[JSerene]

My dd is almost a month old and I can't clear up her diaper rash. It will start to go away, then come back again. I change her constantly (we're using bum-ware cloth diapers, which are wonderful); I have 19 cloth diapers and have to wash them about every 24 hours. The problem seems to be that she stools a little bit all the time. She stools so frequently that it's difficult to get through a diaper change - she's dirty again as soon as I wipe her up. I've been alternating between Burt's Bees diaper cream and Butt-Paste (yes, that's what it's called), and wash her with soap and water every day. Does anyone else have experience with this? Could it be something in my diet? Is there a product that would help?

Thanks.

 

[alegna]

Hmm. Sounds tough. I hear that some newborns just poop all the time, but mine never did. The first diet thing I would think of would be dairy as it seems to cause lots of problems. Maybe try getting rid of that and see if it helps? Also maybe one of the creams is making it worse. Try just using one (I have good luck with burts)

good luck!

-Angela

 

[Malama]

could be a yeasty rash, and no burts butt balm is gonna get rid of that.
or
change laundry detergent?

 

[Past_VNE]

I would stop using soap on her, even if that alone doesn't clear up the rash. It is unnecessary and drying. Jett is nearly six months old and the only soap he's ever had on him is that I washed his hands and cheek once with it after a friend with a cold got to him before I knew she was sick.

Detergent change and only use about 1/4 of the recommended amount, a second rinse with no soap. That is probably your cause.

If not, look into dietary causes, but I can't offer advice there.

 

[LaughingHyena]

Can you let her spend some itme without the nappy on? We used to lay DD on a flat or prefold on the changing mat for while each morning. Fresh air worked wonders each time she started looking a little red.

Hope you find somehting that works for your little one.

 

[faythe]

When dd4 was tiny she had the same problem. I would lay a couple of prefolds on my legs and hold her bare-bottomed in my lap for 20-30 min at a time and it really helped.

 

[BabyBumblebee]

I would also try to give her some 'airing' time - on the floor or on your lap. If you lay her on a dipe it really won't matter *what* she does, right? Also, I would try just using a cloth wipe moistened with water, no detergent, and then if you like just dusting her with a little cornstarch - plain, ole cornstarch from you kitchen cupboard. This worked for dd, as in the end it seemed as though we were sealing in moisture by putting a cream on, when really she just needed to have her skin nice and dry. Fresh air worked wonders - and she really loved it

We used to go and lie on a blanket outside under the trees - got some great pictures to embarass her with when she's 16!

Is there any chance that this is yeast though? What does the rash look like?

 

[LEAW]

Is it bright red rash like a scalding hot water burn? That could be a food issue (dairy) and babies who snart (the all day poo) frequently have wheat issues.

I'd say put a few towels out and let her rest on them.

 

[SugarAndSun]

I have found that diaper cremes can cause a diaper rash. Try nothing. (Though I sometimes use Weleda). Try washing your dipes with only a tiny, tiny bit of Allen's Naturally. Have you considered trying fbs? If you buy any more dipes, I would try them. (I know they seem kind of common.) Use only water on your wipes. Hope it gets better soon.

 

[JSerene]

Thanks for all the good advise. Her bottom is bright red with a few sores, almost to the point of being open sores. I don't eat dairy, so that's not it. Hopefully it isn't wheat, but I can eliminate it for a few days if nothing else works. The first thing I'm trying is airing out her bottom - it was very messy this morning, but oh well

. I like the corn starch idea. A relative also told me that I should brown flour on the stovetop over medium heat with nothing else added to form a nice powder to put on her bottom.

I am on the lookout for yeast because during labor I was on antibiotics for two days. Could rash be the only sign? I figured it would make its appearance in her mouth as thrush.

I *hope* it's not something in my diet, but I suspect it might be. She has a lot of trouble with gas at night and by morning is fine again. To me this makes sense since I don't eat anything all night, maybe by morning whatever was bothering her is out of her system. I eat the same way now as I did during pregnancy, you'd think she'd be used to it by now!

