You must have heard the idiom ‘prevention is better than cure’. Especially, if you are a parent, applying this rule becomes important where your babies are concerned. This may be said because newborns remain prone to developing diaper rashes and infectivity. If you wish to take preventive measures, so they are not affected by such skin-linked disorders, our advice is to choose the best cloth diaper for them.
Diaper rash and infections are painful, discomforting to the babies and surely you would not want your little one to suffer from the associated soreness. If you wish to take steps to prevent the newborns from becoming afflicted with such anomalies, the below-listed pointers may prove to be handy.
1. You can opt to use the gentler varieties of laundry-based cleaning agents for your baby’s clothes. Harsh soaps can remain on the infant’s clothing and irritate their sensitive skin; thereby, giving birth to diaper rash. Therefore, it would be best to avoid their usage.
2. It is essential to bear in mind that the primary cause of rashes in babies is wearing a soiled nappy for a prolonged duration. Exposure to ammonia and dampness for a long time has a tendency to irritate the skin of the infants. For this reason, you must change your baby’s diapers at regular intervals. Following this practice goes a long way in the prevention of rashes. Excess moisture, little air, and prolonged contact with their droppings – can cause rashes. Hence, it becomes important to replace the diapers with fresh ones often.
3. Plastic bottom-wear is also known to be one of the causes for the development of rashes. This is because they restrict air circulation and keep the diaper area wet. Hence, avoid wearing these types of clothing as a preventive step.
4. Try applying hypoallergenic skin cleansers, and not soaps, for bathing the babies. Also, only use a small quantity of these agents as a precautionary measure. It may also be helpful to reduce the bath-time of the infants; also, rinse the infants with lukewarm water and not excessively hot water.
5. You must also ensure that the bottoms of the infants are completely dry before applying diaper cream. Remember that rubbing ointments over a wet bottom can result in the trapping of moisture and increase the risk of the little ones getting affected with rashes and infections. Additionally, opting for the unscented ointments would be wiser as a means of protecting their tender backsides.
6. Keeping your baby bare for some time during the day is also important. Before wearing a new diaper, consider placing them bottomless on a waterproof surface for allowing their skin to breathe.
7. Nursing mothers are also advised to restrict their intake of acidic foods and beverages. If they consume citrus fruits, then as a result of breastfeeding it may so happen that the babies produce in reeking poohs, which can be extremely discomforting for them.
8. Dressing the babies in clothes that are comprised of breathable fabrics is also known to be helpful for preventing diaper rash in the infants.
9. It may be useful to learn that for preventing rashes that are caused as a result of allergies or poison ivy, you should keep your newborn away the elements causing these reactions. Where foods or medications are concerned, it may take some time to figure out those items that are responsible for these reactions.
10. Certain medical conditions such as Psoriasis and Impetigo are also factors that contribute towards the progression of rashes in newborns. Therefore, you must treat them promptly for avoiding further complications at a later stage.
11. If using cloth diapers, the best way to clean the residual soap is by rinsing them well in water. The use of bleach can neutralize bacteria effectively, but you must make sure that the nappies are rinsed thoroughly in water after washing them in bleach-based agents. Also, make sure that the nappies are completely dry before reusing them.
Moisturizing your baby’s skin with creams and petroleum jelly is an effective way of enhancing their skin health and avoiding them from developing any skin-related disorders. These ointments act as a protective barrier and keep the children unharmed from injurious elements. Also, you can try applying oils such as coconut oil or olive oil for keeping their skin healthy and infection-free.
At the end, follow these useful tips for disposing of your baby’s diapers at home.
Author Bio:
Aliza works on women’s awareness of parents and kid’s health. Being a mother of 3 kids, she has tremendous experience and loves to share her motherhood memories with readers looking for online resources on motherhood and kid’s health.