Diaper Duty

[Disneyland1084]

Attention all Moms, Dads and Caretakers!!!! Oh, I can't believe I'm about to ask this. I had my first baby 4 months ago. Whenever she gets a messy diaper I sponge bathe her in that area. I'm just so afraid that if I don't she'll get a rash. After I do I put on a lot of Desitin on her. Does anyone do the same?

 

[Aidensmom]

I just always used wipes, and never used the Destin unless he had a rash. He actually never even had a rash till he was about 2 years old, and only after he went to grandma's. We finally figured out there are foods that cause him problems, other than that he would have probably never had a rash.

If you are just perceptive enough to realize when she has a bad diaper and needs it changed, unless she has skin that is sensitive to it, she may never be prone to getting a rash. I wouldn't even worry about doing all you do unless she ever shows signs of being sensitive.

 

[princesspumpkin]

I understand exactly how you feel. I was determined that DD was not going to get a diaper rash. Although I didn't give her a sponge bath with each diaper change, Dh and I did put ointment on her bottom each time. We used the Desitin creamy because when we used the regular desitin, she did start to get red. DD's pediatrician said that the wiping off of the thick cream was probably getting her red. So here I was trying to stop a diaper rash from coming, and I was actually causing her to have an irritation. You don't really need to give her bottom a sponge bath each time. The rash really comes from sitting in a soiled diaper for an extended period of time. Using a wipe, as well as properly drying the area before placing a new diaper on, is all it takes. And the cream helps too! A lot of my patients will wash off the area, then put on a new diaper while the bottom is still wet.

 

[TinkNH]

Attention all Moms, Dads and Caretakers!!!! Oh, I can't believe I'm about to ask this. I had my first baby 4 months ago. Whenever she gets a messy diaper I sponge bathe her in that area. I'm just so afraid that if I don't she'll get a rash. After I do I put on a lot of Desitin on her. Does anyone do the same?

Hey all moms were first time moms at one point..and we all had questions!

I used wipes on DD from the start, and desitin as well..I liked the old classic desitin rather than the creamy..it seemed to have more staying power and DD has a sensitive tushie If it was a real bad one I would use a warm damp washcloth as well. BEST tip I can give you is to make sure when she is going to be in one diaper for a longer period..like at night..coat her with the desitin thick enough that you cant see skin, esp if she is a deep sleeper like my DD. The desitin never hurts IMHO. DD is 4 now and I still keep some on hand cause she is not an expert at self cleaning..but fiercly independant.

and your question was completly normal..imaginge the nurses at DR. office when I called them in a panic about my 18 mo having a bm that was neon green..we couldnt figure that one out, but had a good laugh over it. I did call her back later to tell her I did find the cause...Blue's Clues blue applesauce. Turns kids into aliens..i swear

 

[2sweetangels]

I used wipes on both my DD's, but I give them a bath everyday. They just get the normal diaper rashes from sleeping in a diper they dirtied over night while we were all sleeping

 

[crazy4disney01]

When my daughter was a baby, I would use baby wipes and then after wiping with wipes use a wet, warm washcloth to rinse the area and then dry with a soft towel. After bowel movements I used a little Desitin. I was the same way you are not wanting her to get a rash. She still got one or two rashes when it was summertime even though I tried to change her very often but mostly it helped prevent rashes.

 

[Tanuki]

Speaking as a pediatrician - don't beat yourself up over it. Even the most attentive moms will deal with a bit of diaper rash from time to time.

The main culprit in causing diaper rash is the bowel movement. The digestive enzymes are very irritating to the skin. Urine is less irritating.

One thing that can set things off is changing from one brand of diaper to another. Once you get used to how frequently they need to be changed with one brand, if you switch to another the absorbency is different and you have to re learn how long between changes. Once you find a brand you like, try to stick to it. There is no evidence that one is better than another (or cloth is better than a Pamper) as long as it is changed frequently enough.
Grandma should try to have the same brand of diaper at her house as you use a home.

With mine what would get things started was if she went poopy in her diaper while she was down for her nap or asleep in the night and I found it when she woke up. There isn't any way to prevent a baby from doing that occasionally. All you can do is make sure when you put her down to sleep that a protective coating of some sort of diaper rash cream is on her rear to protect the skin.

The treatment for diaper rash is basically over the counter. Just keep a tube of the stuff on hand for whenever she needs it and do your best to change her when she needs it.