 

[LEAW]

fwiw soy is very similar in shape to dairy, same reaction, bright red w/sores

 

[BabyBumblebee]

I believe that it *would* be possible to have a yeast rash just on dd's bum, and not have it show up in her mouth as well. My friend's little guy had that....no other signs, just a horrid rash

She ended up using a rx antifungal on him, and stripping the dipes, just to be sure that nothing was lurking...

Good luck mama - let us know how she is doing.

 

[CountryMom2e]

Believe it or not I would try Desitin - also agree that a second rinse and change in the diaper detergent may help. I use 7th generation powder and find it is an excellent clean rinse detergent that still gets the poopies out.

Lastly, agree with the others about diaper free time, preferably outside with a little indirect sun.

GL! Keep us posted --

 

[elmh23]

Before Sarah was mobile, we would lay her down on some prefolds and let her air out. Now that she is mobile, we put her nakey in the tub without water to air out.

 

[Hemiola]

Consider EC! There is an elimination communication board here on the diapering forum. Here are some helpful links, as well. If there is no diaper (or at least fewer diapers), it is a lot harder to get diaper rash!

http://www.kellymom.com/parenting/in...ytraining.html
http://indiatogether.org/2004/aug/chi-diapers.htm
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...play.php?f=227
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=287122
http://www.diaperfreebaby.org/
http://www.natural-wisdom.com/lovingresponse.htm
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eliminationcommunication/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalInfantHygiene/

Good luck!
Laura

 

[Piglet68]

My son had horrible diaper rash that wouldn't go away (he was same age as your baby). Turned out he had a skin infection. The creases of his legs were unaffected, that was one of the signs (apparently yeast infections get in the creases). He needed an antibiotic cream and it was gone in 3 days. Elimination diets take weeks. Go get a medical opinion in case it's something this simple. You don't want your baby to suffer any longer than necessary.

 

[kater07]

If you are certain that it's diaper rash and not a yeast infection...

1st I'd stop using soap every day. Just use your pari bottle to really get her clean using fresh clean water and make sure the poop is all gone. Even the most gentle soap can be really really drying and irritating.

Then, I'd start using something like Aquaphor or Vaseline on her. They are barriers, and her skin will be allowed to heal under the barrier and poop won't get to the rash.

3rd, if you have 30 minutes to sit with her, I'd get liquid mylanta, let it sit until it's separated, then pour off the top stuff. Put the thick stuff on her bum (without vaseline) and let it air dry. Put a couple prefolds and a wet pad under her to keep her from soiling carpet or bed and maybe have a fan blowing on her butt for a while. Keep her diaper off for 30 minutes at a time if you can. If she's non-mobile and sleeps on her back, you can leave her naked for the night with a good wet pad under her. Put a tshirt, socks and a hat on her if you are living in the AC, but leave her butt naked.

HTH

 

[mamabeca]

Yeah - I don't like soap on babies ever. It's not needed, really. Even babies w/lots of rolls and creases just need a good squeeze bottle and cloth to get good and squeaky! Love the squeaky babies!

We use weleda as well. Even gentler than burts bees. California butt cream is good as well. If you like the creams, pick one and just use it for a few days in a row (like 3 or 4) to see if the other is causing any problems. Then switch and do it again to make sure neither is the culprit.

It's probably not a dairy thing, although my little guy does react to wheat. He was a snarter all day long. Now we've cleared that up and he's snart free and rash free! Yea!

Air time is good. at least now it's nice and hot out!

You are a GREAT mama for doing so much for your baby! I'm sure you'll get to the bottom of it soon. Good luck! andy

 

[Trishy]

Desitin has cod oil in it and should not be used with cloth diapers.

If you are sure it is not yeast I would just use olive oil on her bottom at changes. It will wash well out of her diapers well. It is simple and natural. Helps rashes heal quickly without any chemicals. It will also make the poopies easier to wipe so there is less irritation from that. The Weleda is nice too, as is Motherlove nipple cream.

Hope she is all healed up soon!

 

[spsmom]

i am with the others to first try elimination diet. it could be something you are eating.

but i did want to chime in about what works for ds. i have tried different creams from natural to the not so and i found that the ONLY Thing that works for ds is...

CORNSTARCH!

i always would let him "air out" during the day as well.