Diaper rash – one of the most dreaded complications of using a diaper. Ask any parent and their first concern when it comes to a diaper is – “will it give my baby rashes?”. When it comes to cloth diapers, this scenario is less frequent, thanks to the lack of chemicals and plastic usage on the baby’s bum. When you see those tiny red bumps on your baby’s soft bums, you feel helpless and responsible. You beat yourself up for the diapering choices you have made for your baby. You constantly wonder if you should have opted for a different brand or if you should have opted for cloth diapers instead.
If you are already using cloth diapers instead of disposable ones, you are on the right path to providing a more comforting diaper experience for your baby. You are already taking care of their skin and the environment in one go. However, cloth diapers can also give your baby those annoying diaper rashes. Though rare, it does happen. As a parent, it never hurts to know how to prevent this. If are looking for more information on how to prevent diaper rashes with cloth diapers, we have everything you need to know.
In This Article
- Top 10 Tips to Prevent Diaper Rash With Cloth Diapers
- How Often Should You Change Your Baby’s Diaper?
- SuperBottoms For Safe Bottoms – This Could Be The Right Fit For Your Needs
- FAQ’s
Top 10 Tips to Prevent Diaper Rash With Cloth Diapers
Have you tried many remedies but still see those rashes cropping up on your baby’s bums? Here are 10 effective tips to help you prevent diaper rashes with cloth diapers:
1. Diaper Change
When their bottoms are in contact with the pee, even if soaked into the cloth diaper, the skin will react. It can lead to irritation and infection. The best way to avoid this is to change the wet diaper frequently. If you notice that the cloth diaper is wet or slightly heavy, change it. Sometimes your baby might show discomfort after they pee. This is your cue to change the diaper.
2. Wash Diapers
Washing the diapers properly is very important. You need to wash off the pee and the bacteria that are bound to form in pee-soaked diapers. Follow the instructions given by the manufacturer, for best results. Just soaking them in soap water and rinsing out the soap may not be sufficient at all times. If washing by hand is difficult and time-consuming, use a washing machine.
3. Wash Cloth
When your baby poops, use a washcloth instead of wet tissues. Wet tissues are very convenient, and many brands have come up with a variety of baby wipes to suit soft baby skin. However, using warm water and a good quality cotton washcloth is much better for tender baby skin. It will have enough wetness to wipe away dry poop too. Even if you overuse it, it won’t cause any rashes on your baby’s bottom, as it is just plain water.
[Read : Washing Cloth Diapers In The Machine]
4. Sunlight
The washed cloth diapers need to dry in the sun. These diapers are thicker than regular underwear. They need more time to dry completely. Sunlight will dry them out well and also kill the bacteria. Sunlight is the best naturally available disinfectant.
Drying them indoors under a fan can also dry them out completely. However, this may not be enough to kill the bacteria. Air them out in sunlight, at least for a while. This will keep your baby’s bottom safer and free of any bacterial infection.
5. Let Them Breathe
If your baby is always in a diaper, let them sit free for a few minutes a day. You can massage their bodies with oil before a bath and let them sit on a sheet or a blanket for a while. This downtime will give their skin a break from the diapers and their skin can breathe. This is very important to restore the balance in the skin and to ensure they are not too dry, moist, or without ventilation for long.
Alternatively, you can use regular cloth underwear too.
6. Detergent
While it can be very tempting to use a fragrant detergent to get rid of all those pee and poop smells from your baby’s diapers, don’t. Manufacturers use chemicals to add that pleasant smell to the detergent. The more of it you use, the more you are exposing your baby to chemicals.
Superbottoms has come up with one of its kind sheet detergents, which is a first in India. These laundry sheets will completely dissolve in water – both hard and soft. So, now you can wash your baby’s cloth diapers well, irrespective of the water quality in your area. The natural ocean-like fragrance will leave the diapers smelling fresh and pleasant.
The sheets dissolve completely and leave absolutely no residue. Your baby’s bottoms can be free of detergents and harmful chemicals, as well as bacteria. You can also carry these sheets with you when you travel. They don’t occupy any space nor do they require a separate container. They don’t add weight to your luggage!
7. Wash Bottoms
Every time your baby poops, it is important to wash the bottom. When you wash their bottoms under running water, it does two things at one time. It soothes the baby’s skin and makes it feel cool; next, it washes away all the residue, leaving a clean and fresh baby bottom. This will reduce the risk of diaper rash to a great extent.
8. Tighten Right
Cloth diapers like super bottoms come with enough buttons to adjust the diaper for different-sized babies. Ensure you do not fasten the diapers very tight. Tight diapers prevent air circulation and lead to chafing, skin irritation, and rashes. It should not be loose enough for the poop to fall out or for the pee to leak through either.
Super bottoms has many buttons to use the diaper for different sized babies. You can use them for a 6-month-old and for a 3-year-old as well. You just have to use the appropriate buttons for the size adjustment.
9. Diaper Rash Cream
Always use a diaper rash cream or an ointment to prevent diaper rash. This will keep the baby’s bottom well moisturized. It is not enough to apply this once the rash sets in. You need to use it every time you put a fresh diaper on your baby. This cream will form a protective layer between the baby’s skin and the diaper.
