14 answers

Diaper Rash with Cloth Diapers

I've been using cloth diapers for several months with no problems. I recently switched to seventh generation laundry detergent and I believe that my kids are allergic (they both broke out in hives after I switched). At the same time as the hives, my son also got a terrible diaper rash. I was using Ecos laundry detergent and everything was fine. I stopped using Seventh generation and switched back to Ecos. I washed all the diapers in Ecos with an extra rinse and in the meantime used disposable and the rash went away. A few days with cloth diapers though and the rash is back. Do you think I need to strip the diapers or something to get all of the detergent out? Thanks!

What can I do next?

Featured Answers

I would definitely start with stripping the diapers. If he's not still having problems with hives and stuff, it's probably just a build-up residue in the diapers.

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I don't know anything about Ecos detergent, cuz I don't use it. I used to use Ivory soap with chlorox bleach to wash diapers, and you need to be sure you don't overfill your machine, so the rinse cycle gets the soap out.

With cloth diapers, you may find you need to change your son more often. Cloth doesn't get the urine away from his bottom the way the fake diapers do. Either than, or put vaselline on his bottom before you diaper him.

If your kids have allergies, why not go to a very basic laundry detergent -- as in "not a detergent", just a soap product. Something like dreft, or ivory, or, if you want eco-friendly, Shaklee has been making ecofriendly, biodegradable laundry soap and other cleaning products for over 30 years.

Hi H.,

Check with your pediatrician for some ointment for the rash.

Good luck. D.

happy to hear from H.,
I am a 1970's mommy with cloth diapers and bonding and nurse'n babies wearing overalls ...
good to see 'we' are back !
** ADD A 1/4CUP CLEAR VINEGAR [ white] TO RINSE CYCLE ....
RINSE COLD WATER
*** ADD 2 TABLESPOON OF BAKE SODA [ YELLOW BOX] TO WASH CYCLE ...[ HOT WATER]
GOOD FOR YOU MOMMY . FAKE DIAPERS STAY IN OUR LANDFILLS FOEVER... WHERE WILL THE CHILDREN BUILD THEIR HOMES IN 20 YEARS ???????????????????
a little sprinkle of corn starch or bake soda on butt/ bottom ... works every time ! a little naked time too ... right after you change the baby .. leave naked !!! [ safe ]
cotton soaks up more 'suds' when wet in a washer ... it may be a matter of excess residue in the diapers ... cut the 'washing eco soap' in 1/2 ... it will still clean just as well .
a hippie grammy
with hippie children
and a eco friendly grand child !!!!
good for you !!!!!
hang out on wash line to dry ....!
ps= n-e-v-e-r- use fabric softener sheets w/ diapers ... [ can be highly allergic] also interfers with 'pee' absoration .......get the plastic laundry 'balls' [ cvs sells them]

i recently had my very first reaction to fabric softener. Your poor kids! I'm 6 months pregnant and I was itching for a month and absolutely miserable. It was taking several washes to get the clothes non itchy before I realized that there was softener residue still in the dispenser. After thoroughly cleaning the dispenser I've had no trouble. May you need to clean your washing machine. You can buy special solutions that do this from the store but you could also try using vinegar in a wash cycle with no clothes in.

I would definitely start with stripping the diapers. If he's not still having problems with hives and stuff, it's probably just a build-up residue in the diapers.

H.,
Yes, I think you still have soap in the cloth diapers. I would wash them in the hottest water without any detergent. Have you tried rinsing the cloth diapers and doing a wash only with white vinegar? White vinegar will remove the soap and also rebalance the PH of the diapers from them soaking up urine. You can also use baking soda in-place of white vinegar.

I never use the all natural detergents as their surfactants absorb and coat the cloth diapers too much and don't wash out. The cloth diapers will begin to loose their absorbency as this soap builds up. I always use the free & clear detergents at about half the recommended amount and I always do a second rinse with a downey ball filled with white vinegar.

You can get the diapers back. You could also try drying them in the sun and then doing a quick run in the drier to soften them.

I am still doing cloth bedtime diapers for my 4 year old son and i wish I could educate all moms on how simple cloth diapers can be. I love cloth diapers for their environmental benefit, carbon footprint low impact, and financial frugality. I am just getting ready to re-sell all my infant cloth diapers and covers on e-bay. The best underground network for cloth diapering supplies.

Fondly,
ann m.

There are tons of ways to wash diapers and I'm sure that you will hear many different versions. You can try several different things to strip the diapers, from using a tbspn of Dawn dishwashing liquid, boiling them on the stove or using RLR laundry treatment.
I use soapnuts and sometimes some oxyclean to boost. It can really depend upon your water and your washer. Whether it's a front loader or a top loader. I know many people that have a front loader will actually add water to the wash to help. Some of the newer models allow you to adjust the water level.
http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/detergentbasics.htm

http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/hedetergentchoices.htm

Usually when a diaper rash doesn't go away its a yeast infection. You should call you ped and have your kids seen.
Yeast infections are treated easily with an anti fungal cream and a heavy layer of diaper rash cream to keep it on. It will clear up quickly.

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