13 answers

Cloth Diaper Diaper Rash

We started our son about 3 months ago on cloth diapers. He was around 14 months. He had about one to two daipers rashes in disposables. We had heard that diaper rashes occur less in cloth diapers, but this didn't really matter to us since he rarely got rashes anyhow. So it's been 3 mnths and he's had 2 diaper rashes. The first time, we switched him back to disposables and it went away. It's now 2 weeks later and it is back.
We change his diaper every 2-3 hours whether he needs it or not. I wash the diapers on a rise cycle with no soap or anything and then on a sanitary cycle with just a drop of color/odor free cleaner (we have a front loader, so you only need 1/4 the normal amount). I dry them in the sun. I use vinegar every 5-6 times that they are washed to help with odor.
Am I doing something wrong? Is there anything that can help? We use the pocket Bum Genius. We feel like we have to make it sort of tight on him so that the diaper doesn't leak? Is there a better choice of diaper out there? We were thinking of getting prefolds with the liners for the next baby, but if they would help our son now, we'll just get some now. Thanks!

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Featured Answers

I too use the Bum Genius pockets and have a front loader. I put the soap in first for a soak cycle. Then I run a regular hot cycle. I then add just a drop of soap and run another warm cycle with an extra rinse. I heard that for front loaders you need to do two short washes to effectively clean them. My son does get the occassional rash, but I use a diaper ointment that is safe for cloth and it goes away right away. Good luck!

More Answers

I too use Bum Genius. I noticed that if I leave the diaper on him too long he will get a rash. When that happen I found an Amazing diaper rash cream called Grandms elles it works so good usually cleares up the rash in 1 day. You can purchase the cream through Gogonatural.com

Is your son a hot/sweaty baby? it may be that his skin isn't breathing enough through the waterproof layer in the diaper. We use the same diapers, and prefolds. I like to alternate them a bit to give him some "air out" time. We also use Northern Essence tea-tree free diaper salve. it's pocket diaper safe and it seems to help keep the moisture off his bum. you can only buy it online but it lasts quite a while.

I, too use the bum pockets. I put the soap in the first cycle and no soap in the second, that way it gets extra rinsed. What kind of wipes are you using? If he was wet or you use wet-wipes, let him get totally dry before you put the next diaper on him. My boys rarely get rashes, but when they do we use Tender Tush from KidScents and it clears up in the same day...

My son had a few rashes when he was in diapers and what we did for him was clean his butt with a wash cloth and mild soup and warm water and that would help. It may be the wipes thats irritating his skin. Just a thought, good luck.

I use organic corn starch and dust it on with his diaper changes... no rashes!

From what I have heard, some babies are allergic to the suedecloth used in the inside pocket of the diaper. I love the Kissaluvs and Happy Heinys fitteds with a Thirsties cover (especially for a newborn). You might try some different types of diapers and see if that helps. Sometimes using vinegar can cause problems too or maybe all the detergent is not being rinsed out completely, I always do a final cold short rinse. I hope you figure it out.
S.
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For fit and less diaper rash, I have to say that Fuzzi Bunz seem to be the best option across the board. There are exceptions, of course. Prefolds keep the urine next to the skin, so that might be an issue for you, if that's the source of the rash (urine to skin contact). Your son is getting older and is eating more and eating different things, so it's common for rashes to increase with an older baby and may not necessarily have to do with cloth. Has he had any new foods lately? More citrus? That's just something else to consider. My last suggestion is to just be sure your washing the diapers on HOT water. Turn up the water heater, not just set the washer on high. This isn't necessary for everyone, but would be a good experiment to make sure you're really getting out all the detergent from the pockets AND inserts. Hope that helps some!

It might be fungal, so he might need a cream from a doctor or it might not go away.

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