Every time you change the diaper, you will clean the baby which will remove all the cream. So, you will have to reapply to provide this protective layer again.
10. Avoid Dirty Diapers
Don’t let your baby sit in a poopy diaper for long. Yes, these cloth diapers are designed to hold the poop in and keep your baby dry and comfortable; but bacteria formation cannot be avoided. As the feces dry, over time, bacteria start forming. Constant or prolonged exposure to this not only causes diaper rash but can even lead to UTIs (urinary tract infection). Once you remove the poopy diaper, ensure you wash the baby’s bottom with warm running water or at least wipe it clean with a washcloth and warm water. If you are out and need to change the diaper, you can use a good-quality baby wipe.
How Often Should You Change Your Baby’s Diaper?
Now, coming to the most natural question – how often should you change your baby’s diaper?
1. As Required
The simple answer would be as often as needed.
Doctors recommend diapers be changed every 3 hours. Though the disposable diaper manufacturers claim the diapers are good to use for 12 hours straight, it is not really safe for your baby’s skin.
Cloth diapers are safer than disposable diapers as they do not have the gel base to keep the baby dry. There are no chemicals to react with the pee and poop to cause allergies and other rashes in your baby.
2. Dirty Diapers
Every time your baby poops, ensure you change the diaper and wash the baby’s bottom well. Even if you had put the diaper on only a few minutes back, you will have to change the diaper. This is essential to prevent bacteria formation and other infections.
3. Uncomfortable Baby
Some babies are not comfortable after they wet the diaper. The diaper’s weight increases as your baby urinates. If your baby is uncomfortable, then change the diaper. This is your baby’s way of telling you they are not OK.
4. Rashes
If your baby has rashes, then you will have to change the diaper frequently. The more time they are in a wet diaper, the worse the rashes will get. You will also have to give them some diaper-free time to let their skin breathe. You can alternate between cloth diapers and regular underwear for better results.
SuperBottoms For Safe Bottoms – This Could be the Right Fit For Your Needs
SuperBottoms is India’s leading cloth diaper brand with many features that guarantee to protect your baby’s bottoms. This brand was created by and continues to be designed by parents who are on the lookout for child-friendly diapers. They test the products first to ensure quality and safety.
Some of the other notable features of Super Bottoms are
- They last long – 12 hours to be precise; just like a disposable diaper.
- SuperBottoms are made of pure organic cotton to ensure the baby’s safety and comfort.
- These cloth diapers can be washed and reused up to 300 times, thus bringing down your diaper related expenses drastically.
- These cloth diapers come with a super dry-feel layer. It ensures the baby is kept dry and does not feel any wetness.
- This, in turn, reduces diaper rashes and bacteria formation.
- If you are fed up with the rashes caused by disposable diapers, if you are not keen on spending huge money on diapers every month, then SuperBottoms is for you. These are pocket-friendly as well as child-friendly. One product to keep both baby and parents happy.
- These cloth diapers are better than others on the market and will prove to be a better investment. It can help you save a lot of money as well as save nature from the disposable dump.
[Read : Why Use Cloth Diapers: Guide and Tips For Millennial Parents]
FAQ’s
1. What Causes Diaper Rash in Babies?
A baby’s bottom is very sensitive. It can get irritated by the chemicals used in disposable diapers; the material used in cloth diapers; if the baby is allowed to sit in a dirty diaper for too long, or even if the diaper has been fastened too tight, preventing air circulation. Sometimes, it could be completely unrelated to diapers. It could be due to some new foods you have introduced them to.
2. How to Know if it is a Diaper Rash?
A diaper rash will have a telltale reddish skin around the infected area. Sometimes a yeast infection can be confused with a diaper rash. If your baby has reddish skin that is irritated and is tender to touch, causing discomfort, then it is most probably a diaper rash. Sometimes, these rashes can feel warm to the touch too.
3. Can Cloth Diapers Prevent Diaper Rash?
To a certain extent, yes. Since cloth diapers are not made with harsh chemicals and do not have a gel base to keep the baby dry, the risk of a rash is quite low. However, a baby whose skin is sensitive to cloth diapers or the materials used can also develop a diaper rash. If they are allowed to sit in a soiled diaper for long, even cloth diapers can cause a rash.
4. How Long do Cloth Diapers Last?
It varies from brand to brand. Super Bottoms diapers can be reused up to 300 washes. They will last longer if you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines. Some brands claim to last long, but they do not live up to expectations.
When it comes to lasting per use, Super Bottoms can last up to 12 hours. This makes it one of the best options when it comes to convenient cloth diapers.
5. Do Cloth Diapers Work Overnight?
Yes, they do. Super Bottoms have options for you to choose from, to choose according to your baby’s wetting habits. You can opt to use extra soakers for the nights to ensure there are no leaks, even for heavy wetting babies.
Some babies may be very heavy wetter and need a diaper change at night. Always use a waterproof sheet to protect the bed from such leaks.
6. When Should You Throw Away Cloth Diapers?
When the diaper doesn’t last long like before, it is an indication that it needs to be replaced. Watch out for leaks through the diaper and not the sides. You can feel the wetness through the diaper after your baby has woken up from a nap or when you carry them. If the cloth diapers start smelling too strong, it could mean bacteria formation. If the cloth has become old or weak, it may not feel as light and fresh as before.
