No mom wants to change their baby’s diaper and see a red hot irritating diaper rash! It can make us feel like we are failing when anything goes wrong with our littles ones. But we all know that isn’t true. We are all trying our best to be good moms! But don’t worry, there are home remedies for diaper rash.
Sometimes we either don’t have diaper cream on hand or simply want to try some home remedies for diaper rash instead of reaching for medication.
What is Diaper Rash?
Diaper rash is a skin irritation caused by either cloth or disposable diapers.
What Causes Diaper Rash?
Usually, diaper rash is caused by a wet diaper sitting against a baby’s bottom for long periods of time. The skin becomes irritated and then bacteria and yeast cause an infection.
Diaper rash can also be caused by constant bowel movements, teething, or medications. Even bath products can cause diaper rash, so try to stick with fragrance-free washes and lotions to prevent irritation.
Almost every baby gets a diaper rash at one time or another, so don’t stress!
How Can I Treat My Baby’s Diaper Rash with a Natural Remedy?
First, make sure you are changing your baby’s diaper more often. This will help reduce the amount of time your baby’s bottom is in contact with urine.
Second, don’t use disposable wet wipes. These will only cause more irritation. Use a soft wet warm washcloth to wipe the baby’s bottom.
Third, always use some kind of barrier to keep your baby’s bottom as clean and dry as possible.
Home Remedies for Diaper Rash
Let Your Baby’s Bottom Breath with No Diaper Time
Giving babies freedom from their diaper is so important even if you don’t see a rash coming on. Let their soft baby skin breathe. I tried to let my little ones have at least 30 minutes of diaperless time every day.
The best time to do it is right before bath time. Lay your baby down on a couple of towels or in their crib with a mattress protector. If rolling and moving around isn’t an issue, the changing table is a great option as well.
This way, if any kind of messy situation occurs, you can just quickly move them into the bath and get everything all cleaned up without any fuss.
Breast Milk
Putting breastmilk on my baby’s rash is always the first thing I do whenever I see diaper rash coming on! It’s convenient and can be done right away.
You can either put fresh or pumped breastmilk directly on the irritated skin or give the baby a breastmilk bath.
Petroleum Jelly
Vaseline is an excellent skin protectant. It gives a clean barrier between the skin and unwanted moisture and is very easy to clean up and reapply. And it’s completely natural.
There isn’t anything added and can be applied as frequently as you want or need. Apply after every diaper change to prevent or treat diaper rash.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Put half of a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a cup of lukewarm water and mix. Grab a washcloth and dab the mixture onto your baby’s bum.
You can do this with white vinegar as well if you don’t have any apple cider vinegar on hand.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a natural antifungal, so it’s perfect for treating diaper rash since many times, the root of the problem is a fungal infection starting when the baby has a rash.
You can mix a bit of tea tree oil or lavender in with your coconut oil to enhance both ingredients’ antifungal properties.
Never apply tea tree oil, lavender oil, or any kind of essential oil directly to the skin. Always use coconut oil as a barrier for safety.
Baking Soda Bath
Baking soda is excellent at killing bacteria and also balances out pH levels in the skin. To give a baking soda bath, simply mix two tablespoons of baking soda into your baby’s bath and soak for a few minutes.
Oatmeal Bath
Put up to a cup of oatmeal into your blender or coffee grinder and blend it up to become a fine powder. Draw a warm bath and add anywhere from one tablespoon to one and a half cups to your tub.
Try putting the ground up oats tied up in some pantyhose to keep things from getting too messy. Soak for about 15 minutes in the tub.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is lovely because it moisturizes while treating the diaper rash. Be sure you aren’t using the aloe vera gel you buy at the store for sunburns. You want pure aloe vera.
The best way to get aloe vera without added ingredients is to buy aloe vera juice. It can be found at most grocery stores.
Yogurt
Yogurt is excellent for fighting yeast infections and overgrowth, so it’s perfect for treating diaper rash. Make sure to use yogurt that doesn’t have any added sugar.
Put a generous layer on the baby’s rash and refresh after each diaper change. Let the yogurt come to room temperature before applying to the baby’s bottom for less discomfort.
Epsom Salt
Pour a warm bath and add ½ cup of Epsom salt. Let your baby soak for about 10 minutes and then wash up and do your regular bathing routine.
The magnesium in the Epsom salt provides comfort and relief to baby’s sore bottom so that you can do this several times a week.
Corn Starch
Corn starch works well for soaking up unwanted wetness and keeps everything cool and dry. And that can only feel good when you have a diaper rash that is probably always burning from having a wet diaper.
Sprinkle a bit of corn starch on your baby’s rash with every diaper change, and it should help the rash clear up quickly.
Witch Hazel
Witch hazel is a natural astringent, which means it helps with swelling. The cooling effect it gives is relaxing as well.
Witch hazel is best used for small rash irritations. Get a washcloth and apply generously to the affected skin and let it air dry.
Thankfully, there are plenty of options for home remedies for diaper rash and helping your baby feel better!
Find what works best for your baby. If the rash doesn’t clear up within a week and it seems to be getting worse with symptoms such as fever, blisters, or pain, check-in with your baby’s pediatrician.
Which home remedy for diaper rash been most effective for your baby? Share with us in the comments!