4 Essential Diaper Creams to keep on Hand

First and foremost, protect Baby’s skin, especially for that long nighttime stretch consider using a light cream.   Remember that Baby’s skin is very thin and sensitive, so take care what you put on it.

Baby Center photo by Joe Shlabotnik

That said,

Babies get diaper rash.  You can do all you can to prevent diaper rash (#1 - change diapers frequently).  You can switch diaper brands and change from disposable to cloth and back again, but Diaper Rashes happen.  There’s teething, food sensitivities, too much pineapple one day, or that middle of the night poop that no one woke up to. But Rash Happens. 

I always prefered to start with something thin and gentle.  Coconut oil, olive oil, and breastmilk are both natural options to protect and heal minor skin irritations, as well as plenty of fresh air. 

Butt Paste – This was always my go-to.  Glides on smoothly with castor oil, Butt Paste has active ingredients including Zinc Oxide, 16%, Aloe Vera, and Beeswax.

Another soothing, natural option includes Burt's Bees.  With 4.6 stars from over 220 reviews on Amazon, Burt's Bees Baby Bee Diaper Ointment has rave reviews.  With sweet almond oil as the first ingredient, followed by zinc oxide, calendula, lavendar oil, vitamin E and other products, it's an effective, sensitive solution. The only red flag in the diaper ointment is it’s source of vitamin A - Retinyl Acetate. 

A+D Zinc Oxide Cream; Uses 10% Zinc Oxide and Dimethicone 1% to heal the rash.  A & D includes Aloe Vera, and coconut oil, cod liver oil (source of the vitamin A and D for healing), beeswax.  It’s not at thin as Butt Paste, but still pretty smooth.   Negatives are fragrance and mineral oil, synthetic beeswax, Benzel alcoholol

Triple Paste is essential for every mom to have on hand.  This is the emergency, guaranteed to work  diaper rash healer.  When nothing else worked, this was always my go-to.  With a higher percentage of Zinc Oxide 12.8% (Skin Protectant), Triple Paste also includes cornstarch, beeswax and oat kernel extract to help heal the skin.

CJ’s BUTTer is the only one from this list I have not tried.  The skin-friendly ingredient list includes shea butter, olive oil, coconut oil, lanolin, beeswax, cocoa butter, Vitamin E (derived from soy), gluten-free colloidal oatmeal, and essential oils.  This is one of the few cloth diaper friendly creams available.  What I love about this is that it is available in a Spritz!  Instead of spreading/dabbing on a cream, and possibly causing irritation from friction, you can just spritz on the protectant.  I LOVE this idea!  Hard to find locally, you’ll have to check out a specialty store or order online. 

If the diaper creams aren’t working or the rash worsens, call your pediatrician.  If you have ANY concerns about a rash or change in your baby’s skin, it never hurts to give Baby’s pediatrician a call, if for no other reason that reassurance.  Your baby may need a prescription or an exam to determine if the issue is yeast or a bacterial infection to receive appropriate treatment.

Common sense disclaimer:

This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE.  The author nor publisher takes responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.