Tips to Prevent Diaper Rash

No parents would want to see their little ones in pain and diaper rashes can often be the cause for this. Here are some tips which might help prevent diaper rashes in the first place.

• Change the diaper often. Diaper rash is caused if the baby is left in a wet or soiled diaper for a long time.  So check your baby's diaper often and change it as soon as it becomes wet.

• As far as possible avoid using plastic pants or diapers with plastic edges. Often skin irritation due to constant rubbing of these plastic edges leads to diaper rashes.

• While changing the diaper make it a point to carefully clean your baby's bottom. Use plain warm water for this purpose.  A very mild soap can be used for this. Sometimes soaps can also irritate the baby’s skin which may cause diaper rashes. For cleaning the baby’s bottoms avoid using scented baby wipes. The alcohol or the fragrance can worsen the skin irritation.

• Before putting on another diaper, allow your baby's skin to dry completely. Instead of scrubbing the area with a towel gently pat it dry. Scrubbing might irritate the baby’s skin and cause a nappy rash.

• To protect the baby’s skin from moisture use products containing zinc oxide or petroleum jelly. Avoid using talcum powder or cornstarch. The talcum powder might get into the baby’s lungs. Inhaling talcum powder is dangerous for the babies and can also prove to be fatal. Cornstarch can worsen the diaper rash if it is caused by a yeast infection. Avoid creams and lotions that might contain chemicals like boric acid, camphor, phenol, methyl salicylate or compound of benzoin tincture.

• If diaper rash persists for a long time, try changing the type of baby wipes, diapers or soap you are using.

• Stale urine is alkaline and can cause burning sensation. White vinegar can be used to neutralize this effect. Add half cup of white vinegar to the rinse water while washing the diapers. You can also try cleaning the baby’s bottom with a mixture of eight parts water and one part vinegar for a similar effect.

• Leave the baby without a diaper for several times during the day. This will help keeping the area dry and will prevent the occurrence of a diaper rash.