Diaper Rash: How to Care for Your Child

A diaper rash is a skin irritation of the area covered by a diaper. It's treated by changing diapers often and protecting the skin in the diaper area. Follow these instructions to clear up your child's diaper rash.

• Use any prescription creams or ointments as instructed by your health care provider.

• Check your child's diaper often and change it as soon as it's wet or soiled.

• When changing your child's diaper:

  1. Wash the skin gently with a soft cloth and warm water. Or use a squeeze bottle to run warm water over your baby's bottom. If you use soap, use one that is mild and fragrance-free. Do not use baby wipes.

  2. Gently pat the skin dry with a soft cloth. Do not rub the skin.

  3. Apply a skin ointment or paste such as Desitin®, Triple Paste®, Balmex®, or a store brand.

  4. If needed, apply petroleum jelly (Vaseline® or a store brand) over the ointment or paste to stop it from sticking to the diaper.

• If your child only has pee in the diaper, you don't need to remove all of the ointment or paste with each diaper change. Just wash with warm water.

• Don't use powder.

• If you use cloth diapers, consider switching to disposable diapers until the rash heals. Disposable diapers pull moisture away from the skin better than cloth diapers.

• If you can, let your child's bottom air out without a diaper on. You could place your child in the crib with a waterproof sheet or on a large towel on the floor.

• The diaper rash gets worse or doesn't get better in a few days.

• Your child has blisters, pimples, or open sores.

• There is pus draining from the rash.

• Your child seems very uncomfortable.

• Your child has a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.

What causes diaper rash? Diaper rash usually happens after the skin touches pee or poop for too long. The skin breaks down and becomes irritated and red. The skin can get even more irritated from rubbing against the diaper, or coming in contact with detergents, soaps, fabric softeners, or baby wipes.

How can I prevent diaper rash? To prevent another diaper rash:

• Change diapers often.

• Use diaper ointment or paste with every diaper change.

• If you use baby wipes, be sure they're fragrance-free.

• If you use cloth diapers, wash them in dye- and fragrance-free detergent and do not use fabric softener or dryer sheets.