We all know there is nothing as soft and smooth as a baby’s skin. As adults, we often find ourselves wanting the same qualities. However, having smooth and soft skin, especially in places covered with clothing, can cause much irritation.
Diapers and underarms often produce rashes because of friction and irritants; therefore, babies need to have the proper skincare they need. Knowing how to apply diaper cream is vital to avoid irritation in the lower regions, and powder is also an excellent barrier from whatever the baby is wearing in the upper areas.
In this article, let’s talk about how to apply diaper cream to avoid irritation and rashes. This will be an essential way of keeping the baby feeling fresh and happy. When the baby is happy and does not cry, everyone is happy.
The Importance Of Diaper Cream
Diaper cream is essential because it plays two roles. It prevents diaper rash, and it treats irritations from diaper rash. Prevention is always better than cure, that is why we should act on making diaper cream a habit when changing the baby, to avoid treating rashes later on.
Applying diaper cream is crucial because it acts against irritants from the baby’s excrement, which may contain some acid from the baby’s food. When the diaper is wet, it amplifies certain chemicals like scent enhancements and diaper adhesive, which may mix in with the fluids and create a rough texture for the baby’s lower region. When this happens, all it needs is enough friction to make a baby cry.
Because diaper cream has ingredients that moisturize and soothe the skin, it is an excellent way to treat rashes and irritation. When outbreaks are too much, there are diaper creams available in the market that are medicated and can even handle more severe forms.
Types Of Diaper Cream
In knowing how to apply diaper cream properly, you should be able to pinpoint the different types. Each type has its way of applying the cream, and you can gauge what kind of cream to use by the severity of the rash. The diaper cream types are:
- Creams - These are usually mildly thick and water-based. They are straightforward to handle and are absorbed by the skin quicker. This type of cream also provides a cooling effect on the baby’s skin.
- Pastes – This type of diaper cream is a lot thicker and promotes moisture build up on the skin. It also contains ingredients that can moisturize and condition the skin of a baby. Pastes are highly recommended with cloth diapers or diapers, which are a lot rougher than cotton.
- Ointments - Ointment is an oil-based diaper cream that can stick to the baby’s skin for a long time. Its the least thick of the three but is usually greasy. It is recommended, especially for diapers that are too big to wear for the baby, which causes a lot of friction.
Application
Applying diaper cream to your baby should be easy. Some mothers religiously use diaper cream to prevent rashes. Some only apply cream when the baby is exhibiting signs of diarrhea, diaper rash, and irritation.
When you want to know how to apply diaper cream correctly, you should know when not to use it. You should not apply diaper cream when your baby has scabs or wounds on its skin. Serious diseases such as yeast-infection should not be treated with cream. It should be carefully monitored, and it is best to seek professional medical advice before applying anything else.
Not all babies have a good reaction to the cream. Some babies are allergic to some of the cream’s ingredients.
If this is your first-time applying cream to your baby, it is advisable to apply a small amount first, to check for allergies. If your baby has signs of allergies, don’t lose hope, you still have two more cream types you can try.
Safety Tips When Applying Cream
There are a few safety things to consider when using diaper cream, mainly since this is applied in a sensitive region. Always make sure to not double-dip when using cream, because this may contaminate your whole bottle of cream for future use. The cream should not be mixed with any other skin solutions, like powder or petroleum jelly. This creates an unwanted reaction and may do more harm than good.
When applying the cream to baby girls, it is advisable to use the cream only on the outer regions of the vagina. For boys, the cream can be applied to the scrotum and penis, although you have to make sure that nothing enters the foreskin.
Always wash your hands before and after applying diaper cream, since you are dealing with a baby.
Step by Step Application
The following is a step-by-step application of diaper cream when changing a baby’s diaper.
Step 1 – Remove the dirty diaper and clean the baby bottom. You can use baby wipes, tissue, or water. Remove all the residue from the previous cream application and make sure to clean the area thoroughly.
Step 2 – Prepare the fresh diaper under the baby. This is to prevent the cream from messing up the changing pad and not having a hard time putting it in the diaper later.
Step 3 – Put the cream on your center fingers and apply it to your baby’s buttocks. Make sure to go around the edges where the diaper causes the most friction. Use a small amount on the folds of the skin, like the groin area.
Step 4 -Clean the excess cream on the outer edges of the diaper and secure the diaper in place.
Step 5 – Make sure the baby is well in place before washing your hands.
Conclusion
Knowing how to apply diaper cream is just one way of promoting a baby’s health and safety. An essential part of being a parent is identifying the concerns of your baby and addressing them accordingly. Thou we may look for quick solutions and fixes to lighten up the job, it always helps to have a proper routine in place. Just remember, prevention is still better than cure, and investing in safety is an investment worth trying. Know more about diaper creams.