How to Treat Your Baby's Severe Diaper Rash

Dealing with diaper rash is just part of having a baby. When it's just a slight redness or irritation, diaper rash often clears up on its own. But when your child is in pain due to a bad diaper rash, it's time to take action. After three babies of my own, I've seen just about every variation of diaper rash on my babies' bottoms, and have (eventually) cleared up every single one. Below are the best ways for mom or dad to help clear up their baby's diaper rash quickly and effectively.

Find the Right Diaper Cream

All diaper creams are not the same. It may not make much difference on a bottom that doesn't yet have a rash, but some brands are very painful when the diaper rash is already there. The important thing is keeping the pee or poop from getting to the rash and making it worse. My favorite diaper cream of all time (feel free to laugh) is Boudreaux's Butt Paste, which can be found in nearly any store with diapering supplies. Plain petroleum jelly will also do the job, without the sting.

Forego Baby Wipes

The wipes may actually be painful on a bad diaper rash, and the chemicals in store-bought wipes may hurt your little one. Use a wash cloth with plain warm water, dabbing lightly. You can also add a bit of hypoallergenic baby soap to the water.

Change Often

This may seem like common sense, but it's often overlooked. When my children have their worst diaper rashes, I usually change them every two hours or less. The diaper rash has a better chance of healing when the diaper is completely dry.

Bathe and Air Dry

I reserve this strategy for my children's very worst diaper rashes, when other strategies just aren't working. Start by giving your baby a bath in lukewarm water, washing the area of the diaper rash very gently. Then, if your baby is older, let them play in the water as long as they like - it usually feels good on their sore bottoms. Afterwords, take them out of the bath and gently pat them dry with a towel and let them air off for as long as you can stand. For my infants, lying them bare on a towel worked well, because they couldn't accidentally wet the floor. For my toddlers, I usually grin and bear it as they run around the living room for several minutes. It is why we have a steam cleaner, and this trick usually improves their diaper rashes almost instantly.

Try an Infant Pain Reliever

Don't forget that, even though it's not a fever, diaper rashes can be extremely painful for your baby. Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen for infants may make you and your baby feel better; Ibuprofen can even reduce swelling.

Call Your Doctor

A regular diaper rash doesn't usually warrant a call to your doctor. But if a bad diaper rash is particularly severe, won't go away or just doesn't seem right, give your doctor a call. Some diaper rashes can be fungal and require prescription cream for treatment. Fungal diaper rashes can be very severe, and can come back repeatedly if not treated by your doctor. I've only had one instance of a fungal diaper rash with my three kids, but the rash was severe enough to blister and left a tiny scar on her backside. Trust your instincts.

As a mom, you always want to know the best ways to help your baby. The above tips will help you to help your baby through a bad diaper rash. And, as always, listen to yourself and call your pediatrician with any questions or concerns.