To prevent the appearance of irritation on the delicate skin of newborns, many caring mothers use diaper creams from well-known brands Bübchen, Mustela, while Bepanten cream is no less popular for the prevention and treatment of diaper rash. Parents who want to provide their child with proper care should find out which diaper products are the most effective and safe.
Why does diaper rash occur?
Children's skin is more delicate and vulnerable. What doesn't cause problems for an adult often irritates a child. As a result of contact with clothing or a diaper, the baby may experience redness in the groin or buttocks. Allergies can cause a rash on the cheeks.
Because diapers create a damp and warm atmosphere, bacteria begin to multiply actively. Uric acid and feces also affect the condition of the skin. Allergies may occur as a result of diet or medication. To eliminate all these problems you need to use a special cream.
If you apply it under diapers, the condition of your baby's skin will be much better. In this case, the baby will not feel discomfort.
How to choose a cream
When choosing a product, it is important to pay attention to its composition. Despite the fact that there are colorful products with scents on sale, you should opt for a regular cream without additives. Here are the ingredients that should be present:
- Zinc. It dries without harm.
- Allanolin has the same effect.
- Panthenol promotes the healing of wounds and small cracks.
- Medicinal extracts, for example, chamomile, nettle, celandine.
This composition makes the product wound-healing, soothing, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. For a newborn, diaper rash creams must be, most importantly, effective. Such products are not expensive, but they cope with their functions perfectly.
Also, the presence of Bepanten cream in any home with a newborn is justified by the fact that this drug has a regenerating, moisturizing, anti-inflammatory effect. This medicine can be used on any area of the child's skin.
How to apply cream
Any product requires proper application. First you need to make sure that the child does not have an allergic reaction: to do this, part of the product is tested on the palm or crook of the baby’s elbow. If no reactions occur, you can safely continue using the cream.
And for the product to work even better, you need to follow simple recommendations:
- Apply only to clean skin, dried with a soft towel;
- Before applying, the baby’s bottom should be washed with a gentle product and gently blotted;
- apply the cream or ointment with light, gentle movements; do not apply pressure or forcefully rub the product into the skin;
- After the product is absorbed, you can put on a diaper. You should not put on a diaper if the skin is still wet and the cream has not dried;
- If your baby has diaper dermatitis, the product should be used at least 3 times a day.
Popular brands
Now it's time to choose the most suitable cream. On store shelves you can find different products: “Emolium Cream”, “Betadine”, soda cream, “Drapolen Mustela”. Below is a list of the most popular:
- "Bübchen" contains only medicinal components, as well as zinc and panthenol. It has a pleasant smell, is easy to apply, and is quickly absorbed. The composition also contains vitamins, beeswax, glycerin, and oil. The bottle is equipped with a dispenser for convenience. The product can also be used for preventive purposes, this way you can prevent the occurrence of diaper rash.
- "Sanosan." In addition to zinc and medicinal components, it contains talc and olive oil. These components soothe and moisturize the baby's delicate skin and add a light aroma. As parents say in reviews, “Sanosan” has a thick consistency, so it is not absorbed immediately. But in the future the skin remains smooth and there is no irritation. Can be used on other places such as cheeks and breasts.
- "Betadine" can be called a product for adults, but it is also suitable for infants as an antiseptic and disinfectant. Reliably copes with diaper rash, small wounds, cracks, redness. You can use Betadine with the whole family, since it is also an anti-allergy cream;
- "Mustela". Less common remedy. Contains shea butter, vitamins, and zinc oxide. These substances relieve inflammation and discomfort caused by dermatitis or diathesis. The product is ideal for delicate and sensitive skin. Since the cream is expensive, you should use it sparingly.
- Domestic is very popular among mothers because it is an ideal ratio of quality and price. The product is affordable and effective, easily fits in your bag, and can be taken with you on the road. Convenient to apply and rub in, absorbs quickly, leaves no residue;
- Another domestic product, “Our Mother,” contains medicinal extracts: herbs and oils. The cream does not cause allergies, acts gently and carefully, and is easy to apply.
- The popular product "Johnson's Baby" contains a soothing component and also has a pleasant smell. The cream can be used from the first days of the baby’s life, there will be no harm.
Choose – powder or cream
Powder is a powder whose main task is to absorb moisture from the skin. It should be used to dry the skin. Powder helps fight diaper rash, but is less effective against irritation.
