Nappy rash advice please

[MrsMaow]

Hi everyone

First time posting as I’ve been a lurker for ages but really need some advice

My 3 week old dad has developed nappy rash, just noticed a few little blisters in her bum today.

I use water wipes at each change, should I be drying her after using them? I haven’t been as one of the midwives at the hospital said not to but maybe she was wrong. She gets changed about 10 times in a 24 hour period, maybe I just haven’t been changing her enough?

Also I’ve got a cream I’ve started using on her today - bepanthesomething - each time I change her should I be fully wiping off the cream from the last change each time? And if I’m in the middle of applying the cream but then she does a live action wee and/or poo like happened earlier, should I then completely wipe off what I’ve applied so far and start again?

Sorry if these are obvious questions I just want to do everything I can to help her and feel like a massively unprepared and somewhat useless FTM at the moment.

3 week old dd, not ‘dad’ stupid autocorrect

What nappies are you using? My first reaction is to always change them as some can cause a reaction.

Yes to drying bottom completely before you put the nappy on. Water wipes are fine, but give her some nappy free time after each change (put a towel or muslin down to catch any accidents) to get some air to her.

Breastmilk is brilliant for clearing up nappy rash if you’re bf - just soak some cotton wool in your breastmilk, wipe over and let dry.

I had a continuous battle with nappy rash with my now 6 month old. I used cotton wool and water to clean her with and dried her bottom with a muslin (don’t mix up with the muslin you use to wipe up sick!) Also try to give plenty of no nappy time. Yes, she’ll wee everywhere (pop her on a changing mat with old towel on top) but it really helps.

My HV advised me to use yellow Metanium as it treats the nappy rash as well as acting like a barrier. A few nappy creams are only barrier creams...not sure about Bepanthan. 10 changes in 24hours is fine.

Are you sure it’s nappy rash and not thrush? My new born had “nappy rash” that just got worse. As soon as the health visitor saw it she said thrush, prescribed canestan and it was gone within 48 hours

Could I ask, how many dirty nappies does she have a day? I only ask because I was changing my little one about 10-12 times a day because her nappies were always dirty. Her bottom got so sore and blistered and I couldn’t understand why when she was changed so frequently as soon as she’d done a poo. Anyway, what I know now but didn’t know then, is 10 poos a days is too many! And this and her nappy rash were very early signs of a dairy allergy. We struggled until she was 11 weeks old to actually work it out. I’m not saying your baby has it too...but the 10+ changes a day and sore blistered bottom sounded so similar to my little girl I thought I’d make you aware of my experience. Hope it’s all healed soon.

Thanks for your input everyone

I use Asda little angels nappies, night it be worth going up to size 2 to absorb more wee?

She poos about 5 times a day I’d say, the other changes are when she’s wet

I’ve got some of the yellow metanium stuff, i’ll try that instead.

Honestly no I’m not sure it’s not thrush, I feel like such a shit mum I’m not sure of anything any more, but her bum is generally red and the little blisters are just around her bum hole, could that be thrush do you think?

I wish I could try breast milk but I failed at bf too after 4 days

Sorry if I sound whingey I just want to be able to look after her properly and I feel like the worst mum in the world as I just don’t know how to help her properly. She’s also only been asleep for about 4 hours today and only for maximum 45 minutes at a time and I’m so worried about her.

Ok I’ve done a quick google about thrush, she does seem to have a permanently white tongue so maybe she has it, it seems I need to try and wipe it and see if the white easily comes away, should I do that with a clean muslin or maybe some kitchen roll

I don’t understand how people has babies before the Internet

Just take her along to see a health visitor. I couldn’t tell the difference between thrush and nappy rash. If the nappy cream isn’t doing anything (especially the yellow one) then I would think thrush.
Don’t panic no one would expect you to know, it’s not like you haven’t tried to treat it

My baby had a nappy rash for 2 weeks due to being on antibiotics in hospital.

I stopped using wipes, I used cotton wool and water. Used a hairdryer on the COLD setting so it dried his bum. His ended up being thrush so I got prescription by the doctor which I used for a few days. Then I used metanium (god send) and it eventually went away.

I used cotton wool and water until he was 8 weeks old and his skin matured and went back to water wipes.

I slather on sudocream after every nappy change now and he’s been okay since.

OP, you are doing a brilliant job. You mustn’t feel like you are failing in any way...you are doing the best you can for your gorgeous baby. Is she your first? It is overwhelming and a very steep learning curve and you’re only 3 weeks in. Go easy on yourself. No one knows what to do to begin with.

Breastfeeding didn’t work out with my first two babies either. You haven’t failed, it just didn’t work out. Sometimes it doesn’t. She will grow up perfect anyway, just like my two did. Not sure why or what is different, but it is working out this time round with DC3...but I can assure it doesn’t make me a better mum because of it. You just do your best with each baby...you can’t do any more than that.

And by the way, 4 hours worth of 45 minute naps is pretty good for 3 weeks old so don’t worry. The longer naps come later.

My baby has nappy rash just above his penis. It awful and been there for two weeks. I can't shift it.
I've tried airing himaftwe each change and using sudacrem. No difference.

So I'm reading for advice too!

Also his insnt thrush - HV confirmed.
Your doing great , he's my first too and I blind panic most of the time!

I'm a new Mum and my boy had nappy rash at two weeks and after two trips to the dr, the thing that cleared it was nappy free time! I also started using a barrier cream after every change, this stuff called Weleda, and his bum is perfect now at 7 weeks old. Water and cotton wool to clean too. Good luck and don't worry x

It isn't more likely to be a reaction to the nappies. If it's nappy rash not thrush then it's caused by the digestive enzymes which come out in poo thriving in the warm damp environment of a nappy.

Always clean her properly, even after a live action wee, including any cream left from the last application. Let the skin dry properly and then apply some more cream.

Most importantly you are not a shit mum. It's really bloody tough and you're learning something new everyday. You're doing all the right things.

Thanks again for your advice everyone, it’s looking a little better today phew

And yes she is my first and yes it’s the biggest learning curve ever