And I'm getting really friggin tired of it.
I took him to the pediatrician last week to get it checked out. She didn't think it's a yeast rash, just skin that's really irritated and started breaking down. I cannot tell you how much money I've spent in the past weeks buying all sorts of different diaper creams, hoping something would make a difference. Unfortunately, at least some of them seemed to actually make things worse, if anything...
I'm at a loss. It seems the harder I try to make this thing go away, the more persistent it gets. I'm feeling helpless, discouraged, and very, very frustrated. If anyone has advice on what to try that I haven't done yet, I would LOVE to hear it. Here's what we're doing now:
- Changing diapers often (using 7th Generation disposables right now, am considering going back to the gDiapers + flushable inserts since they're a bit more breathable)
- Using water and washcloths/cotton rounds instead of store-bought wipes (if anyone has tips on a good system for doing this, please share them)
- At each change, I'll turn him onto his tummy and let his bottom air out for as long as he'll let me (usually just a few minutes before he gets upset). A few times I've managed to let his bottom air out while he naps on me (with the aid/protection of a few towels), can then get a good 30mins-1hr of naked-butt time.
- Slather on THICK layer of cream (alternating among Aquaphor, Burt's Bees, Desitin, Triple Paste, A&D. I have a tube of Boudreaux's Butt Paste but hesitate to use it as when I did try it I think it made things worse rather than better). Also, today I'm starting to put some 1% hydrocortisone cream on a few times a day.
- Give a bath every 1-2 days, sometimes adding baking soda to the water (heard that's soothing to sore bottoms?).
A friend on Facebook asked if the rash might be related to a food insensitivity, so now I'm starting to look into that possibility, too (which really depresses me, I had hoped to avoid food issues with Quinn... but, worth looking into).
So, yeah. Advice? Please? Because this sucks and I honestly don't know what else to do.
do you know anyone that could loan you some cloth diapers to try out? 7th Gen are better than some but still have the super-absorbent core that might be causing irritation.
ReplyDeleteIf it doesn't clear up after trying cloth then it may indeed be a food sensitivity.
good luck! it's no fun to have a babe with a sore bottom - I hope you both get some relief soon.
Id agree with trying cloth as all disposables contain gel which he could be having a reaction to. In the UK MWs recommend only using very gentle (edible) things on babies under 6 weeks. Try washable wipes/wash cloths soaked in cooled chamomile tea with a little olive oil. We used to make a flask every day which would keep it warm & wet cloths as we go, but you can also pre-wet cloths each morning & store in tuppawear in the fridge.
ReplyDeleteIf it's really bad, add a cup of chamomile tea & a muslin filled with oats to his bath water.
You can also moisturise the area with olive oil before nappy free time to stop skin from cracking.
I would do as you are & go right back to basics, eliminating all chemicals to rule out a reaction first & keep things really, really simple. Even products labelled as natural or organic can still have a reaction, as I found with Henry.
Ps - you could cut up an old towel to use as washable wipes if you need more.
ReplyDeleteYou know, after going through all of that with Madeline and hearing about not only Quinn's diaper rash but his increasing fussiness, I can't help but think food sensitivity is at the root of the issue. It took me way too long to come to that conclusion with Madeline (5 months), but once I cut out the dairy, everything just seemed to turn around for the better.
ReplyDeleteI know it sucks from experience, but I would say it can't hurt anything to try elimination.
Good Luck! Let me know if you have any specific questions. And I totally know what you mean about spending a small fortune on lotions/creams/diaper ointments. Oh, and you may also want to try a calendula ointment as that helped with Madelines rash as well.
For us, both my kids got bad bleeding rashes a few times, but only once they were older and eating on their own. I told you on Twitter about the juice, oranges and tomatos as being the cause for my son's rashes. It was when THEY ate these foods that the rashes started. But, it can't hurt to eliminate those things from your diet if you are exclusively breastfeeding. It's acidy foods that are not broken down all the way in the stool and then the contact with the skin burns it. The burns break down the skin and turn into open bleeding sores.
ReplyDeleteTreatment: We swear by a cream called Vusion. It is CRAZY expensive, but it's an antifungal mixed with Zinc and vaseline I think. You can probably mix your own. Or just layer on the antifungal and Desitin Max (the purple with the 40% zinc). Also, we would first dry his bottom with a hair dryer, put on a tiny layer of neosporin or other antibiotic cream and the anti fungal, then corn starch (or Burt's Bee talc free powder) to fill in the sores and dry them up, then the zinc cream.
