The Poopy Truth About Diaper Rash — And How to Stop It in Its Tracks

Put on your big girl pants ’cause we’re about to talk dirty — dirty diapers, that is. The average baby goes through 2,500–3,000 diapers a year. Most toddlers are potty trained at around 2 ½ years old, meaning your baby will likely go through upwards of 6,000 diapers before they’re potty trained. And if you think changing them is bad, try wearing them!

If hanging out wrapped in a cloth full of pee and poop doesn’t sound bad enough, about half of all babies will suffer from some form of diaper rash before they’re out of diapers. Whether it’s caused by soft baby skin rubbing on a wet diaper (irritant dermatitis), yeast growing and infecting the damp diaper zone (candida dermatitis), an allergic reaction (allergic dermatitis), or bacteria finding its way into irritated skin (bacterial dermatitis), one thing is true about all types of diaper rashes. They hurt. A lot.

A diaper rash starts out as inflamed, red patches on your baby’s butt, thighs, and little baby parts. But it can get worse. So much worse. A diaper rash can swell, peel, blister, and even bleed. It hurts to touch and wash and really hurts to go potty. Some babies will even get a fever.

There are dozens of diaper creams on the market featuring different formulations that claim to prevent, soothe, and heal diaper rash. If you find one that works for your baby it will likely take 2–3 days of painful application (remember, it hurts to touch!) to clear the rash. Poor babies! But wait… it gets worse… Some diaper rash treatments contain perfumes, alcohol, and chemicals that can actually make the rash worse.

So, what’s a stressed-out parent to do? Look for an ointment made from natural, hypoallergenic ingredients that contain a high percentage of Zinc Oxide (an ingredient proven to heal painful diaper rash). Our favorite is Baby Butz (plus we really like the name). Considered the safest and most effective diaper rash treatment available without a prescription, thick and creamy Baby Butz is so effective that it can heal most diaper rashes in just 4–6 hours! It’s used in Hospital Neonatal units and Pediatricians are handing out samples of the cream to new moms across North America.

Okay, so Baby Butz to heal the rash. But what can you do to prevent painful diaper rash in the first place?

1. Change your baby’s diaper more frequently than you think you need to and immediately after it’s been dampened or soiled.

2. Rinse that little tooshy with a warm washcloth after each change.

3. Thoroughly (but gently!) dry those buns with a towel or, better yet, let them air dry, before putting on a new diaper.

4. Apply an effective diaper cream (Baby Butz) at every single change.

Diapers are an unavoidable part of babyhood, but diaper rash is not! With a little extra care — and the right diaper rash cream — you can make diaper rash disappear.

Safe for babies from birth on up, Baby Butz is available in 2 and 4 oz containers on Amazon.com and http://olencosmetics.com/ and in 8 oz containers at Target, online and instore.