Why Does My Baby Keep Getting Diaper Rashes?
If your baby keeps getting diaper rashes even though you are changing them and keeping them clean, there is usually a specific reason. The American Academy of Pediatrics points to five common ones. Here they are, and what to do about each.
A recent antibiotic
Antibiotics kill off some of the good bacteria in the gut along with the bad. That can bring on diarrhea, which irritates skin, and it can let yeast take over, which causes a stubborn rash. This happens whether your baby took the antibiotic or you did while nursing. If a rash shows up right after a course of medicine, that is often the cause.
Starting solid foods
New foods change the acidity and frequency of your baby's stool, and skin reacts. Rashes often appear when you start solids or introduce a new food. It usually settles as their system adjusts. Change soiled diapers quickly during this stretch.
A new brand of diaper or wipe
A switch can introduce an ingredient your baby's skin does not like. If a rash started after you changed brands, go back to what worked. Use fragrance-free, alcohol-free wipes, or plain water on a soft cloth.
The laundry routine
Fragrances and leftover detergent residue in fabric irritate sensitive skin. For cloth diapers and clothes, use a fragrance-free, dye-free detergent, run an extra rinse, and skip fabric softener and dryer sheets.
Diapers that are too tight
A tight diaper traps moisture against the skin and rubs. Both cause rash. Size up and fasten diapers loosely so the skin can breathe.
When it will not quit
If the rash keeps returning despite all of this, or it is bright red with raised bumps, has blisters, or does not improve in two to three days, call your pediatrician. It may be yeast or something that needs treatment beyond a barrier cream.
Sources
American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org: Why is my baby always getting diaper rashes?
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