Top tips on how to protect your baby's delicate skin from nappy rash

Nappy rash can be a regular occurrence throughout the first few years of a baby’s life. 

Between the newborn stage and toddlerhood, nappy rash in young children is most likely to occur due to their sensitive skin being exposed to prolonged moisture or friction. While nappy rash in babies can be easily treated, if it’s not managed properly it can lead to skin infections, creating a distressing and worrying situation for both you and your baby.

As a parent, there’s nothing worse than seeing your baby in discomfort, so if your little one is experiencing nappy rash or you want to be prepared for when they inevitably do, check out our top tips on how to soothe this skin condition. 

What is nappy rash

Nappy rash is a common form of skin inflammation that appears in your child’s nappy region. Their skin can become irritated, making it look patchy and red around their bottom and the creases around their thighs. Other symptoms include swelling, blisters or peeling skin. It occurs when your little one’s urine and bacteria from their stool react to create a form of ammonia which can irritate their skin. There are many causes to nappy rash including leaving a wet or dirty nappy on too long, weaning, teething, yeast or bacterial infection, chafing or friction from their nappy or a reaction to new products.

Preventing nappy rash

Keep clean and dry

Ensure you change your baby’s nappy as soon as it becomes wet or dirty. This will help to prevent any friction and irritation that may occur if they are left in the used nappy for a prolonged amount of time. If this moisture is left to rub against your baby’s bottom, creating a warm and damp environment, it can lead to rashes and infection developing.

Nappy-free time

Let your tot’s bottom ‘breathe’ with some nappy-free time. Place your child on a large towel so they can enjoy some time with fresh air getting to their skin. This means they won’t have a nappy rubbing against their delicate skin 24/7, after all, we all like to feel a fresh breeze on our skin from time-to-time. Whether it’s during tummy-time or when they’re playing with their favourite toys, nappy-free time is easy to work into your baby’s everyday routine.

Be gentle when cleansing

Your baby’s skin is delicate and should be treated as such. Every time you change your little one’s nappy, try using damp cotton wool rather than harsh wipes when cleaning the area. By doing this, you’re keeping the harsher ingredients that may be found in wipes away from your child’s skin. Ensure you are being careful when cleaning the area and pat dry rather than tugging across the skin. Opt not to use harsh or irritating soaps and lotions on your tot’s skin to ensure the best chances of preventing nappy rash. Something as simple as trying a new gentle cleansing wash may do the trick!

Make sure skin is dry

After changing your baby’s nappy and gently cleaning with damp cotton wool, always check to make sure they are completely dry before placing a new nappy on their skin. Between gently patting them dry or allowing your tot’s bottom to air-dry, double check that their skin is no longer damp before putting them in the new nappy. Also, make sure not to rub their skin dry because this can lead to more irritation.

Try a new nappy 

Swapping out the brand or size of nappy you use for your baby can be a simple solution to preventing nappy rash. Try using a super-absorbent nappy to see if the extra protection from the nappy helps with making sure your baby’s skin doesn’t get irritated. Make sure the nappy is still breathable and not too tight. If the nappy is too small or secured to them too tightly, this can cause more friction and chafing against their skin by restricting the airflow. Ensure you don’t use a nappy that is too big for your baby either because this can lead to leaks which can also irritate their sensitive skin. 

Use Caldesene

Try using a helpful product like Caldesene Medicated Powder to keep nappy rash at bay and keep your baby’s skin soothed and protected. Applying Caldesene before putting on a fresh nappy is a sure fire way of preventing nappy rash because the medicated aspect of the powder helps to attack harmful bacteria to help to prevent rashes. This powder has been specially formulated to create a barrier against wetness on your baby’s skin and lessens the chance of rashes developing. As well as preventing nappy rash in the first place, Caldesene Medicated Powder can help to soothe irritation that is already occurring on the skin.

To effectively use Caldesene Medicated Powder, gently cleanse your baby’s skin with some damp cotton wool and carefully pat or air-dry the skin. Next, sprinkle a layer of Caldesene each time you change your little one’s nappy (or as directed by your pharmacist or physician). By doing these simple steps, you will help to prevent and treat nappy rash on your child’s skin with the gentle but powerful formula of Caldesene. Caldesene is available in a variety of sizes including 20g, 55g and 100g, meaning you can carry a smaller size in your nappy bag when on-the-go or keep a larger bottle on your child’s changing table. 

Keeping an eye out for the symptoms of nappy rash is a super important aspect of taking care of your baby’s sensitive skin. If symptoms arise, treat the rash as soon as possible to get their skin back to its regular condition. With the help of Caldesene, their skin will be soothed and taken care of to help reduce the likelihood of nappy rash developing in the future. 
Try Caldesene for nappy rash prevention and treatment today and if you’re looking for more trusted information about nappy rash, visit Caldesene.ie