Many infants develop nappy rash at some point. As parents, we understand the stress involved in knowing our baby is uncomfortable.
Today, we discuss what a nappy rash is, and steps to prevent it from occurring.
Firstly what is nappy rash? Nappy rash, also identified as diaper dermatitis, is an irritation of the skin. It can present as redness, scaling, blisters, or papules (small pimple).
What causes nappy rash? Many aspects can contribute to nappy rash, such as:
- Infrequent nappy changes
- Diarrhoea
- Variation in the infant’s diet such as when solid foods are offered
- Using antibiotics
- Or when breastfeeding mothers eat certain foods
How can you prevent nappy rash?
1. Change a nappy as soon it is dirty. We cannot stress this enough. The longer the infant remains in a soiled nappy, the higher chance of the skin becoming inflamed as the acidity breaks down skin
2. Use water to clean the skin during a nappy change. The Baby Bum Shower makes this easy!
3. Allow the skin to air dry - the skin must avoid a moist environment as it will delay healing.
4. Apply a barrier cream that contains zinc-oxide to protect the skin from the irritants of urine and stools. If you decide to use a baby wipes to clean the skin, please ensure it is unscented and contains no alcohol as this can make the rash worse.
Using the Baby Bum Shower you can clean baby's dirty bum, hands and feet all while preventing 500 tonnes of baby wipes ending up in landfill every year!
Parent's guide to preventing nappy rash