Nappy Rash for Dummies: 8 ways to deal with & prevent nappy rash!!!

It really is impossible for your baby to completely avoid a nappy rash at some point or another. For some reason, it kind of just happens somehow.

There are some circumstances which could increase the potential of a nappy rash, such as when your baby is not well and has an upset stomach and is pooing a lot more than usual. Another example is when you are travelling and your baby has pooed at a moment when you can’t change her immediately (perhaps when boarding a plane) so you have to wait until you have the opportunity, in my flying example this might not be until the plane is in the air and you are finally allowed to move from your seats. These moments could obviously irritate your babies bottom producing a rash (extreme examples btw lol). Sienna has had about two bouts or nappy rash during her first 11 months. Bella (my eldest) on the other hand had much more frequent nappy rashes but this second time I have tried to stay on top of it! It is really important to try to prevent the problem so you don’t end up having to fix it.

I thought of writing down a short-list of 4 things to do to prevent a nappy rash and 4 things to do when your baby already has a nappy rash. All these points might sound incredibly simple and common sense but sometimes putting a list down can help to have it clear in your mind the things you need to do so you can act quicker. Also this could help first time mothers, as when it happened to me with my first daughter I was lost and wasn’t sure what to do. Of course, with practice everything becomes a piece of cake! 😉

4 things to help prevent a nappy rash:

1. Try to change the nappy often. Not only when your baby has a poo but when your baby has a wee too. A lot of people tend to leave their babies with a dirty nappy with wee longer thinking that it won’t affect them but if baby has sensitive skin, it can cause a problem.
2. Try to use a very soft and delicate wipe. I use water wipes that in my opinion are the best in the market. I actually think Sienna hasn’t had many rashes because of these wipes. 
3. Dry your babies bottom. I always do this after wiping my daughter as I think it is better if the area is not wet before you apply a cream. I use a cloth or you could even use a soft tissue to just tap it dry. This is not something that you have to do but I find it is better if you do.
4. Use a nappy cream to create a barrier between your baby and the wee and the poo which will protect your baby’s personal area. I use Sudocream, as for me it is the best barrier cream on the market. It is very thick which is exactly what you need in order to have the best protection. Although this cream is really good it is also incredibly messy! You always ended up having your nails full of it which is not nice 😞 but as long as it helps my baby, I will sacrifice myself!

4 things to do to help your baby when he/she has already a nappy rash

1. Clean your baby’s rash with boiled water that has cooled. Don’t use wipes at this stage. You can use cotton wool and water. I personally prefer to take my daughter straight to the bathroom and with running water from the tap, clean her there as it seems to calm better her sore bottom.
2. Use Aqueous cream to wash the baby as it is free of any chemicals. It is a replacement of a soap. I use this cream to help my eldest daughter’s eczema so it is very good and will help with the sore bottom. This is just a suggestion as I think the cream helps to regenerate the skin. I also use it at bath time as any normal soap will irritate the bottom of your baby. 
3. Leave your baby without a nappy for a little bit as there is nothing better than fresh air and a naked bottom to help improve the sore skin to let it breathe. You should do this as much as you can, of course, depending on the weather as during the summer it will be more suitable to do than during the winter. 
4. Repeat the previous process for the prevention of nappy rash. Apply a barrier cream and put the nappy back on. Regarding the barrier cream, I would like to add that the Sudocream doesn’t work very well at this stage. I have been using Bepanthen nappy care ointment when my baby has a sore bum and it has been much better. I find her skin recuperates quicker. I think it is because the condition of the skin at this stage works better with an ointment than with a barrier cream. This is just my opinion, but I could be wrong.

Please note, this is just my own opinion about this matter and what works for one baby may not work for another. It is always better to ask for medical advice when the condition is severe. What I’m sharing here is what has worked for me.

I hope this was useful for some or at least helpful to put the ideas in people’s mind for when it happens. 

Have I forgotten something? Any more tips out there? What do you do when your baby has a nappy rash? Do you use a special cream for example? Leave me a comment below as I would love to hear your story too.

Thanks for stopping by,

Love you all ❤️

Franca  💋

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