How do I prevent and treat severe nappy rash?
Prevention is always better than cure and there are a number of things that you can do to prevent nappy rash from occurring.
Change wet and dirty nappies as soon as possible so that your baby is fresh, dry and clean. A newborn baby will need somewhere between eight to 12 nappy changes per day.
Enable baby to have some nappy-free time to allow their skin to get some air (put a towel or a waterproof sheet down)
Use alcohol-free wipes and warm water to avoid any irritation. Avoid talcum powder and any perfumed products.
Always make sure your baby is dry before putting a new nappy on. You should pat their bottom dry with a towel rather than rubbing it.
Apply a layer of barrier cream, following the directions on the packaging.
But despite our best efforts, the NHS says that one in four babies or toddlers will suffer from nappy rash at some point. If this is the case, you should continue to follow the steps above as well as try the following:
Bath your baby daily. Don’t bathe them more than twice a day as this may dry out their skin.
Apply a suitable nappy rash cream and wait a few minutes before applying the barrier cream (unless you’re using an all-in-one product). Always check the label first.
Make sure your baby’s nappy isn’t too tight or too loose. If the nappy is too tight, it will irritate the area, while a loose nappy won’t soak up the wee properly, making the problem worse.
If you follow this advice, then you can expect a nappy rash to go after around three days. If the rash is persistent or is causing your little one discomfort, speak to your health visitor or ask your GP to prescribe something stronger.
How do I choose the best nappy rash cream?
There are several things that you should consider when buying a nappy rash cream.
Prevention or treatment? Are you looking for a good quality barrier cream to prevent nappy rash or a cream to treat a current outbreak? Many creams treat and protect, so it may be a good idea to invest in an all-rounder.
Ingredients: Did you want a product that’s made from 100% natural ingredients and vegan-friendly? Does the product contain zinc oxide, an ingredient that effectively eliminates nappy rash? Some nappy creams are specially formulated for sensitive skin, so if your child is prone to eczema or allergies, you may want to consider this option. Always check the ingredients as laid out on the packaging.
Age of your child: Are you buying for a newborn or a boisterous toddler on the move? Certain products are better for newborn bottoms than others, so always check before purchasing.
Extras: Once you’ve settled on a cream and have tried and tested it on your own baby, it’s a good idea to stock up, as there’s nothing worse than discovering you are out of nappy rash cream during a 3am change. And don’t forget to buy one to pop in your changing bag too.
How do I apply nappy rash cream?
Remove the dirty nappy
Clean your baby using wipes or water
Pat (don’t rub) baby’s bottom dry
Once dry, apply the recommended amount of cream to all the skin which is covered by the nappy
Put on a clean nappy
Wash your hands.
Always check the instructions before first use.
How often should I use baby nappy rash cream?
There's a great deal of disagreement over how often and for how long you should use rash creams, but the rule of thumb is to apply a thin layer at every nappy change, paying special attention to nighttime changes when your baby is down to sleep for longer periods.
You should start to see improvement within 12 hours and a rash should have cleared up within three days. Do consult your GP if this isn’t the case.
Which nappy rash cream is best?
There are some great products on our list, but Bepanthen Nappy Care Ointment is a particular favourite with Mumsnetters. It’s light, easy to apply and works quickly to soothe and protect.
But while Bepanthen is the best overall nappy rash cream, as recommended by parents, the best cream for severe nappy rash is Metanium Nappy Rash Ointment.
Specially-formulated for nappy rash, Metanium Nappy Rash Ointment kickstarts healing to soothe a baby's skin and relieve irritation and redness. For more severe cases of nappy rash, you'll likely need a doctor’s prescription treatment such as a steroid cream preparation or antibiotics.
How we chose our recommendations
Our expert writers and journalists spend hours researching the very best quality products for our Swears By articles.
We always start our research by consulting the Mumsnet forums to find out which products they rate the best. All the nappy rash creams on this list have been tried and tested by Mumsnet users and their babies and toddlers, who have recommended their favourite based on factors including effectiveness and ease of application. We include these so you know that real people are behind our recommendations.
We also consulted trusted medical websites, including the NHS, so you know that you are getting safe and reliable medical advice.
Finally, we collated all that information and then looked at other online reviews to see which nappy rash creams have received the best recommendations among both consumers and experts.
This article is not intended as a countdown of the ‘top 10’ best products, but rather a list of tried-and-trusted recommendations so you can be safe in the knowledge that you’re getting honest and reliable advice on choosing the best nappy rash cream for your baby.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.
About the author
Jenny Wonnacott is a Content Editor for Mumsnet, specialising in writing, editing and optimising pregnancy, baby care and general parenting-related content. As a parent of three primary school-aged children, Jenny is passionate about making Mumsetters' lives easier through rigorous research of all items recommended in reviews, features buyers' guides.
She regularly reviews a wide range of parenting and lifestyle products for Mumsnet, from breast pumps to kettles, travel cots and cribs.