Of course change as quickly after elimination as possible and naked time to dry it up too.
Could it be thrush or acid reflux? Is he crying a lot after nursing? Spitting up a lot? Gassy? Is yes then it might be acid reflux. Fixing that on the one end, can help the other!
I think it's rare for a disposable diaper to cause a rash, it's more likely that a cloth diaper will make it worse because they are not as absorbent. Try Pampers Swaddlers. That's what we liked.
Good luck and so sorry you are dealing with this!!
I thought you already had cloth diapers? If so, use them. For wipes, I just keep a stack of dry wipes next to the changing pad, and I wet as needed, but our changing table is in the bathroom next to the sink. Some kids are indeed allergic to the chemicals in disposable diapers. L tends to get a rash if we don't change the disposable fast enough (we use them when travelling, otherwise at home we use cloth). Of course, you also need to be careful with the detergent used when washing cloth as some detergents can cause a rash for some people.
ReplyDeletere: food sensitivity. It's possible. I didn't figure it out til L was six weeks old, and his rash was very distinct around the anus. However, when he has had dairy directly (after 1 yr in some processed baby food I thought was ok) his rash was much wider. He also had significant gas pains and was pretty fussy, as well as a constant stuffy nose. Once I cut out ALL dairy, including hidden dairy, and soy, and later eggs, it all cleared up. It's hard at first, as there is whey and casein in just about everything processed. Dr Sears and kellymom both have guides for this. Dairy and soy are the most obvious culprits, but there could be others (it took me longer to realize eggs were a problem as well).
I'd been waiting for the rash to clear before starting cloth w/ Q, since I didn't want to risk messing up my inserts with diaper creams. I've also heard that if it is yeast, that can be a whole other pain with cloth (if yeast gets on the cloth).
ReplyDeleteIf I did try cloth instead, what should I use to protect his bottom while wearing a diaper? Coconut oil...?
That sounds like thrush to me, despite what the doctor said. I agree with using cloth diapers and cloth wipes. A good recipe for wipe juice that lasts a nice long time is small amount of Dr. Bronner's Baby Mild castille soap and a touch of some reathing soothing oil like jojoba in a 32 ounce squirt bottle. Squirt some on the wipe, use on his bottom and then wash with the cloth diapers. Dry the dipes and wipes on high to kill any yuckies. The air drying you are doing is good. Also, maybe up your probiotic intake with a good probiotic capsule from the health food store. When my son got a thrush rash, I smeared yogurt on his bottom and that seemed to help a lot or I added a probiotic capsule to his diaper cream. I would bag any of the conventional creams and hydrocortisone in favor of a more natural cream without zinc in it which will cover the cloth diapers and make them repel water.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter had such a bad bottom with nappy rash when she was born, I just left her nappy less for as long as possible all day every day, I would leave her on her foam changing matt (cloth diapers) with a terry toweling nappy between her and the matt on the floor in the front room. I also found that by putting nappy creams on her, that it was coating the sores and not letting the air get to the sores which would allow the sores to dry out and heal.
ReplyDeleteOops my last post was muddled.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter had such a bad bottom with nappy rash when she was a baby. In the end I used to just leave her nappy less for as long as possible all day every day. I would leave her on her foam changing matt with a terry toweling nappy (cloth diaper) between her and the matt on the floor. I also found that by putting nappy creams on her, I was coating the sores and not letting the air get to the sores which would allow the sores to dry out and heal. So I did the air as much as possible thing and no creams, and like Henry's mam I also added a cup of chamomile tea and a muslin filled with oats to her bath water - it worked a treat.
I hate to say this, but every single time my kids are in disposables for any length of time they get a rash and it won't go away, no matter what. That is the number one reason I love cloth so much. I would try cloth out for a week and see if it clears up. It is so hard to see those little buns all red and you know it has to hurt. Hope it clears up soon!
ReplyDeleteSarah
We love LuSa Organics Booty Balm. The only time Finn has ever had rashes was after using disposables while on trips, and the Booty Balm cleared things right up. Plus, it smells great.
ReplyDeleteHugs!
Cloth diaper and using creams.... try a diaper friendly cream/ salve but if you need the none cloth diaper friendly stuff add a fleece liner b/t babies bum and the diaper. I find fleece liners great to have anyway, they are useful to dry after using homemade wipes and add an extra stay dry layer.
