In a hurry?
Soothing Diaper Rash Cream by Aleva Naturals is my number one pick and will probably be a great fit for your needs. Use the link below to order the product on Amazon. – Soothing Diaper Rash Cream by Aleva Naturals
Not all diapers are created equal.
Not all diaper rash creams are created equal either.
Now that you’ve decided on cloth diapers, there are some guidelines you need to keep in mind regarding diaper rash cream. You can’t use just any old diaper cream. You need to take into consideration if it will wash out, leave stains, or completely ruin your cloth diaper.
Cloth diapers are made of various types of material:
Natural Fiber, e.g., Cotton, Hemp or Bamboo Velour
Microfleece
Charcoal
“Stay-Dry”
Each of these kinds of material has different ways they react to the ingredients in diaper rash creams. We will be going over these.
I Use Cloth Diapers. What Do I Need to Watch For?
For cloth diapers, you need to watch for a few different ingredients. Some can stain, or cause repelling issues.
Ingredients that can cause issues
Zinc Oxide – It stains (white/grey spot), but it can be washed out with careful washing. and treating. Overuse of this ointment will cause the absorbency of your diaper to reduce.
Lanolin – It will wash out (it is used to “waterproof” wool covers).
Petroleum – This is a bad one; it causes repelling issues when using synthetic fibers.
If you do decide to use petroleum, use a liner in your cloth diaper to help prevent staining. Make sure it is thin and disposable or reusable (microfleece, flannel, cotton, etc.). Check to see it works with the cloth diaper too.
The reusable liners can be washed with your cloth diapers on HOT water, as this will prevent the transfer of oils from the liner to the cloth diaper. Extra hard to get out stains can be treated with a toothbrush and dish soap after your first cycle of washing. VIVA paper towels are a great and cheap alternative to fabric liners.
Cotton, hemp or bamboo velour won’t require a liner for the use of petroleum-based diaper rash cream, as long as you have a proper washing routine in place. When using fleece/charcoal or stay-dry, watch for creams with candelilla wax, microcrystalline wax, panthenol or sesame seed oil. All of those products will reduce the absorbency of your cloth diaper and cause repelling.
On fluffloveuniversity.com, they advise:
“Those who have a solid wash routine with proper detergent, friction, and the water level may find that they can use any cream, even petroleum-based, on all of their diapers (synthetic or not) without a liner, and not have any issues. If you think that you may be able to use these creams, TEST them first on a diaper prior to using it freely without a liner. That way, if you find you do have buildup or repelling, you can easily spot-treat the area without much effort.”
Alright, now that we got that out of the way, let’s talk about some diaper creams on the market. There are umpteen million baby diaper rash creams available. A lot are geared toward the disposable diaper market. You only need to look at the ingredients to see if it is safe for your cloth diapers.
Only a few will be listed. If the list contained every single one of the diaper rash creams that are safe to use with cloth diapers, we’d be here all day perusing the list.
Diaper Rash Cream For Cloth Diapers
Petroleum-based ointments will affect the absorbency of your diapers, which will cause leakage. I use petroluem-based oitnments, with a liner, and have zero problems with my cloth diapers!
Summary
More Info
A&D Original Ointment
Pediatrician recommended; great reviews online
Zinc Oxide: no
Lanolin: yes
Petroleum: Yes
Oils? Which ones? Cod liver oil, mineral oil
Fragrance-free: no
Organic: no
Dye-Free: yes
Preservative-free: yes
A&D Zinc Oxide Cream
Also contains Aloe.
Zinc Oxide: yes
Lanolin: no
Petroleum: no
Oils? Which ones? Cod liver oil, coconut oil, light mineral oil
Fragrance-free: no
Organic: no
Dye-Free: yes
Preservative-free: no
Aden & Anais Mum & Bub Soothing Ointment
Naturally derived ingredients.
Zinc Oxide: no
Lanolin: no
Petroleum: no
Oils? Which ones? Vegetable oil, canola oil
Fragrance-free: no
Organic: no
Dye-Free: yes
Preservative-free: no (Benzyl Alcohol)
Aleva Naturals Soothing Diaper Cream
Hypoallergenic, Certified Vegan and cruelty-free.
Zinc Oxide: no
Lanolin: no
Petroleum: no
Oils? Which ones? Castor seed oil, Olive Fruit Oil, Roman Chamomile Flower oil
Oils? Which ones? vitamin E oil, olive oil, coconut oil
Fragrance-free: yes
Organic: no
Dye-Free: yes
Preservative-free: yes
And now here is a list of the not so safe creams for your cloth diapers. Remember, if you chose to go this route, a liner is needed. I prefer Bummis Bio-Soft, but you can use whatever liner suits your needs. Petroleum-based ointments will affect the absorbency of your diapers, which will cause leakage. Nobody, or should I say no baby wants that.
Diaper Rash Creams That Are Potentially Problematic (Petroleum Based)
Shea Moisture Raw Shea Chamomile and Argan Oil Baby Head-to-Toe Ointment
Vaseline (petroleum jelly)
Save Your Baby’s Bottom
To wrap this all up, here are the key takeaways: natural fiber diapers are fine to use with any type of diaper rash cream, so long as you have a good washing routine down. As for synthetic fibers, like microfiber or stay-dry, you’ll need to stay away from petroleum-based or mineral oil-based creams. If you do go that route anyway, use a liner with each diaper.
It’s overwhelming at the thought of buying the right diaper cream for your cloth diapers. Not only that but the right kind for your baby’s bottom. Did this article help walk you through what kind of diaper rash cream to use? Feel free to do your own research.
Test some creams out, and let us know your thoughts!
Many people switch to cloth diapers because it is one of the best natural diaper rash remedies. Many babies are sensitive to all the harsh chemicals found in disposable diapers and making the switch to cloth clears things up instantly.
However, from time to time, even in cloth diapers, your little one may have about with diaper rash. Though this should be the exception, not the rule.
So what are some natural diaper rash remedies you can use to help your little one’s tushy feel better, without using over the counter diaper rash creams?
Diaper rash creams that contain zinc oxide, waxes and oils (especially fish oil) are very hard to wash out of your diapers, can leave stains and can cause your diapers to repel water (not a good thing).
What Causes Diaper Rash?
There are many reasons why babies get diaper rash. It is always a good idea to pinpoint the cause, if you can, and eliminate the culprit. And, if your baby’s rash does not clear up quickly with these suggestions, it is very important to see your family pediatrician for guidance within a few days.
Here are some of the top things that cause diaper rash:
Diaper rash is most often caused by a combination of wetness and friction. Babies that are not changed often enough, or who are in a too tight fitting diaper can easily get diaper rash.
Hanging out in a poopy diaper for too long will do it.
Using a diaper and/or cover that cannot breathe. Most of the cloth diaper choices out there are breathable, some more than others. Avoid those plastic pants used years ago!
Sometimes the food that the baby eats (or mom if the baby is nursing) can cause diaper rash, especially foods that are highly acidic.
Using fabric softener or bleach on your diapers can leave harsh chemicals on the diaper that will irritate baby’s sensitive skin.
Antibiotics can sometimes cause yeast infections that often looks like diaper rash.
Detergent residue left on your diapers caused by using the wrong type of detergent or if your diapers is not getting rinsed out well enough. The best way to fix this problem is to strip your diapers.
Using a type of detergent that your little one is especially sensitive to.
Ways to Prevent Diaper Rash
Change your baby’s diaper often. I know, sometimes easier said than done, but letting your baby hang out in a wet diaper is a sure fire way to cause irritation. And change the poopy diapers immediately. Make sure the baby’s bottom is dry before putting a new diaper on.
Clean baby’s bottom really well at every change.
Use wipes that are scent and alcohol-free. Better yet, use cloth wipes with either plain water or a mild wipe solution.
Add vinegar (just plain old white distilled) to your rinse cycle. This helps to restore the pH of your diapers and may help to rinse out any detergent residue left over from washing.
Natural Diaper Rash Remedies
Let your baby’s bottom breath. Let her go without a diaper for a while to get some fresh air and dry out.
Don’t wipe the infected area, wash with water and pat dry. Wiping will further irritate this very sensitive skin.
Try washing and blow drying baby’s bottom on a low setting after every change until the rash clears up.
Some people swear by using a little cornstarch to keep the diaper area dry but use caution if you try this. Corn starch will cause a yeast-based infection to get much worse!
Try switching the laundry detergent you are using.
Place a fleece liner inside the diaper, especially at night. This will help your baby stay feeling dry. I have used just some cut up fleece I purchased at the fabric store.
Switch to a more breathable type of diaper, like cotton fitted or prefold with a wool cover.
Olive oil has helped sooth diaper rash with my kiddos.
You can try using essential oils mixed with the olive oil. There are many that are soothing and healing. I like tea tree oil, it is anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory. Other good ones are calendula, chamomile, and lavender.
Here is one of my favorite all natural diaper rash remedies – breastmilk! Just put a little right on the rash. When I tried this, I was AMAZED how quickly that nasty rash cleared up.
Shea butter is very soothing and has natural healing attributes. Avoid lotions that call themselves shea butter, but have tons of other junk in them. Go for the pure stuff.
There are some all natural diaper rash treatments that don’t contain zinc oxide and/or fish oils. You can find these at most natural food markets.
If you do end up using regular old diaper cream, use a liner inside the diaper to try and keep the cream from staining your dipes. If you can’t do that, or you forget, or you just didn’t know, I highly recommend that you strip your diapers after the diaper rash is all cleared up and you have stopped using the diaper rash cream.
If none of these natural diaper rash remedies helps, or if your baby is really suffering with no end in sight, please consult with your pediatrician!
