Help please: diaper rash :(

DS#2, aged almost 6 months, has a diaper rash. A big nasty red rash all
over his cheeks, radiating out from the anus. It's clearly very sore,
and he's been spending lots of time with a bare bum, thick unscented
zinc cream on his bum, and very frequent diaper changes (disposable, so
should "wick away" pee).

It turned up suddenly on Sunday. He's been very gassy and loose, with
mucusy green poops since Sunday, and on Saturday MIL who was visiting
gave him "a couple of teaspoons - I mean, a taste or two, not much" of
strawberry yogurt while I was in the shower. My diet hasn't changed, so
I think the yogurt is the culprit. I'm gently trying him on rice
cereal, but he's not really going for it and I don't think he's ready
for solids other than the odd taste for experimentation. I wouldn't
mind trying to firm up the poops, though, since that might make them
burn less.

MIL dismisses the notion that the yogurt (or the strawberries within)
might be the cause, and instead thinks it's because I've been putting
him in our newly acquired exersaucer so much, so he's on his bum more.
However, he sits unassisted and is on his bum plenty as it is.

Any thoughts, as to what to do to fix it, and what might have caused
it, so we can avoid this problem in future?

thanks,
99

agent99 wrote:

DS#2, aged almost 6 months, has a diaper rash. A big nasty red rash all
over his cheeks, radiating out from the anus. It's clearly very sore,
and he's been spending lots of time with a bare bum, thick unscented
zinc cream on his bum, and very frequent diaper changes (disposable, so
should "wick away" pee).

It turned up suddenly on Sunday. He's been very gassy and loose, with
mucusy green poops since Sunday, and on Saturday MIL who was visiting
gave him "a couple of teaspoons - I mean, a taste or two, not much" of
strawberry yogurt while I was in the shower. My diet hasn't changed, so
I think the yogurt is the culprit. I'm gently trying him on rice
cereal, but he's not really going for it and I don't think he's ready
for solids other than the odd taste for experimentation. I wouldn't
mind trying to firm up the poops, though, since that might make them
burn less.

MIL dismisses the notion that the yogurt (or the strawberries within)
might be the cause, and instead thinks it's because I've been putting
him in our newly acquired exersaucer so much, so he's on his bum more.
However, he sits unassisted and is on his bum plenty as it is.


It wouldn't surprise me if it was the strawberries.

Or it could be a yeast rash. I've always had luck with lotrimin cream
for that.

other things that help are 1% hydrocortisone cream, and neosporin
antibiotic cream. For really nasy rashes, I rotate these three meds
and cover them with desitin original (not the creamy kind, zinc
cream, really thick).

Is he new to disposables? My brother apparently used to get rashes
from disposables, but that was many many moons ago.

Air drying, or a hair dryer on low to his bum might help too.

Good luck!

Mary W.

Mary W. wrote:
agent99 wrote:

DS#2, aged almost 6 months, has a diaper rash. A big nasty red rash all
over his cheeks, radiating out from the anus. It's clearly very sore,
and he's been spending lots of time with a bare bum, thick unscented
zinc cream on his bum, and very frequent diaper changes (disposable, so
should "wick away" pee).

It turned up suddenly on Sunday. He's been very gassy and loose, with
mucusy green poops since Sunday, and on Saturday MIL who was visiting
gave him "a couple of teaspoons - I mean, a taste or two, not much" of
strawberry yogurt while I was in the shower. My diet hasn't changed, so
I think the yogurt is the culprit. I'm gently trying him on rice
cereal, but he's not really going for it and I don't think he's ready
for solids other than the odd taste for experimentation. I wouldn't
mind trying to firm up the poops, though, since that might make them
burn less.

MIL dismisses the notion that the yogurt (or the strawberries within)
might be the cause, and instead thinks it's because I've been putting
him in our newly acquired exersaucer so much, so he's on his bum more.
However, he sits unassisted and is on his bum plenty as it is.


It wouldn't surprise me if it was the strawberries.

Or it could be a yeast rash. I've always had luck with lotrimin cream
for that.

Yes, he had a yeast rash about a month ago, and the canesten helped
right away. I had some leftover this time, so I tried it, and it didn't
help at all.


other things that help are 1% hydrocortisone cream, and neosporin
antibiotic cream. For really nasy rashes, I rotate these three meds
and cover them with desitin original (not the creamy kind, zinc
cream, really thick).

I've tried exactly that, with polysporin under the Zincofax. I'm going
to keep doing that and see if it helps, and I'll ask my doctor tomorrow
about hydrocortisone cream.


Is he new to disposables? My brother apparently used to get rashes
from disposables, but that was many many moons ago.

Disposables from day one, to my embarassment. I have all these great
cloth diapers, but with a toddler and a baby, I just feel daunted by
the prospect of laundering cloth diapers on top of everything else.


Air drying, or a hair dryer on low to his bum might help too.

I've done that a couple of times, and he enjoys it - I was worried it
might be too drying on the rash, but maybe I should carry on. It's what
we did with ds#1.


Good luck!

Mary W.

Thanks!

99

Hi -

The rash could have any number of causes. It could have been the
yogurt, or the strawberries in it, or a head cold or a stomach virus.

But now you've got a persistent rash to deal with. Keep the area VERY
dry. Try an anti-fungal lotion. Cut back on solids. Consider trying
the "diaper-free baby" method of early "toilet training". (THIS is the
kind of reason that parents go for it -- no diapers, no diaper rash.)

