Oil (and baking soda) - or even Dreft (soap rather than detergent) as sort of a good washing practice for when you get the condition under control?

I wish you the best in getting on top of it - mine has eczema so I feel for ya,

 

[MamaTT]

For help with the diaper-free thing, visit the EC forum at the top of the diapering page.

I would definitely do prefolds in your shoes, so I could boil them.

The other mamas have some great suggestions. Hugs to you and your babe!

 

[Snazbot]

Sorry to hear your little one's got such a rash. I'm fairly new to this CDing thing myself, so I can't help much with that, or with the different detergents.. I just use the All Free & Clear that we have (it's the only thing Joshua can tolerate), and Jasper seems to have a fairly hardy bum. *hehe* I did want to add though, that the one and only time he had a rash, we didn't have any diaper rash cream per se, so I dug out my Lansinoh (lanolin nursing/breast cream stuff that I never used cuz I didn't like the feel of it on me *hehe*) and applied that and it was cleared up in one use. Just something else to try while you try to find the right solution.

Hope you get it worked out!!

 

[Rising Sun]

I'm so sorry mama. It's hard to deal with rash... I know.

Emily has eczema, and to keep it under control, we have to keep lotion on her at all times. I have been using Northern Essence, which works great. Burts broke her out. Weleda works great too, though. YOu just have to find what works for them. I just ordered some By the Batch from Corner Market Mamas. It hasn't come in yet, so I can't say if it works for us or not yet.

We can't use All free and clear. We can use Sport Wash or Surf powdered detergent. Those are the only ones so far. Arm&Hammer broke both kids out worse than anything.

Emily breaks out when she eats watermelon too. Bath products are iffy too. My son ran her bath and put some bath bombs in there for her, and she broke out all over... of course, she had drank some apple juice that day too, which breaks her out.

Our pediatrition says that Johnsons products are not properly ph balanced, so we don't use those. We use pure liquid glycerine in her bath, with a few drops of lavender oil. Sometimes I throw a handful of baking soda in her bath, and it seems to sooth the skin irritations a lot. I can actually use Aveeno on Em! Alas, I have found something that I can buy from a store... not the lotion, just the bath wash... the nice vanilla/lavender scented one. I love it.

We have done a lot of nakey time too. It really helps. Also, going coverless and changing right away when she pees.

I would not use any disposable wipes. Just use soft cloth with water. If you need to have some cleaner in it, you can use a tiny bit of lavender oil... a drop or two per quart, or as much liquid glycerine as you want. Glycerine is wonderful for the skin! I got mine from a soap supply, and have found it in craft stores in the soap making section as well.

I hope something helps and it clears up. It is usually a really sensitive skin due to something that they are eating that they are allergic to, if it's eczema.

You can also use pure liquid glycerine as a lotion.... it's gentler than any lotion I've found, but is really greasy that way... or not greasy, but it stays on their skin and attracts lint, etc.

Anyway... I hope it goes away soon.

Teri