Diaper rash can be quite a nasty affliction for a baby or toddler. Many times, a baby who never suffered from diaper rash will suddenly experience a painful rash when he or she begins to eat solid food, as the acid levels in the stomach rise to accommodate the digestion of real food instead of simply milk. This can lead to bouts of crying and painful diaper changes that may leave parents feeling helpless.
Fortunately, there are methods of preventing and treating diaper rash and you can do it naturally if you aren’t inclined to spread a bunch of chemicals on your little one’s bottom. Natural methods are easier on tender skin and don’t carry the risk of side effects in most cases. Plus, these techniques have been carried out for generations with complete success, so why not continue the tradition?
The first step to treating diaper rash is to prevent it. Changing your child’s diaper frequently and leaving him without a diaper for a while after a bath are both good ways to promote healthy skin. You should also avoid use of wet wipes and opt for a damp cloth instead, as the chemicals in baby wipes can be damaging to the baby’s tender skin.
If your child develops diaper rash despite your best efforts, you will need to treat it immediately, at the first signs of redness. This prevents the rash from spreading or getting worse and your baby will be happier for it! Which means you too will be happier.
First, wash the area with water and dry thoroughly. Before diapering again, try dusting the area with a homemade drying powder. This can be simply cornstarch, which is an excellent diaper rash treatment and absorbs excess moisture, keeping the skin nice and dry, or burnt flour. To make burnt flour, simply heat a handful of flour over low heat in an ungreased frying pan, moving it constantly until it is evenly browned and smells toasted. This should be used when cooled, as you would use baby powder.
Another handy home remedy for treating diaper rash is aloe vera. It is best to have the plant handy, but you can also buy it in gel form at your local health supply or pharmacy. If you are using the plant, simply break it open and spread the jelly-like goo over the baby’s bottom after washing and drying. Aloe vera promotes rapid healing and is very soothing.
If you use disposable diapers, it might be time to check out new brands. Some babies react badly to certain elements in certain brands and a simple changing of diaper types can clear the problem right up.
For those of you who use cloth diapers, consider changing the soap that you use to wash them in. You should also avoid bleach as this can irritate the tender skin on the baby’s bottom. You might need to try several different kinds of soap in order to find one that your baby doesn’t react to.
Diaper rash is unpleasant, but it is usually possible to clear it up without resorting to heavy duty creams and chemicals. Going natural is really the best way to treat your baby’s skin problems.
