Diapers have become an inevitable baby care accessory today. They are easy to use, disposable, and avoid a lot of fuss with the babies. They are super absorbent and make it easy to clean the baby after excretion.
At the same time, diaper uses a lot of inorganic chemicals to keep them dry and odorless. These chemicals might start to give irritation and rashes to the baby’s skin. Diaper rash can also be caused due to other reasons like the microbes from the stools and infection from the moisture.
On average, a baby uses more than 6000 diapers each year. Because of this, diaper rash is a very common condition experienced by most babies, especially from 4 months to 1 year. So, how to treat this common condition easily? While there are many cures, can coconut oil be the best remedy for diaper rash? Let us find out.
Is Coconut Oil Good for Baby Diaper Rash?
Coconut oil can be used to cure diaper rash without any objection. It has the ability to moisturize the skin, rejuvenate it, and soothe the irritation and itching caused by the rash. It also has certain anti-microbial properties which makes it a wholistic natural medicine for treating diaper rash in babies and adults.
Unprocessed Coconut oil is one of the best oils you can use for consumption and it is proven to be healthy in many studies. As for using it on the skin, you can find many popular products to use coconut oil for their creams. Several pieces of research have been made to study the health benefits of coconut oil for skin and most of them suggest that they are one of the best natural oils for skin.
Coconut oil has been proven to have the following health benefits:
- Skin barrier repair
- Anti-bacterial effect
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antioxidant
- Wound healing
- Prevents skin aging
Therefore, it can be effectively used for treating diaper rash in babies as well as in adults too. It is more effective in babies since their skin is soft and can easily absorb the nutrients present in the oil. Let us understand how to find out diaper rash in babies and use coconut oil to effectively treat the condition faster.
Does my Child have a Diaper Rash?
First of all, you need to make sure that the baby has diaper rash and not any other infection. Because diaper rash can be easily treated with coconut oil. But if the condition is different, then you may not have much cure for it.
Therefore, it is very important to find out whether the baby has a diaper rash or not. Here are some of the major symptoms and signs that show diaper rash in babies.
- The primary symptom of diaper rash is skin inflammation in the area where the diaper touches, that is, around the buttocks, inner thighs, and genitals. You will find the skin to be reddish and sometimes with rough rashes around it.
- Due to this, you will find the baby to be very fussy. Since the baby cannot handle the itching and irritation, you can find the baby to be crying continuously. This is also a major sign to check for diaper rash.
- The skin tends to be very itchy around the area and it will also be tender. Sometimes, you can find sores on the skin in the diaper area.
When these symptoms are evident, you can confirm that the baby has a diaper rash. If you see other symptoms associated with this like fever, then you have to contact your pediatrician to get treated.
Using Coconut Oil for Diaper Rash in Babies
When you confirm that your baby has diaper rash, then you can simply use coconut oil to cure the condition effectively.
- Remove the diaper and clean all the excreta gently with a moist cloth.
- Don’t use wet tissue or any other soap since it might increase the rash irritation.
- Wipe the diaper area thoroughly with a fresh wet cloth.
- You can also use warm water to clean the area. But be very gentle since the baby will find it highly uncomfortable.
- Once cleaned, use a dry cloth to remove excess wetness from the area.
- When you have dried the diaper area completely, take unprocessed organic coconut oil or coconut cream and apply it gently over the affected part.
- The coconut oil will soothe the irritation, stop the itchiness, and moisturizes the area for the body to treat the rash.
- After coconut oil application, you must not put any pants on your baby.
- You should not put on diapers again till the rashes are cured. Let the child be naked from the hip.
When there is more aeration around the affected area, the rashes will get cured soon. Therefore, it is very important to keep the area uncovered for a few days.
You don’t have to worry about cleaning or wiping the coconut oil again. Because most of the oil would be absorbed by the skin. Apply this remedy at least twice per day or after wiping the excreta of the baby.
How long will it take to Cure Diaper Rash?
With proper care, diaper rash can get cured completely within a week and the symptoms will start to subside within two days.
Coconut oil can aid in this recovery process more efficiently than any other remedy or medicine. It is more natural and safer for the baby’s skin.
Unlike other medications, natural remedies can take a day or two longer to cure any condition completely. But it will be a permanent cure with zero side effects.
Diaper rash is not a very serious condition. But it will be very uncomfortable for the baby which will result in too much fussiness. Coconut oil can stop the itching immediately and relaxes the baby.
Once the itching stops, slowly the reddish rash and the inflammation starts to fade away in a couple of days. Therefore, within a week, you can get a complete cure for the diaper rash.
Diaper Rash Reasons and Causes
Rash from diapers can be caused due to the following factors and if you try to prevent them, you can avoid the rashes.
Chemical Allergy – The inorganic chemicals used in the diaper might not be compatible with your baby’s skin and starts to cause an allergic reaction rash.
Rash From Stool – Some parents leave their babies with the diaper on for a long time. So, the acid from the stool starts to irritate the skin and gives rashes.
Urine Rash – This is very common among babies and most of them get their rashes due to this. Urine contains strong alkaline such as ammonia which can give burns on the skin. Although the ammonia content is very less, it has the potential to harm the baby’s tender skin.
