Cheap Diaper Rash Treatments That Work

Diaper rash, that thorn in the bottom of babies and mothers everywhere, has been the bane of

babyhood since Eve gave birth to Cain and Abel. It is most often caused by sitting in soiled

diapers for too long, or sweating in the summer heat. It can also be caused by a sensitivity to the

diaper you are using. Some babies break out in a rash while wearing Name-brand diapers, and

only off-brands will do. Some break out in Huggies, but not Luvs or Pampers. Every baby is

different. Some babies can’t stand disposable diapers at all, and must be kept in cloth diapers.

AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION

Sometimes, the best mothering in the world can’t keep your baby from getting a diaper rash. It is

practically a Rite of Passage for a mother to have to deal with a miserable, squirming baby who

has a diaper rash and screams every time you change its diaper. Well, that just stinks. The best

treatment for diaper rash is prevention. Each time you change the baby’s diaper, grease its butt

and the rest of its diaper area with a thin coat of Vaseline. This protects delicate skin from urine,

feces, and sweat.

A POUND OF CURE

If (when) your baby does get a little rash, gentle cleansing with a warm cloth- not a perfumey,

papery, diaper wipe-and allowing him to crawl about naked for a few minutes until it goes away,

usually does the trick quickly. If this doesn’t work, you can try one of the over-the counter

ointments that are available. A good one to use is Original Formula A&D ointment. This works

very well, and is fairly inexpensive. It is also a good preventive, like Vaseline or other petroleum

jelly. I never cared for Desitin ointment, because it seemed like the skin couldn’t breathe, and

the rash got worse.

It was also very hard to clean off the baby’s bottom. For a really intractable

rash, when you’ve changed diapers frequently, greased the baby’s bottom, let him crawl around

naked, and done a Diaper-Rash-Demon-Exorcizing- Ritual around the poor little thing, use

vinegar. That’s right, plain old brown vinegar. Stop coating his skin with anything, and every

time you change his diaper, wipe him with plain water, then cotton balls soaked in brown

vinegar. I warn you now, the baby will squeal like a stuck pig. That vinegar will sting, but only

for a minute. You should only have to do this to him three or four times at the most before the

rash leaves.

Often, when diaper rash is hard to get rid of- the really red, lumpy kind- it has yeast in

it. The vinegar kills the yeast, and cures the rash. After the rash is completely gone, restart your

Vaseline coating routine. Baby powder is good for under the baby’s neck and arms in summer,

but it always seemed to make my kids more prone to break out, as it doesn’t coat the skin like

Vaseline or A&D ointment.

A HAPPY BABY ONCE MORE

Diaper rash is the bane of babyhood, for the mom and her little angel. It is, however, fairly

easily cured, with simple measures and items you probably already have on hand. Don’t feel

guilty if your baby gets a rash, it happens to the best of us. If you are in doubt, use vinegar, it is

the fastest, cheapest cure for diaper rash I know of, often clearing a rash within one to two days

. Doesn’t it feel good to have a happy little baby again?