Diaper Rash Home Remedies

Anyone who has ever cared for a baby knows the value of diaper rash home remedies. Diaper rash, known as nappy rash in other countries, is a very common condition in babies, and it often can be tricky to cure. Sometimes, over-the-counter and even prescription creams offer little or no relief for this painful condition. It is actually a chemcial burn caused by the urine reacting to faecal bacteria which forms ammonia.

Bathtub Diaper Rash Home Remedies

If your baby has a stubborn diaper rash, some easy natural diaper rash treatments combine common kitchen items and a bathtub of water.

Oatmeal Sock - An idea that is soothing and fun for baby is a remedy that requires oatmeal and a sock. First, take the sock and fill it with uncooked, old-fashioned oats. Tie the sock at the end, and place it in a tub of warm water, squeezing it a few times. Next, place the baby in the tub, allowing him or her to play with the sock. A 15 minute soak in this fun oatmeal bath should help soothe the rash.

Baking Soda – Sprinkle a few tablespoons of baking soda directly into the bath water for a soothing wash for the baby.

After the oatmeal or baking soda bath, you can apply some additional diaper rash home remedies directly to your baby’s skin.

Make Sure the Baby’s Bottom is Dry

After patting the baby dry, you may want to try the blow dryer trick. Set your hair dryer on the lowest and coolest possible setting. Hold the dryer at least six inches from the baby’s bottom and let the cool air blow across the baby’s skin until it is completely dry.

Other Natural Diaper Rash Home Remedies

 

Once dry, you can apply one of the following solutions. You might have to experiment and decide which one works best for your baby’s rash. For each of these solutions, apply them directly to the rash, just as you would a conventional diaper cream.

• Aloe Vera gel - Pure Aloe Vera gel can work wonders on a diaper rash, much the same way that it soothes burns. If you have access to an aloe plant, you can squeeze the aloe directly from the plant. The gel can also be purchased in most stores; usually found near the suntan products.

• Petroleum jelly - Another option is to mix equal parts Aloe Vera gel and unscented petroleum jelly and apply it to the rash.

• Vegetable oil – If you don’t like the idea of using a petroleum product on your baby’s skin, use vegetable or olive oil on a diaper rash.

• b>Cod Liver oil - Puncture a cod liver oil capsule and apply the contents to the diaper rash.

• Lavender Essential Oil – Mix a few drops of Lavender essential oil with olive oil (known as a mild anti-inflammatory). Lavender is also an anti-inflammatory, strengthens the immune system and soothes all types of skin irritation and rashes.
   

• Herbal creams - Creams containing marshmallow, comfrey, calendula, aloe vera, or evening primrose oil can be effective in treating diaper rash. Diaper Distress Cream contains some of these herbs and others as well. Along with soothing the skin, it also forms a layer of protection on your baby's bottom.

• If you are using cloth diapers, you can add a cup of white distilled vinegar to the rinse water when you wash the diapers. This is what I had to do many years ago to get a very stubborn case of diaper rash under control. I never had another problem with diaper rash.

With these suggestions, your baby should be on the way to feeling better in no time. As an added bonus, diaper rash home remedies are often less expensive and more effective than medications.