Diaper Rash Treatment and Prevention for Newborn Babies

Unfortunately, diaper rashes are quite common for newborns. Diaper rash can have multiple causes, and it can range from mild redness to the erosion of top layers of your baby’s skin. Usually, diaper rash is a result of the child’s urine or stool coming into contact with the skin.

Once a baby has a diaper rash, the skin infection can become much more severe if not immediately treated. For this reason, it’s always smart to carry the best diaper rash cream in your diaper bag no matter where you are.

If you see that your baby is getting a diaper rash, don’t immediately start to worry. Instead, if it appears to be a mild rash, follow these simple steps to safely treat diaper rash on a newborn. If the rash seems to be rapidly spreading and causing more than slight irritation to your child, consult a medical professional.

Symptoms of Diaper Rash

Diaper rash appears as a patchwork of bright red skin on your baby’s bottom beneath the diaper. The cause of it is directly related to wet and unchanged diapers that lead to chafing. Newborns’ skin sensitivity makes this a common occurrence for most children.

The main symptom of diaper rash is an area of skin that appears irritated and tender-looking. Usually, the skin will be a slight shade of red or pink. While diaper rash often occurs on a baby’s bottom, it can also show up on your newborn’s thighs or genitals.

If your child has a diaper rash, you may notice a change in his or her disposition. If your baby is more fussy than usual, appearing uncomfortable or crying frequently, you’ll want to make sure you're checking his or her bottom for diaper rash. If your child becomes particularly upset when changing his or her diaper, chances are that a diaper rash is the cause.

Steps for Treating Diaper Rash

You always want to begin the process of treating diaper rash by washing your hands. When changing your newborn’s diaper, use plain water whenever possible. A soft washcloth can help with the cleaning process. If the stool is sticking to your child’s skin, a mild cleanser can be used to clean the area. Most baby wipes work well for this purpose. However, make sure that you avoid baby wipes that use alcohol or are fragrance-infused.

Once the baby’s bottom area is clean, gently pat the area dry. You don’t want to rub the area, as this could lead to more irritation on your child’s skin. Once dry, apply a diaper rash cream to the affected area. Finally, put a clean diaper on your child.

Tips for Avoiding Diaper Rash

While diaper rash can be treated, the best approach to dealing with diaper rash is to prevent it from occurring at all. Though this isn’t always possible, the following are some tips and tricks for lessening the chances of your child getting diaper rash.

Do your best to check your little one’s diaper frequently. Remember, newborns can urinate every one to three hours, leading to a constantly wet diaper if you’re not continually changing it. Since wet and soiled diapers are the main cause of diaper rash, you want to be sure you’re changing your newborn’s diaper frequently.

When you change your newborn’s diaper, make sure you thoroughly clean the diaper area. Use warm water and alcohol-free cleansers to avoid irritating the rash. Additionally, regularly bathing your baby’s bottom will also do a good job in keeping the area clean and bacteria-free.

Before you place a fresh diaper on your child, always make sure the baby’s skin is completely dry. Once a diaper is put on a baby, it is more difficult for the baby’s skin to dry. Furthermore, you don’t ever want to fasten your baby’s diaper too tightly. Leaving two fingers worth of space between the baby’s skin and the diaper is ideal. Keeping your baby’s bottom moisturized can also help protect it from urine and stool. A barrier cream is best for this.

If you’re able to, allowing your baby’s bare bottom to frequently be exposed to air is great for avoiding diaper rash. If your child can have a naked bottom from time to time, this will help in preventing diaper rash, as well.

Visiting a Doctor

Finally, if you find that your child’s diaper rash isn’t going away with at-home treatment or is getting worse even after a diaper rash cream has been applied, it’s best to see a pediatrician. Additionally, bleeding, oozing, or an accompanying fever are also red flags that should bring you and your child to the doctor’s office.

Resources— MedicineNet, WebMD, Parents

About The Author