Microbial Rash – Sometimes, when there is too much moisture around the diaper skin, it may become a place for microbes to infest. You can find yeast and bacteria in this kind of rash usually. These rashes are usually triggered secondary to the chemical rash due to the underlying excess moisture. The bacterial rash may even develop into a condition called cellulitis which is a serious condition and it can also develop into staph scalded skin syndrome in rare cases.
Will a Diaper Brand Cause Diaper Rash?
There is a lot of chance for this to happen. Not all diaper brands can be compatible with your baby’s skin. This is because diaper brands don’t use the same type of chemical compounds in manufacturing diapers.
The inorganic compounds used to keep the odor away and that aid in the absorption might vary and this can be allergic to your baby. Even if the brand is very popular, there is no guarantee that the diaper will be compatible with your baby.
Therefore, when buying diapers for a baby, try to select a product with organic moisturizers and chemical-free compounds.
In all brands, you can get a premium version of the diaper which has high-quality compounds and mostly doesn’t affect the baby’s skin.
Therefore, if you find the rash to be recurring in your baby, then you must consider changing the diaper brand or version to avoid getting it.
Look for premium brands and popular choices. You can also get advice from your baby’s doctor regarding the use of diapers and which brand to use.
Also, it is very important to know how to use the diaper and how often you need to change them. Because it also plays an important role in giving the rash.
Read more home remedies for babies:
- How to Treat Constipation in 2 Month Old Baby
- How To Do A Baby Hearing Test At Home
- 9 Best Thermometer for Babies and Toddlers 2022
- 8 Best Baby Bath Tub for Travel
- 8 Best Bath Seats for 6 Months Old Babies
How often do you need to Change the Baby’s Diaper?
Not changing the diaper periodically is one of the primary reasons for rash. Every parent must be mindful regarding their baby’s diaper. You have to always keep an eye on the diaper and look whether it has become full. Here is a guide for parents on how often to check the diaper and change it.
For Newborn
Generally, it is recommended to check the diaper every two hours even at night. Since newborns tend to urinate every two to three hours, it is better to check the diaper and change it. This is not a condition for all babies and it may vary. Therefore, change it often as needed. For every diaper change, it is best to gently wipe the whole area.
For 3 to 6 months old
The excretion rate might decrease slightly and the need to change the diaper can reduce. But still, it is best to check the diaper at least once in three hours and get to know the status. Stool excretion might have increased. Therefore, you might have to clean the baby often.
6 to 9 months old
The rate of excretion will be further reduced. But the amount of urine and stool will increase considerably. Therefore, even though you don’t need to check the diaper often, you have to keep an eye and check it out at least 6 to 8 times per day.
9 months to 1 year
Again, the rate of excretion will reduce and the number of excreta will increase at this age. Therefore, you might have to change it at least 5 times a day and sometimes more.
This is just a guide for new parents to take care of their babies properly and it aids in preventing rashes. But the duration and amount of excretion might differ and parents must take heed of it.
What chemicals are present in baby diapers?
There are potential risks associated with the chemicals present in the diapers for the baby and for the environment too.
Commonly you can find hydrocarbons like polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins, ethylene benzene, xylene, toluene, polyacrylates, or phthalates.
These chemicals act as potential pollutants in the environment and are highly capable of affecting the baby’s skin.
Although most of these compounds have been regulated by the health federations, you cannot be sure that the diapers are chemical-free and don’t cause any harm.
Is it Advisable to use Diapers for Babies?
It is recommended to use diapers scarcely and only when there is a dire need. This is because diaper rash happens only due to prolonged usage. The inorganic substances are one of the primary reasons for irritation and rashes.
Although you can use the diaper wisely by changing it periodically, it is better to reduce its usage as low as possible.
You can use diapers when you are going on a travel, during nighttime, and occasionally when you cannot look after the baby.
They are super useful during travel. But when you are in your home, it is best to avoid using it more and leave the baby naked. This provides more aeration to the genitals and the buttocks which keep the area healthy.
Alternative Solutions to Diapers for Babies
You don’t have to depend on diapers to take care of your babies. There are alternative solutions that are better and healthier for the baby. Here are some of the best alternatives for diapers:
Washable Diapers – These diapers have a soft cotton pad covered with a water-resistant material. The cotton pad absorbs the excreta and the outer covering protects it from oozing out. Since this diaper cannot hold excreta for long, you have to remove it. This is actually quite good and healthy for the baby too. You can wash the whole setup and reuse it.
Let the baby be naked – You may wonder how this can be an alternative. But it is the best solution to avoid any kind of infection or rash in babies. When you leave the baby naked, you can monitor how often they urinate, how often they excrete stool and the amount of excretion. This will give a hint about your baby’s health.
Just put on undies – If you don’t want to leave the baby naked, you can simply use underwear. Although they don’t serve the purpose, they can protect the baby’s genitals and buttocks from dust and debris.
Conclusion
Coconut oil’s medicinal value need not be established. It is healthier for the body and also for the skin. When you find the baby to have rashes from diaper usage, use coconut oil to treat the condition and let the baby stay naked till it heals. Even after healing, reduce the usage of the diaper and let the baby stay free since it is better for the baby’s health.