This product may cause the skin to peel due to excessive drying.
Children's cream often contains Panthenol, which has an anti-inflammatory effect and has a beneficial effect on the healing of small wounds. Most products contain a complex of medicinal components that allow them to be used not only for prevention, but also for treatment.
If used incorrectly, both cream and powder can lead to negative consequences. By applying too thick a layer of cream to the skin and putting on a diaper immediately afterwards, parents will ensure that the child is irritated. That is why negative reviews about these products are often caused by their improper use.
If a child wears diapers, parents should have both products in stock. When redness appears on the skin, the use of cream is recommended. In case of diaper rash, it is advisable to use powder. However, the simultaneous use of powder and cream is contraindicated .
Other articles on the topic of child care: daily hygiene for a newborn - what needs to be done and in what order;
proper child skin care - why it is necessary and how to do it.
Could powder be an alternative?
Many mothers, out of habit, use powder or baby talc. With their help you can relieve diaper rash, remove irritation and redness. But the powder has its own drawback: it dries out too much.
If talc is used frequently, peeling may occur on the skin. Therefore, you can alternate between diaper cream and powder.
If the baby’s skin does not accept the cream, powder or talc will be the only way out.
La-Cri diaper cream: recommended by pediatricians
All of the above requirements are fully met by the La-Cri soft diaper cream. It is created on the basis of natural active ingredients. The substance contains drying zinc oxide, the most valuable natural shea and jojoba oils, healing licorice extract, healing panthenol, as well as miraculous beeswax.
The use of the cream is completely safe for newborns: it does not contain hormones, aggressive parabens or any other unwanted chemicals that can harm health. The product softens, soothes and protects delicate baby skin from irritation and redness. Recommended for use from the first days of life for diaper dermatitis and as a preventative measure.
Use it in your baby's skin care as needed. We wish you good health!
Newborn hygiene rules
To avoid diaper rash and irritation on the baby’s delicate skin, it is important not only to apply cream under the diaper, but also to follow basic rules of hygiene for newborns. Young mothers are sometimes too lazy to wash the baby after each “go to the toilet,” which further worsens the condition of the baby’s skin and makes the mother worry.
Here are a few simple rules to help prevent diaper rash:
- At any time of the year, the baby should be dressed according to the weather. This also applies to the temperature in the room: you should not dress the baby too warmly if the room temperature is normal, but the baby should not freeze. Natural breathable fabrics and the right number of layers of clothing will ensure “ventilation”. In winter, the child should be warm, but overheating should be avoided;
- Laundry soap, soda and other harsh products dry out the skin, causing flaking. They should be replaced with special products for children;
- Children should have their own bed linen and wash it separately from the adult. It is best to wash sheets and blankets by hand with a little shampoo. Powders and conditioners may cause allergies or irritation;
- After each bowel movement, the baby must be washed;
- You need to change the diaper about 5 times a day, and the skin must breathe before each “change.” To do this, the child is simply left naked for a few minutes;
- A finger should fit between the tummy and the edge of the diaper; in this case, due to “ventilation,” the risk of diaper rash is reduced.
Diaper cream
To make the baby comfortable
Parents try their best to provide maximum comfort to their newborn babies, and choosing the right cosmetic product to care for baby's delicate skin is a challenging task.
The range of pharmaceutical cosmetics for the youngest children today is extensive, so the pharmacist must orient the buyer in this variety and help make the right choice. A newborn baby does not require many cosmetic products, but diaper cream is one of the most important and necessary cosmetic products. At an early stage of a baby’s life, when his protective functions are not yet fully formed, delicate baby skin is very vulnerable and prone to inflammation. The most common skin inflammation in children of the first year of life is diaper dermatitis - skin irritation that appears when the skin comes into contact with urine or feces. This disease occurs in 30–60% of children. Diaper dermatitis can occur from the first days of a baby's life, but most often it develops between the ages of 7 and 12 months, when the baby begins to receive complementary foods and the chemical composition of his feces and urine changes.
Modern protective diaper creams, which have both a preventive and therapeutic effect, help prevent the occurrence and development of inflammatory processes on children's skin. Many manufacturers produce such creams today, and it’s not easy to navigate this abundance. What should you pay attention to when recommending such a cream? Is diaper cream necessary at all or is it better to use baby powder?
