How do I Deal with Toddler Diaper Rash?

Dealing with toddler diaper rash is often a process of ruling out possible causes of the rash, a process that should be done along with the toddler's pediatrician as some of the possible causes may be serious. Some of the most common causes of toddler diaper rash are moistness in the diaper, chafing against the toddler's skin that is the result of friction, a sensitivity to a product that is being used on the child's skin, a reaction to a new food, and possibly infection. A number of these issues can be dealt with easily at home, but it is important to make sure that the cause of the toddler diaper rash is not infection, an assessment which can be made by the child's pediatrician.

One of the most important things to do when dealing with toddler diaper rash is to make sure that the child is always in a clean, dry diaper. One of the most common causes of diaper rash is a child sitting in a dirty diaper for too long. When urine and fecal matter are allowed to remain on the skin, especially if they mix, the child's skin can quickly break out in a diaper rash. So one of the first and most important steps to dealing with toddler diaper rash is to be diligent about changing diapers.

If toddler diaper rash does not seem to be caused by infection or by dirty diapers, parents may want to consider changing the kind of diapers that they use, especially if there is fragrance in the diaper. Parents using cloth diapers may try using hypoallergenic detergent when washing their toddler's diapers. Also, powders, lotions, and creams used on the toddler's skin may result in diaper rash. Try switching to a different brand of products, especially a brand that is labeled as hypoallergenic. A pediatrician may also be able to recommend diaper creams and powders that are the least likely to cause irritation.

In some cases, toddler diaper rash may be the result of a new food that the toddler is eating. For toddlers who are still breast feeding, this may even be a reaction to a food that the mother has been eating. This possibility can be discussed with a pediatrician so that the parents can figure out what kinds of food or foods might be causing the reaction and altering their diets, or at least the diet of the toddler, accordingly.