All babies will eventually experience a bad case of diaper rash. This condition is very irritating and uncomfortable for children. Watching the little ones suffer makes parents feel helpless. Here are some parenting tips for babies that should help parents to help their kids.
What Causes Diaper Rash?
A babies skin is sensitive and can be prone to diaper rash. From the day they are born, even a lightly soiled diaper will cause redness to the skin.
Another common reason for a rash is food allergy. A baby's skin in the diaper area will break out if he/she eats and the subsequently eliminates a food that he happens to be allergic to.
More commonly, sitting too long in a messy or wet diaper will result in a rash. And, oddly enough, teething can result in diaper rash as well. Increased drooling may cause looser stools which in turn leads to a rash.
Sometimes the brand of baby wipe or diaper can cause a rash.
Whatever the reason, a quick call to the pediatrician is in order - especially if the baby is very young. If the rash is severe then the doctor may want to examine the baby as well.
Treating the Symptoms of Diaper Rash
Assuming that the rash is "normal", according to the pediatrician - the first line of defense is to change the baby's diaper often to keep the affected area dry. Make a change at regular intervals and at the slightest possibility of a soiled or wet diaper. This may seem a bit wasteful and unneccessary but it is essential for the skin to heal quickly and for the comfort of baby.
Allowing the skin to breathe in the open air is also important - yes, this means no diaper time. For as long as you can, leave the baby diaperless. This is a bit of a danger zone, since babies have not yet gone through the potty training process, but it is effective.
At each diaper change, liberally apply a diaper rash creme that can be found "over the counter" to make a barrier layer between the diaper and the skin. When the baby wets the fresh diaper this creme will act to protect the skin for a short time until a change is made.
Keeping baby's skin as dry as possible is the goal to heal diaper rash. We all know that happy babies equal happy mommies!
