Some common diaper cream ingredients that can cause staining, repelling, or odors and should be avoided are as follows: petroleum/petroleum jelly, paraffin, cod liver oil and calamine. See our top diaper rash creams below for cloth diapers, including what we think are the best natural diaper rash cream options!
Any common diaper cream, balm, or lotion without zinc or petroleum is completely safe for cloth diapers.
The true problem with diaper creams is that what makes them work is exactly what makes them hard to use with cloth diapers, they are a barrier to wetness. On the baby's skin, creams allow the skin heal, but if it soaks into the inserts, it can cause stains and barriers that that can be hard to wash out.
You can use Sudocrem with cloth nappies, but you may find that it causes the nappy to repel the urine, causing leaks. You may also find it easier to keep the nappies clean if you use a fleece liner between the Sudocrem and the nappy.
That's why it works so great to clear up rashes: it keeps urine off baby's healing skin. But when petroleum jelly, like Vaseline, builds up on fabric, it can make your diapers repel instead of absorb. This is the opposite of what you want cloth diapers to do.
Solution: Lots of diaper-free air time for baby to get the rash under control. Cornstarch used in the same way as baby powder to put a light coat over baby's bum can help keep things dry and is safe to use with your cloth diapers.
You'll be doing a lot more laundry.
Babies go through diapers quickly, so no matter which kind of cloth diaper you choose, they'll need frequent washing. You have to dispose of the poop yourself, and poop disposal gets harder after your baby starts eating solids.
Avoid excess fragrances, dyes, bleaches and other harsh chemicals. Make sure your detergent does not contain fabric softener as this will cause repelling issues and build up on your diapers over time.
Diaper rash gets instant relief with this barrier cream. Zinc oxide takes nurturing care of irritation and rashes and protects your baby's skin with a natural barrier. Redness and inflammation are soothed with Biodynamic® and organic calendula flower extract. Safe for use with cloth diapers*
One thing with cloth diapers: you ARE limited to the kinds of diaper creams you can use – and I've found that fractionated coconut oil (aka always liquid coconut oil) is the easiest thing to use that's cloth diaper safe!
Your cloth diapers may be causing a rash because: 1) detergent build up in the fibres. 2) the diapers are not clean of urine or poop. 3) your child is sensitive to the textile or detergent product.
Many cloth diapering parents have used California Baby's zinc diaper cream with much success, because of the high water content and emulsification of their oils.
Zinc oxide in small quantities yes, but with a liner.
Zinc oxide creates a barrier against moisture (just like coconut oil) and can be very effective against diaper rash. However, since zinc tends to stain, it is necessary to use aliner or sheet to make sure you protect your diaper.
We recommend to change a cloth diaper every two hours. This prevents your child from having urine against the skin for long periods of time, with the risk of redness. The more absorbency there is in the cloth diaper, the less wet it becomes when the child pees.
Vinegar also prevents yellowing, acts as a fabric softener, a static cling reducer, as well as attacks mold and mildew. Add 1 cup of vinegar to your final stripping rinse to remove the last of the detergent residue and to soften your cloth diapers. Don't worry, your diapers won't smell like vinegar after they're dry.
The generic name is Clotrimazole, which is the same as the brand name Lotrimin. These creams are not safe for cloth diapers, so you will need to use disposable diapers, flushable inserts, or a fleece liner in your cloth diapers.
Cloth Diapers: Lanolizing Wool Covers
Its easy to lanolize your wool covers. Heat one cup of water along with 1 teaspoon of lanolin (the same pure lanolin you might be using for nipple cream will work well).
Sensitivity to fabric
In rare cases, some babies can be allergic to the fabric used in cloth diapers. Microsuede or microfleece is usually safe for all babies and doesn't give rashes.
Coconut oil is a great way to gently treat your baby's diaper rash. However, it is so mild that it may not be strong enough to improve the condition of a tough rash. If you don't see improvements within 24 hours, try other diaper rash products that are petroleum or zinc oxide-based.
Bepanthen® Antiseptic Cream is a multi-purpose antiseptic cream that helps protect damaged skin from infection and also assists in the treatment of cuts, abrasions, insect bites, stings, and sunburn.
Can I use Sudocrem Care & Protect every day? Yes, it's gentle enough to use at every nappy change.
Gentle but effective, it won't sting on application. Sudocrem's formulation helps to reduce the risk of infection and contains a mild local anaesthetic to soothe the pain.