Published 5th October 2011
Whether you’re a seasoned or first-time mum, protecting your baby’s delicate skin is right up there on the priorities list. Because when their skin is irritation-free, it really does make for a happier bub! Anyone who’s had to deal with nappy rash (me included!) knows it’s an inescapable mum truth.
Having skin irritation as an adult is super distracting and annoying. So just imagine what that’s like for our teeny babies and toddlers, who need to focus on sleep, eat and play. No wonder they can be so upset when they have nappy rash.
One thing you do need to ditch when it comes to nappy rash is mum guilt. It happens despite our best efforts. But it is helpful if you can get ahead of the game by doing as much as you can to try and prevent nappy rash in the first place.
We asked our hundreds of thousands of Mouths of Mums members for their tried-and-true, trusted nappy rash tips, and their responses came down to four key tips. So if you’re about to have your first baby, or your fifth, it’s worth popping on the kettle and reading through what’s helped other mums.
Fail-Safe Nappy Rash Tips From Mums
What we love about these tips is they’re perfect for mums and expecting mums, and they’re really simple to do. Everything from what to use and what to steer clear of, to helpful hints on caring for delicate baby skin.
1. Nappy Free Time
“As much free nappy time as possible. Lay baby on a blanket covered with a towel on the floor, without a nappy on, if possible in front of a warm sunny window.” – Joanne W.
We love nappy free time for newborn and toddlers (although it’s a lot harder to get them to stay in one place!). And while nappy free time is one of the most popular nappy rash tips among our mums, using the right nappy also plays a huge part in protecting against irritation on your baby’s skin. For example, Huggies Ultra Dry Nappy Pants have clever Rapid-Dry™ Technology, which instantly absorbs for drier skin. And they’re perfect for day and night, with up to 12 hours of leakage protection.
2. Change Nappies Frequently
“For me, what worked on my two kids is not leaving them in soiled nappies too long. I definitely changed as soon as they were wet and let their skin air dry before placing a new nappy on. I would rather go through more nappies than have to deal with the uncomfortable rash they would feel.” – MoM Member
Frequent nappy changes are a fail-safe way to keep moisture, but it’s not always practical (babies just love to fill their nappies while you’re out and about!) Huggies Newborn Nappies are designed to help protect a baby’s delicate skin with a zinc-enriched layer*, clinically proven to help protect against skin irritation.
3. Use A Barrier Cream
“My mum put me onto Zinc and Caster Oil cream. It is FABULOUS stuff! It’s very thick and sticks like you know what to a blanket hehe I tried literally everything and this was the only stuff that helped.” – Trudes
Using a barrier cream was another really popular tip from our mums. But did you know that Huggies Newborn Nappies are the only nappy with a zinc enriched layer. The zinc oxide in Huggies Newborn Nappies is the same ingredient found in many nappy rash creams, which helps to protect against irritation with visibly less redness on skin. They’re also endorsed by the Australian College of Midwives and the number one choice in Australian hospitals.
4. Choose Gentle
“Don’t use scented wipes. Flannel and warm water is the best.” – Justine F
Using the most natural product possible for wiping a baby’s delicate skin to prevent irritation is a tip that’s been passed down from generation to generation – and it’s still a great one. But something lots of mums don’t consider that a nappy itself can help protect against skin irritation. Huggies Newborn Nappies are clinically proven* to help protect against skin irritation while Huggies Ultra Dry Nappy Pants keep up with wriggly little ones while providing superior dryness, making them perfect for active toddlers.
Nappy Rash Myths & Facts
🚫 Myth: Nappy rash is only caused by wet nappies.
✅ Fact: It’s true that moisture does play a role in nappy rash, it can also be caused by moisture friction, bacteria, and even what the nappy is made from.
It’s why choosing a nappy that’s specifically designed for skin protection is really important.
🚫 Myth: Cloth nappies are better at preventing nappy rash than disposable nappies.
✅ Fact: When it comes to nappy rash, there’s not really any need to compare cloth and disposable nappies, because it’s all about keeping baby dry. The longer baby can stay dry, the better.
Huggies’ Rapid-Dry™ Technology absorbs wetness instantly, reducing irritation risk.
🚫 Myth: Nappy rash creams are the only way to protect against irritation.
