Preventing nappy rash with washables

[Lovage]

Sorry I'm spamming the board today!

I've been experimenting with my collection of washable nappies recently and want to go over to washables properly when we get back from hols in Sept. I've tried: terry squares with PUL wrap, popolino fitted terry with PUL wrap, wonderoo with hemp stuffer, miscellaneous well used fitted ones that a friend gave me (some seem to be towelling, some more like cotton, not terry). All with flushable liners ('windervlies').

But DS is definitely getting more nappy rash. I have been changing him more frequently - about every 3-4 hours. He also got nappy rash when we used eco-disposables (Moltex Oko). He never gets it with Tesco's cheapo disposables .

What can I do to prevent this? I've got all fired up about using washables now but don't feel I can change over if it's going to make him sore. Does the type of liner make a difference? Would microfibre nappies help? Are fleece or wool wraps better than PUL? Any tips very welcome

(And sorry for all the questions. I will try to give back once I've any experience!)

Try fleece liners- keep baby much drier than paper, and very cheap (about 50p each). You just sling them in the wash with the nappies.

I agree with LizaRose fleece liners are much better at keeping bottoms drier and are relatively inexpensive (and they're washable so you'd be saving money too ) otherwise it may be worth trying out a few other brands of paper liners if you wanted. I can do you a free sample of the paper ones we stock if you like which is Junior Joy, Bambinex and Ultra.

It may also be worth looking at how you wash your nappies. i.e non-bio is recommended rather than bio etc plus there are ways to reduce any detergent build up if you suspect this may be the problem

If he does get nappy rash, Metanium is the best thing to clear it up IME, along with some nappy off time if you can.

You can get it from the chemist, and it worked for my ds when nothing else did.

It will dye your nappies yellow though!

Yep non bio, and only a teeny amount-I use 1/3 to 1/4 of the amount they recommend. Also i think it is quite common for babies to get a rash when you first change nappies, I've heard lots of people saying their LO got a rash when they changed to cloth-I didn't find it that way but now if i put dd in a sposie she erupts(even though she was fine in sposies before we changed to cloth).
Fleece and wool wraps are more breathable than pul and wool especially is recommended for babies with sensitive skin (unless they are allergic to lanolin-do a patch test with lanisoh to find out!)

Another vote for metanium and fleece liners!

Fleec nappy liners. Also try a fleec wrap over night. Nothing keeps my dd's bum dry like a fleece wrap over 12 hours x

Wool wraps and microfibre boosted with hemp are brilliant for keeping ds2's bottom dry. I find that nappies made from bamboo and hemp and cotton can get very wet and the wetness stays next to the skin more which it turn can cause more redness.

Regular nappy off time really helps to prevent nappy rash.

DD rarely has a nappy on during the day and we haven't seen ANY nappy rash in the last 10 months, even when she was really teething badly.

With nappies I would echo fleece liners and regular changes.

Re wraps, fleece or wool are good for overnight because they allow some of the moisture from the nappy to evaporate hence keeping baby drier, but they can leak if under pressure e.g. tight clothes or a long period in a car seat so are less useful for daytime. Wool is slightly more complex as it needs lanolising. Flame is the wool expert!

I use wool a lot during the day too - just need looser clothes, and regular changes

I found that fleece liners can sometimes aggravate a sore bottom. I think it's to do with the heat building up and most fleece being synthetic. However, I've used fleece liners without any problems but just something to be aware of.
Have you made sure that your nappies are well rinsed as any residual detergent can cause sore bottoms in some babies. Try white vinegar in the rinse and maybe give the occassional extra rinse. That should clear them.
Also, I agree with using Metanium. Cover all the bottom area at the first signs of redness until it's clear.

Thanks, will experiment with different liners and maybe try some fleece ones.

We already use non-bio washing liquid and it's not detergent build up cos they've not been washed that often (5 or 6 times apart from secondhand ones which have been washed millions of times. Suppose it might be worth doing those on a wash with no detergent, but I really don't think that's the problem). We never use fabric conditioner.

Claireybee (hello again!) that's interesting about the change to any different nappy. How does that work then?! And does that mean you can't keep swapping? I was hoping to do terry squares at home normally and various different fitted ones at Nursery and when feeling tired. And the odd disposable when out and about or away from home and possibly overnight to begin with until we get our confidence up.

How on earth do you do nappy free time for a baby this age (12m)? In the garden, yes, but it's often raining and we need to be doing things in the house. He'd pee all over the place, wouldn't he? We have some hard floors but also carpets and rugs all over the place.