ReplyDeleteGod luck
We use the Bum Genius cloth, and use a zinc based diaper cream for a rash or Aquaphor or Desetin. All seem to work equally well, and all seem to wash out just fine. She had yeast rash at one point, and Clotrimazole anti-fungal cream took care of that in about a week. For a really bad rash of which she's had a couple, a bath in heavily baking sodaed water seems to help. don't rinse it off, just let it dry onto the skin, and repeat as often as you can. we keep our wipes in a ice cream pail of water near the changing table. when we run out, I rinse the bucket and change the water.
ReplyDeleteno experience with food related rashes though. good luck!
Poor baby and mama! My son had the same problem, he was born before our cloth diapers arrived and got a rash from the disposables right away. It lasted close to 2 months. We were trying everything, what finally worked was max strength desitin (purple label). I also cleaned him at diaper changes with a peri-bottle full of water, a drop of tea tree oil and a drop of his baby soap. I would spray it onto cotton balls or flannel wipes. He also recieved as much diaper free time in a sunny spot as he would tolerate.
ReplyDeleteWith cloth I've not needed to use a cream, olive oil or coconut oil if you prefer would do fine and I second the advice on fleece liners which wick any wetness away from babies skin. (pocket nappies like bumgenius already have this fleece layer built in.)
ReplyDeleteFor thrush, tea tree essential oil is a lab tested antifungal (not just a housewives remedy!) and adding a few drops to the usual cloth wash cycle & washing as hot as your nappies will take will prevent any re-infection through reusing nappies.
You *could* also add one drop to wipe solution or a bath (add to full fat milk first to help it mix with the water) but personally I would only use tea tree on babies over 6 months & opt for lavender (antifungal & antibacterial) instead as it is a little gentler. Even so, I'd save this until after 6 weeks unless I was desperate & had tried chamomile tea for a day or two without success.
Hope that helps! x
I feel your pain and your baby's too! My little girl, Claire who is now 8 mo. old, had a severe case of diaper rash for the first 2 months. At first the Dr. thought it was a bacterial rash and used the appropriate creams. No change. Then we tried anti-fungal creams thinking it was yeast. No change. Then a combo of anti-fungal, and Vusion cream (by Rx only and SUPER expensive if your insurance doesn't cover it.) No change. So I decided that I would try Desitin Max Strength (purple box) it has a 40% Zinc content and stop all other creams. IT WORKED!! Fast too. Within 3 days she was finally on the mend. It has never returned thankfully.
ReplyDeleteI use Pampers Cruisers and have with all three kids and never had any issues caused by them.
I also have to say at 7 weeks Claire was diagnosed with a severe case of acid reflux. We were struggling with a very cranky, crying, unhappy, uncomfortable baby for almost two months until I went to a pediatric gastro. Dr. She went on Zantac and Previdid together plus a few homeopathic remedies and within 24 hours was a much happier baby. Along with the rash starting to clear and now her tummy feeling better things were starting to finally look up. I don't know if there was a connection between the two, but maybe looking back, there may have been.
I nurse her exclusively and tried to eliminate a few items from my already strict vegetarian diet and then realized that almost everything that I eat or drink is already metabolized and broken down so it should NOT effect her in any way. The only things that may get through and into her milk are alcohol, medicines and caffeine, which I avoid as soon as I find out I am pregnant until I am finished nurrsing my babies.
Does Quinn have any reflux symptoms?
Have you tried just Desitin Max?
I know it is so frustrating and such a hopeless feeling when you are trying to figure it out. I swear I would have done anything to get her bottom fixed when we were going through it.
Hopefully you will figure it out soon and maybe try a few of the suggestions, as complicated as it may be.
Let us know how you do with this.
I am thinking about you and pulling for you and Quinn!
I feel your pain and your baby's too! My little girl, Claire who is now 8 mo. old, had a severe case of diaper rash for the first 2 months. At first the Dr. thought it was a bacterial rash and used the appropriate creams. No change. Then we tried anti-fungal creams thinking it was yeast. No change. Then a combo of anti-fungal, and Vusion cream (by Rx only and SUPER expensive if your insurance doesn't cover it.) No change. So I decided that I would try Desitin Max Strength (purple box) it has a 40% Zinc content and stop all other creams. IT WORKED!! Fast too. Within 3 days she was finally on the mend. It has never returned thankfully.
ReplyDeleteI use Pampers Cruisers and have with all three kids and never had any issues caused by them.
I also have to say at 7 weeks Claire was diagnosed with a severe case of acid reflux. We were struggling with a very cranky, crying, unhappy, uncomfortable baby for almost two months until I went to a pediatric gastro. Dr. She went on Zantac and Previdid together plus a few homeopathic remedies and within 24 hours was a much happier baby. Along with the rash starting to clear and now her tummy feeling better things were starting to finally look up. I don't know if there was a connection between the two, but maybe looking back, there may have been.