Good luck!
--Beth Kevles

http://web.mit.edu/kevles/www/nomilk.html -- a page for the milk-allergic
Disclaimer: Nothing in this message should be construed as medical
advice. Please consult with your own medical practicioner.

NOTE: No email is read at my MIT address. Use the AOL one if you would
like me to reply.

"agent99" wrote in message
oups.com...
Disposables from day one, to my embarassment. I have all these great
cloth diapers, but with a toddler and a baby, I just feel daunted by
the prospect of laundering cloth diapers on top of everything else.

don't feel embarrassed! i have a 3 year old and a 6 week old. with DS1 i
would use cloth at home & disposable out.

this time round, i admit i have been using the disposable almost all the
time. i keep promising myself i will use the cloth "tomorrow". but like you,
it's a little daunting with 2 kids! LOL.

good luck with the rash.

--
elizabeth (in australia)
DS1 20th august 2002
DS2 26th September 2005

"In raising my children, I have lost my mind but found my soul."
--Lisa T. Shepherd

"agent99" wrote in message
oups.com...


MIL dismisses the notion that the yogurt (or the strawberries within)
might be the cause, and instead thinks it's because I've been putting
him in our newly acquired exersaucer so much, so he's on his bum more.
However, he sits unassisted and is on his bum plenty as it is.

Any thoughts, as to what to do to fix it, and what might have caused
it, so we can avoid this problem in future?

If it's very persistent maybe you should call the ped to make sure it's not
fungal. DD has a nasty yeast infection right now due to antibiotics.
Nystatin is taking care of it.

The yogurt could be the culprit or it could be just coincidence. Either way,
as you know it's not the best choice for a first solid food. In the future,
you should be very firm with your MIL that she respect your wishes when it
comes to your ds. HTH

JennP.

arachne wrote:
"agent99" wrote in message
oups.com...
Disposables from day one, to my embarassment. I have all these great
cloth diapers, but with a toddler and a baby, I just feel daunted by
the prospect of laundering cloth diapers on top of everything else.

don't feel embarrassed! i have a 3 year old and a 6 week old. with DS1 i
would use cloth at home & disposable out.

this time round, i admit i have been using the disposable almost all the
time. i keep promising myself i will use the cloth "tomorrow". but like you,
it's a little daunting with 2 kids! LOL.

That's me, too, to a T!! I keep thinking, "I'll just get x under
control, and then crack out the cloth," but somehow it never happens. I
was so good with cloth the first time around, but this time it's just
not working.

99


good luck with the rash.

--
elizabeth (in australia)
DS1 20th august 2002
DS2 26th September 2005

"In raising my children, I have lost my mind but found my soul."
--Lisa T. Shepherd

JennP wrote:
"agent99" wrote in message
oups.com...


MIL dismisses the notion that the yogurt (or the strawberries within)
might be the cause, and instead thinks it's because I've been putting
him in our newly acquired exersaucer so much, so he's on his bum more.
However, he sits unassisted and is on his bum plenty as it is.

Any thoughts, as to what to do to fix it, and what might have caused
it, so we can avoid this problem in future?

If it's very persistent maybe you should call the ped to make sure it's not
fungal. DD has a nasty yeast infection right now due to antibiotics.
Nystatin is taking care of it.

Yeah, doc will be seeing it tomorrow. We were going in anyway, for
something else, so it's fortunate that we will be in there so soon.


The yogurt could be the culprit or it could be just coincidence. Either way,
as you know it's not the best choice for a first solid food. In the future,
you should be very firm with your MIL that she respect your wishes when it
comes to your ds. HTH

Trust me, we went round after round with #1, and just when you think
you've got her sorted out, something new crops up. I think I'm clear
and firm, but she can't remember what she's been told, and she's so
good-hearted that I hate to just say, "don't ever feed the baby
anything," especially since I'm the Easygoing DIL, but I may end up
going the route of the Uptight DIL, who has yet to feed her baby in
MIL's presence and has made it clear that MIL must never feed the baby
anything, nor are they ever to discuss feeding. Seriously.

99


JennP.

"agent99" wrote in message
oups.com...

but I may end up
going the route of the Uptight DIL, who has yet to feed her baby in
MIL's presence and has made it clear that MIL must never feed the baby
anything, nor are they ever to discuss feeding. Seriously.

Oh, my! Sounds like maybe she gave Uptight DIL's baby some strawberry
yogurt too!

JennP.

Beth Kevles wrote:
Hi -

The rash could have any number of causes. It could have been the
yogurt, or the strawberries in it, or a head cold or a stomach virus.

But now you've got a persistent rash to deal with. Keep the area VERY
dry. Try an anti-fungal lotion. Cut back on solids. Consider trying
the "diaper-free baby" method of early "toilet training". (THIS is the
kind of reason that parents go for it -- no diapers, no diaper rash.)

Thanks, I will definitely try this. We're not doing any solids at all
till this is resolved (personally don't think he's ready), and loads of
open air.

thanks,
99


Good luck!
--Beth Kevles

http://web.mit.edu/kevles/www/nomilk.html -- a page for the milk-allergic
Disclaimer: Nothing in this message should be construed as medical
advice. Please consult with your own medical practicioner.

NOTE: No email is read at my MIT address. Use the AOL one if you would
like me to reply.