Skip to main content
FamilyEducation
FamilyEducation
Family Education

FE-Menu

  • Pregnancy
    • <blank>
      • Pregnancy Tracker
      • Trying to Conceive
      • Signs & Symptoms
      • Pregnancy Health
    • <blank>
      • Baby Names
      • High Risk Pregnancies
      • Preparing for Baby
    • <blank>
      • Concerns & Complications
      • Labor & Delivery
      • Postpartum
  • Baby Names
    • <blank>
      • Browse All Baby Names (A-Z)
      • Top Names for Boys
      • Top Names for Girls
      • Baby Name Generator
    • <blank>
      • Baby Name Lists & Ideas
      • First Names By Origin
      • Browse All Last Names (A-Z)
      • Last Names by Origin
  • Babies
    • <blank>
      • Caring For Your Baby
      • Baby's Health
      • Feeding Your Baby
    • <blank>
      • Your Baby and Sleep
      • Baby's Growth & Development
      • Baby Hygiene
    • <blank>
      • Baby Safety
      • Baby Products
    • <blank>
  • Toddlers
    • <blank>
      • Toddler Growth and Development
    • <blank>
      • Toddler Behavior and Discipline
    • <blank>
      • Your Toddler and Sleep
  • Kids
    • <blank>
      • Health
      • Childhood Development
      • Fitness & Nutrition
      • Childhood Safety
    • <blank>
      • Communicating with Your Kids
      • Childhood Behavior and Discipline
      • Fostering Responsibility
      • Instilling Values & Manners
    • <blank>
      • Childcare
      • Neurodiversity in Kids
      • Adopting Children
  • Teens
    • <blank>
      • Teen Health
      • Teen Puberty & Sex
    • <blank>
      • Behavior & Discipline
      • Teen Social Development
    • <blank>
      • Values & Responsibilities
  • Activities
    • <blank>
      • Printables
      • Indoor Activities
      • Learning Activities
      • Arts and Crafts
      • Performing Arts
      • Food Activities
      • Outdoor Activities
    • <blank>
      • Books
      • TV
      • Movies
      • Online
      • Quizzes
      • Games
      • Celebrities
    • <blank>
      • Parties
      • Travel
      • Toys
      • Holidays
      • Gifts
  • Learning
    • <blank>
      • By Grade
      • By Subject
      • College
      • Preschool
    • <blank>
      • Back to School
      • Study Skills
      • Learning Styles
    • <blank>
      • Homeschooling
      • Parental Involvement
      • Your Child's School
  • Family Life
    • <blank>
      • Mom Life
      • Dad Life
      • Family Relationships
      • Having a Healthy Marriage
      • Divorce
    • <blank>
      • Health & Fitness
      • COVID Resources
      • Managing Your Home
      • Moving Your Family
      • Pets
    • <blank>
      • Family Finances
      • Work
      • Families and Food
  • NewslettersNewsletters
    Newsletters

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Babies
  3. Baby's Health
  4. How To Deal With Diaper Rash

How to Deal with Diaper Rash

Find tips on preventing diaper rash, and learn how to heal one.
  • facebook share icon
  • pin
  • twitter share icon
  • email share icon
  • Print page icon

How to Deal with Diaper Rash

Nearly every baby gets diaper rash at one time or another. Most diaper rashes are caused by urine that rests too long against the skin. Bacterial action transforms urine into ammonia, which can irritate and burn your baby's skin. Diaper rash generally spreads from the genitals outward. It looks red and perhaps bumpy and can smell strongly of ammonia.

Here's what to do when your baby has diaper rash:

  • Change your baby more often. Trapped moisture or feces can cause rashes.
  • Give your child plenty of naked-bottom time; try to let her stay out of her diaper for at least 15 minutes every time you change her. Airing out her bottom can quickly cure many rashes.
  • If your baby stays in roughly the same place when she naps, consider allowing her to sleep with a naked bottom. Keep the bedding dry by laying her on a rubber sheet and wedging a folded diaper under her.
  • Switch, at least temporarily, from disposable to cloth diapers (or vice versa). The change may make a big difference.
  • Don't use plastic or rubber pants that trap moisture next to your baby's skin. Check to make sure your baby wipes do not contain alcohol, which can dry your baby's skin too much. Consider switching, at least for a short time, to a wet washcloth.
  • Keep your baby's bottom clean, but use little or no soap. If you do use soap, try a special baby soap that is hypoallergenic and contains no detergents. Always rinse your baby's bottom with a different washcloth to remove the soap. Dry the area thoroughly after every washing.
  • Grease your baby's bottom with vegetable shortening or petroleum jelly.
  • Use an over-the-counter ointment to treat the rash. Cream that contains zinc oxide often does the trick. Try more than one brand if the first brand doesn't work.
  • If you wash your own diapers, don't use bleach, and make sure you wash and rinse diapers thoroughly. (Use more than one rinse cycle.)

If, after trying all these ideas, diaper rash persists or worsens, consult your baby's pediatrician for further advice.

Was this article helpful?

Thank you for your feedback.

What's hot

  • Introducing Cereal to Infants BabiesWhen Can Babies Eat Cereal? (…
  • two babies playing in the playroom Babies12 Simple Developmental…
  • Toddler Takes Sips of Wine and Beer BabiesIs It Okay for Toddlers to…
  • Printable Month-by-Month Developmental Milestone Chart BabiesPrintable Month-by-Month…
NewslettersNewsletters
Your partner in parenting from baby name inspiration to college planning.
Family Education
FamilyEducation does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Information on our advertising guidelines can be found here.

FE Footer

  • Newsletter Center
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Policy
  • Editorial Team
  • Expert Panel
  • Medical Review Policy
  • Fact-Checking Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Site Map
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info (for CA Residents)
sandbox learning logo
Family Education is part of the Sandbox Learning family of educational reference sites for parents, teachers, and students. 

factmonster logoinfoplease logoTeacherVision logo

sandbbox logo
©2022 Sandbox Networks Inc. All rights reserved. Sandbox Learning is part of Sandbox & Co., a digital learning company.