 

[aprilgail2]

I always just used baby wipes unless I saw any redness then I would put on Desitin, but I didn't use it every time on her. She got one diaper rash when she was a baby and one thing that her Dr kept insisting was diaper rash (wouldn't evn see her, just wanted me to describe it over the phone)but once it spread down her leg and her butt started looking worse and worse they finally saw her and said "oh that is not a diaper rash, its a staff infection"-so, after that I changed Dr's to one that took my word that something was amiss and would see her anytime!

 

[Hannathy]

Air that little behind out occasionally! Letting their diaper off for a bit once and a while is very good for their skin. I agree with the too much cream gets irritating to the skin when you have to scrub it off, if you use it daily use lightly,I just used wipes.

 

[LisaNJ25]

Attention all Moms, Dads and Caretakers!!!! Oh, I can't believe I'm about to ask this. I had my first baby 4 months ago. Whenever she gets a messy diaper I sponge bathe her in that area. I'm just so afraid that if I don't she'll get a rash. After I do I put on a lot of Desitin on her. Does anyone do the same?

I bath them daily or every other day depending on the time of year and weather. I have 2 in diapers so giving the a sponge bath everytime would drive me nuts. I dont use desitin daily. Only if a rash starts.

 

[DisneyBride94]

Wow, that is one baby with a bottom as clean as a whistle!

Nope, I did not bathe my baby after every change... in the first month or so I used a warm wash cloth to wash up my first born... that maybe lasted a week with my second and third...

I made my own diaper wipes and NEVER had a problem... You buy the Bounty white paper towels...cut the roll in half (like slicing a slice of bread)... once you have two haves...pull the cardboard core out of the center...then pull the towels up from the inside of the roll... they act very much like a pop up dispenser... put them in a suitable container (I used a hinge-topped Tupperware container that was, I believe, designed for bread dough)... then make the water solution out of 2 cups of warm water mixed with either 2 tablespoons of Baby Magic bath... or 1 tablespoon each of J&J shampoo and J&J baby oil...

These homemade wipes clean better and more gentle than commercial baby wipes... My babies NEVER had a rash... I did smear them with Balmex or Desitin after cleaning them...

 

[Beth76]

I only used Desitin for bad rashes, which fortunately didn't happen very often. I would use powder if their bottoms got a little red. Other than that I just used wipes. A bath only every few days when they were little. Too much bathing can dry the skin out.

OP, giving a bath after every change isn't going to prevent a rash. Letting them sit in the BM for too long will. Or maybe something they ate. But as long as you change her right away, she'll be fine.

 

[katerkat]

Just baby wipes in the beginning. He really never got a diaper rash until we flew and he sat too long in the diaper. (I was afraid to change him on the plane - over THAT now!!) He got a really severe rash when he ate a lot of sweet potatoes and bananas. I usually only use Destin/A&D/Balmex whenever it looks a little red down there.

And definitely go for the air! Seems like she's about the same (but a year younger) than Russ, so next summer she should be walking. We go outside about three times a week in the backyard with no diaper and he loves it. (Tonight is a diaper-free evening!) When he was younger, I let him be diaper-free occasionally when he was in the tiled kitchen of bathroom. I've found this really helps stave off the rash.

 

[FreshTressa]

I don't remember my kids having a rash or having to use desetin. In fact, I still have the original tube, full, from when my oldest was born. Guess I can toss it out now, lol.

No, I never sponged bathed. I just used wipes and bathed them every other day. I don't think either one ever had a rash. Their skin got dry if I bathed every day.

We did change often and as soon as we knew it was messy. I never delayed changing and I think that is the most important.

No, I don't think you need to sponge bathe after every change, but if it makes you feel better, go right ahead. You are not hurting baby either way!!

 

[Cantw8]

I always cleaned and powdered my kids after a diaper change. At bedtime, after a bath, I would spread a thin layer of Vaseline on thier bottoms. Never had a problem

 

[GraysMom]

19 month old DS does get an occasional diaper rash, despite frequent changes and prompt removal of messy diapers. Sitting in a car seat for a couple of hours really seems to get one going. We put Triple Paste before bed, long car rides, etc. when he is likely to get sore. We also use the Aveeno Baby Oatmeal Bath when he starts with a rash to help dry it out. I also have some larger sized diapers on hand to use when he starts with a rash (the longer diaper is not as tight against the skin and thus less irritating).

When he was born I started rinsing out the wipes and leaving them wetter than they were originally since they seemed to clean with less effort when they were not as dry. We also let him lay around without a diaper on as much as possible (and still let him, especially before breakfast when he's least likely to pee). He loves it!

GraysMom