I've had detergent build-up in my nappies and they've been washed loads of times. I also use non-bio.
However, if you don't think that's the problem then it might be down to managing this phase of sore bums. I found that once mine had a definite nappy rash it sometimes took a while for the skin to settle. In which case even when it looked as though there was no rash I had to be vigilant for signs of a flare-up and change the nappy frequently, apply thin layer of cream at first hint of pink. Once the phase had passed and baby's bottom had settled then things were back to normal.

I've found that using bio actually completely cleared up severe nappy rash with dd, and ds3 has never had and we've used bio since birth. When I looked into it I found some research done by Proctor and Gamble which suggested bio was actually better for sensitive skin than non-bio!

Bio is better for skin?! I have never seen that said before. Have you got a link to that, I'd be interested to see that.

I haven't got a link, stupidly forgot to save it and too busy packing to search for it atm! The gist of it was that they compared groups of women doing handwashing in non-bio and bio and those using bio had less skin irritation than those using non-bio. According to a contact who works for one of the big detergent manufacturers, non-bio contains more bleaching agents than bio and it may be this that causes irritation. Obviously different babies will react to different things, but certainly my kids have been significantly better with bio detergents on their nappies.

You know what, Daisymoo, I think you might have something. After a quick google there seems to be general agreement that bio and non-bio are pretty much equal. Seems that the irritations could be down to the individual soap-powder and what it contains.
I am still finding it difficult to believe, though, that enzymes that digest blood,etc have no effect when in contact with skin.
Will have to find out more about this.

I use Clearspring laundry liquid and it seems to be the best for skin. I also, always, use less than manufacturers recommend.

The best cream I have found for ANY soreness, or as a barrier for night time, is Tui Bee Balme. It is worth its weight in gold.

-How on earth do you do nappy free time for a baby this age (12m)?-
I'm not sure how you can prevent accidents with a nappy trained child. But clean up would be easy with wooden floors.

My DD wears normal cotton pants during the day at home, I usually wait until she has been on the potty or toilet for a wee and then I give her naked bum time, knowing she won't wee again for a few hours. But she is not trained to use a nappy and hence she has gaps of up to 4 hours between wees, we still have misses but no where near the number of nappies I see other mothers use.

We are going to start using soap nuts for DD pants, trainer pants and night nappies...I'm really hopeing they will work as I hate the idea of all those chemicals next to my DD skin and I like the sound of this alternative option.

I know what you mean juuule, I only started using bio 'accidentally' because we'd run out of non-bio and was completely floored when it sorted out dd's nappy rash - I double checked by using some non-bio again and it flared straight back up. I suppose though that our digestive systems contain loads of enzymes and we don't digest ourselves because of mucosal linings and the skin also has protective layers to protect it from the millions of bacteria that we're covered in!

DD has always had an hour or so of 'free bum time' every day. When she was tiny we just lay her on a pile of terries, but as she got bigger and more mobile, we had to switch to a special blanket that got covered in more and more terries and eventually a towel or two! Kept the rug free of accidental wee though! Now she's 2 and potty trained as long as her bum is nekkid. She can't seem to get the hang of pants . So, if you cover a blanket with towels etc you should be able to have nappy-off time at 12 months.

When I first switched to washables dd2's nappy rash increased but her skin seemed to adjust and she hardly gets it anymore. She does get a little bit but only the same as when she used to be in dispos.

That's interesting about bio - cd certainly give that a try.

Still not getting it about nappy free time with a mobile child (yes, he's 12mo). He potters about all over the house at the moment (not quite walking but cruising like mad, and crawling, and climbing the stairs and sliding back down them cackling hysterically). I don't want to start confining him to the kitchen and the bathroom which are only rug/carpet free rooms. At the moment he's often in a different room from me (not when he's on the stairs obviously but when he's in the childproof bits).

Please avoid using bio on PUL wraps as it will damage them. There is a point about the bleach in non bio being a problem, which may mean a switch to an eco non bio may help as these are usually bleach free.

Also, ensuring that the nappies are competely washed out is important - running them through a few rinse cycles will help remove build up, as will dropping an egg cup full of white malt vinegar into the wash.

Avoid chemical baby wipes. The ones with alcohol in are a nightmare. Cloth wipes are great - it's worth considering soaking them in cold chamomile tea for a really soothing wipe.

Nappy off time is, of course, vital, and almost impossible