Recurring nappy rash, please help!

[RubyGoat]

Please can someone help. DD is nearly 18 months old & is teething. She has had nappy rash every time a set of teeth have come through, never this bad before though. We've realised it's mostly ok when she is just wet (as long as we change her every couple of hours). However if she is in a dirty nappy for more than about 5 minutes, she becomes very sore, with raw patches & it bleeds a little bit.

She is in disposable nappies, we already do the routine of yellow Metanium cream, plus cotton wool in cooled boiled water only to clean her whenever possible (ie when we are in the house).

Could it be her food - does anyone have any experience of successfully altering a toddler's diet to help with this? If so, what? She has cow's milk or water to drink, she eats mostly home made food & a fair bit of fruit & veg, no sweets & rarely anything particularly sugary.

Any suggestions? Or should we take her to the doctor or HV? TIA

I always found bepanthen worked a treat on my dad's nappy rash. After cleaning the area, dry with a towel and then apply cream. Have you also tried some nappy free time when at home to let the air get to it.

My ds was like this and constantly had a bleeding bottom, it was red raw and painful. Nappy off time helps and cotton wool for cleaning. The best thing we found that cleared it up and kept it at bay for over a year now after 3 months of severe nappy rash was nappy cream we bought when on holiday in Ireland. It was so good I got a pharmacy in Dublin to post me another 8 boxes to the uk and paid the postage. If you have any friends there worth getting - either Caldease or Morhulin cream. I get both so we're covered. I had tried every brand in the uk and they didn't work for ds although I know a lot of people swear by metanium it just didn't work for my ds.

I used egg whites. "Paint" it on the raw area and leave to dry in the air for a few minutes before putting a new nappy on and it was brilliant. 24 hours of doing this and it will all be gone! It's to do with the proteins in the egg whites, apparently. Nice and cheap, too!

I found plain old Sudocreme great and plenty of nappy free time.

Fruit is full of sugar and is often quite acidic. I have often wondered whether the connection with teething, which starts around the same time as weening, has more to do with introducing new foods rather than teeth coming through.
Also when teething, babies permanently have fingers, fist or pretty much anything in their mouth. They are introducing all manner of bacteria into their mouths very necessary for immune system but also may be causing mild recurrent infection. The gut is becoming populated with lots of lovely bacteria and a few not so nice so maybe nappy rash is a reaction to exposure to all these new residents. Only a theory so please don't quote me.

I've taken my Dd to the Dr's about this a number of times. Prior to teething Metanium was superb but the acidity in the urine during teething meant my Dds bottom looked red raw and like it had been burnt. Absolutely heartbreaking and got to the point that she couldn't stand or sit due to the discomfort.

The Dr recommended fresh air to the area when possible along with Zinc and Caster oil cream. It worked a treat as it was so thick. My dd also got a touch of thrush at times too so a steroid cream was prescribed and used at alternative changes.

Good luck...

As well as avoiding baby wipes can you try drying her bottm with a hairdryer set on lowest setting? Sounds kooky but has worked. And as much fresh air as possible when at home ie uncovered.

Food wise try avoiding citrus fruit and raisins. I was told it's the excess saliva they produce when teething that goes to their gut and upsets them but seems just as likely to be cramming fingers in mouth that pick up goodness knows what.

Other remedies I heard of were breast milk, or Lansinoh cream, or calendula cream.

But if this persists take her to the HV, it must sting like the devil.

Actually I've just remembered a friend has used thrush cream on her child's very sore bot. The ordinary red and white cream - the name has slipped my mind for now.

Hi thanks to everyone that has replied. I've spoken to doctor today & got her some Canesten on prescription. Have also bought some large sheets of fleece fabric to put on the floor so she can have some nappy-free time. (Rented house so we daren't let her just roam about!) Will try cutting out citrus & raisins as well. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Hi
I know this is a radical but have you thought of toilet training? If she's aware of being wet and dirty then it wouldn't take long for her to grasp toilet training. We did it with my DD when she was 16 months old of her own choice. She was bringing me clean nappies after she'd dirtied hers.

She got chickenpox and couldn't stand having a nappy on so we starting the long road of potty training, our friends and family thought I was mad, but then I'm a believer of following the lead of my children at these key stages rather than when it's convenient for me.

It took her 2 months to be completely accident free from a day to day basis, but after the first day of potty training she was doing at least one successful event on a potty every day.

It's not for everybody but maybe worth a try. (you can always rent a carpet cleaner we did)

Hi Nikki we have discussed potty training but mostly with a view to getting her used to the potty, so that it will be easier later on & she will already be used to the potty & know about wee & poo etc. But, I think we are going to try. It can't really hurt & we won't rush her.