If you do use a baby wipe, don’t use one with any alcohol or fragrance. Diaper rash is a common kind of contact dermatitis where the skin gets inflamed due to prolonged contact of urine and fecal matter on the skin of the baby. [2] X Expert Source Joel Warsh, MDBoard Certified Pediatrician Expert Interview. 20 July 2021. If not caught early it may become infected by bacteria or yeast. [3] X Research source Avoidance of irritants and frequent diaper changes are – hands down – the best preventive measures. [4] X Expert Source Jami YaegerParenting Specialist Expert Interview. 29 September 2020.

Place a new diaper on your baby, but place it loosely (or use one that’s too big). Keep your baby in the buff for even just a few minutes. The more time she can air out, the better. Consider having your baby sleep diaper free, too. You can put down a protective sheet on your baby’s crib to keep from having to deal with disasters in the wee hours of the morning. For the record, drying the rash in open air is effective in helping clear up the diaper rash. [5] X Research source

Diaper creams can help decrease the rash and provide relief from it. Avoid bandages as this may make it worse. Zinc oxide, commonly known as Desitin, provides an effective barrier against skin irritants which lessen friction to irritated skin. [5] X Research source (In other words, it protects against stool and urine. ) Skip the talcum powder; it’s bad for the lungs. [7] X Research source If you must, opt for a cornstarch powder, but even that isn’t great – it can cause yeast to grow and lead to another rash. [8] X Research source For a natural remedy, try a product with calendula, shea butter, or coconut oil. If it gets worse, you can do a barrier cream (like a zinc oxide type cream). [9] X Expert Source Joel Warsh, MDBoard Certified Pediatrician Expert Interview. 20 July 2021.

Chemical sensitivity. Try switching what diapers (or if you use cloth diapers, switching detergents), lotions, or powders. It’s possible your baby’s skin just doesn’t handle certain products well. [11] X Expert Source Jami YaegerParenting Specialist Expert Interview. 29 September 2020. New foods. If you’ve recently started introducing solid food – or even just a different kind of food – the change in diet could produce a change in stool, eliciting the rash. And if you’re breastfeeding, it could be something you’re eating. [12] X Expert Source Jami YaegerParenting Specialist Expert Interview. 29 September 2020. Infection. If it doesn’t go away, it’s possible it’s a bacterial or yeast infection. We’ll cover that next. Antibiotics. If your child is on medication (or you are and you’re breastfeeding), the antibiotics could be reducing the amount of good bacteria in your or your child’s system, allowing the bad ones to fester, producing a rash.

The protocol for handling a yeast diaper rash is basically the same as with regular diaper rash (provided you don’t see any other symptoms other than a rash). Keep your baby as dry as possible, use an antifungal cream, and give it a few days.

Introduce new foods one at a time. Since new foods can cause problems to sprout up, it’s best to know which ones you need to avoid. Breastfeed your child for as long as you can; the natural antibodies in breastmilk can up her defenses against infections. Make sure all his alternative caregivers follow the proper protocol. Take your child to a doctor if the rash gets progressively worse (bright red, blisters, or not clearing up). [13] X Expert Source Joel Warsh, MDBoard Certified Pediatrician Expert Interview. 20 July 2021.

Try spreading on a thin layer of virgin coconut oil and zinc oxide. Use it just like you would a diaper cream. Give your baby a sitz bath with a spoonful of baking soda. Some mothers also believe in adding some oatmeal as an inflammatory agent. Mix a paste together of Nystatin, Desitin, and Hydrocortisone for ultimate effectiveness. Always be wary of home remedies, especially when it comes to your baby’s health. Talk to a doctor before you try anything.