I nurse her exclusively and tried to eliminate a few items from my already strict vegetarian diet and then realized that almost everything that I eat or drink is already metabolized and broken down so it should NOT effect her in any way. The only things that may get through and into her milk are alcohol, medicines and caffeine, which I avoid as soon as I find out I am pregnant until I am finished nurrsing my babies.
Does Quinn have any reflux symptoms?
Have you tried just Desitin Max?
I know it is so frustrating and such a hopeless feeling when you are trying to figure it out. I swear I would have done anything to get her bottom fixed when we were going through it.
Hopefully you will figure it out soon and maybe try a few of the suggestions, as complicated as it may be.
Let us know how you do with this.
I am thinking about you and pulling for you and Quinn!
I feel your pain and your baby's too! My little girl, Claire who is now 8 mo. old, had a severe case of diaper rash for the first 2 months. At first the Dr. thought it was a bacterial rash and used the appropriate creams. No change. Then we tried anti-fungal creams thinking it was yeast. No change. Then a combo of anti-fungal, and Vusion cream (by Rx only and SUPER expensive if your insurance doesn't cover it.) No change. So I decided that I would try Desitin Max Strength (purple box) it has a 40% Zinc content and stop all other creams. IT WORKED!! Fast too. Within 3 days she was finally on the mend. It has never returned thankfully.
ReplyDeleteI use Pampers Cruisers and have with all three kids and never had any issues caused by them.
I also have to say at 7 weeks Claire was diagnosed with a severe case of acid reflux. We were struggling with a very cranky, crying, unhappy, uncomfortable baby for almost two months until I went to a pediatric gastro. Dr. She went on Zantac and Previdid together plus a few homeopathic remedies and within 24 hours was a much happier baby. Along with the rash starting to clear and now her tummy feeling better things were starting to finally look up. I don't know if there was a connection between the two, but maybe looking back, there may have been.
I nurse her exclusively and tried to eliminate a few items from my already strict vegetarian diet and then realized that almost everything that I eat or drink is already metabolized and broken down so it should NOT effect her in any way. The only things that may get through and into her milk are alcohol, medicines and caffeine, which I avoid as soon as I find out I am pregnant until I am finished nursing my babies.
Does Quinn have any reflux symptoms?
Have you tried just Desitin Max?
I know it is so frustrating and such a hopeless feeling when you are trying to figure it out. I swear I would have done anything to get her bottom fixed when we were going through it.
Hopefully you will figure it out soon and maybe try a few of the suggestions, as complicated as it may be.
Let us know how you do with this.
I am thinking about you and pulling for you and Quinn!
I feel your pain and your baby's too! My little girl, Claire who is now 8 mo. old, had a severe case of diaper rash for the first 2 months. At first the Dr. thought it was a bacterial rash and used the appropriate creams. No change. Then we tried anti-fungal creams thinking it was yeast. No change. Then a combo of anti-fungal, and Vusion cream (by Rx only and SUPER expensive if your insurance doesn't cover it.) No change. So I decided that I would try Desitin Max Strength (purple box) it has a 40% Zinc content and stop all other creams. IT WORKED!! Fast too. Within 3 days she was finally on the mend. It has never returned thankfully.
ReplyDeleteI use Pampers Cruisers and have with all three kids and never had any issues caused by them.
I also have to say at 7 weeks Claire was diagnosed with a severe case of acid reflux. We were struggling with a very cranky, crying, unhappy, uncomfortable baby for almost two months until I went to a pediatric gastro. Dr. She went on Zantac and Previdid together plus a few homeopathic remedies and within 24 hours was a much happier baby. Along with the rash starting to clear and now her tummy feeling better things were starting to finally look up. I don't know if there was a connection between the two, but maybe looking back, there may have been.
I nurse her exclusively and tried to eliminate a few items from my already strict vegetarian diet and then realized that almost everything that I eat or drink is already metabolized and broken down so it should NOT effect her in any way. The only things that may get through and into her milk are alcohol, medicines and caffeine, which I avoid as soon as I find out I am pregnant until I am finished nurrsing my babies.
Does Quinn have any reflux symptoms?
Have you tried just Desitin Max?
I know it is so frustrating and such a hopeless feeling when you are trying to figure it out. I swear I would have done anything to get her bottom fixed when we were going through it.
