Does your little one have a red bottom? Diaper irritation, also called diaper rash, is a common problem in babies: particularly present during the first months of life, it can persist until the age of 15 months. Generally benign, the redness can nevertheless be painful. Here's everything you need to know to avoid them.
What is diaper rash?
Diaper rash is an inflammation of the skin. It often results from prolonged contact with a dirty diaper: the pH of urine and the digestive enzymes present in excrement are in fact very irritating. During times of cold or other viral or bacterial illness, or even teething, loose and acidic stools can also be the cause. Finally, in some children with delicate skin, the friction of the diaper is sometimes enough to create irritation. You also need to look at what materials the veil in contact with the baby's skin is made of in the diaper. And favor natural materials. This is also the case for perfumes or other irritating substances added by certain brands, or even products used to maintain diapers if they are washable (disinfectant, detergent, fabric softener, etc.).
Please note: irritated buttocks are generally not serious. In certain rarer cases, however, they can indicate a superinfection with Candida, a fungus which readily lodges in the folds of the skin. Does your child's seat have bright red patches and the problem has persisted for at least four days? In this case, it is better to consult your doctor or pediatrician: appropriate treatment will allow you to relieve your baby as quickly as possible.
How to protect baby's bottom?
Is your newborn prone to irritated bottom? To limit this phenomenon, the first thing to do is to increase the frequency of diaper changes: the less contact your child has with his stools and urine, the less redness he will develop. The right frequency: five to six times per 24 hours. And in case of stools, change baby without delay. If irritations still appear, try to let your child's bottom be exposed to the air as often as possible to eliminate friction.
Change: the right gestures!
If necessary, replace the cleaning and care products used during changing. In general, it is recommended by midwives to use liniment: only 3 ingredients, including olive oil, which leaves a thin protective layer on the baby's bottom. Choose a liniment with 3 ingredients and only olive oil, like Love & Green Bioliniment .
To treat redness, you can spread a cream specifically formulated for diapering: soothing and protective. Choose formulas without zinc oxide. Zinc oxide is one of the nanoparticles, but the ANSM recommends avoiding its application to damaged skin (potential toxic and carcinogenic effects). They also have the advantage of insulating the child's skin from humidity.
What if you changed diapers?
Don't hesitate to change diaper brands if you usually use a classic product. Respectful of the skin, ecological diapers have a healthier composition and thus help to limit irritation factors. Their veil in contact with baby's skin is 100% of natural origin, less irritating than polypropylene. Just as absorbent as traditional diapers, they should help completely eliminate redness, both in the short and long term.
Also remember to check that the size of the diapers is suitable for your baby. Indeed, annoying friction can sometimes come from a diaper that is too big... However, the diapers should not be too tight either! Good to know: you can use one size until the sticker strips reach their maximum position.
