DH going off cloth due to DS's nappy rash - help!

[Moorhen]

We converted to cloth full-time a couple of weeks ago. I'm responsible for washing the nappies etc as I was the one who wanted the cloth - DH agrees is a good idea but also admits he's lazy and would use dispys if he could (is only thing he's lazy about, BTW, in all other respects he's brilliant).

So. I don't mind washing, poo-scraping etc as was my choice, but DS has a really sore bum and I'm at my wit's end. We have wambamboos and wonderoos and fuzzi bunz, so normal nappy creams not possible. I am currently using a tiny amount of Kamillosan with a swab of chamomile tea with honey, but it just isn't working.

Most of DS's nappies are pooey, and at the moment he has angry-looking red areas (possibly tiny spots) along the crack of his poor bum. Am trying to change more often, using paper liners etc, but is hard to defend cloth when it's causing him pain.

Please, any tips on a nappy cream I can use, or anything that will help?

Lots of bare bum time is probadly the best thing for any nappy rash. If Ds is not yet mobile pop him on a towel to catch any wee/pooh while hes bare. If hes more mobile work out which room you can clean up accicdnts most easily and maybe use towels as play rugs.

Have you tried a very thin smear of metanium cream- with a paper liner it won't stain the nappies too badly.have you tried a dispy at night and cloth with regular changes in day.
Why honey? IF its yeast infection that will be feeding the yeast (IIRC). Is Ds actully bothered by the rash? It may look sore but not be feeling too bad.

My son had bad nappy rash with disposables. It was fungal.

I haven't tried using my washables yet, baby not born yet) so not too clever, could it be washing powder? My nappy advisor recommends Surcare washing powder. Also heard that silk liners are good for rash.

Just think of all the chemicals in disposables!! And all the money down the drain!

I have successfully used metanium with my various cloth nappies. I found paper liners make my DD more prone to nappy rash and I have used fleece liners inside fleece lined nappies without any problems (so if the metanium did effect the absorbancy you only affect the fleece liner and not the entire nappy).

The rash may not be linked to the change in nappy type at all - is he teething?

If you suspect a fungal infection wash at 60C.

Also make sure you are only washing with 1/2 the recommended amount of powder to avoid build up in the nappies

Any pure lanolin cream works wonders, but if there's spots it might be thrush, especially if it seems hard to get rid of. Also try ad find a non-soap based washing powder.

And I'm all for nappy free time - it's the best fix ever

Metanium is brilliant for nappy rash.
Change nappy every two hours until rash is cleared. Obviously change as soon as if nappy soiled.
If fungal infection suspected, Canestan will clear it up. Thin smear across affected area at each nappy change.
Soak nappies in white vinegar solution or add it to the final rinse. Wash nappies at 60c. Clears the fungus out of the nappies. Dry in the fresh air as uv light will kill any remaining fungus. Doesn't matter if it's not sunny.

Also, I agree with other poster who said to ensure the nappies were well rinsed. Although, the white vinegar should strip any residue off them.

I would agree with not using much powder - maybe trying an extra rinse for the next couple of washes too?

If I need to use nappy cream (I use sudocrem if DDs bum is a bit sore), then I use a fleece liner. They can be washed at 60, unlike a couple of the fleece lined nappies, and they are fairly cheap so if they get ruined then it is not too bad.

In our case, the rash isn't caused by the nappies, but usually if she has eaten something that causes it (citrus fruits with DD).

Also agree with lots of nappy free time whilst it is clearing up. I try and let her have 10-20 minutes or so during getting dressed in the morning and evening bath time so bum gets well aired a couple of times a day.

Pretty much what has already been said. It's unlikely to be the cloth nappy, but we always use super rinse on our nappy wash.
Nappy off time for as much as possible, use some sudocreme, (you should only use enough to be absorbed into the skin) when nappy goes back on.
Disposable wipes can be a big culprit, IME.
And teething, mainly because it can make them poo more.
Little spots sound like it could be thrush, so you could get that checked out.

agree with all above- also we found bepanthen to be really good (recomended by GP after really bad case due to teething). We use cloth here, but sometimes dispos, no difference with rash or not. Just to let you know though I enver really worried too much about the advice not use creams with fleece lined nappies- never had a problem seems to wash out fine with normal nappy wash (40 deg or 60 occasionlay) and doesn't stain.
Some kids are alergic to synthetics but then you have bamboo too so.....