Diaper Rash

[Peanut1207]

So my 5 month old has a flaming red behind and I feel so bad for him. I don't drink milk (pretty sure he's got an allergy or lactose intolerant or something) and have pretty much avoided tomato and tomato sauce for the past 5 months and he's been okay. Now he's got this flaming red butt! Any suggestions? Anything else I could be eating? I stopped using wipes (cotton balls and water now) and change him a million times a day and try to let him air out when possible (hard with a boy 'cause pee goes everywhere). I'm considering switching to cloth diapers for awhile to see if that helps (but then the moisture sits right there instead of getting wicked away so I'm not sure that even makes sense...I was thinking less chemicals though). I don't know if I should use desitin or if it's a yeast infection type rash and use lotrimin or if I should cornstarch his butt to help keep it dry. Any advice would be great. I've got a nurses visit tomorrow for shots so I'll ask then too.

[threefunboys]

It sounds like you're doing the right things by keeping him dry, etc. I have never had my DS get a diaper rash from what I've eaten (that I know of), so I kind of doubt it is that. It could be that he has a little stomach bug--that can sometimes cause diarrhea, which irritates their little bottoms much more than normal stuff. You could try giving his bum a little rinse after each diaper change, or at least 2 or 3 times a day. I would also use some sort of cream. I usually try desitin first, but if it doesn't help within a day or two I try lotrimin. My dr. also said I could try cortizone cream for my DS who had a little rash near the top of his diaper--he said if it was from the diaper, it would help it.

Have you switched diaper brands lately? That could be the culprit. Or if you haven't, you could try switching now to see if that helps. Some kids have bad reactions to some kinds of diapers.

Hope this helps! I hope he gets better soon!

[Jacksmommy]

I'd put some desitin on him. Unless it's yeast, the desitin will likely help immediately. If the desitin doesn't work, then try the lotrimin. I don't consider cornstarch to be very effective.

[threefunboys]

I forgot to add that I would sometimes put desitin on, then baby powder on afterward to help the desitin not rub off onto the diaper, and also to keep it dry. like Jacksmommy said, powder alone probably won't help as much, but it does help keep their skin dry, which might help if used WITH the cream.

[Peanut1207]

Thanks girls. The desitin does seem to be helping so far...maybe cutting out the wipes helped too (they always made me a little nervous...lotsa chemicals, ewwwww).

[Nipple_nectar]

If it is yeast, you can see immediate improvement by using grapefruit seed extract (GSE). The GSE cannot hurt, if you are wrong. If you are right, the rash will immediately stop looking angry red and change to a scarlet color and shrinking. You can apply it as often as you like.

Here is the link that shares the details: www.drjaygordon.com/development/bf/thrush.asp

[intokermit]

Could be yeast. Those won't clear up with Desitin. You could do the Lotrimin, or get a tube of Monistat (the 7 day one) and it will clear it up in a couple of days.

[Peanut1207]

where do i get the GSE? Thanks. I'll try just about anything "natural" Any opinoins on switching to cloth?

[RedheadbyChoice]

GSE can be found at a health food store.

[intokermit]

All I use is cloth, and I love them. You can get the brand name Kushies thru Wal-Mart.com. They work really well against leaks. We use those at night and have never had a leak problem. During the day I use just the normal folding cloth diapers.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4601012

[Pumplicious]

where do i get the GSE? Thanks. I'll try just about anything "natural" Any opinoins on switching to cloth?


Cloth MAY help rashes. But so might switching disposable diaper brands. I know some brands of dipes and some wipes make DD get a rash. Try some lanolin, the kind you use on your nipples for BFing. That also might help with a rash.

FWIW, I use cloth and like it for the most part, except now DD is a wriggler and sposies are just so much easier to put on her that I find myself reaching for the Pampers more and more often (even though the perfume gives me allergies!)