Tips For Nappy-Free Time?

[AmyByTheTrain]

My 4-week old DS has nappy rash that we're having trouble getting rid of. The health visitor recommended having at least 3 nappy-free times of 10-15 minutes a day and the GP recommended as much nappy-free time as possible.

We have tried this for a few days, but it's pretty harrowing. DS screams and writhes through all of it, even when I keep his top half clothed or try to keep him loosely wrapped in a towel. (The room we're in is pretty warm, so he shouldn't be terribly freezing cold.) Plus, he nearly always wees and often poos during it, which sort-of defeats the point, as then he doesn't get to be air-dry, since then he's either messy or at least not dry while I clean him up.

Generally, I put a disposable change mat and a towel under him and put him on a playmat in hopes it will distract him, but so far it really hasn't seemed to help.

Does anyone have advice on how to make nappy-free time a bit easier and more pleasant?

What remedies have you tried? I found metanium with in with

iPad fail!!

I found a layer of metanium with a sudocrem over the top helped with nappy rash.

Would the bath be better? Or does it need to be dry nappy free time? I don't know anything about nappy rash, at least the bath would keep him clean?

ilovepowerhoop, so far, we first tried Sudocream, then when that didn't fix it, switched to Metanium, and now also have Canesten HC cream from the GP to apply a couple times a day. I didn't think of trying Sudocream over the Metanium, so will try that. This is my first DC, so I'm pretty clueless--I think part of the problem is that I didn't recognise the what was happening and start treating it until it was pretty awfully red.

trilbydoll, I think it's supposed to be dry nappy free time to give things a chance to air out and be dry, unfortunately, so I don't think the bath counts, though that's just a guess on my part

Have you tried cuddling him during nappy freetime - OH with a bare chest would keep baby warm and feeling secure - sell it to OH as quality bonding time!

I was going to say cuddles too. Preferably with milk of you're brave enough. Pop a towel on yourself first.

My other solution of waiting until summer won't work.

Change the nappy brand.

What nappy brand are you using? I found a bath helped a lot, I also used Naty nappies with metanium cream and dd never had such serious nappy rash again - though she still got it :( hth

I was thinking that - can you splash out on some stay dry nappies until it is cleared up.

We used nature babycare too. Anything and everything else - DD had an awful reaction within -5 minutes.

I found corn starch was amazing in preventing nappy rash. Also like others have said naty nappies are very non irritating so a good brand to use.

I'm not overly bothered about landfill but about the impact our behaviour has on the atmosphere and ocean ecosystems. Rubbish under the ground isn't the worst thing we're doing environmentally, especially if all readily recycled materials are removed first.

Sorry, app playing up, wrong thread

We used a muslin cloth to make a breathable nappy for DS2 when this happened. Stopped the wee's going everywhere! Or you could put his clothes back on nappyless.
Agree with those suggesting a change in nappy brand may be worth a go.
We liked Bepanthan, but for this, it sounds like you need something stronger (like the metanium).
What does he like doing when he's got a nappy on? Do that without a nappy!
Hope his bum is better soon.

Try just adding a few mins whenever you change his nappy to keep him nappy and cream free for just a bit longer.

Easiest nappy free time for us was always before bath, got into the routine of doing it while bath was running, just left DS to kick on the mat. He wasn't keen at any other time of the day.

I agree with changing nappies, and of course abandoning wipes. I've had 2 DC prone to nappy rash. With DS I used tesco wipes and Naty nappies with success. With DD I have to use water wipes as anything else will lead to nappy rash. I've actually swapped from Naty to Asda own brand as Naty quality haven't been so good and the Asda ones are fabulous.

Also, DD can't use sudocrem, same as quite a lot of babies tbh, dreadfully worse nappy rash. I use burts bees nappy cream, which is expensive but lasts for ages. Metanium as soon as the rash starts, v thin layer you can see through, sometimes with burts bees over the top.

Also, change at least every 2 hours in the day and immediately after a poo, even if that means changing on the front seat of the car which happens to me every bloody morning on the school run!

It was the wipes that caused it with my DC. I used old rags and water for bum cleaning! Cut up t-shirts are soft and don't fray at the edges.

I also found that my lanisoh cream made a huge difference... Though its an expensive fix!

My DD loves the hair dryer, primarily for white noise but sometimes I'll flick it on the very cool setting, hold it some distance away and hair dry her bum if she's had a wet nappy. She thinks it's hilarious. It also keeps her calm during nappy free time.
If you don't like the hair dryer idea I've also tried using a paper fan, this is less popular with DD but it still air dries her bum.

Your HV can give you a prescription for metanium, or if you have the Minor Ailments Scheme in your area then chain pharmacies can do it free too (along with Calpol etc when you need them).

I would also say every time DD had really bad nappy rash it was in Pampers, so really agree with all the previous posters suggesting changing brand!

And rags and water are great for wipes. I used the liners for the reusable nappies we never used and cut up the really grotty, stained flannel sheets MIL bought us for DD!

Thanks guys, I'm now armed with some naty nappies, rather than the pampers we were using, so fingers crossed. We already were using water wipes, though have been gravitating toward just water and cotton wool since things got really red. And we'll keep using metanium, plus we have burts bees and my lansinoh waiting in the wings. I'm also game for trying the hair dryer, though I have yet to persuade DH that it's ok.

Thankfully, over the past day, we've managed some non-screaming nappy-free time on the change mat for a bit after changing, because I'm not sure I have the courage for nappy-free cuddles and milk--I'm just a bit scared of the amount of laundry that might be generated, since he truly does like to poo when then nappy is off

Came to say hairdryer!!! It is amazing how much quicker nappy rash clears with a few mins of hairdryer (on cool) at nappy change and I always dry dd with one after bath (gets all the crease nice and dry) hydromol is a good bum cream, worth trying.

I can second natys, the only bum rashes we get with them are during teethy times. Pampers gave her horrid burn like rashes. Dd loved bum out time only if she was on my lap with a puppy mat between us

Have you heard of / thought of starting elimination communication ? Since he prefers pooing nappyless anyway you could accustom him to using a potty .if it works it can save years worth of nappies... I am working my way towards this idea but sounds Also our dd always writhes and fusses when about to poo so his unhappiness might be partly from discomfort?

Sudocream didn't help us at all, bepanthen did wonders.

As for others, sudocream was terrible for DS and bepanthen is brilliant.
We often did nappy free time in the early days on top of a pile of cheap cotton nappy cloths and loosely wrapped in a muslin, or at least with a face washer over his tummy, as he hated to be totall exposed. Or mixing with tummy time was quite successful too!

You could try babylegs or legwarmers to keep him warm.
We usually do DD's nappy-free time after her bath in the evening. It is more of a hazard now she's crawling and our carpets have received a few skidmarks.
Cheeky Wipes are very good too.