Hopefully you will figure it out soon and maybe try a few of the suggestions, as complicated as it may be.
Let us know how you do with this.
I am thinking about you and pulling for you and Quinn!
I feel your pain and your baby's too! My little girl, Claire who is now 8 mo. old, had a severe case of diaper rash for the first 2 months. At first the Dr. thought it was a bacterial rash and used the appropriate creams. No change. Then we tried anti-fungal creams thinking it was yeast. No change. Then a combo of anti-fungal, and Vusion cream (by Rx only and SUPER expensive if your insurance doesn't cover it.) No change. So I decided that I would try Desitin Max Strength (purple box) it has a 40% Zinc content and stop all other creams. IT WORKED!! Fast too. Within 3 days she was finally on the mend. It has never returned thankfully.
ReplyDeleteI use Pampers Cruisers and have with all three kids and never had any issues caused by them.
I also have to say at 7 weeks Claire was diagnosed with a severe case of acid reflux. We were struggling with a very cranky, crying, unhappy, uncomfortable baby for almost two months until I went to a pediatric gastro. Dr. She went on Zantac and Previdid together plus a few homeopathic remedies and within 24 hours was a much happier baby. Along with the rash starting to clear and now her tummy feeling better things were starting to finally look up. I don't know if there was a connection between the two, but maybe looking back, there may have been.
I nurse her exclusively and tried to eliminate a few items from my already strict vegetarian diet and then realized that almost everything that I eat or drink is already metabolized and broken down so it should NOT effect her in any way. The only things that may get through and into her milk are alcohol, medicines and caffeine, which I avoid as soon as I find out I am pregnant until I am finished nurrsing my babies.
Does Quinn have any reflux symptoms?
Have you tried just Desitin Max?
I know it is so frustrating and such a hopeless feeling when you are trying to figure it out. I swear I would have done anything to get her bottom fixed when we were going through it.
Hopefully you will figure it out soon and maybe try a few of the suggestions, as complicated as it may be.
Let us know how you do with this.
I am thinking about you and pulling for you and Quinn!
I feel your pain and your baby's too! My little girl, Claire who is now 8 mo. old, had a severe case of diaper rash for the first 2 months. First the Dr. thought it was a bacterial rash and used the appropriate creams. Then we tried anti-fungal creams thinking it was yeast. Then a combo of anti-fungal, and Vusion cream (by Rx only) No change. I decided that I would try Desitin Max Strength (purple box) alone, it has a 40% Zinc content. IT WORKED!! Within 3 days she was finally on the mend and it has never returned.
ReplyDeleteI use Pampers Cruisers and have with all three kids and never had any issues caused by them.
Also, at 7 weeks Claire was diagnosed with a severe case of acid reflux. We were struggling with a very cranky, crying, unhappy, uncomfortable baby for almost two months until I went to a pediatric gastro. Dr. She went on Zantac and Previdid together plus a few homeopathic remedies and within 24 hours was a much happier baby. Things were starting to finally look up. I don't know if there was a connection between the two, but there may have been.
I nurse her exclusively and tried to eliminate a few items from my already strict vegetarian diet and then realized that almost everything that I eat or drink is already metabolized and broken down so it should NOT effect her in any way. The only things that may get through and into her milk are alcohol, medicines and caffeine, which I avoid as soon as I find out I am pregnant until I am finished nurrsing my babies.
Does Quinn have any reflux symptoms?
Have you tried just Desitin Max?
I know it is so frustrating and such a hopeless feeling when you are trying to figure it out. I swear I would have done anything to get her bottom fixed when we were going through it.
Hopefully you will figure it out soon.
Let us know how you do with this.
I am thinking about you and pulling for you and Quinn!
Jill-- he does not have symptoms of reflux, and I did try that Desitin Max unfortunately the day after using it his rash looked worse, so I'm hesitant to use it again.
ReplyDeleteI'm cutting out dairy, citrus, and tomatoes and adding anti-fungal creams to his bottom. We'll see what that does. My first had a sensitivity to dairy in his first year so I gave that up while nursing, and many other parents have told me that for them eating citrus/tomatoes while breastfeeding caused rash issues for their babies, so some of the foods do still make it into breastmilk and can affect babies. It just depends on how sensitive they are to them...
OOPPS!! For some reason it kept posting all my revisions...sorry!! I wanted to delete them.
ReplyDeleteif you're worried about getting cream on your diapers, you can use a flushable paper liner. We used one by Bummis, but there are lots available.
ReplyDelete