4 Easy and Natural Ways to Prevent Painful Diaper Rashes

As moms, the well-being of our children is our primary concern. That’s why it doesn’t sit well with us when our child gets a diaper rash, which can sometimes get very uncomfortable for our little snuggle bugs.

Depending on its severity, a diaper rash can cause us, moms, to question our mothering skills. Did I change my baby’s diaper enough times today? Was it the rash worsened by the skipped bath yesterday? Etc.

I know what I am about to say doesn’t take away the guilt you feel when your baby gets a diaper rash, but truthfully, sometimes it really isn’t your fault.

Let me repeat it differently; there are times when there’s absolutely nothing you could have done to prevent a diaper rash.

Your child could have been allergic to a new food you introduced which, of course, you had no idea they were allergic to, or the babysitter or the daycare center could have been slacking that day. Whatever the case may be, even with those unfortunate incidents, there are natural and easy things you can do every day to help reduce the chances of your child developing a terrible diaper rash.

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I may be a little biased, but my children are the most important people in the world. And so whatever brings them discomfort brings tears to my eyes.

When my daughter, my first child, was born until three months old, I discovered a routine that prevented her from ever developing any diaper rashes.

It was only after enrolling her in a daycare program that she sadly developed her first diaper rash.

First Diaper Rash

Some people who are not moms by the way! might be say, “oh well, it’s just a diaper rash!” but I cannot begin to tell you how devastating it was when my daughter came home with her first developing diaper rash.

My thoughts were that I worked so hard, changed my daughter’s diaper as frequently as I needed to to keep these awful diaper rashes at bay, and now my work was being undone.

The more devastating part is that I had just started a new job and could not stay home with her to ease her discomfort or reduce the chance of the rash fully developing.

Day Two

After I picked up my daughter from daycare the next day, I noticed that her rash had only worsened.

I questioned the daycare providers as to how often they were changing my daughter’s diaper, and was unhappy to find out that the diaper change protocol was every 2 hours and not when the child’s diaper was damped.

Yes, no one can take care of your child as you can. I know this, but what an AWFUL protocol that was! A diaper rash can be very uncomfortable on a child’s bottom, depending on its severity, and any childcare provider should be cognizant of that crucial detail.

Diaper Rash Ointment

After my daughter developed her first diaper rash, which was during a weekday, I did whatever I could to minimize her discomfort on the weekend, including using a diaper rash ointment.

If you’re looking for diaper rash ointment recommendations, here are a few of my favorite options to try:

There is absolutely nothing wrong with having to use a diaper rash ointment or cream to help make your child feel more comfortable. However, despite using diaper ointment to remedy the diaper rash, it was still troubling to know that my child was coming home from daycare with diaper rashes when she had never had them.

My Second Child

And again, with my son, my second child, I applied the same routine I did with my daughter, and the results were identical. I changed his diaper as needed and as frequently as needed and he never developed a rash until… I enrolled him in a daycare program. Which thank God was short-lived!

As soon as my children were no longer participating in a daycare program, and I started using the routine I had been using originally, changing diapers as frequently as needed, diaper rashes were gone!

The point is, I found a diaper hygiene routine that worked and continues to work for my children. And I am going to share it with you new moms and even veteran moms looking for a new diaper hygiene routine that will reduce maybe even prevent your little ones from developing those unpleasant diaper rashes!

4 Easy and Natural Ways to Prevent Diaper Rashes:

1. Familiarize yourself with your child’s schedule

It helps to know when your child wets or soils his or her diaper. When my son first wakes up in the morning, I change his diaper because I know it is wet, especially if he slept through the night.

After breakfast, I know to change his diaper because it is soiled; this schedule has been consistent for the past five months. Note that your child’s schedule may vary, but try to keep up with the changes.

2. Do not change your child’s diaper every 2 hours

I know you’ll be going against the recommended diaper change “protocol,” but please do not wait to change your child’s diaper every 2 hours.

If your child is wet, change their diaper right away. You don’t have to wait for a very wet or soiled diaper in order to change your child. Keep in mind that the longer a damp or soiled diaper stays on your child, the more likely they are to develop a diaper rash.

3. Try to use natural and organic products

I know natural and organic products can be expensive, but do the best you can to use them. Natural and organic products tend to have fewer chemicals, which can also contribute to diaper rashes. There are always deals and coupons available. Look for them if you must, this is what I do.

Not sure if it’s a genetic thing, but both of my children have sensitive skin. I have had my fair share of trying different products before I found what worked for my children’s sensitive skin.

I discovered unfortunately through trial and error that Huggies brand diapers and wipes (the sensitive and natural kind) work for my kids’ sensitive skin.

4. Maintain Hygiene:

And lastly, maintain your child’s hygiene. This step is super important! If your child poops at least once a day, I recommend that you bathe him to ensure that he is cleaned correctly and that no residue is hidden in between those crevices.

If you are not in a position to bathe your child, a sponge bath will do the trick, too, just as long as his bottom is clean. Remember that in seeking to decrease or prevent your child from developing a future diaper rash, that cleanliness is always the way to go.

I recommend using a few of the items below to help keep your child clean: