Advice on Changing Diaper Brands Due to Plastic Sensitivity

Cloth, obviously, since there's no plastic or latex involved. Another idea would be to go ahead and try switching to PullUps. The velcro on the sides lets you change them like diapers.

I would be curious too, to find out whether it's a reaction to the plastic or to the Latex or if it's not an allergy at all but just that Pampers has sections of the diaper that don't breath well. We never used papmpers (huggies worked better for us)...so I couldn't speak with any authority as to what they're made of!

Best of luck, & "Hurray to You!" for looking for things that don't irritate your sons skin!

~Z

2 moms found this helpful

Cloth certainly would clear up tape/adhesive allergies. A friend of mine used g diapers. From what I know they are like a maxi pad put into a diaper. They are flushable (you have to stir the pad around in the toilet bowl to dissolve/break it up). Other than that 7th Generation would be my recommendation for disposables. Good luck.

2 moms found this helpful

We've used the seventh generation brand for quite some time and I've been pleased with the fit/quality. The only thing to know with these diapers is they run small. My daughter is about 21 lbs and has been wearing the size 4 for months (I think the weight range starts at 22 lbs). If your child is close to the lower weight for a larger size, go with the larger size.

2 moms found this helpful

I would try cloth diapers. At 18 mo, you probably don't have too much of a problem with poopsplosions or super-heavy wetting any more and you can probably choose a large size for the rest of his diapering years, so no more need to size up.
I would recommend a good pocket diaper, I love Fuzzi Bunz, but they are quite pricey when bought new (next time we size up I will buy used though - it really is no big deal!). We also like Knicker Nappies, which is what we use now, they have a nice trim fit and elastic in the front and back, which I can imagine might be especially helpful for boys.
I wash at home and it truly is neither rocket science or a lot of work for that matter.
I have tried gdiapers, because I loved the concept and I really wanted to like them. But the inserts bunch up as soon as they get wet. I occasionally use the little gpants as covers for prefolds, and they have a nice fit also, but the snaps that hold the liner rub on my daughter's skin and cause chafing.
Good Luck!

1 mom found this helpful

I'd definitely go with the G Diapers if you don't want to go full cloth. They are easier than cloth with all the cloth benefits. You buy a Starter Set (try Amazon.com or a health/organic store) which includes a couple of cloth diaper covers. The 'inserts' are the part that is mostly in contact with all the mess and are DISPOSABLE, but the the sides and and edges touching baby will be cloth, not plastic!

I also love "Nature Babycare" diapers because they are the only 100% biodegradable diaper and are also chlorine free (I am a lazy environmentalist). I don't know for sure that they will prevent the rashing, but if ANY disposable diaper will, then my best bet would be on these. ($10 off first purchase from Diapers.com at www.retailmenot.com)

By far the most economical option would be cloth though.

Hi L.,

I am a WAHM who owns a cloth diaper business. If you decide you want to try cloth but feel overwhelmed, feel free to contact me. I give free cloth diaper lessons. I can go over all the different types of diapers, covers, washing etc. The very least, you can feel like you have educated yourself on all of your options.

Sincerely,
A.
www.punkinbutt.com

My daughter had thes problem when she was a newborn. The docotors told me to switch to the "generic" brands and for me it worked. Costco is my favorite, but the generic target and toys r us brands also worked. Also I had just purchaed a big box of the expensive ones when this first started showing up and someone suggested lining her diaper with fleece. That also worked great for me. You can purchase big remnants at fabric stores for a couple of dollars and cut it into peices. It is washable but I never went that far... It worked great.

I LOVE g diapers. I used cloth w/ my first baby, disposeables w/ my second (due to the fact they were easier & he had very sensitive skin and broke out in rashes w/ coth diapers), and decided to try g diapers w/ my third baby who's almost a month old now.
They are better for the environment, better for her skin, & relatively easy. You should check out their website and watch the videos online for more detailed info. But basically, you use a cloth wrap w/ a flushable insert. You can flush them, compost the wet ones, or even throw them away since they biodegrade in 50 - 150 days. They do not contain plastic or chemicals. I havent had a problem w/ leaks and if the wrap or liner gets soiled, I wash it in the sink w/ seventh generation dish soap & hang them up to dry and use later in the day. You can also throw them in your washing machine w/ your regular laundry. I'd say diaper changes take at most 5 minutes longer IF I have to hand wash the wrap or liner. Otherwise, its the same, I walk to the bathroom and instead of throwing away the diaper, I flush it! I think the main thing is to be sure you have enough wraps...I have 12 but I think 6-8 would be plenty.
I've also used tushies and seventh generation diapers and did not have a problem w/ leaks.
good luck!

I would call Pampers and describe what is happening. They may have a suggestion. You could also ask what the tabs are made of.

Its been a few years since I've changed diapers. I don't remember that the tab that fastens the diaper together actually touches the skin. Is it the diaper waist that could be causing the problem? If it's the fastener perhaps using a larger size would help. Fasten the tab as low as you can.

Have you put cortisone cream on the rash? If you could clear up the rash he might be able to still wear the Pampers.

Don't write off cloth so quickly, they have a lot of benefits, including the health of your baby.

http://www.thebabymarketplace.com/whyuseclothdiapers.pdf

I have used the seventh generation diapers and loved them! I recently also found a brand called nature babycare diapers and love then even more! You can find them only on diapers.com but I highly recommend them!

We use 7thGen diapers since the beginning. We love them and he has yet to get a diaper rash.

I have a daycare and preschool in my home and I am currently in the process of switching to cloth diapers. It has been 10 years since I have had a little one in diapers, and I am AMAZED at the options that are out there now! You mentioned "g diapers" and they look neat, too. They are have a cloth outer covering with a flushable center. There are so many types of cloth diapers now! There are "all-in-ones" with the cover built right in, or soft, flannel diapers with velcro fasteners with soft, wool soakers to go over the top, or the traditional prefolds. There are also sprayers available to attatch to your toilet to clean out solid matter from cloth diapers. Check on www.diaperswappers.com for a lot of excellent ideas, and on www.realdiaperassociation.org for some great reasons to switch. (I discovered a lot of things I was unaware of by reading their information.)
By the way, my dear daughters were allergic to the plastic substances in disposable diapers, as well. God bless you and yours! :)

I know many children are allergic to disposible diapers. I use cloth pocket diapers and love them. They are nearly like disposable, but you wash and re-use them.

I've used g-diapers. They are very versitile. There is a learning curve to using them. You can use a disposible insert in them that you can dispose of into the toilet. You can also use cloth inserts as well. I found them to be a little messy and difficult to use, but I have many friends that love them.

I've used both seventh generation and g-diapers. I actually like to cloth diaper and the seventh generation are the alternative when I'm traveling or camping. They are produced more environmentally friendly without the use of chlorine. I never had a problem with fit or leakage and my kids are super trim.

The g-diapers are awesome. They are a reusable cloth cover with a snap in lining and you purchase the diaper refills and fit them in the lining. When they are soiled you rip the diaper refill open dump it in your toilet swish it and flush it away. You can compost the wet diapers and even if you cannot flush the refills are made without plastic and biodegrade in about 50-100 days. Plus the cover are super cute AND they velcro to the back so babies cannot unclothe themselves as easily:)

Both brands have websites that tell you all about their product.

Good luck:)

R.

My 17 month old was having horrible issues with the same regions. I tried different kinds of diapers, I even tried cloth diapers. My doctor told me to try Aquaphor (I think it's spelled that way.) It's a vaseline like substance that you would use on really dry skin. But it's great on diaper rash. I buy big containers of it at Walmart.

My son had a similar rash on his lower back/upper bum. It seemed to itch him though. I used Johnson's baby lotion and started bathing him every day (previously it had been every other day), and the rash went away within a week. I didn't switch diapers (we usually use Huggies). The rash comes back from time to time, and I just go back to the lotion and baths and it quickly goes away.

Try Seventh Generation...they are dye free...etc....

The G diaper I think is the kind that has a disposable insert....I've looked in to them...but I'm not changing diapers unless I have another one.

You might also want to consider cloth diapers...they have come a LONG way since we were kids and our moms used those crappy ones...they now have cute colors....easy velcro fasteners...etc. I can point you in the direction of some great places to but cloth diapers to try out. At this point I may not even mess with disposable and go to something cloth...which should be cotton and NOT irritate at all...but that's only what I would do...everyone has their own way of doing things and I understand that. Also you may want to try some of the off brands....Target.....Kirkland...Walmart....often they are made of different materials. Gosh you could try diapers forever.

If they don't work...make sure you donate your un-used diapers to a friend, womens shelter or church...they ALWAYS need diapers.

please email if you need any more suggestions on cloth diapers.... ____@____.com (no spaces)

J. Van Riper
Director of Operations
Portland CityMommy
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We use the costco brand and I like those a lot. They fit very similar to pampers, but are cheaper. We've had no issues with skin sensitivity even though we did have them with a major brand. We've also had great success with cloth diapers and I would encourage you to check those out. Diaperswapper.com is a good resource.

Hi L.,
I see you've had several responses, so I'll just share with you what we did.
We had the exact same problem with our daughter's skin around the diaper area. We tried several other alternatives to diapering, but it seemed that it was more of the rubbing in the leg and back area that was more the problem.
We used vasaline after every change and 3% Hydracotesone ointment which did the trick.
Hope this helps!
Good luck.
L.

L.,

We used cloth with our daughter until she went to daycare and they didn't accept them. Bummer because we never knew what diaper rash was until switching to disposables during the day! We bought bulk disposables at Costco (did you know their house brand are the exact same as Huggies?) but I hated the idea of all the petroleum based ingredients in them and that weird gel stuff that absorbs the urine!

A friend of mine with a newborn and the same concerns as me turned me on to NATURE BABYCARE diapers. They're made in Sweden and are chlorine free (like seventh generation) and instead of the petroleum based plastic coverings (UN-like seventh generation)--they use a corn based material.

They are SO absorbent and fit very well. If you look around for promocodes, you can order them through diapers.com and get $10 off your first purchase. They also have a great return policy on diapers.com.

It might be worth it to try a package. My girl (20 mos) has never, and I mean never, had a diaper rash in them like she did in the Costco disposables. She also had sensitivity around the elastic on the legs--that is gone now after switching. For me, they are as good as cloth on her skin.

They are also compostable/degradeable, so they will break down in a landfill faster than a disposable. They're even packaged in a corn-based plastic that will decompose faster!

According to their website (www.naty.com) some Target stores carry them. I haven't seen them at my local Target (Northgate, Seattle)--so I order them on diapers.com.

Might be worth a try!

Hi,

I mostly use cloth diapers, but we always keep a package of disposables around for when our diaper wraps are all dirty or when we're out of town. Recently, I needed disposable diapers and couldn't get all the way to New Seasons for Seventh Generation, so I bought the moms to moms kind and my son got that bumpy rash from them. We've used them since, though, and he's been fine, so maybe his skin is not always so sensitive.

I actually like the 7th Generation diapers a lot. G diapers are an interesting invention. They have a flushable insert that is enclosed in a washable diaper cover (it doesn't need to be washed every time, only if it has poo on it or gets stinky). The insert can't be flushed whole, though, you have to rip it open, dump the loose absorbent material and throw in the outer coating--that way you don't clog your toilet, but it is an extra step. It's great because the raw sewage doesn't go into the garbage. Even with disposables these days I dump the poop (or most of it) in the toilet before tossing the diaper.

Good luck!