How to Prevent Diaper Rash

Diaper rash is a pretty common condition that tends to affect children that are age 2 and under. However, as moms, we want to prevent diaper rash and everything else that is bound to cause our babies discomfort. For me, in this first year of being a mom I have been successful and I think I have a great regimen that can be replicated. I’m going to let you in on some products including skin protectants and diapers that have helped my baby to dodge any signs of irritation or diaper rash.

In the early days use basic light soap and water.

When little David was born I was initially using wipes that were given to us as we left the hospital. I noticed within maybe just a week he started to get slight irritation. My mom, based on her old school knowledge, told me to just use mild soap and water since he was breastfed and his poops weren’t serious. I used this method with Baby Dove Tip to Toe Wash, cleaning him off after every diaper change. It worked like a charm and helped to prevent any signs of diaper rash. I was home for maternity leave so it was very doable.

If you use wipes, find the purest brand possible.

I used the basic light soap and water method while we were home, but once I returned to work and David went to daycare, I knew I’d have to resort to wipes. I got a bit anxious because I still wanted to be sure I prevented any signs of diaper rash. I did a bit of research and found a brand that was basically made of water - Water Wipes. They taut themselves as the world’s purest wipe, as they are made of 99.9% water! This means there’s none of that extra yucky stuff you don’t want on your baby. They are hypoallergenic, perfect for a baby’s sensitive skin, and they’re so delicate they can be used from birth! They’re a perfect product to rely on for diaper rash prevention.

Cloth is best, but if you’re using a disposable diaper, go with a natural and pure brand.

It took me a few tries to find a diaper brand I liked. I looked at cost, quality, and wholesomeness. After trying a few, I settled on Pampers Pure. Not only are they great quality because they’re basically made of cotton, (and they really do feel like cotton) but they’re super absorbent. Even better, they are free of chlorine bleach and fragrances, which can cause irritation and ultimately lead to some form of diaper rash. They are also clear of parabens - known cancer causing agents. For me, these were totally the best bet for the price point given what I looked for in a disposable diaper. They work great, are made of natural plant-based materials, and they have some really cute prints too! If you shop at Publix, you can even find them on sale in the store pretty often and combine them with any diaper coupons you may have.

Keep your baby’s bum dry and use a skin protectant after every change.

Keeping your little one’s bum dry after every change is key mitigating moisture, which sometimes can encourage bacteria or even yeast to grow, leading to a diaper rash. Generally, even after I’ve used wipes, if David isn’t air dry I’ll use a wash cloth to pat him dry. It’s as simple as that. After drying, opt to use a skin protectant to coat your baby’s skin. My go to is Burt’s Bees Multipurpose Ointment. It smells great and can be used for general moisturizing as well. During diapering, I use it to coat David’s bottom and the creases around his baby boy parts. This helps to protect his bum and wicks away moisture even longer, therefore preventing any signs of diaper rash.

Make sure you’re using the correct diaper size to prevent diaper rash.

Having the incorrect diaper size, and specifically one that is too small may lead to irritation. Making sure your baby is in the right size diaper seems pretty simple, but they grow so fast and before you know it, the size they were once wearing all of a sudden doesn’t fit anymore. It seemed like almost every few weeks David was going through diaper sizes left and right. I started paying close attention to the packaging and selecting the appropriate size based on his weight. In the beginning, you’ll be going to appointments pretty often, so you should be able to keep track of your baby’s weight that way, and plan diaper purchases ahead of time based on that.

Change your baby on a schedule.

When I change my son, I make it a rule of thumb to check him every other hour. If you go this route, I guarantee you there will at least be a pee. When it comes to poops, you want to change those as soon as they happen. The longer they keep whatever is in their diaper on, the greater the chance they have of getting irritated and developing a diaper rash.

My favorite part in preventing diaper rash in the regimen I use is that I use my Amazon Prime membership and schedule delivery for all of these products. They’re a part of my fixed baby needs to prevent diaper rash, so I know I’ll need them all the time. Review each item below to purchase directly from Amazon!