Diaper rashes are a common problem to deal with in the journey of parenthood. Nonetheless, it is still distressing to see your baby's bum red and irritated, especially for first-time parents.
5 ways to prevent diaper rashes:
1. Keep Baby's Bottom Clean and Dry
To prevent diaper rashes, the best way is to change diapers the moment it gets soiled. Ensure diaper is slightly loose to allow the bottom to breathe. Let the baby go diaper-free for short periods in the day. If possible, use cloth diapers as they would require frequent change.
Of course, cloth diapers aren't the best choice when parents are already sleep-deprived and cleaning soiled cloth diapers add on to the pile of workload.
Prepare the diaper station at home with
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unbleached cotton wipes
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boiled water in a bowl or spray bottle (change them daily)
or
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spray bottle of mineral spray
I personally love Avene and Vichy Springwater spray and I use unbleached cotton wipes from Muji.
2. Choose Natural, Toxic-free Baby Wipes and Diapers
When choosing baby wipes and diapers, ingredients to avoid are
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chlorine
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sodium polyacrylate
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toluene
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fragrance / parfum
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parabens
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triclosan
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preservatives
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PEGs
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alcohol
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propylene glycol
For diapers, always look for pulp that is TCF total chlorine-free.
For baby wipes on ultra-sensitive newborn bottoms, we recommend Cloversoft Unbleached Bamboo Organic Pure Water Baby Wipes.
Ingredients in Cloversoft baby wipes:
Glycerin (vegetable origin) is typically used as a treatment to prevent dry and scaly skin and to help with minor skin irritations.
Decyl glucoside (vegetable origin) is used to prevent skin dryness and it is also natural (comes from corn and coconut extract) and biodegradable.
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract also has anti-inflammatory properties and is used as a natural treatment for itchy skin caused by dry skin or eczema. This would be especially good for sensitive baby skin because it can help to keep skin hydrated.
Certified organic aloe Barbadensis extract is used for rejuvenating and healing purposes
D-Panthenol helps nourish and add vital moisture to skin, first by sealing in hydration by boosting the skin barrier, but also by helping to rejuvenate and revitalize skin cells, helping to defy the aging process.
Sodium benzoate and Polyaminopropyl Biguanide are used as preservatives to increase the shelf life of the product. They are used in the minimum concentration possible to ensure the product integrity but at the same time, not compromising the promise that we offer to our customers about our products being safe for the use of babies.
Additional advantages of using bamboo wipes include:
It is a renewable source and it can regrow very quickly after harvesting. After it is mature, the bamboo can be harvested for every year of the bamboo’s life.
It is naturally stronger and more durable.
Bamboo wipes are hypoallergenic and biodegradable.
3. Mommies, Watch Your Diet
One hidden reason for diaper rash could be due to breastfeeding. Mothers who are breastfeeding will have to look into their diet, which may be a cause of diaper rash for their baby.
Avoid food high which are high acidities such as lemon, oranges, tomatoes, spicy food, coffee, alcohol, and garlic. Brocolli, beans, peanuts, and shellfish should be avoided as well as they could cause gas and food allergies.
Try introducing alkaline food into your diet such as eggs, tofu, seaweed, sweet potato and check whether your baby's diaper rash improves.
List of alkaline food here.
4. Choose Natural, Toxic Free Diaper Creams
Mild diaper rashes can be easily treated using natural remedies. One popular remedy is to use coconut oil. Coconut oil* has moisturising and anti-bacteria properties, making it an excellent plant oil to treat skin inflammation, itching, and irritation. It is also gentle, which is safe for baby skin. *Use only organic raw cold-pressed coconut oil.
Other natural remedies include:
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Aloe vera gel
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Shea butter
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Calendula infused oils
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Plant hydrosols
Look for skincare that are safe for newborns. A For Apothecary's Baby Oat Balm with Calendula is formulated with 100% natural ingredients and certified safe for use on newborns and nappy areas.
Shop our Baby Oat Balm with Calendula here.
5. When To See A Pediatrician
It is advisable to see a pediatrician when your baby’s diaper rash isn’t improving after a few days of treatment or the diaper rashes occurs too frequently.
Bring your baby to the pediatrician if the following symptoms are present:
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fever
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blisters
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discharge that drains from the rash
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bleeding
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itching
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swelling
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pain
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extreme discomfort
(Advise above from Healthline)
[A FOR APOTHECARY x CLOVERSOFT] GIVEAWAY
We are having a giveaway with Cloversoft for our dear readers!
2 winners will each receive
1 set of @aforapothecary newborn gift set worth $81 and
1 set of @cloversoft items (~worth $90).
(Total worth $170 of products to be won!)
How to win:
Follow @aforapothecary and @cloversoft on Instagram
Tag 5 friends in the comments on our Instagram giveaway post
Entries will close on 27 September 2019 Friday.