Babies’ skin is very tender. They are easily irritated. Hence, the need to know how to apply diaper cream on them and take proper care of their skin against all odds.
Since they wear diapers all the time, their tender skin always has direct contact with moisture caused by their urine and feces.
To keep them away from having redness of skin or rashes, you must make use of diaper cream. It gets rid of diaper rashes on your baby’s skin, leaving it smooth and beautiful.
But before you head into details on how to get rid of diaper rashes, you must be 100% sure that what you’re seeing on your baby’s skin is caused by diapers.
There are several causes of rashes on the buttocks of infants. They are:
Other Causes Of Diaper Rash
Rashes on your baby’s skin might be caused by one of the down listed:
1. Allergies
This is why the use of scented soaps and perfume on your baby isn’t advisable. Your baby might be allergic to them which might result in rashes on the skin. To prevent this from happening, avoid bathing your baby with scented soap or even fragrance.
2. Antibiotic
If your baby is taking antibiotics, it might increase the chances of killing the normal flora which protects the skin from diseases and give way for the yeast infection.
3. Infection
Okay! This is it. When your baby has rashes that won’t go, you should go see the doctor because that might be a result of a yeast infection. The fungus responsible for this rash enjoys moist areas and since the buttocks are always in contact with urine and feces, it increases the chances of occurrence.
Also Read – How to Baby Proof Your Apartment
How Much Diaper Rash Cream to Apply
The aim of applying diaper rash cream on your baby’s skin is to terminate the rash. So, you don’t empty the whole cream once.
All you need to do is to apply the diaper cream after the diaper change. You can choose to apply it once in the morning after bathing and at night after a shower. It is very important to apply at night because you might not be able to wake up at intervals to change the diaper when the need arises.
A good reason why you must not apply too much of the diaper rash cream is that every medical cream or drug has a prescription and if exceeded results in a negative effect and you wouldn’t want that.
Where to Apply Diaper Cream
As the name implies, diaper rash cream is applied on the baby’s buttocks cheek, and not inside the vagina if she is a girl. If any drop mistakenly enters the baby’s private part, quickly clean it up with soft and neat clothing. This is to avoid infection.
How to Apply Diaper Cream – Steps to Put Diaper Rash Cream On
This is exactly what you need to do.
1. After removing a dirty diaper off your baby’s buttocks
2. Get rid of any trace of feces using baby wipes.
3. Leave the baby’s bum open for a few minutes to help it dry well.
4. When you’re sure that your baby’s buttocks are all dried, squeeze a little amount of diaper rash cream onto your finger.
5. Apply firmly on your baby’s buttocks.
6. Also around the hip angle where the diaper edges contact the skin.
Don’t apply too much pressure, rub it gently. If your baby already has red skin, smoothly apply it to that spot and it will be taken care of in a few days.
Also Read – How to Remove Yellow Poop Stains Out Of Baby Clothes
Do you Use Diaper Cream On Newborns
It’s safe to use diaper cream on your newly born baby’s buttocks if he/she is having diaper rash but ensure that you take a very little quantity to avoid side effects. Ensure that the diaper cream contains zinc oxide. You can also make use of petrolatum (petroleum jelly). Prevention remains the best approach.
Ensure that you get rid of any activity or practice that would result in diaper rash. There are a few things you must do consistently to prevent diaper rash to save you the money and stress of running around.
These things include:
1. Changing your baby’s diaper once it’s been soiled by feces or too much urine. This also includes the night period. Diaper rash is often caused by the baby’s excreta. So, if you want to get rid of the rashes or prevent them from happening, you change the diaper as soon as possible. This is because the longer urine or feces have direct contact with your baby’s skin, the higher the chances of having rashes.
2. When buying diapers for your baby, ensure you buy a good size. Diapers with loose ends are the best. If you have a baby of 1-2 months, you should consider buying a medium-sized diaper especially if your baby is plump.
3. Cultivate the habit of rinsing your baby’s buttocks with warm water after each diaper change. It’s fine to do just that in the sink or the bathtub. If you don’t have access to water, you can make use of baby wipes that do not contain alcohol or fragrance. Also, be gentle while at it to avoid skin bruises.
4. After rinsing, ensure that your baby’s buttocks are dried. You can clean it with a neat towel or you just give it time to air dry.
5. Give your baby a diaper-free time often. The place might become messy if you do but the skin needs some air, you know. The baby’s health is more important. You can place neat clothing that can absorb urine under your baby’s buttocks. This will absorb the urine once it comes but remember to remove it once it gets stacked.
6. Avoid the powder. The use of power was in vogue previously until its disadvantages were verified. Do not use powders to protect your baby’s skin because if your baby inhales it, it can result in irritation of the lungs.
Most people say using cornstarch as a substitute is better, but that’s not completely true. Cornstarch-based baby powder may worsen the situation if the rashes aren’t caused by the use of diaper only, but by an organism called Candida albican. Avoid the use of both, and stick with using diaper cream that contain zinc oxide.
7. Even though we are talking about diaper rash, it’s expedient to know that rashes on babies’ buttocks are not the only cause of diaper rash. What your baby eats might be the cause of the rash on his thighs and buttocks. To prevent it, watch what your baby eats and also, avoid acidic fruits that might cause diarrhea.
8. Personal hygiene demands that you wash your hands thoroughly after changing every diaper. This practice reduces the spread of bacteria and yeast from the feces or urine into other sensitive parts of the baby’s body.
Also Read – How Many Changing Pad Covers Do I Need? – Everything You Need to Know
Where to Apply Diaper Cream On Girl
When applying diaper cream on a baby girl, extra care should be taken because of her exposed urinary system. Unlike the boys, they are prone to be infection if care isn’t taken.
When you remove her diaper, clean her buttocks up and allow for minutes to dry up as any retained moisture will cause further irritation. Press out a little amount of the diaper cream from the tube to your palm.
Rub the cream on her buttocks, thighs, or her vaginal area where the skin can be seen. Focus on her labia majora (outer lips) and avoid contact with the inner part to avoid serious complications.
Should I Apply Diaper Cream At Every Diaper Change
The issue of applying diaper cream at every change is based on choice. While some mothers choose to apply it at every diaper change in a bid to prevent rashes, some apply only when there’s a sign of rashes on their baby’s skin. They also stop once the rashes disappear and that’s cool.
The choice is yours. What matters is applying it in the right way and getting your baby’s skin back to normal. But then, there are times you must put into serious consideration when it comes to applying diaper cream. They are:
• When your newborn is excreting meconium (black tar poop, the first feces that is usually black). It helps to protect the skin from turning black.
• When your baby’s skin shows any slightest sign of redness.
• When your baby has a diaper rash and during the testing period or when your baby is taking antibiotics that could make him/her excrete watering stool.
• If your baby usually has diaper rash. It’s okay to apply it even when the rash isn’t there.
• Every night, especially if you know you won’t be up to change diapers at intervals. That will help to reduce the chances of having rashes.
When to stop using diaper cream
The work of diaper cream is to pose as a barrier between your baby’s skin and potential irritants which includes feces, urine, acids from food, and even chemicals in their diaper.
Hence, there is a need to keep applying diaper cream as long as the rashes exist on your baby’s skin. If at any point the rashes disappear, you’re safe to take a break and stick with the preventive measures.
Your baby’s health should be your priority because babies have weak immune systems which aren’t capable of dealing with certain infections. These tips will help you prevent your baby from having rashes or get rid of already existing rashes if you follow them keenly.
