How to Prevent Diaper Rash

I have had four children so I am very familiar with diaper rash. Diaper rash is an irritation or rash in the diaper area caused by wearing a dirty diaper too long or allergic reactions to soaps, oils, lotions, etc. Any type of skin irritation can cause diaper rash.

There are several ways to prevent diaper rash. The main thing to remember is to keep the area dry and clean. The main cause is not changing the child's diaper in time.

It helps to sometimes let your baby go without a diaper. This is true especially, if they have a very bad diaper rash. The exposure to air will keep the area dry and help heal the rash.

Some people swear by Desitin ointment. It helps to seal out wetness on irritated skin. It can be kind of messy though. There is another type of ointment that is very similar to Desitin called Balmex that does the same job but is not as messy.

Baby powder can also help. It keeps the diaper area dry thus preventing irritation. Try to get baby powder without talc but with corn starch instead. My favorite brand is Johnson and Johnson's.

Some types of diapers keep babies drier than others. My favorites are Huggies and Luvs. These types keep children dry even if you can't change them right away. Luvs is the least expensive brand. I try to stay away from the store brand diapers. When I am low on money I do buy them, but they tend to leak.

Be careful with using wipes. They can contain chemicals or alcohol which can cause allergic reactions to a baby's skin. Also watch out for fancy baby soaps and lotions. I have found that the best cleanser to use is mild soap and water to clean the diaper area.

The best product that I have found for preventing diaper rash is very inexpensive. My best friend told me about it. It is good old Vaseline. My son had a bad case of diaper rash mainly because he is rather plump and the moisture would hide in his fat pockets. Before Vaseline I tried powders, creams, and ointments. None of these methods worked as well as Vaseline. Don't get me wrong they do work. But Vaseline works because any moisture slides right off of it. The process is easy. First, clean the diaper area. Then simply dip your fingers in the Vaseline and apply it all over the diaper area. Do not forget to put it in any rolls or fat pockets. Also apply it to the entire buttocks area. Next put the diaper on the baby. Now you are finished protecting your baby's bottom from diaper rash until the next diaper change.