Expert
Our expert, pediatrician at the MEDSI Children's Clinic on Blagoveshchensky Lane in Moscow, Elena Leonidovna Khutorova, answers these and other questions that concern young mothers.
— Elena Leonidovna, in what cases should mothers use diaper cream?
E.L.: Diaper cream should be used for the baby’s daily hygiene. It helps prevent the appearance of diaper rash and inflammation of delicate baby skin and soothe irritation if it has already occurred. All diaper creams contain zinc oxide and are so-called “barrier” creams: they protect the baby’s skin from exposure to excess moisture - urine and feces, which can cause inflammation. At the same time, while performing a protective function, the diaper cream does not clog the pores of the skin and allows it to “breathe.”
— What should a mother pay attention to when choosing diaper cream? What should be included in the “correct” diaper cream, and what should be avoided?
E.L.: The intimate parts of babies are very sensitive and delicate, so when choosing a cream for a diaper, you need to remember that its composition must be safe and harmless for the child. The cream used for infants should contain only high-quality natural ingredients that are safe for delicate baby skin. It should not contain any artificial fragrances, parabens or preservatives. The safest components of baby diaper cream are zinc, which provides a drying effect, and panthenol, which promotes the healing of wounds and cracks, as well as natural soothing oils.
— How should you choose a diaper cream according to the child’s age?
E.L.: When choosing a cream, you should pay attention not so much to the age of the child, but to the condition of his skin. For inflamed skin, you need to choose a cream that contains substances that soften the skin and protect it from irritation - for example, zinc oxide. If the baby's skin is too dry, then the diaper cream should also contain moisturizing components and substances that promote cell restoration - for example, panthenol. The cream may contain vitamins A, E and D, as well as extracts of medicinal plants. Calendula, chamomile and aloe have an antiseptic effect, the string relieves irritation and redness, and lavender has a calming effect.
— How often can you use diaper cream?
E.L.: For infants, it is recommended to apply this cream every time after changing a diaper and washing. If it is not possible to wash your baby after changing a diaper, you can use a damp cloth to clean the skin.
— How to apply diaper cream correctly?
E.L.: When recommending diaper cream, be sure to explain to the buyer how it should be applied. Required on clean and dry skin. After changing the diaper, the baby should be washed with warm running water, dried with a towel or soft cloth and left naked for a couple of minutes until the skin is completely dry. After this, apply a little cream to the child's buttocks and groin folds with light and gentle movements and wait a little for the cream to be absorbed. After this, you can put on a fresh diaper.
— Today, pharmacies offer a large assortment of diaper creams, what should you pay attention to?
E.L.: The most important thing is the composition of the cream. An inexpensive cream that contains only natural ingredients will be healthier for children's skin than a product with perfumes that can cause allergies. It is best to choose a dermatologically tested cream that is labeled accordingly. A good choice would be cosmetics from well-known brands or trusted manufacturers, since in this case the quality and safety of products is monitored especially carefully. And, of course, you need to explain to the buyer that it is better to buy products for babies at the pharmacy. Since storage conditions are strictly observed there and expiration dates are controlled.
— What else does a mother need to know in order to choose the most suitable cream for her baby?
E.L.: If the cream contains extracts of celandine, oak bark, chamomile or other medicinal plants, then before the first use of such a cream you need to make sure that the child is not allergic to any of the components. To do this, you need to apply a small amount of cream to the baby’s inner bend of the elbow and after an hour look at the reaction of the skin in this place. If there is no redness, then the cream can be used under the diaper, but if the baby’s skin is at least a little red, then the cream cannot be used.
— Pharmacies offer not only diaper creams, but also other cosmetics for babies: lotions, powders, baby cream. What is better to use?
E.L.: The lotion does not contain alcohol, cleanses the skin well and does not leave a greasy film, so it is used to cleanse and moisturize the skin, most often during the morning toilet. Baby cream has moisturizing and anti-inflammatory effects, so it can be used without restrictions throughout the day. Baby powder is rarely used, mainly to remove excess moisture from the baby's skin. At the same time, we must not forget that, unlike diaper cream, powder does not create a protective film on the baby’s skin, it only absorbs moisture. Modern diapers themselves have excellent absorbent properties, but powder does not protect against feces, so dermatologists do not recommend using diaper powder.