✅ Fact: A good nappy with a zinc enriched layer can also help to protect against irritation.
Find Huggies Newborn Nappies and Ultra Dry Nappy Pants in your supermarket nappy aisle today.
Mouths of Mums is working with Huggies to bring you this handy information.
*Zinc as Zinc Oxide. Tested on adult skin as a suitable substitute for baby skin.
*#1 choice in Australian hospitals based on sales data.
ReplyAll really good tips. I’m a big believer in not letting them sit in wet nappies for long. Even the most absorbent nappies are resting against their delicate skin and need changing. I’m also a big sudocrem fan. A thin layer applied to irritated skin does wonders. It’s natural for them to have nappy irritations but we can only do our best to avoid it
ReplyReally terrific advice. My daughter never had much in the way of nappy rash develop and I believe that because I did change her so frequently and we had a lot of nappy free time, especially in the warmer months of summer. Sure there is things to treat nappy rash but we all know prevention is best!
ReplyMy first born had terrible nappy rash and ulcers from acid urine and none of the specialists prescription creams did anything. I finally used Petroleum Jelly and it cleared up his skin very quickly and kept future rashes at bay. It is cheap and easy to use and works the best of anything.
ReplyAny redness can be resolved with a tub of Sudocrem. It’s a cream that smells like lavender. Very pleasant and usually works quickly within the first application.
Take it with you everywhere. It helps poo nappy changes. Just apply on bottom area to prevent future nappy rash. Your baby will be happy with it on. It doesn’t feel cold like a wet wipe.
ReplyAny redness can be resolved with a tub of Sudocrem. It’s a cream that smells like lavender. Very pleasant and usually works quickly within the first application.
Take it with you everywhere. It helps poo nappy changes. Just apply on bottom area to prevent future nappy rash. Your baby will be happy with it on. It doesn’t feel cold like a wet wipe.
ReplyI had issues with my son pooping a lot as a newborn. Sometimes it can be really hard to keep the rash at bay if you have a child that is constantly doing that. There is some acidity in the excrement and that can cause burning before it’s even been against their skin for long. I used to use paw paw cream on him and that worked best as a barrier.
ReplyNappy Rash can be so raw and painful and i always worried so much when our babies had a bout of it. I remember trying so many things but always found good old petroleum jelly used regularly would help in keeping it at bay. There are some great suggestions in the article.
ReplyI did find that not all nappy rash creams are as good as each other. After trialing many brands I settled on Sudocrem as the best for me and my baby. Changing nappies frequently and air time is also very important.
ReplyThere are so many common sense tip in this article and they are tips that we followed. We kept everything as natural as possible on very soft and sensitive skin. We went with plenty of nappy free times and we were very fortunate to not encounter issues with nappy rash.
ReplyThis article describes very much what we always have done: frequent nappy changes, plenty of bare bum time, no fragrances also not in soaps and a good nappy rash cream. It can become more challenging when your child has diarrhea; in which case bare bum time becomes more complex and the skin more irritated in which the gentle washing with warm water, patting dry with a soft cotton flannel and good zinc cream is more important
ReplyEven though I agree that prevention is key, I also think it’s important to have a good barrier cream to hand to help at the first signs of trouble. There are lots of good brands, you can pick any really that suits your baby’s skin. But use it liberally when you need it!
ReplyYay! First time seeing my own comment in an article! *happy dance*
But yes, i do swear by changing their nappies as soon as it’s soiled. It’s what worked for us for both children! We always go prepared and change either before going out, during or in the car boot if we really had to
ReplyNappy rash is horrible and prevention is definately better than cure. This is a fantastic article with some great tips. Especially the changing of the nappy frequently. Unfortunately sometimes especially once they’re on solids and their poops get yucky a little nappy rash can be unavoidable in which case a small amount of sudocreme clears it up quickly.
ReplyWe found that changing nappies frequently was key for us. And once the kids starting sleeping for long periods at night, we started using the really good quality nappies – Huggies, as it happens – while cheaper nappies were still okay for the day and frequent changes. Nappies do vary! .
ReplyThis is a really great reminder that nappy rash can happen but there are some great tips to help try and avoid it. I use to do a lot of nappy free time with my daughter when we were home as she had sensitive skin and I layered the barrier cream on all the time, especially at night.
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