On hot summer days, the skin on the bottom under the diaper is a place that you should take care of with great care. What rules do you need to follow to reduce the risk of chafing or eliminate it altogether?

What to do to avoidskin burns in babies ? Constant vigilance and proper care - these words summarize the recommendations, thanks to which it will be easier to avoid skin irritation under the diaper. It will not be an easy task, because, according to the observations of pediatricians, at this time of the year they happen several times more often than in spring or autumn. It is influenced by heat, due to which the skin under the diaper (especially the one of lower quality) is still slightly moist, and the bacteria in the urine and stool multiply faster, so it is easier to cause chafing. At first, a slight redness appears on the skin, which after some time (usually an hour or two) spreads over more and more skin surface. If you do not react in time, chafing can turn into diaper dermatitis: then most of the buttocks are red and blistered. The pain experienced by the infant at that time is compared by doctors to the pain that occurs after a burn, the skin also looks as if it was burned. To relieve your baby, you can use the methods listed below, and if the symptoms persist, contact the pediatrician as soon as possible.

Here are some rules to help you avoid chafing

  • Check your baby's nappy more often than usual. It doesn't matter that you've just changed it - an infant, especially breastfed, can poop several times a day. It's a good idea to feel this moment right away, because the faster you react, the shorter the time the skin comes into contact with the stool and the bacteria it contains, and thus the risk of irritation is lower.
  • Do not delay the baby's rewinding, even if the circumstances are not very favorable to it. It's nothing that you are on a walk, in a shopping mall, restaurant or visiting friends - changing your baby is an absolute priority. Do not be ashamed of this activity (after all, each of the potential onlookers was also a child, which was passed by someone), just find the appropriatea place (a bench in a park, a toilet in a store or premises).
  • Take changing accessories with you whenever you go out with your baby. Only then will you be able to change his diaper immediately. The minimum set is two diapers (one just in case), wet wipes, anti-chafing cream, a foil bag for a used diaper, something to put under the baby's bottom - an oilcloth, a travel changing pad, and as a last resort a blanket or a nappy. Better to take one too many nappies with you than not enough.
  • After each scrolling, wash your skin thoroughly and dry it thoroughly. You can use both wet wipes and plain, boiled water for washing. It's best to use disposable paper towels to dry your butt. Pay special attention to folds and nooks and crannies: dirt residues that can cause irritation accumulate in them.

Skin burns in an infant - what to do?

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How can you help your child?

When it is too late for prophylaxis, you need to alleviate the symptoms as soon as possible and try to prevent them from spreading. During each scrolling, rinse the diseased skin with warm water, then dry it thoroughly and apply a healing ointment containing allantoin (which accelerates healing and moisturizes) and d-panthenol (soothes irritations). Leaving the baby without a nappy for a while also helps a lot.

  • Before you put the diaper on, lubricate your skin with anti-chafing cream. It creates a thin, almost imperceptible film on the skin, thanks to which it does not come into direct contact with urine or feces. Instead of cream, you can use baby powder. However, do not overdo it with the amount of cosmetics. If you are using a cream, a really thin layer is enough; if you are using a powder, do not sprinkle it on your skin, just apply it with a cotton ball. Too thick a layer of cream will make the skin under the nappy wet, while the powder may clump into hard lumps that will mechanically irritate the skin.

  • Use good quality diapers. The cheapest ones may not be too burdensome for the household budget, but the probability that the baby will suffer from chafes increases. The cheapest diapers have an outer layer made of a material that is not permeable to air. If your baby has this condition frequently, you should consider changing nappies.

  • If your little one has very sensitive skin, avoid using regular wet wipes. The washing substances and fragrances with which they are soaked can irritate the skin. Wipes designed for babies with sensitive skin will be better, and if you don't have them at hand,wash your baby with cotton balls soaked in boiled water.

  • Let your baby lie down without a nappy as often as possible. Fresh air can work wonders not only when the skin is already irritated, but also at the prophylaxis stage. You just need to put something under your toddler's bottom - a foil tablecloth or oilcloth - so that in the event of a small "accident", nothing will leak onto the bed or carpet.

  • Ask your pediatrician for a urine test. The cause of recurrent nappy rash and diaper rash is an infection of the urinary system. If the test shows that there are bacteria in the urine, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate drugs (usually antibiotics).

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